UNDP is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence.

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.

 Organizational Context

The Office of Financial Resources Management (OFRM), Bureau of Management, supports the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in the promotion of its sustainable human development agenda. It achieves this by developing and making fully operational a dynamic and harmonized integrated resources management framework based on comprehensive analysis that enhances UNDP’s financial performance, as well as facilitates UN reform and coherence.  To these ends, the framework addresses strategically critical financial resources planning and management issues, including results based budgeting;  the integration of the Programming Arrangements and the Institutional Budget within the context of the integrated budget from 2014 onwards;  enhanced cost classification and cost recovery;  capital budgeting; adherence to IPSAS; foreign exchange and investment activities;  corporate reporting of organizational assets; performance management tools and initiatives;  and support to UN harmonization.

Effective and efficient integrated resources management is enabled 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 financial management 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 resources 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.
  • Providing corporate reporting guidance to ensure that fixed assets are adequately recorded in all locations.

As part of OFRM's Financial Performance Management and Reporting Division (FPMR), the Manager, Financial Risks and Implementing partners (FR&IP), reports directly to the Chief, Financial Performance Management and Reporting (FPMR) who is responsible for all aspects of UNDP’s Financial Reporting including preparation of UNDP’s Financial Statements.

The FR&IP Manager leads the team that is responsible for supporting the establishment of financial performance framework, policies and procedures including policies for the management of implementing partners in line with corporate goals and the Strategic Plan. The Manager and team will work closely with other OFRM Units, including the Bureau/CO Advisors Team, and will utilise the services of the GSSC for the provision of information and analysis.

Functions / Key Results Expected

Develop and roll out corporate guidelines, procedures and systems to enable the management of cash transfers to implementing partners:

  • Develop and maintain risk management guidelines and procedures for managing the risk of cash transfers to implementing partners;
  • Lead in efforts to digitize the processes and tools for monitoring cash transfers to implementing partners, including related risks;
  • Develop and maintain procedures and monitoring tools for the capacity assessment of implementing partners;
  • Develop and maintain procedures and monitoring tools to ensure assurance activities, including financial spot checks and audits, are carried out on implementing partners are required by UNDP policies and procedures;
  • Develop a monitoring framework including automated and digital tools to monitor adherence to corporate implementing partner risk management guidelines;
  • Provide regular updates to regional bureaus, country offices and other relevant HQ units on compliance with corporate implementing partner risk management guidelines; and
  • Liaise with other UN Agencies on harmonization of policies and procedures and contribute to the roll-out of joint frameworks relating to implementing partners including establishing and harmonizing risk assessment tools and procedures, jointly negotiating long-term agreements with service providers for assessment and assurance services and enhancing collaboration on shared implementing partners.

Support the development and maintenance of a financial performance framework and associated tools to monitor the performance of Central & Regional Bureaus, Country Offices and Other HQ Units in line with the corporate goals and Strategic Plan:

  • Working closely with other OFRM units, Bureaux and the global Finance function, lead the development and continuous improvement/evaluation of a holistic risk-based financial performance framework;
  • Help identify effective indicators of financial and business process performance, and measure performance against those indicators;
  • Help identify effective indicators to measure internal control compliance;
  • Develop and promote new and/or refine existing dashboards and other digital tools to monitor financial and compliance performance, and measure the effectiveness of monitoring and accounting process and controls; and,;
  • Provide input on financial performance during the formulation of country office monitoring reports and OFRM bureau financial reviews.

Develop, roll-out and manage UNDP’s framework for assessing compliance by Regional & Central Bureaus, Country Offices and Other HQ Units with key controls and other key Corporate requirements that are critical to ensuring an adequate internal control environment and improving financial oversight:

  • Roll-out and manage UNDP’s annual assertion process to confirm compliance by all UNDP offices with key provisions of UNDP’s internal control framework, financial regulations and rules and financial resources management procedures;
  • Digitize, train and follow-up with stakeholders to strengthen the annual assertion process;
  •  Develop automated and digital tools to enhance the monitoring of compliance with key controls and reporting of for prompt follow-up in the event of non-compliance;
  • Develop and maintain training modules on governance, risk and controls to enhance understanding  by  UNDP managers in Regional & Central Bureaus, Country Offices and Other HQ Units of their role in maintaining an adequate system of internal controls; ; and,
  • Provide regular feedback to Regional & Central Bureaus, Country Offices and Other HQ Units on their performance with regards to complying with key requirements of UNDP’s internal control framework, financial regulations and rules and financial resources management procedures.

Formulate financial resource management policies and procedures relating to financial performance:

  • Support the Chief of the Financial Performance Management and Reporting unit in preparing and maintaining policies and procedures relating to financial performance;
  • Review and provide input to financial management procedures and standard operating procedures developed by GSSU; and,
  • Ensure that lessons from best practices are incorporated in the relevant prescriptive content.

Participate in other strategic initiatives within the Office of Financial Resources Management.

Impact of Results

The role is key to the future of UNDP’s financial management activities. The result of a successful performance will be a significant improvement in the management of UNDP’s financial risks and resources, and by extension, the credibility of UNDP as effective financial steward of development resources. The financial performance and competencies of Central and Regional Bureau, Country Offices HQ units and GSSU will increase with a resulting reduction in compliance issues, risks and the level of errors thereby ensuring appropriate stewardship of  financial resources.

Corporate Competencies

  • Demonstrates commitment to UNDP’s mission, vision and values;
  • Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability.

Functional Competencies

Team Management

  • Must be able to manage a team of diverse nationalities to respond quickly to areas of concern.

Relationship Building

  • Developing and maintaining strong and productive business relationships with clients in the UN system, UNDP HQ, regional centers and Country Offices.

Learning and People Development

  • Focus on the development of the capacities of the staff in the Country Offices in the region.

Influencing

  • Able to persuade country office management to adapt existing approaches and to acknowledge failings within their existing people and/or processes.

Strong focus on Continuous Improvement

  • Continually looking for ways to enhance financial performance within the region, and reduce errors and wastage.

Problem Solving and Decision Making Skills

  • The ability to successfully solve problems and propose pragmatic, effective solutions.

Education:

  • Advanced (Masters) University Degree in Business Administration, Finance/Accounting or a professional accounting qualification certificate from an internationally recognized institute of accountancy.
  • Professionally qualified accountants from an internationally recognized institute of accountancy will have a distinct advantage.

Experience:

  • Minimum 10 years of practical relevant experience in financial management and budgetary administration in an international setting.
  • Experience in developing and implementing internal control frameworks, including developing policies, procedures and systems to enable working with implementing partners.
  • Proven record of integrity and probity.
  • Familiar with the complexity of client relationships among international organisations, national governments and civil society.
  • Experience of ERP systems, preferably Oracle Cloud.
  • Detailed knowledge and experience complying with IPSAS (or IFRS).

Language Requirements:    

  • Fluency in English. Fluency in French or another UNDP working language an asset.

Important information for US Permanent Residents ('Green Card' holders)

Under US immigration law, acceptance of a staff position with UNDP, an international organization, may have significant implications for US Permanent Residents. UNDP advises applicants for all professional level posts that they must relinquish their US Permanent Resident status and accept a G-4 visa, or have submitted a valid application for US citizenship prior to commencement of employment. 

UNDP is not in a position to provide advice or assistance on applying for US citizenship and therefore applicants are advised to seek the advice of competent immigration lawyers regarding any applications.

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.

Scam warning

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Contract Duration: 2 Year with possibility for extension

This vacancy is archived.

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