finance associate

Contract

This is a GS-6 contract. This kind of contract is known as General Service and related categories. It is normally only for nationals. It usually requires 6 years of experience, depending on education.

Salary

The salary for this job should be more than 2,265 USD.

Please keep in mind that the salary displayed here is an estimation by UN Talent based on the location and the type of contract. It may vary depending on the organization. The recruiter should be able to inform you about the exact salary range. In case the job description contains another salary information, please refer to this one.

Background

Context

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 Operations Manager, the Finance Assistant provides financial services to the Office Operations ensuring high quality and accuracy of work. The Finance Assistant promotes a client, quality and results-oriented approach.

The Finance associate works in close collaboration with the Operations, Programme and projects staff, and the Operations team to ensure consistent service delivery.

Duties and Responsibilities

Responsabilities

Implement financial strategies, and adapt processes and procedures in full compliance of UN Women rules, regulations, policies, and recording and reporting systems:

•Review and verify financial transactions, activities, and documentation.

•Finalize reports on financial status, procedures, exchange rates, costs and expenditures.

•Monitor financial exceptions reports for unusual activities or transaction, investigate anomalies and report to the supervisor conclusions and/or present recommendations for actions/decisions;

•Follow-up on audit recommendations to monitor implementation of corrective actions;

•Collect, verify and present information and data for use in the planning of financial resources and the formulation of the Country Office work plans, budgets, proposals on implementation arrangements and execution modalities;

•Monitor the proper functioning of the financial resources management system for the Country Office and programmatic budgets and resources;

•Implement and monitor cost saving and reduction strategies;

•Finalize cost sharing and Trust Fund agreements including conditions of contributions within resource mobilization efforts. Follow up on contributions within the DRC CO resource mobilization efforts;

•Review with Budget owners and the Program Managers, in line with Month-end Closure Checklist, the Country Office and related programs/projects;

•Delivery Status Report and investigate any overspend;

•Participate as a member of the DRC Country Office team in the internal and external audits of the Country Office.

•Liaise with the Finance officers of the Programme partners, including, to ensure continuous monitoring of the Programme delivery.

•Provide expert advice to UN Women and Programme partners, and recommend solutions to a wide range of programs related financial issues;

•Prepare and administer the Country Office and office programs/projects budgets in full compliance of UN Women rules, regulations, policies, and recording and reporting systems;

•Support the formulation of the budget, control allotments, monitor expenditures, and prepare revisions according to the needs of the Country Office and its related projects and programs;

•Track the appropriate and timely use of financial resources including through the preparation of monthly detailed core and non-core resources delivery reports;

•Finalize cost recovery documents or bills for the services provided by UN Women to other programs or organizations;

•Ensure the maintenance of the control mechanism for development projects through monitoring budgets preparation and modifications and budgetary status;

•Maintain internal expenditure control system;

•Undertake corrective actions on un-posted vouchers, including vouchers with budget check errors, match exceptions and unapproved vouchers. Frequently review and investigate payment vouchers which are in error;

•Prepare VAT reimbursements with adequate documentation support, as necessary;

•Input data in Atlas and monitor status. Keep stakeholders and clients informed for timely action and/or decisions;

•Ensure that project budgets are entered correctly and on time into ATLAS;

•Assist the program managers with budget re-phrasal as required;

•Provide technical advice and train program partners on financial reporting;

•Provide support to Programs’ partners on the preparation of integrated annual program budgets;

•Provide finance support to the Country Office and related projects and programs Team:

•Review accounts receivables for UN Women DRC CO and related programs and follow-up with program managers, and finance section at regional office and/or headquarters on contributions, deposits creation in Atlas;

•Prepare PO and non-PO vouchers for development projects;

•Review transactions in Atlas, ensure payroll, travel claims, MPOs, and other entitlements are processed;

•Support the preparation of budgets for PCAs and LOAs with IPs;

•Maintain proper follow up of advances to implementing partners, review their financial reports together with the program managers;

•Monitor the financial status and under the guidance of the program managers implement control mechanisms for management/development projects;

•Keep stakeholders and clients informed for timely actions/decisions and review status reports for quality control;

•Provide information to the executing agencies on routine implementation of projects;

•Manage projects closure, ensuring operational and financial due diligence;

•Associate revenue and expenditure in commitment control for non-core projects.

•Maintain auditable records of all expenditure reviewed against source documents by Implementing Partners and Projects;

•Gather information for, coordinate with partners and lead the preparation of integrated financial reports.

Financial control, due diligence and risk management for the Country Office and related programs and Implementing Partners (IPs):

•Contribute to financial business operational practices and management innovations

•Improve capacity of IPs to effectively manage funds, by providing trainings and capacity building activities;

•Mitigate and minimize risks related to the utilization of funds and cash transfers through assessment of the IPs’ financial management capacity, field monitoring and annual reviews;

•Support improving the IPs’ internal financial controls through assurance activities;

•Check accuracy of Projects and IPs’ reporting on the use of funds and cash transfers; and provide support as required;

•Perform proper controls and due diligence for the programs/projects’ payments and advances’ liquidations, and raising any significant issues with the supervisor and program manager for resolution;

•Act as the Country Office focal point for the Audits on IPs;

•Support the implementation of the UN Harmonized Approach to Cash Transfer (HACT) as required.

Facilitation of knowledge building and knowledge sharing:

•Conduct training and/or helping organize training events and activities;

•Collect and compile lessons learned and best practices in financial management and services. Disseminate to clients and stakeholders as appropriate to build capacity and knowledge;

•Contribute to financial business operational practices and management innovations

Competencies

Key Performance Indicators

• Timely and quality technical financial management advice and support to project implementation
• Leadership in area financial management in the country
• Quality reports and other strategic documents drafted and submitted in a timely manner
• Strong relationships with various partners and stakeholders
• UN Women is well represented in important meetings on topics related to financial management
• Contributions to resource mobilization

• Timely and quality knowledge products

  Competences

  Core Values:

  •Respect for Diversity

  •Integrity

  •Professionalism

  Core Competencies:

  •Awareness and Sensitivity Regarding Gender Issues

  •Accountability

  •Creative Problem Solving

  •Effective Communication

  •Inclusive Collaboration

  •Stakeholder Engagement

  •Leading by Example

  Functional Competencies

  •Thorough knowledge of financial rules and regulations and accounting principles;

  •Excellent knowledge and application skills of IT tools and understanding of management systems;

  •Excellent knowledge of spreadsheet and database packages;

  •Ability to provide input to business processes re-engineering, implementation of new systems;

  •Ability to administer and execute financial and accounting processes and transactions.

  • Client oriented approach to work;

  •Skills to manage relationships and communicate.

Required Skills and Experience

Recruitment Qualifications

Education and certification:

Secondary education or undergraduate degree in finance, business administration, accounting or other related discipline, is required.

•Professional certification as qualified accountants from an internationally recognized institute of accountancy, CPA, CFA or similar is required.

•Successful completion of UN Women Accounting and Finance Test is required.

Experience

•A minimum of five (5) years of progressively responsible experience in accounting and financial management at the national or international level in a large public and/or not-for-profit organizations; in a large international and/or corporate organization, preferably in the UN system and its organizations or in Public International Development Organizations.

•Experience in the usage of office software packages (MS Word, Excel, etc) and advance knowledge of spreadsheet and database packages.

•Experience in web-based management systems and ERP financial systems such as PeopleSoft.

•Experience of IPSAS or IFRS highly desirable.