Finance Associate [Open to Tier 0, 1 & 2 applicants]
UNDP
London, England, United Kingdom["Full time"]
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Tiered Approach
In line with the commitment to safeguard capacity and support personnel already
in the Organization, a majority of UNDP UNCDF/UNV vacancies are advertised using
a tiered
application process whereby:
• Tier 0: UNDP/UNCDF/UNV IP staff holding permanent (PA) and fixed-term (FTA)
appointments, whose posts will be abolished, or contracts will be terminated
or not renewed during 2026.
• Tier 1: Other UNDP/UNCDF/UNV staff holding permanent (PA) and fixed-term
(FTA) appointments
• Tier 2: UNDP/UNCDF/UNV staff holding temporary appointments (TA), personnel
on regular PSA contracts, and Expert and Specialist UN Volunteers
• Tier 3 or no tier indicated: All other contract types from UNDP/UNCDF/UNV and
other agencies, and other external candidates
Please make note of the Tier(s) indicated in the vacancy title, if any, and
ensure that you satisfy the eligibility to apply.
Background
The Global Shared Services Centre (GSSC) within the Bureau for Management
Services (BMS) supports UNDP in the promotion of its sustainable human
development agenda. It achieves this by developing and making fully operational
a dynamic and harmonized integrated resource management framework.
As part of this commitment, UNDP adopted International Public Sector Accounting
Standards (IPSAS) on 1 January 2012 and established the Global Shared Service
Centre (GSSC) to serve UNDP’s network of offices (covering 166 countries around
the world) in the provision of financial, accounting and procurement services.
In addition to their day to-day operations, the GSSC supports UNDP’s country
offices through transactions support training where needed.
Position Purpose
The Finance Associate provides financial services that ensure effective and
transparent utilization of financial resources by supporting:
* administration and implementation of operational finance strategies,
processes and procedures
* accounting and administrative support services
* cash management
* knowledge building and sharing
UNDP adopts a portfolio approach to accommodate changing business needs and
leverage linkages across interventions to achieve its strategic goals.
Therefore, UNDP 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
1.) Ensures administration and implementation of operational finance strategies,
processes and procedures focusing on achievement of the following results:
• Full compliance with UN/UNDP rules, regulations, and policies of financial
activities, financial recording/reporting system and follow-up on audit
recommendations; implementation of effective internal controls, proper
functioning of a client-oriented financial resources management system.
• Finance business processes mapping and elaboration of the content of internal
Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) in Finance in consultation with office
management.
• Elaboration of proposals and implementation of cost saving and reduction
strategies in consultations with office management.
• Review, analyse and recommend improved work processes including collaboration
with the continuous improvement team on optimization initiatives.
2.) Provides accounting and administrative support to the Finance Unit focusing
on achievement of the following results:
• Proper control of the supporting documents for payments, review of financial
reports for National Implementation Modality (NIM) and Direct Implementation
Modality (DIM projects).
• Approval of suppliers in ERP (as a senior member of the Finance team).
• Maintenance of the internal expenditures control system which ensures that
invoices processed are matched and completed, transactions are correctly
recorded and posted in ERP; payrolls or other transactions are duly prepared;
travel claims, MPOs and other entitlements are duly processed.
• Coordination and review of accounts closure and project closure.
• Timely corrective actions on unposted invoices, including the invoices with
budget check errors, match exceptions, unapproved invoices. Timely response
to HQ requests to resolve financial data issues.
• Maintenance of the Accounts Receivables for UNDP projects and follow up with
partners on contributions.
• Timely and accurate recording of General Ledger transactions (fixed assets,
cash, and others).
• Defines relevant data, processes, systems to be performed and relevant
analysis by recording its activities, analysing discrepancies, and
participating in continuous improvement exercises.
• Timely and accurate recording of accounting and financial records. Ensures
completeness of Revenue and Treasury operations for UNDP and other
organizations served by UNDP.
• Conducts accounts analysis between sub-system and GL in ERP, to prepare
accounts reconciliations, identify differences and take corrective actions.
• Generate monthly reports for Agencies and timely address rejections of
charges from agencies.
• Provide guidance to new joiners and junior personnel as needed.
3.) Ensures proper processing of payments and cash management focusing on
achievement of the following results:
• Timely identification and recording of receipts for income application.
• Timely and accurate preparation of bank reconciliations.
• Liaise with Cos to certify their local bank balances.
• Review and record bank transfers and deals for approval and settlements.
• Process pays cycle in ERP for emergency cases.
• Support Cos to resolve failed or rejected payments.
