Antecedentes

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.

Placing women’s rights at the center 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.

The United Nations Trust Fund to End Violence against Women (UN Trust Fund) was established through the UN General Assembly Resolution 50/166 with UN Women as its Administrator on behalf of the UN system. The UN Trust Fund is a global multi-lateral mechanism supporting national efforts to end violence against women, one of the most widespread human rights violations in the world. The UN Trust Fund awards grants to civil society organizations and government entities and provides technical assistance and funding to its partners to advance the development of innovative models and strategic interventions in the area of ending violence against women and girls. To date, the UN Trust Fund has awarded US $139 million to 493 initiatives in 139 countries and territories.

 Under the overall guidance of the UN Trust Fund Chief and the direct supervision of the Operations Manager, following a client-oriented approach,

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.

Placing women’s rights at the center 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.

The United Nations Trust Fund to End Violence against Women (UN Trust Fund) was established through the UN General Assembly Resolution 50/166 with UN Women as its Administrator on behalf of the UN system. The UN Trust Fund is a global multi-lateral mechanism supporting national efforts to end violence against women, one of the most widespread human rights violations in the world. The UN Trust Fund awards grants to civil society organizations and government entities and provides technical assistance and funding to its partners to advance the development of innovative models and strategic interventions in the area of ending violence against women and girls. To date, the UN Trust Fund has awarded US $139 million to 493 initiatives in 139 countries and territories.

Under the overall guidance of the UN Trust Fund Chief and the direct supervision of the Operations Manager, following a client-oriented approach, the Finance Associate is responsible for the execution of a wide range of financial services and varied and interrelated operational and logistical activities, 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 in close collaboration with the Operations Team in UNTF HQ for solving complex finance-related issues and information delivery.

Deberes y responsabilidades

1.       Assist in preparation of unit budgets in full compliance of UN Women rules, regulations, policies, and recording and reporting systems

·         Assist in setting up budgets in ATLAS to ensure they are in accordance with budgets agreed with donors and are input into ATLAS at the detailed Activity ID and Implementing Agent 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;

·         Track the appropriate and timely use of financial resources; 

·         Review and verify financial transactions, activities, and documentation; taking corrective actions as needed and reporting any unusual activities;

·         Respond to instructions from the Deputy Director of Financial Management or Finance Section in relation to financial transactions.  Undertake timely corrective actions as requested by Finance Section to resolve financial data issues or provide information. 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;

·         Maintain internal expenditure control system which ensures that vouchers processed are matched and completed, transactions are accurately recorded and posted in Atlas; and other entitlements are duly processed on a timely basis;

·         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 requests to resolve financial data issues;

·         Prepare general ledger journal entries (GLJEs) for corrections to ensure transactions of UN Trust Fund are accurate and liaise with Finance Section for review, verification and approval;

·         Assist Project Managers with budget re-phasal as required

2.       Provide finance and operational support to Operations and Grants Management team

·         Perform financial verifications of implementing partners expenditures

·         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;

·         Facilitate disbursement of funds to grants recipients including: i) vendor creation and liaison with Procurement Section; ii) preparation of payment vouchers and supporting documentation and liaison with Finance Section of UN Women for payment voucher approvals; and iii) follow through to successful receipt of funds by grants recipients;

• Support the budget management for UN Trust Fund’s grant projects: i) provide guidance and corrective recommendations on budgets submitted by selected grantee organizations to the Fund for its approval; and ii) initiate projects in ATLAS, create budgets, prepare budget revisions, advise on any budget issues arising, monitor and liaise with Finance Department on rephasals, etc;
• support the final review of financial reports from grantees to ensure that expenses are being properly recorded by grantees, money spent in line with their approved budget. Provide feedback and accounting advice to grantees on technical accounting topics (ai. foreign currency, accruing staff costs, etc). Prepare the necessary journals (accounts payable journal vouchers or APJVs) to process the financial reports in Atlas to liquidate cash advances to grantees, in coordination with Operations Analyst and Portfolio Managers;

·         Monitor and reconcile advances to grantees which are not in accordance with the approved budget and report any non-compliance to UN Trust Fund Chief;

• Generate ATLAS management reports, review data periodically and monitor projects delivery. Follow-up with Finance and Budget Sections on inconsistencies and ensure adjustments are accurately entered in the system;
• Co-ordinate and manage timely adherence of Month-end closure checklist and Year-end closure instructions for UN Trust Fund to ensure all actions are taken in accordance with the timelines as indicated and provide to UN Trust Fund Chief for certification;
• Prepare relevant financial data for presentations made to donors and other external audiences as requested by the Fund Chief;
• Liaise with Finance Section for requests for preparation of donor reports and review and comment on draft reports provided prior to finalization;

·         Review transactions in Atlas, ensure payroll, travel claims, and other entitlements are processed;

·         Provide inputs and take necessary actions to facilitate timely financial project closure;

·         Assist with preparation for Audit of Trust Fund ’s Projects and Partners by third party audit firm; 

·         Support UN Trust Fund ’s projects audit process, in coordination with Operations Analyst and Grants Operations Manager;

·         Provide assistance in reviewing audit findings, preparing management response in consultation with Programme Specialists;

·         Follow-up on audit recommendations to monitor implementation of corrective actions by the grantees;

·         Support recruitment processes ;

·         Provide procurement and logistical services support as requested;

·         Support contract management including appropriate use of different contractual modalities.

3.       Facilitate capacity 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.

·         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 Trust Fund and 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 operations and grants management team

Competencias

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.

Habilidades y experiencia requeridas

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 and Turkish is required

·        Knowledge of the other UN official working language is an asset.