Background

Grounded in the vision of equality enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations, UN WOMEN will work 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. Placing women’s rights at the centre of all its efforts, UN WOMEN will lead and coordinate United Nations System efforts to ensure that commitments on gender equality and gender mainstreaming translate into action throughout the world. It will provide strong and coherent leadership in support of Member States’ priorities and efforts, building effective partnerships with civil society and other relevant actors.

UN WOMEN set up its office in Dhaka in 2006 at the invitation of the Government of Bangladesh and since then has been supporting the implementation of various programmes including: supporting government institutions in strengthening the national structures and mechanisms for gender mainstreaming in programme, projects, policies, actions and budgets; working for safe migration of women; supporting efforts for the elimination of violence against women; combating HIV/AIDS; CEDAW learning and sharing both at national and regional levels; and supporting Bangladesh’s participation in the Commission on the Status of Women and other global processes.

UN WOMEN works with a range of stakeholders in Bangladesh including the government, civil society and women’s organisations, UN agencies and donors, to promote gender equality and women’s empowerment.

Under the overall guidance of the Representative and the direct supervision of the Operations Manager, the Programme Finance Associate ensures effective execution of financial services and processes in the Country Office (CO) and transparent utilization of financial resources. The Programme Finance Associate promotes a client-oriented approach consistent with UN WOMEN rules and regulations.

The Programme Finance Associate may supervise clerical and support staff. The Programme Finance Associate works in close collaboration with the Programme and Operations teams in the CO, Regional Office and UN WOMEN HQ for resolving complex programme and finance-related issues.

Duties and Responsibilities

Summary of key functions:

• Administration and implementation of programme/ operations and financial management strategies;
• Support to management of the CO programme, administration of budgets and functioning of the optimal cost-recovery system;
• Accounting, finance and administrative support;
• Support to implementation of the resource mobilization strategy;
• Facilitation of knowledge building and knowledge sharing on financial matters.

Ensures administration and implementation of programme/operations and financial management strategies, adapts processes and procedures focusing on achievement of the following results:

• Full compliance with UN/ UN WOMEN rules and regulations and other relevant policies on 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;
• Bangladesh Country Office business processes mapping and elaboration of the content of internal Standard Operating Procedures in Finance in consultation with 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.

Provides effective support to management of the CO programme, administration of budgets and ensures optimal cost-recovery focusing on achievement of the following results:

• Sending project budget to KK (if authorized and on the basis of signed project documents and project budgets);
• Oversight in Atlas matching, implementation of effective internal controls, proper functioning of a client-oriented financial resources management system, control mechanism for development projects through monitoring budgets preparation and modifications, budgetary status versus ASL, follow up with HQs on ASL for development projects, maintenance on the General Ledger;
• Provision of information/reports on the financial and administrative situation in programmes, identification of operational and financial problems, proposal of solutions;
• Accuracy verification and Combined Delivery Reports;
• Regular monitoring of the Bangladesh Country Office  delivery;
• Provision of guidance to executing agencies and implementing partners on routine implementation of projects, tracking use of financial resources and reporting;
• Preparation of reports including donor reports;
• Periodic monitoring of dashboards and exceptions, identification of the remedial  actions in coordination with the supervisor;
• Presentation of thoroughly researched information for planning UN WOMEN Bangladesh financial resources;
• Provision of researched information for the audit of projects and support to the implementation of audit recommendations.

