Finance Associate

Contract

This is a LICA-6 contract. This kind of contract is known as Local Individual Contractor Agreements. It is normally only for nationals. It's an external contract. It usually requires 6 years of experience, depending on education. More about LICA-6 contracts.

Background Information - UNOPS

UNOPS is an operational arm of the United Nations, supporting the successful implementation of its partners’ peacebuilding, humanitarian and development projects around the world. Our mission is to help people build better lives and countries achieve sustainable development.

UNOPS areas of expertise cover infrastructure, procurement, project management, financial management and human resources.

Working with us

UNOPS offers short- and long-term work opportunities in diverse and challenging environments across the globe. We are looking for creative, results-focused professionals with skills in a range of disciplines.

Diversity

With over 4,000 UNOPS personnel and approximately 7,000 personnel recruited on behalf of UNOPS partners spread across 80 countries, our workforce represents a wide range of nationalities and cultures. We promote a balanced, diverse workforce — a strength that helps us better understand and address our partners’ needs, and continually strive to improve our gender balance through initiatives and policies that encourage recruitment of qualified female candidates.

Work life harmonization

UNOPS values its people and recognizes the importance of balancing professional and personal demands.

Background Information - Job-specific

UNOPS is an operational arm of the United Nations helping a wide range of partners in delivering peace, security, humanitarian and development projects across the world.

UNOPS Sri Lanka implements tailored socio-economic development projects that benefit vulnerable people and supports the Government national capacities. UNOPS has been working across Sri Lanka managing education, public health, roads, water and sanitation, fisheries, agriculture and solid waste infrastructure projects. UNOPS also provides expertise in procurement, fund management and human resources management services.

As part of its advisory services, UNOPS will work closely with members of the Sri Lankan civil society to provide them with skills, tools and training in Project Management and Finance Management to support their work in assisting the people and communities of Sri Lanka. As part of this initiative to strengthen technical skills and capacities, the selected candidate will work closely with selected partners in ensuring compliance to financial management standards and processes thereby improving the quality of their services, accountability and sustainability.

Under the guidance and supervision of the Programme Manager and the designated field supervisor, the Finance Associate provides guidance and advisory on financial processes and tasks to selected partners of the project. The Finance Associate has a high sense of responsibility for his duties, integrity, confidentiality and the ability to engage sensibly with local communities, people of different national and cultural backgrounds.

This position is located in Mullaitivu, Sri Lanka with frequent travels within the North and Eastern districts.

Functional Responsibilities

**Summary of Key Functions:

• Implementation of programme operational strategies
• Budgetary and project costing support
• Support to Treasury operations
• Accounting, billing and administrative support
• Financial reporting and control
• Lead knowledge building and knowledge sharing amongst partners

Ensures implementation of operational strategies, adapts processes and procedures focusing on achievement of the following results:** - Information gathering of partners financial operating frameworks - Full compliance with rules and regulations of financial processes, financial records and reports and audit follow up; implementation of the effective internal control framework. - Elaboration of the content of internal Standard Operating Procedures in Finance in consultation with the partners

Ensures efficient budgetary and project costing support, focusing on achievement of the following results:

• Information gathering for budget preparation.
• Preparation and processing of budget revisions for management projects
• Maintenance of budget databases by verifying and entering approved budgets.
• Review and adjustment of project expenditures/obligations against approved budgets.
• Processing of refunds cases to clients
• Project closures

Provides support in treasury operations, focusing on achievement of the following results: - Review and confirmation of appropriateness of operational transactions processed through the interpretation and determination of applicable policies, regulations, rules - Review of payment requests for completeness prior to processing, ensuring that documentation needed is complete and that all required procedures are fulfilled to enable the payment. - Review and confirmation of validity of charges by verifying authorized amounts, ensuring certification of availability of budget and funds. - Maintenance and control of petty cash fund and preparation of report for replenishment. - Frequent contact with the local bank to obtain day-to-day information on rates of exchange, interest rates, changes in procedures and bank regulations, etc. - Payment approvals - Application of accounts receivables - Opening/closing/replenishment of petty cash accounts

Provides accounting, billing and administrative support to partners focusing on achievement of the following results: - review of vouchers and supporting documentation for completeness, accuracy, compliance with Financial Rules and Regulations and correctness of account code charges. - Support of bank reconciliation report. Review for discrepancies and action as required. - Analysis of reports, investigation and preparation of adjustment as required. - Preparation of recurring, ad-hoc or special financial reports as required. - Communication with partners on areas requiring verification, corrections, additional information, etc. to improve quality of output and/or account submission and increase knowledge base in the process. - Reconciliation of ledger accounts and follow-up on discrepancies.

