Job Description

The Position:

The Finance Associate position is based at the UNFPA Kenya Country Office (CO). Under the guidance and supervision of the Finance Analyst, the Finance Associate provides financial services ensuring high quality, accuracy and consistency of work. The Finance Associate promotes a client-oriented approach consistent with UNFPA rules and regulations, and has a functional working relationship with other programme and operations staff members.

How you can make a difference:

UNFPA is the lead United Nations agency for delivering a world where every pregnancy is intended, every childbirth is safe, and every young person's potential is fulfilled. The UNFPA Strategic Plan for 2026-2029 articulates the organization’s response to a complex global environment, providing a roadmap for resilience and renewal. It is designed to accelerate the implementation of the Programme of Action of the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) and the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030. This mandate is pursued through a focus on four interconnected outcomes: ending the unmet need for family planning; ending preventable maternal deaths; ending gender-based violence and harmful practices; and adapting to demographic change through evidence and rights-based policies.

In a world where fundamental human rights are at risk, we need principled and ethical staff who embody these international norms and standards and will defend them courageously and with full conviction.

UNFPA is seeking candidates who transform, inspire, and deliver high-impact sustained results, ensuring effective external relations, communications, partnership-building and resource mobilization in a rapidly changing development and funding landscape. We need staff who are transparent, exceptional in how they manage the resources entrusted to them, and who commit to delivering excellence in programme results

Job Purpose:

The Finance Associate delivers high-quality financial services to internal and external clients, ensuring compliance with all relevant UNFPA rules, guidelines, processes, and procedures. S/he works closely with programme and project staff, providing financial monitoring, analysis, and advice on expenditure trends and implementation rates. S/he applies a client-oriented, results-focused approach to interpreting policies and procedures, providing support and guidance to the CO and UNFPA-supported projects, including financial oversight of implementing partners.

You would be responsible for:

Support to the Country Office

• Advise and support staff on financial and administrative matters, including programme budget allocations, chart of accounts coding, accounting, and application of UNFPA policies.
• Ensures the effective financial recording and reporting system, internal control and audit follow-up and processes financial transactions in an accurate and timely way.
• Examine and analyze quarterly expenditures to ensure reasonable ending balances.
• Provide capacity building to staff on financial policy application
• Review Implementing Partner (IP) FACE submissions for completeness, accuracy, and compliance with UNFPA rules.
• Reconcile IP reports with CO financial records and highlight discrepancies.
• Provide guidance to IPs on correct budget/accounts coding and documentation.
• Track submission deadlines and ensure timely follow-up on outstanding issues.
• Maintain simple records of FACE findings and follow-up actions for reporting purposes.
• Participates in financial monitoring and training of IPs in policies and guidelines related to project expenditure, including participation in HACT spot checks.
• Processes travel requests and keeps track of reporting after the travel and follows up for reporting by travelers.
• Liaises with the UNDP on finance-related matters (including the processing of payments), and ensures that all necessary documentation is duly completed and submitted.
• Maintain proper filing system of finance documents and respond to clients’ queries.

Analysis of Accounts and Support to Accountability Obligations

• Review accounting transactions to ensure compliance with UNFPA financial policies and procedures.
• Review trial balances for reasonableness and advise CO staff on potential discrepancies or errors.
• Monitor financial information integrity and completeness via dashboards to facilitate monthly closures. This includes:
• Posting vouchers, managing payments, and reconciling payables and deposits.
• Ensuring timely correction of charges to incorrect accounts.
• Monitoring purchase orders and requisitions to avoid excessive aging.
• Managing petty cash and staff advances, ensuring proper accounting.
• Ensuring programme budgets are not over-allocated.
• Preparing and submitting monthly and quarterly financial reports.

Year-End Closure Process

Perform end year accounts closure activities by ensuring all required reports are generated, reconciled, signed and uploaded as required within the set deadlines as well as performing balance sheet accounts reconciliation. Prepare financial analyses as requested, including:

• Creation of general ledger journal entries.
• Summarization of trial balances for financial statement preparation.
• Ensure timely submission of year-end certifications and reports.
• Promote continuous improvement and harmonization of business processes within the Country Office.

Perform any other duties as may be assigned by the supervisor or designated authority.

Qualifications and Experience:

Education:

Bachelor's degree in Finance, Accounting, Business administration, and/or other related fields.

Knowledge and Experience:

• Seven years of relevant experience in Finance, accounting, or business administration.
• Experience in usage of computers and office software packages (MS Word, Excel, etc) and advanced knowledge of spreadsheet and database packages, experience in handling web-based management systems and ERP financials.
• Experience working with international organizations, including UN Agencies is an added advantage.

Languages:

Fluency in the English language is required.

Required Competencies:

Values:

• Exemplifying integrity,
• Demonstrating commitment to UNFPA and the UN system,
• Embracing cultural diversity,
• Embracing change

Core Competencies:

• Achieving results,
• Being accountable,
• Developing and applying professional expertise/business acumen,
• Thinking analytically and strategically,
• Working in teams/managing ourselves and our relationships,

Functional Competencies:

• Managing the organization’s financial resources
• Providing procurement services
• Ensuring facilities and assets management
• Supporting financial data analysis

Compensation and Benefits:

This position offers an attractive remuneration package including a competitive net salary plus health insurance and other benefits as applicable.

UNFPA Work Environment:

UNFPA provides a work environment that reflects the values of gender equality, diversity, integrity and healthy work-life balance. We are committed to ensuring gender parity in the organization and therefore encourage women to apply. Individuals from the LGBTQIA+ community, minority ethnic groups, indigenous populations, persons with disabilities, and other underrepresented groups are highly encouraged to apply. Reasonable accommodation may be provided to applicants with disabilities upon request, to support their participation in the recruitment process. UNFPA promotes equal opportunities in terms of appointment, training, compensation and selection for all regardless of personal characteristics and dimensions of diversity. Diversity, Equity and Inclusion is at the heart of UNFPA's workforce - click here to learn more.

Disclaimer:

Selection and appointment may be subject to background and reference checks, medical clearance, visa issuance and other administrative requirements.

UNFPA does not charge any application, processing, training, interviewing, testing or other fee in connection with the application or recruitment process and does not concern itself with information on applicants' bank accounts.