Programme Finance Associate

The Position:

The post of Programme Finance Associate is located in the UNFPA Papua New Guinea Country Office. The incumbent provides financial, administrative and programmatic support to strengthen programme delivery and management and works in close collaboration with the Programme and Operations teams in UNFPA Papua New Guinea CO to ensure timely support to the programme implementation. 

You will report directly to the Technical Specialist, GBV.

How you can make a difference:

UNFPA is the lead United Nations agency for delivering a world where every pregnancy is intended, every childbirth is safe, and every young person's potential is fulfilled. The UNFPA Strategic Plan for 2026-2029 articulates the organization’s response to a complex global environment, providing a roadmap for resilience and renewal. It is designed to accelerate the implementation of the Programme of Action of the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) and the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030. This mandate is pursued through a focus on four interconnected outcomes: ending the unmet need for family planning; ending preventable maternal deaths; ending gender-based violence and harmful practices; and adapting to demographic change through evidence and rights-based policies.

In a world where fundamental human rights are at risk, we need principled and ethical staff who embody these international norms and standards and will defend them courageously and with full conviction.

UNFPA is seeking candidates who transform, inspire, and deliver high-impact sustained results, ensuring effective external relations, communications, partnership-building and resource mobilization in a rapidly changing development and funding landscape. We need staff who are transparent, exceptional in how they manage the resources entrusted to them, and who commit to delivering excellence in programme results

Job Purpose:

The Programme Finance Associate contributes to the development and implementation of effective Country Programme by providing financial, administrative and programme support to UNFPA’s programmes. The incumbent will also contribute to financial management and operational and procedural guidance.

• The Programme Finance Associate provides administrative and financial support in implementation of programme activities ensuring full compliance of programme and financial processes with UN/UNFPA rules, regulations, policies and strategies.
• The Programme Finance Associate provides logistical support to programme implementation and to Implementing Partners.
• The Programme Finance Associate provides organizational functions of the office in terms of providing effective communications support to the office, ensuring facilitation of knowledge building and management.
  
   

You would be responsible for:

         Programme planning and coordination support:

• Assist the programme team in providing support to implementing partners on knowledge management and programme implementation through maintaining easy reference and friendly access to contacts and mailing lists of partners, key stakeholders, consultants, UN agencies, donor, institutions, individuals, and other contacts.

• Supporting the evaluation of project and programme activities, establishing ways to assess achievement and recommending corrective action as required; conducting field visits; participating in prgoramme/financial review meetings, draft meeting minutes and coordinate with IP for the submission of progress reports. 
  
  Assist in programme formulation and work-plan creation through Quantum Plus, maintain and update project profiles, including progress reports and work plan review in compliance with relevant policy and procedures.

  Financial management support:  

• Assist in the preparation of workplan budget revisions through Quantum Plus and monitor project budgetary commitments.
• Collate programme related information and procurement needs; support programme personnel in their work plans, monitor and follow-up with Implementing partners on submission of progress and financial reports (e-FACEs).
• Review implementing partners eFACE forms, detailed transaction lists, supporting documents, eFACE review checklists and work plan progress reports.
• Regularly generate and present required financial reports through PowerBI and Quantum identifying areas of overbudgets, low implementation in line with Donor project documents, and the Results and Resources Plan (RRP) to programme team.
• Check and examine various project financial reports (i.e. project monitoring reports) for accuracy and consistency against approved budgets.
• Coach implementing partners on UNFPA financial rules and regulations to be followed, e-Face and on recording of non-expendable items supported by UNFPA.
• Coordinate with operations team on operational and financial closure of projects in line with UNFPA policy and procedures.
• In close collaboration and guidance of the CO operations team, support and coordinate the HACT assurance activities (spot check, audits) and support in follow up of any required action;
• Support financial reporting to Donors and UNFPA Headquarters.

         Administrative support:

• Sets up, and effectively maintain and monitors the filing system; sets up a follow up system to reduce repetitive action or filling gaps; manage online database of implementing partners; assist in archiving and maintain up-to-date electronic mailing lists.
• In accordance with the Work Plan arrange for procurement of equipment, supplies and services.
• Facilitate programme activities, or relevant missions, by arranging meeting schedules, coordinating logistical support, collecting reference documents, and maintaining records.
• Prepare necessary documentation, minutes of meetings and notes to file for relevant transactions (e.g. grant agreements, services contracts).
• Prepare information and/or briefs, summaries and background documentation required by programme staff for official missions, programme functions, seminars, conferences, events and meetings including arranging audio-visual aids as required, projector and screen, preparing power point presentations and computer-generated visuals such as graphs.
• Ensure optimal communication flows within the programme and with entire Country Office, and external counterparts, through effective use of written, verbal and electronic communication.
• Perform ad-hoc duties required by the Programme Leads relating to monitoring and evaluation of the country programme and projects.
• Provides information to missions, visitors and programme counterparts.
• Carry out any other relevant activities and responsibilities as assigned by the Supervisor and Senior Management.
  
   

Qualifications and Experience: 

Education:  

• Completed secondary level education (high school diploma) required. 
• First level University (Bachelor’s) degree in Public/Business Administration, Finance, Commerce, Accountancy/Chartered Accountancy and related field is preferred.
  
   

Knowledge and Experience: 

• Minimum of six (6) years with secondary level education (or three (3) years with a first level university degree) of relevant experience in programme, administration, finance or office management;
• Experience with UN Agencies is an asset
• Excellent writing and communication skills with the ability to draft correspondence in a clear, accurate and concise manner; 
• Proficiency in current office software applications. 
• Good knowledge of Quantum is an asset.

Languages: 

• Fluency in English; knowledge of other official UN languages, preferably French and/or Spanish, is desirable.
  
   

Required Competencies: 

Values:

• Exemplifying integrity, 
• Demonstrating commitment to UNFPA and the UN system, 
• Embracing cultural diversity, 
• Embracing change

Core Competencies: 

• Achieving results,
• Being accountable,
• Developing and applying professional expertise/business acumen,
• Thinking analytically and strategically,
• Working in teams/managing ourselves and our relationships,

Functional Competencies:

• Providing logistical support
• Managing data
• Managing documents, correspondence and reports
• Managing information and workflow
• Planning, organizing and multitasking
• Managing financial process
• Job knowledge / technical expertise

Managerial Competencies (if applicable):

• Not applicable for this position.

Compensation and Benefits:

This position offers an attractive remuneration package including leave days, health insurance and additional remuneration for pensions and social security obligations.

UNFPA Work Environment:

UNFPA provides a work environment that reflects the values of gender equality, diversity, integrity and healthy work-life balance. We are committed to ensuring gender parity in the organization and therefore encourage women to apply. Individuals from the LGBTQIA+ community, minority ethnic groups, indigenous populations, persons with disabilities, and other underrepresented groups are highly encouraged to apply. Reasonable accommodation may be provided to applicants with disabilities upon request, to support their participation in the recruitment process. UNFPA promotes equal opportunities in terms of appointment, training, compensation and selection for all regardless of personal characteristics and dimensions of diversity. Diversity, Equity and Inclusion is at the heart of UNFPA's workforce - click here to learn more.