The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is the global development network of the United Nations system that is on the ground in over 140 countries, with its Headquarters in New York, USA. The Bureau for Management Services (BMS) is a central Bureau tasked with the development of corporate strategies, policies, tools and systems in key cross-cutting management areas. Drawing on sound analytics and a risk-management approach, BMS supports the achievement of development results through management advice, innovative business solutions, and other corporate services in line with international best practices and evolving needs and expectations of development partners. BMS also ensures policy adherence in operations management within UN Rules & Regulations, safeguarding UNDP’s accountability vis-à-vis Member States and other stakeholders. The Office of Financial Management (OFM) performs a pivotal role within BMS and within UNDP’s global finance function, partnering with Bureaux and Country Offices. The primary role of OFM is to maintain the financial integrity of UNDP through providing financial leadership, supporting the efficient and effective management of its financial resources, promoting financial sustainability and responsible resource allocation in the context of a fluctuating funding environment. 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. OFM is a key source of information for the Executive Board, General Assembly, to Partners and wider civil society. It supports transparency through the provision of on time and quality statutory and other financial reports that comply with international standards and regulatory guidelines. OFM ensures effective and efficient integrated resources management through a continuous and robust process comprising:
- Formulation and implementation of corporate financial and administrative strategies,policies and procedures;
- Formulation, alignment, documentation and implementation of UNDP’s funding frameworks, assuring their integrity, viability and alignment with the Strategic Plan;
- Provision of policy guidance, advisory services and operational support to strengthen client capacities and help them achieve results, seeking to build consensus within UNDP and with key stakeholders on critical budgetary related matters requiring Executive Board legislation;
- Administration of the organization’s internal control framework, overseeing and monitoring financial management of all global UNDP offices, including through formulation/implementation of resource planning, management and oversight tools and reports;
- Promoting clear accountability for financial transactions and producing financial statements, including financial reporting to donors and the UNDP Executive Board.
- Support the unit in overall monitoring of compliance with requirements of the UNDP HACT policy and procedure by UNDP offices (HQ units, central and regional bureaus and country offices).
- Review the accuracy of HACT and implementing partner data in financial monitoring databases (SharePoint, Dashboard and other corporate platforms) and ensure follow-up with UNDP offices for action.
- Measure, monitor and publish performance dashboard indicators; run relevant reports or queries using the ERP system and analyze exceptions.
- Assist the unit in developing and updating financial management policies and procedures.
- Support the development and maintenance of IT tools used to manage the unit’s oversight on HACT policy compliance.
- Assist in communication and overall engagement with offices on the HACT POPP & HACT related POPP changes, HACT compliance, action on non-compliance and follow-up to ensure recommendations are implemented.
- Support the unit in rolling out the Annual Representation process and in the analysis and communication of the results to country offices.
- Assist the unit in the annual HACT compliance confirmation of UNDP offices.
- Support the unit in the development and implementation of Quantum ERP including the digitization of implementing partner risk management and integration to the existing monitoring platforms (SharePoint and Dashboards).
- Collect and compile performance data; provide information and analysis for use in preparing formal reports/documents on financial resources management including responses to UNDP’s key stakeholders.
- Perform any other tasks assigned by the unit manager and the finance specialist.
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 (CF) & Technical competencies (TC)
Business Management
- Risk Management - Ability to identify and organize action around mitigating and proactively managing risks
- Monitoring - Ability to provide managers and key stakeholders with regular feedback on the consistency or discrepancy between planned and actual activities and programme performance and results
Business Development
- Knowledge generation - Ability to research and turn information into useful knowledge, relevant for context, or responsive to a stated need
Finance
- Audit risk management - Ability to address audit issues raised in the course of an audit and propose solutions in order to ensure true and fair audit opinion is achieved
- 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 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
- Accounting (General) - Knowledge of accounting concepts, principles, frameworks, standards, regulations, policies and trends, and ability to apply this to strategic and/or practical situations
Education:
- Secondary Education with specialized certification in Accounting is required or
- University Degree in Business Administration, Finance/Accounting, or a relevant discipline,
- Possession of a professional accounting qualification certificate from an internationally recognized institute of accountancy will be an advantage.
- At least 7 years (Secondary) or 4 years’ (University Degree) experience in a financial management position(s) with large international organizations is required.
- Audit experience in a large public auditing firm will be an added advantage.
- Familiarity with international development, preferably the UN system, will be an added advantage.
- A sound understanding of International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSAS) utilized by international organizations will be an added advantage.
- Strong interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills.
- Analytical capabilities with distinct knowledge of current analytical applications and tools is desirable.
- Experience with ERP systems is required. Experience with Oracle Cloud ERP will be an added advantage.
Language Requirements
- Fluency in English is required
- Working knowledge of another UN language is an advantage, particularly Spanish or French
Contract Duration: 2 Year with possibility for extension