Job Description

This vacancy is open to UNDP/UNCDF/UNV staff holding permanent (PA) and fixed-term (FTA) appointments of all nationalities. Other applicants must be nationals of an EU Member State, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, or Switzerland.

BACKGROUND

The Bureau for Management Services’ Office of Financial Resources Management (BMS/OFRM) supports the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in the implementation of the 2030 agenda and UNDP’s Strategic Plan. It achieves this by developing and making fully operational a dynamic and harmonized integrated resource management framework based on comprehensive analysis that enhances UNDP’s financial and administrative performance, as well as facilitating UN reform and coherence. The primary role of BMS/ OFRM is to maintain the financial integrity of UNDP through providing functional leadership, supporting the efficient and effective management of its financial resources, promoting financial sustainability, and responsible resource allocation. This is accomplished by the development and implementation of sound financial policies and practices, oversight of corporate financial management performance, and flexible, scalable support to resource allocation. BMS/OFRM serves as a business partner to Bureaux and Country Offices, providing sound financial management, advisory and analytical services, with a view to continuously improving the financial management performance of business units and supporting Bureaux in the exercise of their oversight functions.

Within OFRM, the Financial Performance Management & Reporting (FPMR) is responsible for oversight of financial reporting, the preparation and integrity of UNDP’s financial statements, and providing timely and accurate financial information in accordance with international accounting standards. FPMR fosters trust and accountability through leadership in financial policy, robust internal financial controls, and close engagement with auditors to support an unqualified audit opinion, while also delivering expert accounting and financial advisory support, addressing complex and non-routine financial issues, and overseeing financial risk related to implementing partners, enabling informed senior decision-making and sustained audit assurance.

Within FPMR, there are four units:

• Corporate Financial Reporting (CFR): Responsible for promoting clear accountability for financial transactions and for producing UNDP’s corporate financial statements.
• Financial Performance Management (FPM): Responsible for managing aspects of financial performance, including the administration of the Annual Representation exercise and the Statement of Internal Control Over Financial Reporting; monitoring of financial risks related to financial statement integrity; and management of the implementing partners' policy framework, including the agency-wide Harmonized Approach to Cash Transfers (HACT) framework.
• Payroll Finance Oversight (PFO): Responsible for the financial oversight of payroll accounting functions, as well as the reporting of employee benefits and liabilities for all UNDP personnel.
• Finance Integration & Technologies (FIT): provides expert, structured financial analysis to resolve complex, non-routine issues and enhance the quality and timeliness of information available for senior management decision-making.

Position Purpose:

The Financial Performance Management (FPM) unit forms part of FPMR within the Office of Financial Management Resources (OFRM). The unit is responsible for financial performance management, including the design, implementation, and maintenance of the financial performance framework, as well as supporting the analysis of internal controls and the identification and tracking of emerging financial risks across the organization.

The FPM unit serves as the organizational focal point for the United Nations inter-agency Harmonized Approach to Cash Transfers (HACT) framework, providing authoritative policy guidance, processes and tools for the management of financial risks associated with programme implementation by UNDP Implementing Partners.

In addition, the unit is responsible for administering the Annual Representation exercise conducted by all UNDP Offices. This is a core component of the Statement of Internal Control over Financial Reporting (SICFR) and directly supports the Administrator’s Financial Statements Representation to the United Nations Board of Auditors (UNBOA).

The Finance Associate provides support in delivering on the key objectives for the unit, specifically on the implementation of the HACT Framework and the management of the Annual Representation exercise in relation to the SICFR. The responsibilities include, but are not limited to, tasks that support policy implementation, development and maintenance of tools, review and enhancement of policies and procedures, communication with stakeholders, and data analytics to support decision-making.

UNDP adopts a portfolio approach to accommodate changing business needs and leverage linkages across interventions to achieve its strategic goals. This is a recognition of the interconnected nature of development risks & crises that the world is facing and that call for assembling of multidisciplinary teams for an integrated & systemic response. Therefore, UNDP personnel are expected to work across issues, units, functions, teams, and projects in multidisciplinary teams to enhance and enable horizontal collaboration.

