This vacancy is open to nationals of EU Member States, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, or Switzerland.

BACKGROUND

The Bureau for Management Services’ Office of Financial Resources Management (BMS/OFRM) supports the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in the implementation of the 2030 agenda and UNDP’s Strategic Plan. It achieves this by developing and making fully operational a dynamic and harmonized integrated resource management framework based on comprehensive analysis that enhances UNDP’s financial and administrative performance, as well as facilitating UN reform and coherence. The primary role of BMS/ OFRM is to maintain the financial integrity of UNDP through providing functional leadership, supporting the efficient and effective management of its financial resources, promoting financial sustainability, and responsible resource allocation. 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. BMS/OFRM serves as a business partner to Bureaux and Country Offices, providing sound financial management, advisory and analytical services, with a view to continuously improving the financial management performance of business units and supporting Bureaux in the exercise of their oversight functions. 

Within OFRM, the Financial Performance Management & Reporting (FPMR) team is responsible for oversight of financial reporting, the preparation and integrity of UNDP’s financial statements, and providing timely and accurate financial information in accordance with international accounting standards. FPMR fosters trust and accountability through leadership in financial policy, robust internal financial controls, and close engagement with auditors to support an unqualified audit opinion, while also delivering expert accounting and financial advisory support, addressing complex and non-routine financial issues, and overseeing financial risk related to implementing partners, enabling informed senior decision-making and sustained audit assurance.

Within FPMR, there are four units:

  • Corporate Financial Reporting (CFR): Responsible for promoting clear accountability for financial transactions and for producing UNDP’s corporate financial statements.
  • Financial Performance Management (FPM): Responsible for managing aspects of financial performance, including the administration of the Annual Representation exercise and the Statement of Internal Control Over Financial Reporting; monitoring of financial risks related to financial statement integrity; and management of the implementing partners' policy framework, including the agency-wide Harmonized Approach to Cash Transfers (HACT) framework.
  • Payroll Finance Oversight (PFO): Responsible for the financial oversight of payroll accounting functions, as well as the reporting of employee benefits and liabilities for all UNDP personnel.
  • Finance Integration & Technologies (FIT): applies expert financial and systems analysis to resolve complex issues and enable automation, continuous accounting, and high-quality, timely decision-making.

3. Scope of Work

Finance Integration & Technologies (FIT): The FIT function sits within the FPMR team and provides deep analytical, technical, and process expertise and operates at the intersection of accounting policy, financial processes, and systems to strengthen the quality, speed, and reliability of financial reporting and decision-making. FIT drives continuous improvement across finance processes, with a particular focus on the fast-close agenda.

By leveraging data, automation, and emerging AI-enabled capabilities, FIT streamlines workflows, strengthens controls, and improves data quality—enabling faster closes, more reliable financial information, and deeper insights for senior management. This work supports the transition toward continuous accounting and greater end-to-end process automation. Ultimately, FIT leads the design, launch, and scaling of high-impact initiatives, partnering with operational teams to take projects from concept through implementation and deliver sustainable efficiency gains through technology-enabled process reengineering.

 The team also supports the rigorous interpretation of IPSAS standards, and advises on complex and non-routine matters, and works in close partnership with Corporate Accounting and Reporting and other finance functions to ensure consistent, auditable outcomes. 

The Finance Specialist, FIT, leads the design, implementation, and delivery of finance process improvements, automation initiatives, and data-enabled solutions in FPMR. Working under the guidance of the Head, FIT, the role contributes to strengthening the efficiency, quality, and control of core finance processes—particularly across the record-to-report lifecycle—while supporting the organization’s fast close and continuous accounting objectives.

The performance of the Finance Specialist, FIT, has a direct impact on the efficiency and effectiveness of the automation roadmap for all major accounting streams, including but not limited to financial closure, consolidation, and reporting processes, consistent and leading with best practices, and supports the shift toward continuous accounting and increased automation of end-to-end financial processes. The Finance Specialist, FIT, has a strong bias toward durable, system-enabled solutions over manual processes or one-off fixes.

Key Duties and Accountabilities:

a) Deliver process analysis and improvement across core finance processes

  • Conducts detailed analysis of current-state finance processes, particularly across the record-to-report lifecycle, to identify inefficiencies, control gaps, and opportunities for standardization and automation.
  • Documents and leads current-state and future-state process flows, business requirements, and control considerations to support system-enabled redesign.
  • Leads the implementation of approved process improvements, ensuring alignment with financial policies, control requirements, and operational realities.
  • Supports fast close initiatives by identifying manual interventions, reconciliation bottlenecks, and reporting dependencies, and proposing practical, scalable improvements.

b) Contribute to fast close and continuous accounting initiatives

  • Identifies and supports initiatives aimed at reducing manual interventions, reconciliation efforts, and cycle times during month-end, quarter-end, and year-end close processes.
  • Analyses close activities, identifying bottlenecks and data dependencies, and proposing practical improvements under guidance from the Head, FIT.
  • Conducts testing, validation, and rollout of process or system changes designed to improve close efficiency while maintaining audit-level quality and assurance.

