Finance Assistant 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 below:

Job Title: Finance Assistant

Job Identification: 11136
Location: Abuja
Job Schedule: Full Time
Contract Duration: 1 year with Possibility for extension
Vacancy Type: Fixed Term
Practice Area: Effectiveness
Bureau: Regional Bureau for Africa
Grade: G5

Job Description

• The Finance team supports the Country Office (CO) in the promotion of its sustainable development agenda by continuously enhancing CO financial performance, delivering sound management of financial resources, and ensuring strong accountability through informed decision making, effective financial management processes, and transparent financial reporting that complies with international standards and regulatory guidelines.
• Under the guidance and overall supervision of the Deputy Resident Representative – Operations and direct supervison of the Finance Analyst, the Finance Assistant provides financial services ensuring high quality, accuracy and consistency of work. The Finance Assistant promotes a client-oriented approach consistent with UNDP rules and regulations.
• The Finance Assistant works in close collaboration with the Operations, Programme and projects’ staff in the Country Office (CO) and with UNDP HQ and GSSC staff to exchange information and ensure consistent service delivery.
• 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
Support implementation of operational strategies:

• Ensure full compliance of financial processes and financial records with UNDP Programme and Operations Policies and Procedures (POPP) and strategies.
• Provide input to the Finance unit and office management in preparing and reviewing CO business processes mapping and elaboration of the content of internal standard operating procedures in finance in consultation with the direct supervisor and office management.

Support functioning of the optimal cost-recovery system:

• Provide inputs for preparation of cost-recovery and Direct Project Costs (DPC) bills in ERP for the services provided by UNDP, and follow up on cost recovery.

Provide accounting and administrative support to the Finance unit:

• Provide support in ensuring proper control of the supporting documents for payment invoices and proper document management including systematic archiving.
• Prepare financial reports for non-development projects and management funds/budget balance.
• Prepare all types of invoices for projects and on behalf of UNOPS and non-ERP Agencies.
• Maintain a proper filing system for finance records and documents.
• Maintain the internal expenditures control system which ensures that invoices processed are matched and completed; transactions are correctly recorded and posted in ERP; and travel claims and other entitlements are duly processed.
• Provide information on the status of financial resources as required.
• Take timely corrective actions on unposted invoices, including invoices with validation errors, match exceptions, and/or unapproved invoices.
• Manage cash receipts and petty cash.
• Maintain the Accounts Receivables for UNDP projects in ERP.

Ensure proper functioning of CO cash and Treasury management systems:

• Serve as alternate to Finance Associate (ICS-6) for timely review of cash position for local accounts to ensure sufficient funds for disbursements and maintain liquidity level approved by Treasury.  Identify and record receipts and create deposits for revenue application on a timely basis.
• Identify and record contributions.
• Prepare timely and accurate bank reconciliations and provide documentation to GSSC according to service level agreement.
• Initiate bank transfers and deals in ERP.

Support knowledge building and knowledge sharing in the CO:

• Participate in the training for the operations/ projects staff on finance.
• Provide contributions to knowledge networks and communities of practice.

Required Skills and Experience
Education:

• Secondary Education with specialized certification in accounting and/or finance.
• A University Degree in Finance or Accounting is desirable.
• Part-qualified accountants from an internationally accredited institute of accountancy will have a distinct advantage.
• Candidates with accountancy certification from an internationally accredited institute of accountancy will have a distinct advantage. Candidates without certification but with relevant experience must complete the UNDP Finance Training and Certification Programme (FTCP), if recruited.

Experience:

• 5 years (with High School Diploma) or 2 years (with Bachelor’s Degree) of progressively responsible finance and accounting experience at the national or international level is required.
• Experience in the use of computers and office software packages (MS Word, Excel, etc.) and advanced knowledge of spreadsheets and web-based management systems such as ERP financials and database packages.
• Knowledge of IPSAS and/or IFRS is desired.

Language:

• Fluency in English, the UN language of the duty station is 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 (insert up to 7 competencies):

Thematic Area – Name – Definition:
Business Management (Thematic Area) – Customer Satisfaction/Client Management (Name):

• 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 Development (Thematic Area) – Knowledge Generation (Name):

• Ability to research and turn information into useful knowledge, relevant for context, or responsive to a stated need.

Business Management (Thematic Area) – Working with Evidence and Data (Name):

• Ability to inspect, cleanse, transform and model data with the goal of discovering useful information, informing conclusions and supporting decision-making.

Administration & Operations (Thematic Area) – Documents and Records Management (Name):

• Overall document (hard or electronic) management; registry and retention policy including storing and archiving.

Finance (Thematic Area) – Accounting (General):

• Knowledge of accounting concepts, principles, regulations, policies and ability to apply this to strategic and/or practical situations.

Finance (Thematic Area) – Financial  Reporting and  Analysis (Name):

• 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.

Finance (Thematic Area) – Audit:

• Ability to examine and verify accounts and records

Deadline: 16th June, 2023 (04:59 AM).

Method of Application
Interested and qualified candidates should:
Click here to apply online

Note

• Continuance of appointment beyond the initial 12 months is contingent upon the successful completion of a probationary period.
• 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.
• 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.
• The United Nations does not charge any application, processing, training, interviewing, testing or other fee in connection with the application or recruitment process.
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