UNDP Jobs - 52147- Financial Resources Management Specialist

Financial Resources Management Specialist

Location :

New York, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

Type of Contract :

FTA International

Starting Date :

Application Deadline :

19-Dec-14 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

P-3

Duration of Initial Contract :

One Year Renewable

Languages Required :

English

Expected Duration of Assignment :

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.

Background

The Office of Financial Resources Management (OFRM), Bureau of Management, supports the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in the promotion of its sustainable human development agenda. It achieves this by developing and making fully operational a dynamic and harmonized integrated resource management framework based on comprehensive analysis that enhances UNDP’s financial and administrative performance, as well as facilitates UN reform and coherence. To these ends, the framework addresses strategically critical financial resource planning and management issues, including results based budgeting; the integration of the Programming Arrangements and the Institutional Budget within the context of the integrated budget from 2014 onwards; enhanced cost classification and cost recovery; capital budgeting; adherence to IPSAS; foreign exchange and investment activities; corporate reporting of organizational assets; performance management tools and initiatives; and support to UN harmonization.

Effective and efficient integrated resources management is enabled through a continuous and robust process comprising:

Formulation and implementation of corporate financial and administrative strategies, policies and procedures;
Formulation, alignment, documentation and implementation of UNDP’s funding frameworks, assuring their integrity, viability and alignment with the Strategic Plan;
Provision of policy guidance, advisory services and operational support to strengthen client capacities and help them achieve results, seeking to build consensus within UNDP and with key stakeholders on critical budgetary related matters requiring Executive Board legislation;
Administration of the organization’s internal control framework, overseeing and monitoring financial management of all global UNDP offices, including through formulation/implementation of resource planning, management and oversight tools and reports;
Promoting clear accountability for financial transactions and producing financial statements, including financial reporting to donors and the UNDP Executive Board;
Providing corporate reporting guidance to ensure that fixed assets are adequately recorded in all locations.

As part of OFRM's Finance and Budget Management Division, the Financial Resources Management Specialist directly undertakes activities and manages relationships to help ensure strategic resource planning and results based allocation of resources for UNDP Regional and Central Bureaux and Country Offices. The staff member will report to Financial Resources Manager, FBM who will have the primary supervisory responsibility for setting PMD objectives and evaluating performance.

Duties and Responsibilities

Working closely with the Financial Resources Manager, FBM and the Financial Resources Management Associates, FBM as well as his/her corporate clients, the incumbent is expected to provide effective monitoring and performance assessment of financial resource plans and allocations. While assisting OFRM to provide corporate monitoring and assessing the performance of Regional Bureaux (RBX), HQ units and Country Offices (COs) in ensuring resource management in compliance with overall corporate goals, s/he needs to: provide objective guidance and analyses; leverage opportunities provided by Atlas Finance application tools; contribute to and disseminate policies and best resource management practices; and provide inputs to the corporate decision-making process.

Monitoring of Financial Resources and Corporate Analytics:

Compiles and interprets critical resource data and projections as inputs to performance assessment and management decision-making process;
Assess performance of the HQ Units and COs against the financial dashboard and other financial indicators, identifying areas of improvement;
Analyzes trends in resource plans, allocations and budgets to assess the organization’s direction;
Assesses and monitors the utilization of all management resources (operating/staff) and development resources (regular/other), to confirm availability of resources, integrity of balances and provision for reserves;
Assist the Manager, Financial Resources in the development and provision of policies and procedures on financial resources and budget management.

Performance Assessment and Feedback:

Participates in indicator and target setting to establish reliable performance assessment criteria;
Coordinates, compiles, analyses and interprets performance related data for resources and results, to facilitate senior management’s review and assessment of such;
Supports the refinement and development of performance assessment tools to enhance the performance assessment process.

Monitor adherence to UNDP’s cost recovery policies:

Monitor adherence to UNDP’s cost recovery policies and manage cost-recovery related funding sources to include; 1) HQs Central XB Account;

2) HQs Reimbursable Services (RS) Account through monitoring of RS income and expenditure, in coordination with Client Service Teams; and 3) UN Reimbursable Services and Jointly Financed Activities;
Provide inputs to enhance Atlas, including design of enhanced GMS functionality, monitoring and reporting;
Enhanced attribution of organizational costs to development projects with emphasis on activities related to DIM and CO support to NIM (direct project costing);
Further sharpening in the attribution of centrally managed costs through ongoing analyses, pro-forma cost build-ups and management of reserve accounts;
Sustainable funding of reimbursable services provided by COs (UPL) and by HQs to UN Agencies.