c) Implement automation, systems, and data-enabled solutions

  • Implements automation and system-enabled initiatives by preparing requirements, assisting with configuration analysis, and conducting testing activities, including user acceptance testing (UAT).
  • Works with finance, systems, and analytics colleagues to ensure solutions are embedded within core financial systems and supported by reliable data flows.
  • Monitors the performance and effectiveness of implemented solutions and addresses refinement as required.

d) Provide analytical support for finance transformation initiatives

  • Performs structured financial, process, and data analysis in support of approved transformation initiatives, including preparation of analytical outputs, dashboards, and briefing materials.
  • Supports the preparation of business cases, implementation plans, and progress reporting for finance innovation initiatives.
  • Prepares the documentation, guidance, and knowledge materials to support the adoption and sustainability of implemented changes.

e) Promote cross-functional coordination and change delivery

  • Leads coordination with relevant finance units, GSSC, IT, and other stakeholders to facilitate delivery of process and system improvements.
  • Implements change management activities, including preparation of communication materials, training content, and user guidance.
  • Monitors issue tracking and resolution during implementation phases, escalating risks or blockers to the Head, FIT as appropriate.

f) Ensure facilitation of knowledge building and sharing

  • Synthesize lessons learned and best practices in 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. 

5. Institutional Arrangement

  • The position is part of a team of four staff members, including the supervisor, and has no direct reports.

Competencies:

Core Competencies

  • Achieve Results: LEVEL 3: Set and align challenging, achievable objectives for multiple projects, and have a lasting impact 
  • Think Innovatively: LEVEL 3: Proactively mitigate potential risks, develop new ideas to solve complex problems 
  • Learn Continuously: LEVEL 3: Create and act on opportunities to expand horizons, diversify experiences
  • Adapt with Agility: LEVEL 3: Proactively initiate and champion change, manage multiple competing demands 
  • Act with Determination: LEVEL 3: Think beyond immediate task/barriers and take action to achieve greater results
  • Engage and Partner: LEVEL 3: Political savvy, navigate complex landscape, champion Inter-agency collaboration
  • Enable Diversity and Inclusion:  LEVEL 3: Appreciate the benefits of a diverse workforce and champion inclusivity

Cross-Functional & Technical Competencies

  • Finance Accounting (general) Knowledge of accounting concepts, principles, frameworks, standards, regulations, policies, and trends, and the ability to apply this to strategic and practical situations.
  • Finance 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, Financial and process innovation, Financial and business process engineering expertise required to innovate, design, change, and implement new financial business models, financial instruments, financing opportunities, business processes, policies and procedures, and technological solutions
  • Business Management  Portfolio Management  Ability to select, prioritize, and control the organization’s programmes and projects, in line with its strategic objectives and capacity; ability to balance the implementation of change initiatives and the maintenance of business-as-usual, while optimizing return on investment. Knowledge and understanding of key principles of project, programme, and portfolio management.
  • Business Direction & Strategy    Systems thinking Ability to use objective problem analysis and judgement to understand how interrelated elements coexist within an overall process or system, and to consider how altering one element can impact on other parts of the system.

QUALIFICATIONS

Education: 

  • An advanced university degree (master’s degree or equivalent) in Finance or Accounting, and/or a professional accounting qualification from an accredited institute of accountancy, is required. 

OR

  • A first-level university degree (bachelor’s degree) in the areas mentioned above, in combination with an additional two years of qualifying experience, will be given due consideration in lieu of an advanced university degree 
  • Those with professional accounting qualifications from an accredited institute of accountancy will have a distinct advantage. 
  • Candidates with no accountancy qualification but with relevant experience must successfully undertake the UNDP Advanced Accountancy and Finance Test (AAFT) to be eligible for shortlisting.
  • Candidates with no professional accountancy qualifications, but with degrees that major in accountancy and/or finance, must complete the UNDP Finance Training and Certification Programme (FTCP), if recruited.

Min. years of relevant work experience 

  • Minimum 5 years (with master´s degree) or 7 years (with bachelor´s degree) of relevant experience in datasets and financial system outputs, applying analytical techniques to identify trends, anomalies, and opportunities for process or control improvements

Experience, Knowledge, and Skills

  • Strong analytical and report-writing skills with a proven track record.
  • Demonstrated experience in AI, digital transformation, and process automation. Eager to explore and apply new technologies. 
  • Experience conforming to international accounting standards (e.g., IPSAS/IFRS) and full accruals accounting conventions.
  • Experience in working with ERP systems (preferably Oracle Fusion Cloud ERP and Oracle Cloud EPM (Enterprise Performance Management).
  • Experience as a collaborative team player with flexibility to work across global time zones.

Desirable Criteria

  • Audit and/or consulting experience in a large international auditing firm.
  • Process transformation experience in large organizations, including strong project management, process, and problem-solving skills to resolve ambiguity and design scalable workflows, and translate clearly between business and technical stakeholders.
  • Experience working in the UN system 

Language Requirements:

  • Fluency in English is required. 
  • Working knowledge of another UN language is an advantage.

Professional Certificates

  • Distinct Advantage: ACCA, CPA, CIMA, CIPFA, or other internationally recognized accounting certifications.

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, or abuse of authority. All selected candidates, therefore, undergo relevant checks and are expected to adhere to the respective standards and principles. 

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 a similar job description, experience, and educational requirements.

Scam alert

UNDP does not charge a fee at any stage of its recruitment process. For further information, please see www.undp.org/scam-alert

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