Ensures effective financial reporting and control, focusing on achievement of the following results: - Support for the preparation of monthly expenditure schedules and quarterly and year-end statements. - Contacts with project partners to verify, correct, add and improve quality of financial activities of a particular project, including financial reports. - Frequent contact with other finance staff in the organization in the preparation of payments, data reconciliation, client reporting, or audit activities. - Preparation of financial statements for clients.

Ensures facilitation of knowledge building and knowledge sharing, focusing on achievement of the following results: - Training of colleagues upon requests from partners in setting projects, budget revisions, troubleshooting and understanding of the processes on day to day financial transactions, reporting and other related tasks. - 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 quality of UNOPS partners financial management. Accurate analysis and presentation of financial information ensures proper financial management and improve the quality of public service provided to the communities.

Competencies

Treats all individuals with respect; responds sensitively to differences and encourages others to do the same. Upholds organizational and ethical norms. Maintains high standards of trustworthiness. Role model for diversity and inclusion.

Acts as a positive role model contributing to the team spirit. Collaborates and supports the development of others. For people managers only: Acts as positive leadership role model, motivates, directs and inspires others to succeed, utilizing appropriate leadership styles. Demonstrates understanding of the impact of own role on all partners and always puts the end beneficiary first. Builds and maintains strong external relationships and is a competent partner for others (if relevant to the role). Efficiently establishes an appropriate course of action for self and/or others to accomplish a goal. Actions lead to total task accomplishment through concern for quality in all areas. Sees opportunities and takes the initiative to act on them. Understands that responsible use of resources maximizes our impact on our beneficiaries. Open to change and flexible in a fast paced environment. Effectively adapts own approach to suit changing circumstances or requirements. Reflects on experiences and modifies own behavior. Performance is consistent, even under pressure. Always pursues continuous improvements. Evaluates data and courses of action to reach logical, pragmatic decisions. Takes an unbiased, rational approach with calculated risks. Applies innovation and creativity to problem-solving. Expresses ideas or facts in a clear, concise and open manner. Communication indicates a consideration for the feelings and needs of others. Actively listens and proactively shares knowledge. Handles conflict effectively, by overcoming differences of opinion and finding common ground.

Education/Experience/Language requirements

Education:

• Completion of secondary school or equivalent.
• Diploma or certification in finance-related subjects or business administration.

Experience: - 3 to 6 years of progressively responsible finance experience is required at the national level. - Solid experience in the usage of computers.

Language: - Fluency in written and oral English is required. - Fluency in written and oral Tamil is required.

Contract type, level and duration

Contract type: Individual Contractor Agreement Contract level: Local ICA Support Contract duration: Open-ended, subject to organizational requirements, availability of funds and satisfactory performance

For more details about the ICA contractual modality, please follow this link: https://www.unops.org/english/Opportunities/job-opportunities/what-we-offer/Pages/Individual-Contractor-Agreements.aspx

Additional Considerations

• **The **position is open to Sri Lankan nationals only.****
• Qualified female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.
• Please note that the closing date is midnight Copenhagen time
• Applications received after the closing date will not be considered.
• Only those candidates that are short-listed for interviews will be notified.
• UNOPS seeks to reasonably accommodate candidates with special needs, upon request.
• Work life harmonization - UNOPS values its people and recognizes the importance of balancing professional and personal demands. We have a progressive policy on work-life harmonization and offer several flexible working options. This policy applies to UNOPS personnel on all contract types
• For staff positions only, UNOPS reserves the right to appoint a candidate at a lower level than the advertised level of the post
• For retainer contracts, you must complete a few Mandatory Courses (around 4 hours) in your own time, before providing services to UNOPS.
• The incumbent is responsible to abide by security policies, administrative instructions, plans and procedures of the UN Security Management System and that of UNOPS.

It is the policy of UNOPS to conduct background checks on all potential recruits/interns. Recruitment/internship in UNOPS is contingent on the results of such checks.