UN WOMEN Jobs - 58408- Finance Associate

Finance Associate

Advertised on behalf of

UN WOMEN

Location :

New Delhi, INDIA

Type of Contract :

Service Contract

Starting Date :

Application Deadline :

03-Aug-15 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

SB-3

Duration of Initial Contract :

One Year

Languages Required :

English

Expected Duration of Assignment :

one year

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

UN Women, grounded in the vision of equality enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations, works 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.

Within the overall context of UN Women’s Strategic Plan for India and Bhutan, UN WOMEN MCO in New Delhi under the Governance Programme is implementing three year project, “Gender-responsive governance leading to better outcomes for women based on improved access to their rights and entitlements”, the programme will support central governments of India and Bhutan and at the state level in India. The project is aimed to strengthen the capacities of governance institutions to better leverage opportunities created for Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment through legislation, policies and programmes. The project will advance this objective by supporting civil society participation as well as government transparency and accountability for gender responsive governance.

The focus of the programme is to:

Develop a body of evidence to inform and enhance the capacity of governance institutions to leverage opportunities created through legislation, policies and programmes;
Pilot test gender responsive implementation of flagship schemes to inform policy change on mainstreaming gender issues;
Strengthen the capacity of national and state level government institutions to deliver on international and national commitments on women’s rights and gender equality

The outcomes for the three year project (2015 – 2018) are:

Outcome 1:

Enhanced accountability and transparency of governance institutions to ensure gender responsive design and implementation of legislation, policies and programmes.

Outcome 2:

Strengthened implementation of Normative Frameworks for gender equality at the international, national and sub-national levels thereby enhancing government accountability.

Under the guidance and supervision of the Operations Manager, Finance Specialist or Finance Associate, the Finance Associate – Governance Programme provides financial services ensuring high quality, accuracy and consistency of work. The Finance Associate promotes a client-oriented approach consistent with UN WOMEN rules and regulations.

The Finance Associate – Governance Programme works in close collaboration with the Operations, Management Support and Business Development, Programme and other teams in the MCO and with UNDP staff to exchange information and ensure consistent service delivery.

Duties and Responsibilities

Provides support for the administration and implementation of Governance programme/operations strategies focusing on achievement of the following results:

Full compliance with 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;
Analyze/interpret the financial rules and regulations, as well as established policies and procedures, and provide advice and recommend solutions to a wide range of financial issues;
Review draft for agreements with implementing partners.

Provides effective support to administration of budgets and functioning of the optimal cost-recovery system focusing on achievement of the following results:

Presentation of information for formulation of work plans, budgets, proposals on implementation arrangements and execution modalities;
Support Governance team in establishment of Project budget preparation, modification, monitoring system, control of budgetary status versus authorized spending limit (ASL) and budget delivery levels;
Ensures compliance with donor’s requirement as necessary, liaison with the project senior staff on project related financial issues;
Monitor utilization against contribution received from the donor and follow-up with programme colleagues for ensuring timely receipt of contribution;
Ensure adequate cash balances for smooth implementation of the project activities;
Ensures accuracy of financial data for implementation of Governance programme;
Tracking and preparing spreadsheets on mobilized resources;
Provision of guidance to the executing agencies on routine implementation of projects, tracking use of financial resources.
Extraction of data from various sources;
Research and retrieval of statistical data from internal and external sources; preparation of statistical charts, tables and reports;
Maintenance of the filing system;
Follow up on deadlines, commitments made, actions taken and coordination of collection and submission of the reports to head of unit.

Provides accounting and administrative support to the Governance Programme focusing on achievement of the following results:

Proper control of the supporting documents for payments, preparation of the supporting documents for payments and financial reports for projects; processing of PO and non-PO vouchers for development projects;
Processing of transactions, ensuring that they are correctly recorded and posted in Atlas in conformity with the internal expenditures control system;
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 corrective actions on erroneous data in Atlas. Preparation of financial reports as required;
Monitoring the financial data in the ERP system and take adequate steps to ensure the accuracy of the data;
Provision of inputs to reports including donor reports;
Compilation of data for internal/external audit;
Follow-up and/or take action on audit recommendations to ensure implementation of corrective actions. Assist in reviewing the audit reports on NGO executed projects;
Liaise with programme colleagues on timely receipt and accuracy of quarterly FACE reports.

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

Participation in the organization of training for the office staff on programme/operations related issues;
Synthesis of lessons learned and best practices in programme finance;
Sound contributions to knowledge networks and communities of practice.

Any other duties assigned by the supervisor.

Competencies

Functional Competencies:

Basic research and analysis:

Researches best practices and poses new, more effective ways of doing things;
Identifies and communicates opportunities to promote learning and knowledge sharing.

Job Knowledge/Technical Expertise:

Fundamental knowledge of processes, methods and procedures

Understands the main processes and methods of work regarding to the position;
Possesses knowledge of organizational policies and procedures relating to the position and applies them consistently in work tasks (specialized knowledge related to financial resources management, including formulating budgets, maintaining Accounts Receivables and Accounts Payables, reporting);
Strives to keep job knowledge up-to-date through self-directed study and other means of learning;
Demonstrates good knowledge of information technology and applies it in work assignments.

Promoting Organizational Change and Development:

Presentation of information on best practices in organizational change

Documents ‘best practices’ in organizational change and development within and outside the UN system;
Demonstrates ability to identify problems and proposes solutions.

Design and Implementation of Management Systems:

Data gathering and implementation of management systems

Uses information/databases/other management systems;
Makes recommendations related to work procedures and implementation of management systems.

Client Orientation:

Maintains effective client relationships

Reports to internal and external clients in a timely and appropriate fashion;
Organizes and prioritizes work schedule to meet client needs and deadlines;
Responds to client needs promptly.

Promoting Accountability and Results-Based Management:

Gathering and disseminating information

Maintains databases.

Core Competencies:

Demonstrate corporate knowledge and sound judgment;
Self-development, initiative-taking;
Acting as a team player and facilitating team work;
Facilitating and encouraging open communication in the team, communicating effectively;
Creating synergies through self-control;
Managing conflict;
Learning and sharing knowledge and encourage the learning of others;
Promoting learning and knowledge management/sharing is the responsibility of each staff member;
Informed and transparent decision making.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Graduation in Commerce;
Specialized certification in Accounting and Finance from a recognized institute of accountancy will have a distinct advantage;
UN Accounting and Finance Training and Certification.

Experience:

6 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 Atlas, IPSAS and/or IFRS desirable.

Language:

Fluency in English and working knowledge of the national language of the duty station.