Key Duties and Accountabilities:

of Key Functions

1. Support the implementation of financial risk management policies and related tools

• Provide operational support for the implementation of UNDP financial risk management policies, including the HACT Framework, by maintaining tools, dashboards, and templates used for monitoring and compliance.
• Maintain and update platforms and dashboards to ensure functionality, data accuracy, and effective monitoring of financial risk indicators and policy compliance.
• Run ERP queries and generate routine reports, analyze exceptions, and prepare summaries to support management oversight and follow-up.
• Draft and update SOPs, guidance materials, and training content, and provide logistical and technical support for capacity-building activities.
• Contribute to policy and tool enhancements by gathering feedback from offices, supporting Inter-agency coordination (e.g., HACT Inter-agency forum), and assisting with ERP-related improvements.

2. Supporting the Annual Representation exercise and providing inputs to the Statement of Internal Control over Financial Reporting (SICFR)

• Support the coordination of FPM activities on SICFR, such as the Annual Representation exercise, including preparing materials, assisting offices during the submission process, conducting reviews to verify completeness and accuracy, and identifying updates to the financial statements arising from the Annual Representation exercise.
• Maintain and update the Annual Representation tool by incorporating feedback, supporting system enhancements, and ensuring the tool remains functional and user-friendly.
• Assist in updating checklists, guidance, and supporting documents to ensure alignment with the SICFR risk assessment framework.
• Contribute inputs for SICFR-related documentation, prepare feedback materials, and support communication with UNDP offices on results and follow-up actions.
• Provide analytical and administrative support to the SICFR process by running reports, identifying exceptions or anomalies, and assisting with follow-up actions and documentation of risk assessment outcomes.

3. Providing efficient and effective support of audit activities:

• Supports internal and external audit activities by preparing documentation, data, and explanations, and responding to audit requests in a timely and accurate manner.
• Assists with follow-up on audit observations by tracking actions, supporting remediation activities, and maintaining appropriate audit trails.

4. Perform other duties

Assist with the compilation and analysis (recognition, measurement , and disclosures) for the financial statements, including: 

• Statement of Financial Position 
• Financial Performance Statement 
• Statement of Changes in Net Assets 
• Statement of Cash Flows 

Draft notes to the financial statements, including disclosure review and drafting narrative text for inclusion into the financial statements.  

5. Support knowledge management

• Organize training for the operations/programme/projects staff on financial management.
• Synthesize lessons learned and best practices in financial management
• Provide sound contributions to knowledge networks and communities of practice.

The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization.

Competencies:

Core Competencies

• Achieve Results: LEVEL 1: Plans and monitors own work, pays attention to details, delivers quality work by deadline
• Think Innovatively: LEVEL 1: Open to creative ideas/known risks, is a pragmatic problem solver, and makes improvements
• Learn Continuously: LEVEL 1: Open-minded and curious, shares knowledge, learns from mistakes, asks for feedback
• Adapt with Agility: LEVEL 1: Adapts to change, constructively handles ambiguity/uncertainty, is flexible
• Act with Determination: LEVEL 1: Shows drive and motivation, able to deliver calmly in the face of adversity, confident
• Engage and Partner: LEVEL 1: Demonstrates compassion/understanding towards others, forms positive relationships
• Enable Diversity and Inclusion: LEVEL 1: Appreciate/respect differences, aware of unconscious bias, confront discrimination

