Finance Analyst at United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)

United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) helps developing countries attract and use aid effectively. In all our activities, we encourage the protection of human rights, capacity development and the empowerment of women.

United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is recruiting to fill the position of:

Job Title: Finance Analyst

Location: Abuja Nigeria

Background

• UN Women, grounded in the vision of equality enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations, works for the elimination of discrimination against women and girls; the empowerment of women; and the achievement of equality between women and men as partners and beneficiaries of development, human rights, humanitarian action and peace and security.
• Under the guidance and supervision of the DPM and Operations Manager, the Finance Analyst is responsible for effective delivery of financial services, transparent utilisation of financial resources and management of the Country Office (CO) Finance Unit. He/she analyses and interprets the financial rules and regulations and provides solutions to a wide spectrum of complex financial issues. The Finance Analyst promotes a collaborative, client-oriented approach consistent with UN WOMEN rules and regulations.
• The Finance Analyst supervises and leads the staff of the Finance Unit. The Finance Analyst works in close collaboration with the operations programme and project teams in the CO and with UN WOMEN HQs staff and Government officials ensuring successful CO performance in Finance.

Duties and Responsibilities
Functions / Key Results
Summary of key functions:

• Implementation of operational and financial management strategies;
• Projects budget management and organization of the cost-recovery system;
• Control of CO accounts;
• Control of CO cash management;
• Facilitation of knowledge building and knowledge sharing.

Ensures implementation of operational and financial management strategies, and adapts processes and procedures, focusing on the achievement of the following results:

• Full compliance of financial activities, financial recording/reporting system and audit follow up with UN/UN WOMEN rules, regulations, policies and strategies;
• implementation of the effective internal control, proper design and functioning of the financial resources management system;
• CO Finance business processes mapping and elaboration/establishment of internal Standard Operating Procedures in Finance, control of the workflows in the Finance Unit;
• Continuous analysis and monitoring of the financial situation, presentation of forecasts for development and management projects;
• Elaboration of the framework and conditions of contributions within the CO resources mobilisation efforts;
• Elaboration and implementation of cost saving and reduction strategies;
• Routinely monitors financial exception reports for unusual activities, transactions, and investigates anomalies or unusual transactions. Informs supervisors and other UN WOMEN staff at Headquarters of the results of the investigation when satisfactory answers are not obtained.

Manages the project budgets and organises an optimal cost-recovery system focusing on achievement of the following results

• Financial resources management through planning, guiding, controlling of the resources in accordance with UN WOMEN rules and regulations;
• Preparation and monitoring of budgets of management projects;
• Establishment of the development projects budgets preparation/modification monitoring system, control of budgetary status versus authorised spending limits (ASL) and budgets delivery levels;
• Elaboration of proper mechanisms to eliminate deficiencies in budget management;
• Preparation of cost-recovery bills in Atlas for the services provided by UN WOMEN.

Ensures proper control of CO accounts focusing on achievement of the following results

• Elaboration of the internal expenditures control system which ensures that vouchers processed are matched and completed, transactions are correctly recorded and posted in Atlas; payrolls are duly prepared; MPOs, travel claims and other entitlements are duly processed, receipting of goods and services and establishment of accruals are properly done in compliance with IPSAS and UN WOMEN policies and procedures;
• Control of accounts closure;
• Request for approval of vendors in Atlas;
• Timely corrective actions on unposted vouchers, including the vouchers with budget check errors, match exceptions, unapproved vouchers. Timely response to HQ requests to resolve financial data issues;
• Control of the Accounts Receivables for UN WOMEN projects and maintenance of the General Ledger.

Ensures proper CO cash management focusing on achievement of the following results

• Timely review of cash position for local accounts to ensure sufficient funds on hand for disbursements. Timely identification and recording of receipts for income application;
• Monitoring of financial exception reports for unusual activities, transactions and investigation of anomalies or unusual transactions;
• Provision of information to supervisors and other UN WOMEN staff at HQ on the results of the investigation when satisfactory answers are not obtained;
• Primary contact with local bank management on routine operational matters including negotiation of exchange rate on replenishments;
• Timely and accurate approval of bank reconciliation, including documented review of exceptions;
• Timely preparation of monthly cashflow forecast for use by Operations Manager;
• Role as cashier for cash disbursements made on site.