Managerial Functions:

Resource Management by supporting the Financial Resources Manager, FBM in providing strategic and data inputs;
Manage periodic financial tasks, including the update of pro-forma cost information and UPL costs;
Content Management by ensuring (1) prescriptive content within functional area is continuously updated and available (2) Best Practices are continuously identified, documented and made available to clients and peers and (3) appropriate and up-to-date information and learning tools are available;
Information Technology Management through leveraging PeopleSoft functionality for improved business results, simplification of transaction and reporting processes.

·Matrix Management by ensuring product/results, handovers and consultations are prepared and executed, as well as effective and efficient management of a multitude of partnerships with clients and external stakeholders.

Other Duties:

Participate in other strategic initiatives within the Office of Financial Resources Management.

Competencies

Corporate Competencies

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

Functional Competencies

Knowledge of UNDP Financial Regulations and Rules, policies and procedures;
Able to assess risks and correctly analyze the likelihood of them occurring. Able to then prioritize action to the risks with the biggest business impact;
Understanding of the working of ERP. Thorough professional and technical knowledge of ATLAS Modules;
Continuously look for ways to enhance financial performance within the region, and reduce errors and wastage;
Operates in compliance with organizational regulations and rules;
Strong understanding of regulatory frameworks and instruments;
Strong financial management and accounting skills;
Strong analytical skills and sound judgment;
Strong IT skills, knowledge of management support software applications;
Must be able to manage a team of diverse nationalities to respond quickly to areas of concern.

Relationship Building

Developing and maintaining strong and productive business relationships with clients in the UN system, UNDP HQ, regional centers and Country Offices;
Ability to persuade country office management to adapt existing approaches and to acknowledge failings within their existing people and/or processes;

Management and Leadership

Ability to establish and spread best practices amongst the potential users. Ability to identify priority activities and adjusting priorities as required. Ability to work collaboratively with colleagues to achieve organizational goals, thus enabling a client-oriented environment. Ability to effectively manage human and financial resources – results oriented. Responds positively to feedback and differing points of view;

Professionalism

Proven skills and ability to identify issues, formulate opinions, draw conclusions and recommend solutions;
Remains calm whilst working effectively in stressful situations, Shows motivation and pursues continuous personal development and learning. Must be able to work as part of a multi-level team of diverse nationalities to respond quickly to areas of concern. Developing and maintaining strong and productive business relationships with Country Offices, Bureau management and with other clients in the UN system, UNDP HQ etc.

Communication

Proven ability to write in clear and concise manner and to orally communicate effectively;
Ask questions to clarify situations and exhibits interest in having two-way communication. Tailors language, tone, style and format to match the audience. Demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed;

Accountability

Takes ownership of all responsibilities and honors commitments. Delivers outputs for which one has responsibility within prescribed time, cost and quality standards. Operates in compliance with the Financial Regulations and Rules. Supports subordinates, provides oversight and takes responsibility for delegated assignments.

Judgment/Decision-Making

Identifies issues in a complex situation, gathers relevant information before making decisions. Able to assess in discussions the capabilities of country level staff and determine where and how improvement needs to take place;
Takes decisions with an eye to the impact on others and on UNDP. Proposes a course of action or makes a recommendation based on all available information. Checks assumptions against facts. Determines that the actions proposed will satisfy the expressed and underlying needs.

Knowledge Management and Learning

Encourages office staff to share knowledge and contribute to UNDP practice areas;
Actively works towards continuing personal learning and development in one or more Practice Areas, acts on learning plan and applies newly acquired skills;
Seeks and applies knowledge, information and best practices from within and outside of UNDP;
Provides constructive coaching, feedback and capacity building;
Focus on the development of the capacities of the staff in the Country Offices in the region.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Advanced (Masters) University Degree in Business Administration, or Finance/Accounting or a professional accounting qualification certificate from an internationally recognized institute of accountancy. Those with professional accounting qualification certificate from an internationally recognized institute of accountancy will have a distinct advantage.
Long-listed candidates will be required to undergo the UNDP Advanced Accountancy & Finance Test.

Experience:

Minimum 5 years’ experience in integrated resource management with proven expertise in the utilization of related software applications and programmes; Combined Country Office and HQs experience preferred
Experience of ERP (the Atlas) system.
Functional and operational knowledge of IFRS or IPSAS will be a distinct advantage.
Experience of IPSAS and/or IFRS is required for external candidates.

Language Requirements:

Fluency in English. Working knowledge of another UN language is an advantage, particularly Spanish or French