Cross-Functional & Technical Competencies

• Business Management Risk Management Ability to identify and organize action around mitigating and proactively managing risks.
• Business Direction & Strategy Business Acumen Ability to understand and deal with a business situation in a manner that is likely to lead to a good outcome. Ability to make good judgments and quick decisions within such frameworks. Knowledge and understanding of the operational frameworks in the organization.
• Business Management Monitoring & Evaluation Ability to systematically monitor results of strategies, programmes, and activities with a view to make sure that they are being implemented effectively; Ability to provide managers and key stakeholders with regular feedback and reporting on the consistency or discrepancy between planned activities and programme management and results. Ability to make independent judgment of the management and results of strategies, programmes and activities based on set criteria and benchmarks, keeping in mind the needs and concerns of the client, current and upcoming. Knowledge and understanding of monitoring and evaluation frameworks, concepts, methodologies, systems, processes, and tools. Ability to make an independent judgement based on set criteria and benchmarks. Ability to anticipate the client's upcoming needs and concerns.
• Finance Audit risk management Ability to address risks and audit issues raised in the course of an audit and propose solutions in order to ensure a true and fair audit opinion is achieved.
• Finance Financial risk management Ensures financial resilience through proactive assessment of risk, implementation of controls and taking mitigating action. Understands risk and reward in relation to collaborative and commercial projects.
  • Ensures a culture of positive risk management.
• Finance-Finance business partnering Able to support business units and add value by innovating and providing solutions to financial issues/queries, including through FAQs, financial tools, advisory, etc. Influences and appropriately challenges non-finance colleagues for whom the service is being provided. Understands the operations opportunities and challenges of the organization. Holds a commercial outlook, demonstrating accountability towards organizational goals.
• Finance Accounting (General) Knowledge of accounting concepts, principles, frameworks, standards, regulations, policies and trends, and ability to apply this to strategic and practical situations.

QUALIFICATIONS

Education:

• Secondary Education is required with specialized certification in accounting and/or Finance.
• A university degree in Finance or Accounting is desirable.
• Part-qualified accountants from an internationally accredited institute of accountancy will have a distinct advantage
• Fully Qualified Accountant, from an accredited institute of accountancy or Full Completion of the UNDP Finance Training and Certification Programme (FTCP), no UNDP Accountancy and Finance Test (AFT) is required.
• Candidates with no professional accountancy qualifications, but with university degrees that major in accountancy and/or finance, must complete the UNDP Finance and Certification Programme (FTCP), if recruited. However, no UNDP Accountancy and Finance Test (AFT) is required.
• Candidate with no professional accountancy qualifications but with relevant experience must successfully undertake UNDP Accountancy and Finance Test (AFT) before shortlisting and must complete the UNDP Finance Training and Certification Programme (FTCP), if recruited.

Experience, Knowledge, and Skills:

• A minimum of seven (7) years (with a High School Diploma) or four (4) years (with a bachelor’s degree) of progressively relevant experience in a financial management position(s) with large international organizations, is required.
• Experience with ERP systems and Excel, preferably Oracle Cloud ERP, is required.
• Advanced proficiency in Excel, and database packages is required.
• Experience in flexibility to work across global time zones is an asset.
• Audit experience in a public auditing firm will be an added advantage.
• Proven track record of a sound understanding of international accounting standards, preferably Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSAS) utilized by international organizations will be an added advantage.
• Familiarity with international development, preferably the UN system, is desirable.
• Demonstrated analytical capabilities with distinct knowledge of current analytical applications and tools are desirable.
• Demonstrated experience in AI, digital transformation, and process automation is preferred. Eager to explore and apply new technologies is an advantage

Language Requirements:

• Fluency in English is required.
• Working knowledge of another UN language is desired.

Equal opportunity

As an equal opportunity employer, UNDP values diversity as an expression of the multiplicity of nations and cultures where we operate, and, as such, we encourage qualified applicants from all backgrounds to apply for roles in the organization. Our employment decisions are based on merit and suitability for the role, without discrimination.

UNDP is also committed to creating an inclusive workplace where all personnel are empowered to contribute to our mission, are valued, can thrive, and benefit from career opportunities that are open to all.

Sexual harassment, exploitation, and abuse of authority

UNDP does not tolerate harassment, sexual harassment, exploitation, discrimination, or abuse of authority. All selected candidates, therefore, undergo relevant checks and are expected to adhere to the respective standards and principles.

Probation

For all new UNDP fixed-term appointments (FTA), including for staff members being transferred or seconded to UNDP under the Inter-Organization Agreement concerning Transfer, Secondment or Loan of Staff, on an appointment of more than one year, continuation of the appointment beyond the initial 12 months is contingent upon the successful completion of a probationary period.

Right to select multiple candidates

UNDP reserves the right to select one or more candidates from this vacancy announcement. We may also retain applications and consider candidates applying to this post for other similar positions with UNDP at the same grade level and with a similar job description, experience, and educational requirements.

Scam alert

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