Regional Finance Associate

Job Description

Background

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion are core principles at UNDP: we value diversity as an expression of the multiplicity of nations and cultures where we operate, we foster inclusion as a way of ensuring all personnel are empowered to contribute to our mission, and we ensure equity and fairness in all our actions. Taking a ‘leave no one behind’ approach to our diversity efforts means increasing representation of underserved populations. People who identify as belonging to marginalized or excluded populations are strongly encouraged to apply. Learn more about working at UNDP including our values and inspiring stories.

UNDP does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.

Organizational Context

General Assembly Resolution 2186 (XXI) decided to “bring into operations the United Nations Capital Development Fund as an organ of the General Assembly which shall function as an autonomous organization of the United Nations. The UN Capital Development Fund (UNCDF) assists developing countries, especially least developing countries, in the development of their economies by supplementing existing sources of capital assistance by means of grants, loans, and guarantees. UNCDFs vision is to help mobilize and catalyze an increase of capital flows for SDG impactful investments to Member States to address the most pressing development challenges facing vulnerable communities in these countries and thereby contribute to sustainable economic growth and equitable prosperity.

UNCDF utilizes its unique capability in the UN system to deploy grants, loans and guarantees to crowd-in finance for the scaling of development impact. UNCDF focuses on where the needs are greatest, a deliberate focus and capability rooted in UNCDF’s unique investment mandate to support the achievement of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the realization of the Doha Programme of Action for the least developed countries, 2022–2031.

As per its Strategic Framework, UNCDF works to deploy its functions as a hybrid development organization and development finance institution. UNCDF responds to Member States requests for assistance by providing targeted technical and financial advisory services on investments for development outcomes, designing bespoke financial structuring solutions, undertaking financial derisking of investments, and enhancing investment readiness of SDG aligned projects in partnership with private sector, UNOs, International and Local Finance Institutions, Development Finance Institutions as well as Foundations and Philanthropy, among others. UNCDF works to develop local financial systems, new markets and mobilize and crowd in capital from public and private sources. UNCDF is driven by a partnership mindset which enables it to deploy its different capital capabilities in highly tailored and responsive ways in order to mobilize investments flows from other sources, in particular from the private sector. By structuring transactions which are highly impactful, but also recognize the need for multiplying the impact of its own capital, UNCDF seeks to position itself as a preferred partner for different stakeholders.

UNCDF’s work is focused on six priority areas, including:

• Sub-national and local infrastructure financing
• Women owned enterprise financing
• Nature and climate financing
• Energy and decarbonization finance
• Sustainable food systems financing
• Inclusive digital finance

Following a recent restructuring, UNCDF’s organizational set up includes an Investment and Implementation Division (IID), Investment and Finance Oversight Division (IFOD), Operations and Oversight Division (OOD) and a Directorate of the Executive Office. UNCDF staff and personnel are located in regional hubs based in Dakar (Senegal), Nairobi (Kenya) and Bangkok (Thailand) with sub-regional presence in a number of locations in the Caribbean and Pacific Regions. UNCDF is led by an Executive Secretary based out of New York. Pursuant to General Assembly resolution 2321(XXII, para 1.a), the Administrator of the UNDP performs the function of the Managing Director of UNCDF. UNCDF is overseen by the Executive Board of United Nations Development Fund (UNDP), United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) and performs the function of the Executive Board of UNCDF.

Position Purpose

Under the primary supervision of the Operations Assurance Specialist and secondary supervision of the Finance Specialist, the Regional Finance Associate provides leadership in execution of financial services in the UNCDF Regional Hub and Country Offices (COs) in Western Africa ensuring effective and transparent utilization of financial resources and integrity of financial services. The Regional Finance Associate promotes a collaborative, client-oriented approach consistent with UNDP rules and regulations.

The Regional Finance Associate works in close collaboration with the Operations and Oversight Division and project teams in the Regional Hub, COs, UNCDF HQ, and GSSC to provide information delivery and resolve complex financial management-related issues.

UNCDF adopts a portfolio approach to accommodate changing business needs and leverage linkages across interventions to achieve its strategic goals. Therefore, UNCDF personnel are expected to work across units, functions, teams, and projects in multidisciplinary teams in order to enhance and enable horizontal collaboration.

Duties and Responsibilities

Ensures implementation of operational strategies.

• Full compliance of administrative activities with UNDP/UNCDF rules, regulations, policies and strategies.
• Provision of inputs to the business processes mapping and elaboration of internal Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) in Administration and Logistics in consultation with the direct supervisor and office management.
• Elaboration of proposals and implementation of cost saving and reduction strategies in consultations with office management.

Provision of financial transactional support and ensures effective financial control and oversight in the regional offices.

• Verify the supporting documents and prepare in the Accounts Payable module (AP) all types of payment invoices for management and development projects.
• Laisse with UNDP Finance Pay cycle team, project and suppliers to ensure payments were complete on time.
• Follow up with UNDP Finance team on deposits received and other outstanding financial transactions.
• Serve as the focal point of regional management projects and cost recovery for services provided;
• Regularly update and maintain contracts database, monitor and follow up on financial dashboard of pending transactions.
• Proper control and filing of the supporting documents for payments, ensuring the proper filing system in Regional Hub Database both electronic and hard copies;
• Maintenance of the internal expenditures control system which ensures that invoices processed are matched and completed, transactions are correctly recorded and posted in Quantum; payrolls are duly prepared; travel claims, POs and other entitlements are duly processed.
• Review, research, verify, and reconcile of a variety of data and reports ensuring accuracy and conformance with financial rules and regulations;
• Provide clear and systematic guidance to COs and projects on the processes and rules and regulations for financial management;
• Prepare zero-dollar invoice (ZDI) and general ledger journal entries (GL JEs) for corrections to ensure transactions are accurate and liaise with Finance Section for review, verification and approval.
• Review Petty Cash and all other type of Advance and follow up to ensure reconciliation are completed timely.
• Support the year-end closure exercise to ensure financial transactions are IPSAS compliant;
• Prepare and generate Project Combined Delivery Reports (CDRs) quarterly for all projects, and other ad-hoc financial reports;
• Serve as focal point of overall financial oversight and monitoring of financial activities for programmes in the region. Prepare regular updates on required budget, expense, and other balance sheet accounts analysis;
• Supports the various internal and external audits;
• Other tasks as assigned by the supervisors.