Ensures facilitation of knowledge building and knowledge sharing in the CO and guidance to all stakeholders on financial matters focusing on achievement of the following results

• Organisation/conduct of training for the operations/programme/projects staff on financial management and RBM;
• Synthesis of lessons learnt and best practices in Finance;
• Sound contributions to knowledge networks and communities of practice.

Competencies
Functional Competencies

Building Partnerships:

• Maintains an established network of contacts for general information sharing and to remain up-to-date on partnership related issues;
• Establishes and nurtures positive communication with partners.

Promoting Organizational Learning and Knowledge Sharing:

• Generates new ideas and approaches, researches best practices and proposes new, more effective ways of doing things;
• Documents and analyses innovative strategies and new approaches;
• Identifies and communicates opportunities to promote learning and knowledge sharing;
• Develops awareness of the various internal/external learning and knowledge-sharing resources.

Job Knowledge/Technical Expertise:

• Understands and applies fundamental concepts and principles of a professional discipline or technical specialty relating to the position;
• Ability to formulate and manage budgets; manage contributions and investments; manage transactions; and conduct financial analysis, reporting and cost-recovery;
• Possesses knowledge of organizational policies and procedures and applies them consistently in work tasks;
• Identifies new and better approaches to work processes and incorporates the same in his/her work;
• Analyses the requirements and synthesises proposals;
• Strives to keep job knowledge up-to-date through self-directed study and other means of learning;
• Demonstrates good knowledge of information technology and applies it in work assignments;
• Demonstrates in-depth understanding and knowledge of the current guidelines and tools and utilises these regularly in work assignments.

Promoting Organisational Change and Development:

• Researches and documents best practices in organisational change and development within and outside the UN system;
• Demonstrates ability to diagnose problems and identifies and communicates processes to support change initiatives.

Design and Implementation of Management Systems:

• Make recommendations relative to work-processing approaches and procedures which would lead to more efficient systems design.

Client Orientation:

• Researches potential solutions to internal and external client needs and reports back in a timely, succinct and appropriate fashion;
• Organises and prioritises work schedule to meet client needs and deadlines;
• Establishes, builds and sustains effective relationships within the work unit and with internal and external clients;
• Anticipates client needs and addresses them promptly.

Promoting Accountability and Results-Based Management:

• Gathers, analyses and disseminates information on best practice in accountability and results-based management systems.

Core Competencies

• Demonstrate corporate knowledge and sound judgment;
• Self-development, initiative-taking;
• Acting as a team player and facilitating team work;
• Facilitating and encouraging open communication in the team, communicating effectively;
• Creating synergies through self-control;
• Managing conflict;
• Learning and sharing knowledge and encourage the learning of others. Promoting learning and knowledge management/sharing is the responsibility of each staff member;
• Informed and transparent decision making.

Required Skills and Experience
Education:

• Advanced (Masters) University Degree in Finance/Accounting, Business, or Public Administration, or a professional accounting qualification from an internationally recognised institute of accountancy;
• Professionally qualified accountants from an internationally recognised institute of accountancy will have a distinct advantage.

 Experience:

• 2 years of relevant experience in providing financial management and accounting advisory services, managing staff and operational systems;
• Experience in the usage of computers and office software packages (MS Word, Excel, etc) and advance knowledge of spreadsheet and database packages, experience in handling of web based management systems and ERP financials, preferably PeopleSoft;
• Experience of IPSAS and/or IFRS is required for external candidates.

Language Requirements:

• Fluency in English is required;
• Working knowledge of another UN official language and local language is an asset.

Application Closing Date
26th September, 2014

Method of Application
Interested and qualified candidates should:
Click here to apply

Application Information:

• All applications must include (as an attachment) the completed UN Women Personal History form (P-11) which can be downloaded from http://www.unwomen.org/about-us/employment
• Kindly note that the system will only allow one attachment. Applications without the completed UN Women P-11 form will be treated as incomplete and may not be considered for further assessment.

Note: Qualified women candidates are highly encouraged to apply.