• Support the resolution of queries related to payments.
4.) Ensures facilitation of knowledge building and knowledge sharing in the
Finance Unit focusing on the achievement of the following results:
• Support the organization of training for staff in the Finance Stream.
• Synthesis of lessons learned and best practices in Finance.
• 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:
Finance:
• Audit (General)
• Understands how regulations and professional standards in internal and
external audit underpin audit work in the public services.
• Understands the key stages of audit work, including planning,
documentation, testing and reporting.
• Ability to examine and verify accounts and records.
• Understands wider mechanisms for assurance and scrutiny.
• Understands the law and best practice relating to anti-bribery and
corruption controls and the fraud risks faced by public bodies.
• Accounting (General)
• Knowledge of accounting concepts, principles, frameworks, standards,
regulations, policies and trends, and ability to apply this to strategic
and/or practical situations.
• Financial planning and budgeting
• Ability to create and manage processes to achieve UNDP's long and
short-term financial goals, including through planning, budgeting,
forecasting, analysing and reporting
• Financial reporting and analysis
• Understands changes in regulatory, legal and ethical frameworks and
standards for financial reporting in the public sector.
• Ability to extract, evaluate financial data, derive relevant findings and
present them in a meaningful and coherent manner to facilitate effective
decision making and performance monitoring.
• Understands the benefits of integrated reporting, including non-financial
resources such as human, social and intellectual capital, and environmental
and governance performance.
Business Development:
• Knowledge Generation
• Ability to research information and to turn it into useful knowledge,
relevant for context, or responsive to a stated need.
• Ability to apply existing concepts to new situations, and to develop new
concepts to generate workable solutions and new approaches. Knowledge of
relevant concepts, conceptual models, and theories that can be useful in
addressing new situations.
Business Direction & Strategy:
• Business Acumen
• Ability to understand and deal with a business situation in a manner that
is likely to lead to a good outcome.
• Ability to make good judgments and quick decisions within such frameworks.
• Knowledge and understanding of the operational frameworks in the
organization.
Business Management:
• Operations Management
• Ability to effectively plan, organize, and oversee the Organization’s
business processes in order to convert its assets into the best results in
the most efficient manner.
• Knowledge of relevant concepts and mechanisms.
Required Skills and Experience
Education:
• Secondary Education with specialized certification in accounting and/or
Finance is required.
• University degree in Finance or Accounting 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) 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.
• Candidates 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 6 years (with secondary school education) or 3 years (with a
Bachelors’ degree) of relevant experience in finance at the national or
international level is required.
• Experience in the usage of computers and MS Office packages is required.
• Advanced knowledge of spreadsheet and database packages is desired.
• Hands-on experience with Customer Relationship Management (CRM) tools,
preferably with ServiceNow, is desired.
• Hands-on experience with Enterprise Resources Planning (ERP), preferably with
Oracle Cloud, is desired.
• Proven knowledge of IPSAS and/or IFRS is required for external candidates.
• Experience in audit and internal control systems is an asset
Language Requirements:
• Fluency in English and French is required.
• Working knowledge of other UN languages (Spanish/Arabic) desirable.
Equal opportunity
As an equal opportunity employer, UNDP values diversity as an expression of the
multiplicity of nations and cultures where we operate and, as such, we encourage
qualified applicants from all backgrounds to apply for roles in the
organization. Our employment decisions are based on merit and suitability for
the role, without discrimination.
UNDP is also committed to creating an inclusive workplace where all personnel
are empowered to contribute to our mission, are valued, can thrive, and benefit
from career opportunities that are open to all.
Sexual harassment, exploitation, and abuse of authority
UNDP does not tolerate harassment, sexual harassment, exploitation,
discrimination and abuse of authority. All selected candidates, therefore,
undergo relevant checks and are expected to adhere to the respective standards
and principles.
Probation
For all new UNDP fixed term appointments (FTA), including for staff members
being transferred or seconded to UNDP under the Inter-Organization Agreement
concerning Transfer, Secondment or Loan of Staff, on an appointment of more than
one year, continuation of the appointment beyond the initial 12 months is
contingent upon the successful completion of a probationary period.
Right to select multiple candidates
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.
Use of AI by candidates
Applicants are invited to read UNDP’s guidance for candidates on using AI
responsibly in UNDP recruitment and selection
[https://www.undp.org/careers/using-ai-responsibly-undp-recruitment-and-selection]
Scam alert
UNDP does not charge a fee at any stage of its recruitment process. For further
information, please see www.undp.org/scam-alert.
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