Ensures facilitation of knowledge building and knowledge sharing focusing on achievement of the following results.

• Development and maintenance of the project filing system;
• Organization of trainings for the programme project staff on finance and budgeting.
• Synthesis of lessons learnt and best practices in programme.
• Sound contributions to knowledge networks and communities of practice.
• The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization.

Supervisory/Managerial Responsibilities: None.

Competencies

Core Competencies:
Achieve Results: LEVEL 1

Plans and monitors own work, pays attention to details, delivers quality work by deadline
Think Innovatively: LEVEL 1

Open to creative ideas/known risks, is pragmatic problem solver, makes improvements
Learn Continuously: LEVEL 1

Open minded and curious, shares knowledge, learns from mistakes, asks for feedback
Adapt with Agility: LEVEL 1

Adapts to change, constructively handles ambiguity/uncertainty, is flexible
Act with Determination: LEVEL 1

Shows drive and motivation, able to deliver calmly in face of adversity, confident
Engage and Partner: LEVEL 1

Demonstrates compassion/understanding towards others, forms positive relationships
Enable Diversity and Inclusion: LEVEL 1

Appreciate/respect differences, aware of unconscious bias, confront discrimination

Cross-Functional & Technical competencies

Business Management: Customer Satisfaction/Client Management

• Ability to respond timely and appropriately with a sense of urgency, provide consistent solutions, and deliver timely and quality results and/or solutions to fulfil and understand the real customers’ needs. Provide inputs to the development of customer service strategy. Look for ways to add value beyond clients’ immediate requests. Ability to anticipate client’s upcoming needs and concerns

Business Development: Knowledge Facilitation

Ability to animate individuals and groups, internally and externally, and to design and facilitate activities, to share and exchange knowledge, information and ideas. Knowledge of tools and approaches to stimulate active participation, contribution, and exchange.

Business Management: Working with Evidence and Data

Ability to inspect, cleanse, transform and model data with the goal of discovering useful information, informing conclusions and supporting decision-making

Finance: Accounting (General)

Knowledge of accounting concepts, principles, regulations, policies and ability to apply this to strategic and/or practical situations.

Finance: Budget Management

Ability to support budgetary aspects of work planning process, drawing and management of team budgets

Finance: Audit Risk Management

Ability to address audit issues raised in the course of an audit and propose solutions in order to ensure a true and fair audit opinion is achieved.

Finance: Banking and Cash Management

Ability to collect, handle, and manage cash, which involves assessing market liquidity, cash flow, and investments

Required Skills and Experience

Education

• Secondary Education with specialized certification in accounting and/or Finance is required.
• University degree in Finance or Accounting is desirable.
• Part-qualified accountants from an internationally accredited institute of accountancy will have a distinct advantage.
• Fully Qualified Accountant, from an internationally accredited institute of accountancy or Full Completion of the UNDP Finance Training and Certification Programme (FTCP). No UNDP Accountancy and Finance Test (AFT) is required.
• Candidates with no professional accountancy qualifications, but with degrees that major in accountancy and/or finance must complete UNDP Finance Training and Certification Programme (FTCP), if recruited.
• However, no UNDP Accountancy and Finance Test (AFT) is required.
• Candidate with no professional accountancy qualifications but with relevant experience must successfully undertake UNDP Accountancy and Finance Test (AFT) before shortlisting and must complete the UNDP
• Finance Training and Certification Programme (FTCP), if recruited.

Experience

• Minimum of 7 years (with secondary education) or 4 years (with bachelor’s degree) of progressively responsible finance and accounting experience at the national or international level is required.
• Experience in the use of computers and office software packages (MS Word, Excel, etc.) and advanced
• knowledge of spreadsheets is required.
• Experience in handling of web-based management systems and ERP financials, preferably Quantum, is desirable.
• Previous work experience in finance or budgeting in a UN Agency, UNDP, and/or UNCDF is highly desirable.
• Knowledge of IPSAS and/or IFRS is required.

Language requirement

• Fluency in English and French is required.
• Fluency in other official UN Languages is an advantage.

Disclaimer

Important information for US Permanent Residents (‘Green Card’ holders)

Under US immigration law, acceptance of a staff position with UNDP, an international organization, may have significant implications for US Permanent Residents. UNDP advises applicants for all professional level posts that they must relinquish their US Permanent Resident status and accept a G-4 visa, or have submitted a valid application for US citizenship prior to commencement of employment.

UNDP is not in a position to provide advice or assistance on applying for US citizenship and therefore applicants are advised to seek the advice of competent immigration lawyers regarding any applications.

Applicant information about UNDP rosters

Note: UNDP reserves the right to select one or more candidates from this vacancy announcement. We may also retain applications and consider candidates applying to this post for other similar positions with UNDP at the same grade level and with similar job description, experience and educational requirements.

Non-discrimination

UNDP has a zero-tolerance policy towards sexual exploitation and misconduct, sexual harassment, and abuse of authority. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles.

UNDP is an equal opportunity and inclusive employer that does not discriminate based on race, sex, gender identity, religion, nationality, ethnic origin, sexual orientation, disability, pregnancy, age, language, social origin or other status.

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