JOB DESCRIPTION

Background and Organizational Context:

UNDP Iraq has recently created a new Country Programme Document (CPD) (2025 – 2029) that will serve to strengthen UNDP´s role as a learning organization ‘fit-for-purpose’ to deliver on Agenda 2030. The CPD is well-aligned with the Government of Iraq´s (GOI’s) National Development Plan and other GOI strategies and action plans, as well as the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF) 2025 – 2029.

In approaching the new CPD 2025 – 2029, UNDP Iraq is systematically changing how its institutional and programmatic activities are portrayed and financed. Placing emphasis on programme alignment, coordination, and creation of synergies, the CPD is designed to provide the foundation for the whole public policy life cycle that is expected to allow for engagement in new areas of joint work and resource mobilization.

This new approach requires a new structure that will position UNDP in the new country context, as well as engaging skills that will allow for substantive value added through (a) providing thought leadership and innovation, (b) mobilizing strategic resources, (c) ensuring projects are implemented in a smooth, efficient and transparent manner, and (d) engaging on the most pressing and transformational development challenges in Iraq.

The UNDP Iraq CO envisions a new programme office structure adapted to current and future needs of the country, underpinning its advisory and programmatic offer while at the same time delivering solid implementation support. It also promotes a more collaborative approach to work across the office and with external partners.

To achieve this, the UNDP Iraq Country Office must focus on aligning projects, programmes and policy workstreams to UNDP corporate strategy, national priorities, and related frameworks. As such, the Country Office is adopting a new business model in Iraq around a wholistic approach to development portfolio programming. This approach requires excellent programme management and an organizational structure that reinforces the entire programming life cycle including planning, implementation, oversight, monitoring and evaluation, communications, and efficient operations.

The Finance team supports the Country Office (CO) in the promotion of its sustainable development agenda by continuously enhancing CO financial performance, delivering sound management of financial resources, and ensuring strong accountability through informed decision making, effective financial management processes, and transparent financial reporting that complies with international standards and regulatory guidelines.

Position Purpose:

Under the guidance and supervision of the Finance Analyst, the Finance Clerk supports the provision of financial services ensuring high quality, accuracy, and consistency of work. The Finance Clerk promotes a client-oriented approach consistent with UNDP rules and regulations.

The Finance Clerk works in close collaboration with the Operations and Programme staff in the country office and with UNDP HQ and GSSC staff to exchange information and ensure consistent service delivery.

UNDP adopts a portfolio approach to accommodate changing business needs and leverage linkages across interventions to achieve its strategic goals. Therefore, UNDP personnel are expected to work across units, functions, teams, and projects in multidisciplinary teams in order to enhance and enable horizontal collaboration.

Incumbent is expected to display innovation, initiative, and a strong client orientation with timely delivery of financial services for all clients and partners. S/he might be required to undertake emerging tasks and additional duties as requested by direct supervisor or senior management.

Duties and Responsibilities:

1. Provide accounting and administrative support:

• Assist in ensuring proper control of the supporting documents for payment invoices and proper document management including systematic archiving.
• Assist in preparing financial reports for projects.
• Process payments and financial documentation (invoices, supporting documents, telephone invoices, etc.)
• Maintain proper filing system for financial records and documents.
• Maintain internal expenditures control system, which ensures invoices processed are matched and completed, transactions are correctly recorded and posted in ERP, and travel claims, and other entitlements are duly processed.
• Provide information for reports on financial status, procedures, exchange rates, costs, and expenditure (including MIP) and potential funding problems.
• Extract, input, copy and file data from various sources.
• Follow-up with participating in United Nations agencies for information relating to disbursement payments.
• Prepare routine correspondence, faxes, memoranda, and reports in accordance with the Country Office (CO) standard operating procedures.

2. Support knowledge building and knowledge sharing in the CO:

• Participate in the training for the operations/ projects staff on finance.
• Provide 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.

Supervisory/Managerial Responsibilities: None

Competencies:

Expected Demonstration of Competencies:

Core

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 pragmatic problem solver, 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 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:

Thematic Area
Name
Definition

Business Development
Knowledge Generation

• Ability to research information and to turn it into useful knowledge, relevant for context, or responsive to a stated need. Ability to apply existing concepts to new situations, and to develop new concepts to generate workable solutions and new approaches. Knowledge of relevant concepts, conceptual models, and theories that can be useful in addressing new situations.

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.Business Management
  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

Administration & Operations
Documents and Records Management

• Overall document (hard or electronic) management; registry and retention policy including storing and archiving

Finance
Accounting (General)

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

Finance
Financial Reporting and Analysis

• Understands changes in regulatory, legal and ethical frameworks and standards for financial reporting in the public sector. Ability to extract, evaluate financial data, derive relevant findings and present them in a meaningful and coherent manner to facilitate effective decision making and performance monitoring.

• Understands the benefits of integrated reporting, including non-financial resources such as human, social and intellectual capital, and environmental and governance performanceFinanceAudit
  • Understands how regulations and professional standards in internal and external audit underpin audit work in the public services.
  • Understands the key stages of audit work, including planning, documentation, testing and reporting.
  • Ability to examine and verify accounts and records.
  • Understands wider mechanisms for assurance and scrutiny.
  • Understands the law and best practice relating to anti-bribery and corruption controls and the fraud risks faced by public bodies.

  Keywords:

  Expenditure controls

  Financial reporting

  Financial documentation

  Payment processing

  Required Skills and Experience

  Education:

  Secondary education with specialized certification in Accounting and/or Finance. A university degree (bachelor´s degree) in Finance or Accounting is desirable. Part-qualified accountants from an internationally accredited institute of accountancy will have a distinct advantage.

  Experience, Knowledge and Skills:

  • 4 years (with secondary education) or 1 year (with bachelor’s degree) of relevant finance and accounting experience at the national level is required.
  • 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 desired.
  • Experience working in ERP Systems in the United Nations System or in a multilateral or bilateral context is highly desirable
  • Advanced knowledge of spreadsheet and database packages is desired.
  • Working Experience with UN/UNDP is an advantage.
  • Knowledge of Quantum is an advantage.

  Language Requirements:

  • Fluency in English and Kurdish is required.
  • Knowledge of Arabic 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 and 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 similar job description, experience and educational requirements.

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