Finance Analyst at the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is the United Nations’ global development network. It advocates for change and connects countries to knowledge, experience and resources to help people build a better life for themselves. It provides expert advice, training and grants support to developing countries, with increasing emphasis on assistance to the least developed countries. It promotes technical and investment cooperation among nations.

Headquartered in New York City, the status of UNDP is that of an executive board within the United Nations General Assembly. The UNDP is funded entirely by voluntary contributions from UN member states. The organization operates in 177 countries, where it works with local governments to meet development challenges and develop local capacity.

We are recruiting to fill the position of:

Job Title: Finance Analyst  

Job Identification: 3492
Location: Abuja, Nigeria
Job Schedule: Full time
Agency: UNDP
Grade: NOB
Vacancy Type: Fixed Term
Practice Area: Management
Bureau: Regional Bureau for Africa
Contract Duration: 1 Year with Possibility for extension
Vacancy Timeline: 1 Week

Background

• UNDP is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence.
• 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.
• Under the guidance and supervision of the DRR-O and Operations Manager, the Finance Analyst is responsible for effective delivery of financial services, transparent utilization of financial resources and management of the Country Office (CO) Finance Unit. He/she analyzes 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 UNDP rules and regulations.

Position Purpose

• 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 UNDP HQs staff and Government officials ensuring successful CO performance in Finance.

Key Duties and Accountabilities

• 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

Duties & Responsibilities
Implementation of operational and financial management strategies:
Implementation of operational and financial management strategies, and adapts processes and procedures, focusing on the following:

• Full compliance of financial activities, financial recording/reporting system and audit follow up with UN/UNDP 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 mobilization 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 UNDP staff at Headquarters of the results of the investigation when satisfactory answers are not obtained.

Projects’ budget management and organization of the cost-recovery system:
Projects’ budget management and organization of the cost-recovery system focusing on the following:

• Financial resources management through planning, guiding, controlling of the resources in accordance with UNDP 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 authorized spending limits (ASL) and budgets delivery levels.
• Sending project budget to KK if authorized by the Senior Management (can be done only on the basis of signed prodocs and project budgets).
• Elaboration of proper mechanisms to eliminate deficiencies in budget management.
• Preparation of cost-recovery bills in Atlas for the services provided by UNDP.

Control of CO accounts:
Control of CO accounts focusing on the following:

• 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 UNDP policies and procedures..
• Manager level 1 in Atlas.
• Control of accounts closure
• 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 UNDP projects and maintenance of the General Ledger

Control of CO cash management:
Control of CO cash management focusing on the following:

• 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 UNDP staff at HQ on the results of the investigation when satisfactory answers are not obtained.
• Daily review of zero-balance account bank statements in Atlas to monitor imprest level; identification and record of contributions.
• Primary contact with local bank management on routine operational matters including negotiation of exchange rate on replenishments.
• Member of bank signatory panel.
• Approval and submission of monthly UN exchange rate reports to Treasury
• Timely and accurate approval of bank reconciliation, including documented review of exceptions.
• Initiation of bank transfers and deals, selecting bank transfers and deals for approval and settlement.
• Performing Paycycle manager role in Atlas
• Timely preparation of monthly cashflow forecast for use by Operations Manager. Liaison with UN Agencies to obtain estimate of their cash requirements.
• Role as cashier for cash disbursements made on site.

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

• Organization/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.

Impact of results:

• The key results have an impact on the overall CO efficiency in financial resources management and success in introduction and implementation of operational strategies.  Accurate, thoroughly researched and documented financial information, timely and appropriate delivery of services ensure client satisfaction and enhance UNDP credibility in use of financial resources.

Qualifications
Education:

• Advanced (Master’s) University Degree in Finance/Accounting, Business, or Public Administration, or a professional accounting qualification from an internationally recognized institute of accountancy. Professionally qualified accountants from an internationally recognized institute of accountancy will have a distinct advantage.
• UNDP Advanced Accountancy & Finance Test required.

Experience, Knowledge, and Skills:

• 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 the UN and national language of the duty station.

Competencies
Core Competencies

• Achieve Results: LEVEL 2: Scale up solutions and simplifies processes, balances speed and accuracy in doing work
• Think Innovatively: LEVEL 2: Offer new ideas/open to new approaches, demonstrate systemic/integrated thinking
• Learn Continuously: LEVEL 2: Go outside comfort zone, learn from others and support their learning
• Adapt with Agility: LEVEL 2: Adapt processes/approaches to new situations, involve others in change process
• Act with Determination: LEVEL 2: Able to persevere and deal with multiple sources of pressure simultaneously
• Engage and Partner: LEVEL 2: Is facilitator/integrator, bring people together, build/maintain coalitions/partnerships
• Enable Diversity and Inclusion : LEVEL 2: Facilitate conversations to bridge differences, considers in decision making

Cross-Functional & Technical competencies
Business Direction & Strategy -Strategic Thinking:

• Ability to develop effective strategies and prioritized plans in line with UNDP’s objectives, based on the systemic analysis of challenges, potential risks and opportunities; linking the vision to reality on the ground, and creating tangible solutions
• Ability to leverage learning from a variety of sources to anticipate and respond to future trends; to demonstrate foresight in order to model what future developments and possible ways forward look like for UNDP.

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.
• Knowledqe of relevant concepts and mechanisms.

Business Direction & Strategy-Entrepreneurial Thinking:

• Ability to create clarity around UNDP value proposition to beneficiaries and  partners and to develop service offers responding to client needs based on UNDP’s organizational priorities and mandate.

Business Management-Change Management:

• Ability to prepare, support, and help individuals and teams in designing and implementing organizational change.

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 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
• Knowledge and understanding of the operational frameworks in the organization  and ability to make good judgments and quick decisions within such frameworks

Business Management-Communication:

• Ability to communicate in a clear, concise and unambiguous manner both through written and verbal communication; to tailor messages and choose communication methods depending on the audience
• Ability to manage communications internally and externally, through media,  social media and other appropriate channels.

Application Closing Date
7th May, 2022. at 04:59 AM

How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should:
Click here to apply online

Important Note: Candidates selected pursuant to this vacancy may be subject to UNDP’s policy on Probation upon assignment.