Provides accounting and administrative support to the Bangladesh Country Office focusing on achievement of the following results:

• Proper control of the supporting documents for payments and financial reports for projects; preparation of all types of vouchers;
• Approval of vendors in Atlas, ensuring accuracy;
• 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; travel claims, MPOs and other entitlements are duly processed;
• Timely accounts 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;
• Management of cash receipts and petty cash;
• Contribution to effective execution of operational strategies, focusing on accuracy and conformity with the established administrative rules and regulations;
• Well managed asset management and related administrative services, i.e. pouch, travel arrangements and processing of travel entitlements;
• Assist in capacity assessments of finance function of implementing partners and ability to meet financial reporting requirement;
• Provide guidance to implementing partners on request for the preparation of Financial Reports/FACE forms in accordance with UN WOMEN procedures;
• Proper and timely processing of implementing partners advances to NGOs and Government partners, in accordance with UN WOMEN policy and internal control framework;
• Tracking of outstanding advances and prompt follow up of overdue Financial Reports;
• Review of Financial Reports received including, on a sample basis, obtaining and reviewing expenditure against source documents maintained by the IP; raising any significant issues with the supervisor and project manager for resolution;
• Maintain auditable records of all expenditure reviewed against source documents by Implementing Partner and project;
• Unless written authorization is received from the Operations Manager, ensuring that at least 80% of advances are accounted for before issuing the next IP advance;
• Control of the supporting documents for payments and financial reports for preparation of relevant voucher i.e. payment vouchers, APJVs and GLJVs when necessary;
• Ensure audits of projects carried out in accordance with UN WOMEN procedures and follow up timely receipt of reports and follow up and correction of weaknesses and other issues identified by auditors.

Provides support to implementation of the resources mobilization strategy focusing on achievements of the following results:

• Monitoring of cost-sharing contributions, preparation of budget association;
• Maintenance of the Accounts Receivables for projects and follow-up with partners on contributions;
• Sound advice to Programme and Project Staff on different donor reporting requirements; monitoring of financial reports to be submitted to donors.

Ensures facilitation of knowledge building and knowledge sharing, guidance for all stakeholders on financial matters focusing on the achievements of the following results:

• Guidance to the UN WOMEN Bangladesh office on routine implementation of projects, tracking use and support preparation of reports on utilization of financial resources;
• Advice to project staff on UN WOMEN administrative and NGO reporting, in particular, on budgetary issues;
• Organization of training for the Operations/Project/Programme Staff on financial management;
• Synthesis of lessons learned and best practices in programme finance;
• Sound contributions to knowledge networks and communities of practice.

Impact Results

The key results have an impact on the overall Bangladesh CO efficiency in programme financial resources management and success in implementation of programme/ operations strategies.  Accurate analysis and presentation of financial information enhances UN WOMEN’s position as a strong partner. The information provided facilitates decision making of the management.

Competencies

Core values / guiding principals:

• Demonstrates commitment to UN WOMEN’s mission, vision and values;
• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability.

Core Competencies:

• Demonstrate corporate knowledge and sound judgment;
• Self-development, initiative-taking;
• Acting as a team player and facilitating team work;
• Learning and sharing knowledge and encourage the learning of others;
• Facilitating and encouraging open communication in the team, communicating effectively;
• Managing conflict;
• Remains calm, in control and good humored even under pressure;
• Focuses on result for the client and responds positively to feedback;
• Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude;
• Demonstrates openness to change and ability to manage complexities;
• Responds positively to feedback and differing points of view;
• Informed and transparent decision making.

Functional Competencies:

• Ability to perform a wide range of varied, inter-related complex financial services;
• Sound Knowledge of financial rules and regulations, accounting;
• Ability to extract, interpret and analyze data and resolve operational problems;
• Strong IT skills;
• Ability to support and train other staff and partners related to financial management and reporting;
• Ability to plan and organize work;
• Good knowledge of results-based management;
• Ability to provide input to business processes re-engineering, implementation of new system, including new IT based systems.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

• Secondary Education, with specialized certification in Accounting and Finance;
• University Degree in Finance, Business or Public Administration desirable, but not a requirement;
• Part-qualified accountants from an internationally recognized institute of accountancy will have a distinct advantage.

Experience: 

• 7 years of progressively responsible financial management experience is required, with knowledge of programme or project finance desirable;
• 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;
• Knowledge of IPSAS and/or IFRS required.

Language Requirements: 

• Fluency in English and Bangla.