UN WOMEN Jobs - 106678- Finance Associate

Finance Associate

Advertised on behalf of

UN WOMEN

Location :

Nairobi, KENYA

Type of Contract :

FTA Local

Starting Date :

Application Deadline :

31-May-22 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

GS-7

Duration of Initial Contract :

1 year

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

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.

Under the overall guidance of the Regional Operations Manager and the daily supervision of the Finance Specialist, the Finance Associate is responsible for the execution of a wide range of financial services and administrative processes in the Regional Office (RO), ensuring timeliness, efficiency and transparent use of financial resources and delivery of services in accordance with organizational financial rules, regulations, policies, procedures and approved allocations. The Finance Associate promotes a client-oriented approach consistent with UN Women rules and regulations, standard practices and guidelines.

The Finance Associate works within the Operations Team and in close collaboration with the Programme thematic teams of the Regional Office, providing finance-related transactional and information support.

Duties and Responsibilities

Implement financial strategies, and adapt processes and procedures in full compliance of UN Women rules, regulations, policies, and recording and reporting systems

Perform duties in full compliance with UN Women financial regulations and rules, policies and standard operating procedures, including internal controls;
Keep abreast of and ensure full compliance with amendments to International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSAS);
Review and verify financial transactions, activities, and documentation; taking corrective actions as needed and reporting any unusual activities;
Monitor financial exceptions reports for unusual activities or transaction, investigate anomalies and report to the supervisor conclusions and/or present recommendations for actions/decisions;
Collect, verify and present information and data for use in the planning of financial resources and the formulation of the Regional Office (RO) programme work plans, budgets, proposals on implementation arrangements and execution modalities;
Monitor the proper functioning of the financial resources management system for office and programmatic budgets and resources;
Review with Budget owners and Project Managers, in line with Month-end Closure Checklist, the Project Delivery Status Reports and investigate any overspend;
Respond to instructions from the Finance Specialist in relation to financial transactions. Undertake timely corrective actions as requested by Finance Section to resolve financial data issues or provide information;
Participate as a member of the Regional office team in the internal and external audits of the Regional Office or Country Offices in the region
Follow-up on audit recommendations to monitor implementation of corrective actions;
Actively promote a client-oriented finance service to Regional office and Country offices.

Provide finance support in the administration of RO budgets, in full compliance of UN Women rules, regulations, policies, and recording and reporting systems

Prepare budget revisions according to the needs of the RO;
Track the appropriate and timely use of financial resources;
Prepare cost recovery documents or bills for the services provided by UN Women to other programmes or organizations;
Create projects in Atlas, prepare budget revisions, revise project awards and status; and determine unutilized funds
Ensure the maintenance of the control mechanism for development projects through monitoring budgets preparation and modifications and budgetary status;
Undertake corrective actions on un-posted vouchers, including vouchers with budget check errors, match exceptions and unapproved vouchers. Frequently review and investigate payment vouchers which are in error; and respond to RO requests to resolve financial data issues;
Prepare VAT reimbursements with adequate documentation support, as necessary;
Input data in Atlas and monitor status. Keep stakeholders and clients informed for timely action and/or decisions;
Assist Project Managers with budget re-phrasal as required.

