Programme Finance Associate Job at UNDP-United Nations Development Programme, Freetown , Sierra Leone
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Location:
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Salary:negotiable / YEAR
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Job type:FULL_TIME
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Posted:4 months ago
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Category:Budget and Accounting, Finance, Project Management
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Deadline:19/06/2024
JOB DESCRIPTION
Background
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion are core principles at UNDP: we value diversity as an expression of the multiplicity of nations and cultures where we operate, we foster inclusion as a way of ensuring all personnel are empowered to contribute to our mission, and we ensure equity and fairness in all our actions. Taking a ‘leave no one behind’ approach to our diversity efforts means increasing representation of underserved populations. People who identify as belonging to marginalized or excluded populations are strongly encouraged to apply. Learn more about working at UNDP including our values and inspiring stories.
UNDP does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.
Background and Organizational Context
As the Country Office is transitioning into a new CPD with potential increase in resource mobilization with targeted programme delivery of $20M per year, the need for a Programme Finance Associate remains very critical to reinforce the existing capacities to efficiently and effectively deliver the country programmes and projects.
Programme Finance provides cost effective and timely partnering services to the UNDP Country Office (CO) to maintain the sound financial management of and responsible resource allocation for its development programme and projects. Programme Finance provides support to development project teams to ensure appropriate and adequate budgeting for projects, monitoring of budgets to identify gaps against allocations, and financial reporting to CO management to promote transparency and informed decision making.
Position Purpose
Under the overall guidance and supervision of the Head of PMSU, the Programme Finance Associate provides support in execution of programme finance services ensuring effective and transparent utilization of financial resources and integrity of financial services. The Programme Finance Associate promotes a client-oriented approach consistent with UNDP rules and regulations.
The Programme Finance Associate works in close collaboration with the Programme, Operations, and project teams in the Country Office (CO) and staff in UNDP HQ, Regional Hub and GSSC for information delivery and to resolve complex programme and/or financial management-related issues.
UNDP Sierra Leone Country office adopts a portfolio approach to accommodate changing business needs and leverage linkages across interventions to achieve its strategic goals. Therefore, the Programme Finance Associate is expected to work across units, functions, teams, and projects in multidisciplinary teams in order to enhance and enable horizontal collaboration.
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Duties and Responsibilities
Ensure administration and implementation of programme, operational and financial management strategies; and adapt processes and procedures.
- Ensure full compliance with UNDP Programme and Operations Policies and Procedures (POPP) of financial activities and financial recording/reporting system.
- Support CO Programme Finance business processes mapping and elaboration of the content of internal standard operating procedures in programme finance in consultation with office management.
- Support the audit of projects and the implementation and follow-up on audit recommendations.
- Support financing and trust fund agreements.
Provide support to CO programme management and ensure optimal cost recovery.
- Support the development of Programme Portfolio Pipeline and Projects. Enter data of new grants into Quantum in the form of Annual Work Plans (AWPs) and monitor AWPs status.
- Support the implementation of effective internal controls and ensure proper functioning of a client-oriented financial resource management system. Implement control mechanism for development projects by monitoring budget preparation and modifications and budgetary status versus ASL. Follow up with HQ on ASL for development projects.
- Support the verification of accuracy of Combined Delivery Reports and follow-up on their signing by National Counterparts.
- Support the review of the Country office situation in the CO programme, identify operational and financial problems, and propose solutions.
- Support the development of reports and provide advice to project staff on UNDP administrative and programme reporting, particularly on budgetary issues. Verify and reconcile various expenditures reports from the CO, HQ and Executing Agencies.
- Routinely monitor dashboards and exceptions; and identify remedial actions in coordination with the supervisor.
- Prepare timely cost-recovery bills in Quantum for the services provided, implement the revenue tracking system, and follow up on cost recovery.
Provide support to implementation of the resource mobilization strategy.
- Support elaboration of conditions of contributions within the CO resource mobilization efforts.
- Support monitor financing contributions, prepare AR pending items, and maintain contributions/receivables documentation.
- Support Programme and Project Staff on different donor reporting requirements; prepare donor reports and monitor financial reports to be submitted to donors.
- Support review of financing agreements and obtain clearances from HQ if necessary.
Ensure facilitation of knowledge building and knowledge sharing and provide guidance to stakeholders on financial matters.
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- Support trainings for the operations, programme, and projects staff on financial management.
