Finance Officer

The UNOPS Middle East Region (MR) provides strategic leadership, performance oversight, and support to UNOPS operations across Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, Yemen, and the State of Palestine. MR is responsible for positioning UNOPS as a key development partner in the region through high-level engagement with regional bodies, UN coordination mechanisms, development banks, donors, and intergovernmental organisations. By fostering strategic partnerships and promoting operational excellence, the region supports country teams in delivering sustainable solutions to complex development, peace, and humanitarian challenges

Established in 2004, the UNOPS Amman Multi-Country Office (MCO) provides strategic and operational support to partners across Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, Iraq, Yemen, and the Gulf countries. The MCO delivers solutions that address development, peace, and humanitarian challenges through infrastructure, procurement, project management, and human resources services. Working in close collaboration with national governments, UN agencies, and donors, the office supports efforts to advance the Sustainable Development Goals. Its portfolio includes large-scale operations focused on improving essential services, strengthening national systems, and enhancing resilience in complex and fragile settings.

The UNOPS Yemen Country Office supports partners in restoring essential infrastructure and public services amid a protracted, multifaceted crisis.. Operating since 2013, the office delivers integraged interventions in urban services, energy access, health, water and sanitation, transport, and solid waste management sectors.The office also facilitates operational support for UN partners. With strong coordination across the different stakeholders, UNOPS Yemen supports the strengthening of local capacities and contributes to peacebuilding, recovery, and sustainable developmemt efforts.

UNOPS Yemen is undertaking a multi-sectoral engagement aimed at restoring urban services mainly in energy, urban roads, WASH and municipal services in targeted cities in Yemen using an integrated approach.  With strong coordination across the different stakeholders, UNOPS Yemen supports the strengthening of local capacities and contributes to peacebuilding, recovery, and sustainable development efforts.

Under the direct supervision of the Finance Manager, the Finance Officer provides key elements of advisory, management, and planning services to ensure compliant planning, administration, and management (including budget, treasury and cash management) of the Business Unit’s financial resources. Under close supervision, s/he may maintain oversight and control of Programme financial activities, providing value-added advisory services. 

The Finance Officer ensures the effective delivery of financial management, reporting and compliance services in accordance with UNOPS Financial Rules and Regulations (FRRs), policies and procedures. The incumbent leads on budget formulation and monitoring, treasury and cash management, accounting oversight, and financial reporting. The Finance Officer also provides analytical and advisory support to management, ensuring financial integrity, cost efficiency and timely decision-making across the portfolio.

Implementation of Operational Strategies

• Ensure full compliance with UNOPS financial rules, regulations, policies and procedures, as well as donor and audit requirements.
• Implement and maintain effective internal control systems and risk management frameworks to safeguard financial resources.
• Support the roll-out and continuous improvement of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) in finance, ensuring consistency and accuracy across financial processes.
• Monitor financial exception reports, identify and investigate anomalies, and recommend corrective actions.
• Advise management on cost-saving measures, financial efficiencies and expenditure optimization in collaboration with operations teams.
• Support internal and external audit exercises, coordinate responses, and track the implementation of audit recommendations.

Budget Preparation, Monitoring and Control

• Lead the preparation, consolidation and monitoring of budgets for projects and administrative operations, ensuring alignment with UNOPS and donor requirements.
• Review and analyze budget proposals for accuracy, consistency and alignment with strategic and financial objectives.
• Conduct variance analyses and monitor expenditure levels against approved budgets, providing early warnings on deviations and advising corrective measures.
• Coordinate project budget revisions and ensure timely re-phasing and approvals in the enterprise resource planning (ERP) system.
• Provide financial planning support to project managers, including forecasting, scenario analysis, and financial risk assessment.
• Contribute to the development and improvement of budgeting tools and systems to enhance transparency and performance-based budgeting.

Cash Management and Treasury

• Oversee cash management operations to ensure liquidity and accuracy in fund allocation.
• Review daily and monthly cash positions to maintain sufficient balances for disbursements and manage the zero-balance and imprest accounts.
• Prepare cash flow forecasts for operational and project needs and ensure alignment with budget projections.
• Initiate and approve bank transfers and foreign exchange transactions in the ERP system in compliance with authorization levels.
• Maintain strong relationships with local banking institutions and ensure compliance with national financial and banking regulations.
• Monitor operational advances, recoveries and petty cash accounts, ensuring timely reconciliation and closure.
• Conduct periodic treasury analyses and forecasting of income and expenditure trends to inform financial planning and risk management.

Commitments and Payments

• Ensure accuracy, validity and compliance of financial transactions, commitments and payments against budget allocations and contractual terms.
• Review and approve payment requests, verifying the completeness of supporting documentation and proper use of account codes.
• Ensure that transactions are properly recorded, reconciled and reported in the ERP system.
• Maintain control of accounts receivable and payable, ensuring timely recording and follow-up with clients, partners and donors.
• Support the establishment and implementation of an effective expenditure control framework, ensuring that vouchers are matched, verified, and cleared in accordance with financial rules.
• Manage financial data quality through ongoing review, reconciliation, and corrective action for unposted or exception items.
• Supervise timely accounts closure, including accruals, provisions and adjusting journal entries.
• Coordinate with HQ and the Regional Office on complex payment or compliance issues and resolve financial data discrepancies.

Financial Reporting

• Prepare, review and analyze monthly, quarterly and annual financial reports for management and donors, ensuring accuracy and adherence to reporting timelines.
• Support the preparation of client financial statements, interim financial reports (IFRs), and delivery reports in line with contractual and audit requirements.
• Develop and maintain financial dashboards and reporting tools for portfolio oversight and performance analysis.
• Contribute to the annual financial closure process, ensuring all accounts are reconciled and adjustments made in compliance with UNOPS standards.
• Provide financial input and analysis for strategic reports, audits and evaluations.
• Lead or support the implementation of audit recommendations and contribute to internal and external financial reviews.

Knowledge Building and Sharing

• Support the organization, facilitation and delivery of training and learning sessions on finance topics.
• Participate in knowledge-sharing initiatives and Communities of Practice (CoPs), contributing insights and lessons learned.
• Conduct research on finance-related topics and contribute to the drafting of reports, summaries and briefing notes.

Required

• Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) in Finance, Accounting, Business Administration or other disciplines with 2 years of relevant experience OR
• Master’s degree (or equivalent) in any of the above disciplines with 0 years of relevant experience is required.

Desired

• Professional certification (e.g. CPA, ACCA, CA, CIMA) is desired.
• Knowledge of IPSAS or other international accounting standards is desired.

Required

• Relevant experience is work in project financial management, budgeting, cash management and financial reporting, or related areas.
• Demonstrable proficiency in the use of collaboration and productivity tools (e.g. MS Office, G-Suite, etc) and web-based management systems.

Desired

• Experience of working in multicultural environments or UN system organizations in a developing country is desired.
• Experience in development or humanitarian contexts is desired.

• UNOPS does not accept unsolicited resumes. 
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• Applications to vacancies must be received before midnight Copenhagen time (CET) on the closing date of the announcement. Applications received after the closing date will not be considered. 
• Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and invited to proceed to the next stage of the selection process, which may include various assessments. 
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• We are committed to enabling all candidates to perform at their best during the assessment process. If you are shortlisted and require support or reasonable accommodation to complete any assessment, please inform our human resources team upon receiving your invitation.
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