Background

Background:

UNDP in Sri Lanka is reorganizing internally and moving to an integrated collaborative business model. Internally, an energetic and innovative team will converge around the planning, design, implementation and quality assurance of an integrated programme in a fast-paced environment. Fostering strategic partnership and alliances with different stakeholders will require a team which consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude and has a strong client orientation. Strong UN partnerships are valued for Delivering Together in a true spirit of collaboration and teamwork.

Post Context:

Leveraging the Global Shared Service Centre in Kuala Lumpur for transactional support and HQ for Budget and Finance services and tools, the Finance Analyst focuses on technical advisory support to the country office and projects. The Finance Analyst provides technical advice to Business Development and Engagement teams on investment strategies and potentially new financial instruments and arrangements.   In close collaboration with the Integrated Support Team Leader, the Assistant Country Director and all managers and staff, the Finance Analyst underpins the effective internal controls and proper functioning of a client-oriented financial resources management system, and projects to local partners and government counterparts a reputation for sound financial management and trust.

Under the guidance and direct supervision of the Integrated Support Team Leader, the Finance Analyst provides leadership in execution of financial services in the Country Office (CO) ensuring effective and transparent utilization of financial resources and integrity of financial services, with emphasis in Programme Finance. The Finance Analyst promotes a client-oriented approach consistent with UNDP rules and regulations. The incumbent will foster a culture of service orientation in the discharge of her/his duties engaging in an advisory role to programme management with a solution driven approach and supporting budget development in line with results based budgeting.

The Finance Analyst works in close collaboration with the operations, programme and project teams in the CO, GSSC in Kuala Lumpur and UNDP HQs staff to resolve complex financial management issues and information delivery.

 

Duties and Responsibilities

Ideas & expertise:

  • Support continuous analysis and monitoring of the financial situation, presentation of forecasts for development and management projects to the programme portfolio team.

    • Preparation and monitoring of a dynamic budget that contains analysis and reporting on the budget approvals and the delivery situation as well as scenarios for alternative planning.

  • Technical support to CO financial resource management

    • Analysis and elaboration of proposals on cost saving and reduction strategies as well as effective redistribution and investment opportunities.
    • Elaboration of proposals for planning of financial resources of the CO.
    • Establishment of projects’ budgets preparation/modification monitoring system.
    • Implementation of the control mechanism for projects.
    • Analysis and elaboration of proposals for the internal expenditures’ control system.

  • CO finance business process mapping and elaboration of the content of internal Standard Operating Procedures in Finance.

  • Coordinate quality assurance of Sri Lanka financial transactions with the GSSC in Kuala Lumpur, including collaboration, as per agreed upon standard operating procedures, on:
    • Control of accounts closure.
    • Control of the Accounts Receivables for UNDP projects and maintenance of the General Ledger
    • 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; act as cashier for onsite transactions.
    • Initiation of bank transfers and deals, selecting bank transfers and deals for approval and settlement;
    • Timely preparation of monthly cash flow forecast for use by the supervisor.

Partnership engagement:

  • Maintains close relationships and undertakes proactive outreach to institutional counterparts ensuring financial requirements of UNDP are understood
  • Creates a network of common system Finance practitioners to share best practices and prepare coordinated efforts to inter agency activities. 
  • Maintains relationships with government authorities, banking institutions and donors to maintain proper awareness, responses and advice to management on emerging financial issues.

Team Collaboration

  • Provision of advice and clarification to staff and managers on financial rules, policies, benefits and entitlements and facilitates obtaining timely authoritative interpretations from appropriate sources
  • Organization/conduct of training for the operations/ programme/projects staff on financial management;
  • Synthesis of lessons learned and best practices in Finance.

Competencies

Core

Innovation

Ability to make new and useful ideas work

Leadership

Ability to persuade others to follow

People Management

Ability to improve performance and satisfaction

Communication

Ability to listen, adapt, persuade and transform

Delivery

Ability to get things done while exercising good judgement

Technical/Functional

Accounting

Knowledge of accounting concepts, principles, regulations, and policies and ability to apply to strategic and/or practical situations

Financial Management

Ability to create a process to achieve financial goals

Financial Analysis

Ability to evaluate financial data, derive relevant findings and present them in a meaningful manner

Risk Management

Ability to identify and prioritize risks, and organize action around mitigating them

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

  • Advanced (Master’s) or Bachelor’s Degree in Finance, Accounting Business Administration or Public Administration. Those with professional accounting qualifications from an internationally recognized institute of accountancy will have a distinct advantage.
  • UNDP Advanced Accountancy and Finance Test (AFT) required.

Experience:

  • Master’s Degree with 0 years or Bachelor’s with 2 years of relevant experience at the national or international level in providing financial management services, accounting 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 (Atlas).
  • Experience of IPSAS and/or IFRS is required for external candidates.

Candidates will have a distinct advantage if they possess any of the following:

  1. Fully qualified accountants – internal and external candidates that have the appropriate qualification from the list of accepted qualifications.
  2. Staff without professional qualifications, but have the appropriate other qualifications and experience, and have passed the relevant UNDP Accountancy and Finance Test (AFT) within the last two years.
  3. Staff enrolled within the Finance Training and Certification Programme (FTCP).
  4. Non-staff without the accepted professional qualifications, but have passed the appropriate UNDP AFT.

Language Requirements:

Fluency in English and the national language of the duty station. Knowledge of other UN official languages is desirable.