- Assist in providing regular training and technical guidance and/or advice on audit and compliance matters, including implementation of Internal Control Framework (ICF).
- Synthesize lessons learned and best practices in programme and project finance.
- 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
- Achieve Results: LEVEL 2: Scale up solutions and simplifies processes, balances speed and accuracy in doing work.
- Think Innovatively: LEVEL 2: Offer new ideas/open to new approaches, demonstrate systemic/integrated thinking.
- Learn Continuously: LEVEL 2: Go outside comfort zone, learn from others and support their learning.
- Adapt with Agility: LEVEL 2: Adapt processes/approaches to new situations, involve others in change process.
- Act with Determination: LEVEL 2: Able to persevere and deal with multiple sources of pressure simultaneously.
- Engage and Partner: LEVEL 2: Is facilitator/integrator, bring people together, build/maintain coalitions/partnerships.
- Enable Diversity and Inclusion: LEVEL 2: Facilitate conversations to bridge differences, considers in decision making.
Cross-Functional & Technical competencies
Business Management
- Customer Satisfaction/Client Management: Ability to respond timely and appropriately with a sense of urgency, provide consistent solutions, and deliver timely and quality results and/or solutions to fulfil and understand the real customers’ needs. Provide inputs to the development of customer service strategy. Look for ways to add value beyond clients’ immediate requests. Ability to anticipate client’s upcoming needs and concerns.
- Working with Evidence and Data: Ability to inspect, cleanse, transform and model data with the goal of discovering useful information, informing conclusions and supporting decision-making.
Business Development
- Knowledge Facilitation: Ability to animate individuals and communities of contributors to participate and share, particularly externally.
Finance
- Accounting (General): Knowledge of accounting concepts, principles, regulations, policies and ability to apply this to strategic and/or practical situations.
- Budget Management: Ability to support budgetary aspects of work planning process, drawing and management of team budgets.
- Audit Risk Management: Ability to address audit issues raised in the course of an audit and propose solutions in order to ensure a true and fair audit opinion is achieved.
- Banking and Cash Management: Ability to collect, handle, and manage cash, which involves assessing market liquidity, cash flow, and investments.
People Management
UNDP People Management Competencies can be found in the dedicated site
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Required Skills and Experience
Education:
- Secondary Education with specialized certification in accounting and/or finance.
- Bachelor’s degree in finance, accounting, administration, Public Administration or a related field
- Fully Qualified Accountant, from an internationally accredited institute of accountancy or Full Completion of the UNDP Finance Training and Certification Programme (FTCP). No UNDP Accountancy and Finance Test (AFT) required.
- Candidates with no professional accountancy qualifications, but with degrees that major in accountancy and/or finance must complete UNDP Finance Training and Certification Programme (FTCP), if recruited. However, UNDP Accountancy and Finance Test (AFT) is not required
- Candidates 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:
- 7 years (with high school diploma) or 4 years (with bachelor’s degree) of progressively responsible Finance and Accounting experience at the national or international level is required;
- Prior work experience in providing similar support to programmes and projects within the United Nations and/or an International Organization is desired;
- Ability to use analytical tools and logic to gather, define information, situations, problems, and draw logical conclusions to the data;
- Demonstrated ability to work in a team environment respecting diversity of work teams and having familiarity dealing with complexities surrounding the support of development programme work;
- Demonstrated experience in the preparation of budgets, budget variance reports and forecasting in multinational/multicultural organisation is an asset;
- Experience in the use of computers and office software packages (MS Word, Excel, etc.) and advanced knowledge of spreadsheets and web-based management systems such as ERP financials and database packages;
- Knowledge of IPSAS and/or IFRS is required.
Language Requirements
- Fluency in the English Language is required
- Fluency in Krio which is a national language of Sierra Leone is required.
Please note that continuance of appointment beyond the initial 12 months is contingent upon the successful completion of a probationary period.
Disclaimer
Applicant information about UNDP rosters
Note: 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 similar job description, experience and educational requirements.
Non-discrimination
UNDP has a zero-tolerance policy towards sexual exploitation and misconduct, sexual harassment, and abuse of authority. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles.
UNDP is an equal opportunity and inclusive employer that does not discriminate based on race, sex, gender identity, religion, nationality, ethnic origin, sexual orientation, disability, pregnancy, age, language, social origin or other status.
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