G6 Finance Associate (Roster Recruitment) - For Malaysian National only
Provide financial services ensuring effective and transparent utilization of financial resources.
Overview
Provide financial services ensuring effective and transparent utilization of financial resources.
You have:
- Minimum 6 years of relevant experience in finance at the national or international level with secondary school education or 3 years with a Bachelor's degree.
- Fluency in English and working knowledge of other UN language (French/Spanish/Arabic) desirable.
- Knowledge of IPSAS and/or IFRS is required for external candidates.
- Advanced knowledge of spreadsheet and database packages is required.
- Experience in the usage of computers and MS Office packages.
- Part-qualified accountants from an internationally accredited institute of accountancy will have a distinct advantage.
Contract
This is a G-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 1,434 USD.
Salary for a G-6 contract in Kuala Lumpur
The salary of a G-6 depends on the duty station. The minimum salary there is 5,875 MYR (~1,434 USD) Please note that depending on the location, a higher post adjustment might still result in a lower purchasing power.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.
More about G-6 contracts.This is a Fixed Term contract. More about Fixed Term contracts.
Background
With offices in Copenhagen, Kuala Lumpur, Dakar, Amman, Panama City and Istanbul, the Global Shared Services Centre (GSSC) services over 180 countries, 40,000 personnel and more than 40 other UN Agencies and Organizations. Through its functional service lines, GSSC ensures high quality and timely delivery of human resources, financial and procurement services as well as information and innovative tools to its various clients and stakeholders.
The GSSC is led by the Director, who reports to the Director of Bureau for Management Services (BMS). Reporting to the Finance Analyst/Associate, the Finance Associate works collaboratively within the GSSC Finance Service Delivery Teams with a client-oriented approach.
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
quality assurance and compliance
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 in Finance in consultation with office management.
- Elaboration of proposals and implementation of cost saving and reduction strategies in consultations with office management.
- Review, analyze and recommend improved work processes.
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 NEX projects.
- Approval of vendors in ERP (as a senior member of the Finance team).
- Maintenance of the internal expenditures control system which ensures that vouchers processed are matched and completed, transactions are correctly recorded and posted in ERP; payrolls 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 vouchers, including the vouchers with budget check errors, match exceptions, unapproved vouchers. 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 (assets, cash, investment, and others).
- Support the Team Lead in the preparation of investment financial schedules, internal reports production of working papers and variance analysis reports and support to the preparation of annual financial statements.
- 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.
3. Ensures proper cash management focusing on achievement of the following results:
- 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.
- Daily review of zero-balance account bank statements in ERP to monitor imprest level; identification and recording of contributions.
- Alternate to Finance Analyst (or Operations Manager) as primary contact with bank management on routine operational matters including negotiation of exchange rate on replenishment.
- Approval and submission of monthly UN exchange rate report to Treasury.
- Timely and accurate preparation of bank reconciliations.
- Selecting bank transfers and deals for approval and settlements.
- Performing pay cycle manager role in ERP.
- Timely preparation of monthly cashflow forecast for use by Operations Manager/Finance Analyst. Liaison with UN Agencies to obtain estimate of their cash requirements.
- Alternate as cashier for cash disbursements made on site.
4. Ensures quality assurance and compliance with regulations and rules, best practice and guidance:
- Performs post facto reviews of transactions and works with relevant offices to address any impediments/improve service.
- Completes reports on spot/check findings and provide recommendations for remedial action.
- Monitors and updates the GSSU risk register in consultation with GSSU Service Teams Leads.
- Supports development and training in respect of service lines, workflows, and standard operating procedures to be amended or optimized.
- Supports standardization through developing and establishing quality assurance mechanisms and assists in the development of the training and onboarding process for new GSSU staff.
Supervisory/Managerial Responsibilities: The Finance Associate functions as team lead within the service delivery team, overseeing the work of more junior colleagues as required.
Competencies
Core
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.
Finance - Accounting (General)
Knowledge of accounting concepts, principles, frameworks, standards, regulations, policies and trends, and ability to apply this to strategic and/or practical situations.
Finance - 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, analyzing and reporting.
Finance - 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 and turn information into useful knowledge, relevant for context, or responsive to a stated need.
Business Direction and 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 - 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. University degree in Finance or Accounting desirable.
- Part-qualified accountants from an internationally accredited institute of accountancy will have a distinct advantage.
Longlisted candidates may be required to take the UNDP Accounting and Finance Test (AFT).
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.
- Experience in the usage of computers and MS Office packages.
- Advanced knowledge of spreadsheet and database packages.
- Hands-on experience with CRM.
- Hands-on experience with Enterprise Resources Planning (ERP), preferably with PeopleSoft/Oracle.
- Knowledge of IPSAS and/or IFRS is required for external candidates.
Fluency in English. Working knowledge of other UN language (French/Spanish/Arabic) desirable.
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.
Scam warning
The United Nations does not charge any application, processing, training, interviewing, testing or other fee in connection with the application or recruitment process. Should you receive a solicitation for the payment of a fee, please disregard it. Furthermore, please note that emblems, logos, names and addresses are easily copied and reproduced. Therefore, you are advised to apply particular care when submitting personal information on the web.
Potential interview questions
| Describe a situation where you improved a financial process. What was your approach? | The interviewer is assessing your problem-solving and analytical skills in finance processes. | Provide a specific example, including your role, actions taken, and the outcome. |
| How do you ensure compliance with financial regulations in your work? | The interviewer wants to understand your knowledge of compliance and how it affects your tasks. | Pro members can see the explanation. |
| Can you give an example of an effective cost-saving strategy you implemented? | Pro members can see the explanation. | Pro members can see the explanation. |
| How do you prioritize your tasks in a busy financial environment? | Pro members can see the explanation. | Pro members can see the explanation. |
| What tools do you use for financial analysis and reporting? | Pro members can see the explanation. | Pro members can see the explanation. |
| Describe a challenging financial issue you encountered and how you resolved it. | Pro members can see the explanation. | Pro members can see the explanation. |
| What experience do you have with ERP systems? | Pro members can see the explanation. | Pro members can see the explanation. |
| How do you handle discrepancies in financial reports? | Pro members can see the explanation. | Pro members can see the explanation. |