Historique

Under the overall guidance of the DCD/Operations, the Finance and Budget Specialist supervises and leads support staff of the Finance Unit. The Finance Specialist works in close collaboration with the Management Support and Business Development, Programme, Operations, and project teams in the Country Office (CO), UNDP HQ staff and Government officials ensuring successful CO performance in Finance.

Devoirs et responsabilités

Summary of key functions:

• Advises senior managers in financial coherence analysis for programme resources and administrative budget : manages and monitors budget implementation  and recommands reallocation of funds as necessary – monitors expenditures to ensure that they remain within authorized levels - administers and monitors extrabugetary resources;
• Advises Programme Specialists and support staff on the programme delivery activities; supports the Programme Specialists on the financial management of projects;
• Provides advice and guidance concerning the UNDP Financial Rules, Regulations and procedures; oversees the CO financial management system, ensures the financial integrity of the CO through appropriate controls and reporting structures;
• Participates to the preparation of the bi-annual CO budget and ensures the effective utilization of the allotted financial resources;
• Implementation of operational and financial management strategies and procedures;
• Projects’ budgets management and organization of an optimal cost-recovery system;
• Control of CO accounts;
• Control of CO cash management;
• Facilitation of knowledge building and sharing.

Ensures proper and timely implementation of HQ policies and instructions pertaining to country programme monitoring, financial management:

• Proper planning, expenditure tracking and audit of financial resources, including extra-budgetary income in accordance with UNDP rules and regulations.
• Organization and oversight of CO cash management processes, including liquidity management, recommendation of imprest level, risk assessment, bank relationship management, timely accounting and reconciliation of all transactions, security for cash assets on site.
• Routinely monitors financial exception reports for unusual activities, transactions, and investigates anomalies or unusual transactions. Informs supervisors and other UNDP staff at Headquarters of the results of the investigation when satisfactory answers are not obtained. recorded and verified in compliance with IPSAS as outlined in the corporate policies and procedures
• Member of bank signatory panel.

Ensure implementation of operational and financial management strategies and procedures, focusing on achievement of the following results:

• Full compliance of financial activities, financial recording/reporting system and audit follow up with UN/UNDP rules, regulations, policies and strategies; implementation of the effective internal control, proper design and functioning of the financial resources management system.
• CO finance business processes mapping and elaboration/establishment of internal standard operating procedures in the Finance Unit; control of the workflows in the Finance Unit.
• Continuous analysis and monitoring of the financial situation, presentation of forecasts for development and management projects.
• Elaboration and implementation of cost saving and reduction strategies (including introduction and development of e-banking).

Manage projects and organize an optimal cost-recovery system, focusing on achievement of the following results:

• Organization of cost-recovery mechanisms for services provided by UNDP ensuring the preparation of pro-forma invoices for UN agencies and monitoring through the Atlas tracking system.
• Collection of information on internal and external clients’ satisfaction and needs in order to develop improvements to services.
• Country office  Focal Point of  IPSAS implementation
• Knowledge building and sharing with regards to programme and operations in the CO, organization of the operations staff trainings, synthesis of lessons learnt/best practices, and sound contributions to UNDP knowledge networks and communities of practice.

Ensure proper control of CO accounts, focusing on achievement of the following results:

• Elaboration 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; monthly payment orders (MPOs), travel claims and other entitlements are duly processed.
• Ensures monthly and annual closing of accounts reviewing the completeness of documentation to be submitted
• All financial transactions are identified, recorded and verified in compliance with IPSAS as outlined in the corporate policies and procedures.
• Control of accounts closure
• Approval of vendors
• 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.

Ensure proper CO cash management, focusing on achievement of the following results:

• 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.
• Daily review of zero-balance account bank statements in Atlas to monitor imprest level; identification and recording of contributions.
• Primary contact with local bank management on routine operational matters including negotiation of exchange rate on replenishments.
• Transaction and stop payment approval on internet banking system.
• Approval and submission of monthly UN exchange rate reports to HQ Treasury.
• Timely and accurate approval of bank reconciliation, including documented review of exceptions.
• Initiation of bank transfers and deals, selecting bank transfers and deals for approval and settlement.
• Performing pay cycle manager role in Atlas.
• Timely preparation of monthly cash flow forecast for use by the Operations Manager. Liaison with other UN agencies to obtain estimate of their cash requirements.

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

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

Impact of Results:

The key results have an impact on the overall CO efficiency in financial resources management and success in introduction and implementation of operational strategies. Accurate, thoroughly researched and documented financial information, timely and appropriate delivery of services ensure client satisfaction and enhance UNDP credibility in use of financial resources.

Compétences

Functional Competencies:

Building Partnerships

• Effectively networks with partners seizing opportunities to build alliances
• Identifies needs and interventions for capacity building of counterparts, clients and potential partners
• Displays initiative, sets challenging outputs for him/herself and willingly accepts new work assignments

Promoting Organizational Learning and Knowledge Sharing

• Makes the case for innovative ideas documenting successes and building them into the design of new approaches
• Participates in the development of mechanisms, including identifying new approaches to promote individual and organizational learning and knowledge sharing using formal and informal methodologies

Job Knowledge/Technical Expertise

• Understands advanced aspects of primary area of specialization as well as the fundamental concepts of related disciplines (financial resources management)
• Continues to seek new and improved methods and systems for accomplishing the work of the unit
• Keeps abreast of new developments in area of professional discipline and job knowledge and seeks to develop him/herself professionally
• Demonstrates comprehensive knowledge of information technology and applies it in work assignments
• Continually looking for ways to enhance financial performance in the office.

Promoting Organizational Change and Development

• Performs appropriate work analysis and assists in redesign to establish clear standards for implementation.

Design And Implementation of Management Systems

• Makes recommendations regarding operation of systems within organizational units
• Identifies and recommends remedial measures to address problems in systems design or implementation

Client Orientation

• Anticipates client needs
• Demonstrates understanding of client’s perspective
• Solicits feedback on service provision and quality

Promoting Accountability and Results-Based Management

• Provides inputs to the development of organizational standards for accountability

Core Competencies:

• Building support and political acumen
• Building staff competence,  creating an environment of creativity and innovation
• Building and promoting effective teams
• Creating and promoting enabling environment for open communication
• Creating an emotionally intelligent organization
• Leveraging conflict in the interests of UNDP & setting standards
• Sharing knowledge across the organization and building a culture of knowledge sharing and learning.

Promoting learning and knowledge management/sharing is the responsibility of each staff member.

• Fair and transparent  decision making; calculated risk-taking
  

Qualifications et expériences requises

Education: 

• Advanced (Masters) University Degree in Finance/Accounting, Business, or Public Administration, or a professional accounting qualification from an internationally recognized institute of accountancy.
  
• Professionally qualified accountants from an internationally recognized institute of accountancy will have a distinct advantage.
• UNDP Advanced Accountancy & Finance Test required
  

Experience: 

• 5 years of relevant experience in providing financial management advisory services and/or managing staff and operational systems.
  
• 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.
• Experience of IPSAS and/or IFRS is required for external candidates.

Language Requirements:

• Fluency in French and good working knowledge in English.