Finance Associate 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 Associate

Job Identification: 7612
Location: Abuja (with possibility of a roster for other states in Nigeria)
Grde: G6
Job Schedule: Full time
Vacancy Type: Fixed Term
Contract Duration: 10 months
Practice Area: Crisis management / Country Management Support
Agency: UNDP
Bureau: Regional Bureau for Africa

Background

• UNDP CO in Nigeria needs to engage a Finance Associate to fill a vacant position in the Finance Unit due to a gap. Under the guidance and supervision of the Head of Finance team, the Finance Associate ensures effective execution of financial services and processes in CO and transparent utilization of financial resources. The Finance Associate promotes a client-oriented approach consistent with UNDP rules and regulations.
• The Finance Associate works in close collaboration with the operations, programme and projects’ staff in the CO, and other UN Agencies and with UNDP HQs staff for resolving finance-related issues and information exchange.
• The key results have an impact on the overall execution of the CO financial services and success in implementation of operational strategies.  Accurate analysis and presentation of financial information ensures proper financial processes in the CO.

Duties and Responsibilities
Ensures implementation of operational and financial management strategies, adapts processes and procedures focusing on achievement of the following results:

• Full compliance with UN/UNDP rules and regulations of financial processes, financial records and reports and audit follows up; implementation of the effective internal control framework.
• CO finance business processes mapping and elaboration of the content of internal Standard Operating Procedures in Finance in consultation with the direct supervisor and office management.
• Provision of inputs for implementation of cost-saving and reduction strategies in consultation with the office management.
• Preparation of cost sharing and trust fund agreements, follow up on contributions within the CO resource mobilization efforts.

Ensures administration of budgets and functioning of the optimal cost-recovery system focusing on achievement of the following results:

• Preparation and modifications of budgets for UNDP management projects, follow-up with HQs on ASL for management projects.
• Presentation of researched information for planning and status of financial resources of the CO.
• Sending project budget to KK if authorized by the Senior Management (can be done only based on signed prodocs and project budgets).
• Timely preparation of cost-recovery bills in Atlas for the services provided by UNDP, implementation of the income tracking system and follow up on cost recovery.

Provides accounting and administrative support to the Finance Unit and performs Global payroll functions focusing on achievement of the following results:

• Proper control of the supporting documents for payments and financial reports for NIM projects; Preparation/Finalized of all types of payment requests to be submitted to GSSC for creation/approval for vouchers; Follow up for Pay Cycle and payments execution.
• Global payrolls processing in Atlas by preparing and submitting to GSSC the File approved of one time Earning and deductions. Follow up the payroll until the signoff and sending the bank transfer to the bank. 
• Follow up weekly all payment requests in Atlas and 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.
• Timely corrective actions on erroneous data in Atlas. Preparation of financial reports as required.
• Maintenance 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 and processed; submits to GSSC all TRs outstanding travel tickets for payment, MPOs and other entitlements are duly processed
• Timely accounts closure
• Maintenance of the Accounts Receivables for UNDP projects and follow-up with Agencies contributions to Common Services, Submit to GSSC the deposits creation in Atlas and their application to AR pending items.

Ensures proper CO cash management functioning focusing on achievement of the following results: 

• Support drafting and use of blogs, social media, and communities of practice to ensure wide dissemination of positions, events, debates on programmatic work and related issues
• Support continuous analysis and collation of lessons learnt, best practices and impact in the area of communications for development
• Finance Associate for daily review of zero-balance account bank statements in Atlas to monitor imprest level; identification and recording of contributions.
• Preparation of monthly UN exchange rate report to Treasury.
• Timely and accurate preparation of bank reconciliations by submitting bank statements to GSSC, follow up all bank transactions with local bank.
• Finance Associate for timely preparation of monthly cashflow forecast for use by Finance Analyst. Liaison with UN Agencies to obtain estimate of their cash requirement. 
• Support the drafting and dissemination of project reports to donor partners, Government, private sector and other relevant partners
• Finance Associate for 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.
• Submit to GSSC Paycycle the request for creation and approval for deals in Atlas after the estimation for cash needs.

Ensures facilitation of knowledge building and knowledge sharing in the CO focusing on achievement of the following results:

• Organization of trainings for the operations/ projects staff on Finance
• Synthesis of lessons learnt and best practices in financial management.
• Sound contributions to knowledge networks and communities of practice.

Required Skills and Experience
Education:

• 6 years of progressively responsible finance and accounting experience is required.

Experience:

• 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. Knowledge of IPSAS required.

Language Requirements:

• Fluency in oral and written English; knowledge of other official UN languages is desirable.

Required Skills:

• Accounting
• PEOPLESOFT Skills
• Use of Software Packages

Competencies
Core Competencies:

• 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:
Thematic Area - Name:

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

Business Management - Partnership Management:

• Ability to build and maintain partnerships with wide networks of stakeholders, Governments, civil society and private sector partners, experts and others in line with UNDP strategy and policies

Business Development - UNDP Representation:

• Ability to represent UNDP and productively share UNDP knowledge and activities; advocate for UNDP, its values, mission and work with various constituencies

Business Development - Knowledge Generation:

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

Business Management - Digital Awareness and Literacy:

• Ability and inclination to rapidly adopt new technologies, either through skilfully grasping their usage or through understanding their impact and empowering others to use them as needed

Business Management - Partnerships Management:

• Ability to build and maintain partnerships with wide networks of stakeholders, Governments, civil society and private sector partners, experts and others in line with UNDP strategy and policies

Business Development - Integration within the UN:

• Ability to identity, and integrate capacity and assets of the UN system, and engage in joint work; knowledge of the UN System and ability to apply this knowledge to strategic and/or practical situations

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

Application Deadline  4th January, 2023 (05:59 AM).

Important Notice

• Continuance of appointment beyond the initial 12 months is contingent upon the successful completion of a probationary period.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.
• Disclaimer: 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.
• 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.
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