Provide finance support to the Programme and Operations teams

Review accounts receivables for UN Women projects and follow-up with project managers and finance section at regional office and/or headquarters on contributions, deposits creation in Atlas and their application to AR pending items;
Prepare PO and non-PO vouchers for development projects;
Prepare General Ledger journal entries (GLJEs) from proper supporting documents authorized by the budget owners and project managers;
Review transactions in Atlas, ensure payroll, travel claims, MPOs, and other entitlements are processed;
Monitor the setup of budgets in ATLAS to ensure they are in accordance with budgets agreed with donors and are input into ATLAS at the detailed Activity ID level;
Monitor each month over-expenditure of budgets and follow up with Budget Owner;
Monitor regularly transactions posted to projects ensuring actual expenditure has been recorded against correct budget category and activity, take timely corrective actions as required;
Maintain proper follow up of advances to implementing partners, review their financial reports together with project managers;
Monitor the financial status and under the guidance of the RO Finance Specialist implement control mechanisms for management/development projects;
Monitor and proper follow up of all the financial items in Month-end and Year-end closure instructions status and under the guidance of the RO Finance Specialist , take correction actions as required;
Keep stakeholders and clients informed for timely actions/decisions and review status reports for quality control;
Provide information inputs to financial reports for Regional Office, HQ Finance and stakeholders;
Provide inputs and take necessary actions to facilitate timely financial project closure.

Provide administrative support to Resource Mobilization

Compile and process information from donors, CO, and programme team, as inputs to various databases and documents.
Prepare drafts for cost sharing agreements including conditions of contributions within resource mobilization efforts, adhering to standard agreements where possible. Follow up on contributions within the CO resource mobilization efforts.

Facilitate knowledge building and knowledge sharing

Conduct training and/or helping organize training events and activities;
Collect and compile lessons learned and best practices in financial management and services. Disseminate to clients and stakeholders as appropriate to build capacity and knowledge;
Contribute to financial business operational practices and management innovations.
Supervise and guide staff and personnel under responsibility, as applicable, provide technical guidance and monitor performance to ensure delivery of results according to plans and standards of accountability and performance;
Undertake all trainings in relation to financial management provided, including webinars from headquarters.

Key Performance Indicators

Timely, complete and accurate financial transactions/activities/documentation
Timely and accurate advice on UN Women financial rules and regulations
Timely and regular monitoring of financial resources management system and timely expenditure of financial resources
Timely and accurate support to budget formulation and controlling allotments
Timely and accurate monitoring of internal expenditures control systems
Timely and quality financial support to programmes and programme team

Competencies

Core Values:

Respect for Diversity
Integrity
Professionalism

Core Competencies:

Awareness and Sensitivity Regarding Gender Issues
Accountability
Creative Problem Solving
Effective Communication
Inclusive Collaboration
Stakeholder Engagement
Leading by Example

Functional Competencies

Excellent knowledge of financial rules and regulations and accounting principles;
Excellent knowledge and application skills of IT tools and understanding of management systems;
Excellent knowledge of spreadsheet and database packages;
Ability to provide input to business processes re-engineering, implementation of new systems;
Ability to administer and execute financial and accounting processes and transactions.

Required Skills and Experience

Education and certification:

Completion of secondary education is required.
Specialized national or international certification in accounting and finance is an asset
Bachelor's degree in Finance or Accounting is an asset
Successful completion of UN Women Accounting and Finance Test is required.

Experience:

At least 7 years of progressively responsible experience in finance;
Experience in the usage of computers and office software packages (MS Word, Excel, etc) and spreadsheet and database packages, experience in handling of web based management systems.
Experience in the use of PeopleSoft ATLAS is an asset.

Language Requirements:

Fluency in English is required
Knowledge of the other UN official working language is an asset.

Please attach a completed P11 to your application. Kindly note that applications without a completed and signed UN Women P-11 form will be treated as incomplete and will not be considered for further assessment.

UN Women Personal History form (P-11) can be downloaded from http://www.unwomen.org/en/about-us/employment .

At UN Women, we are committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment of mutual respect. UN Women recruits, employs, trains, compensates, and promotes regardless of race, religion, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, ability, national origin, or any other basis covered by appropriate law. All employment is decided on the basis of qualifications, competence, integrity and organizational need.

If you need any reasonable accommodation to support your participation in the recruitment and selection process, please include this information in your application.

UN Women has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UN Women, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination. All selected candidates will be expected to adhere to UN Women’s policies and procedures and the standards of conduct expected of UN Women personnel and will therefore undergo rigorous reference and background checks. (Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check.)