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Finance Associate

Panamá

  • Organization: UNOPS - United Nations Office for Project Services
  • Location: Panamá
  • Grade: Administrative support - LICA-6, Local Individual Contractors Agreement
  • Occupational Groups:
    • Administrative support
    • Banking and Finance
  • Closing Date: Closed

Background Information - UNOPS

UNOPS supports the successful implementation of its partners’ peacebuilding, humanitarian and development projects around the world. Our mission is to serve people in need by expanding the ability of the United Nations, governments and other partners to manage projects, infrastructure and procurement in a sustainable and efficient manner.

Working in some of the world’s most challenging environments, our vision is to advance sustainable implementation practices, always satisfying or surpassing our partners’ expectations.

With over 7,000 personnel spread across 80 countries, UNOPS offers its partners the logistical, technical and management knowledge they need, wherever they need it.

A flexible structure and global reach means that we can quickly respond to our partners' needs, while offering the benefits of economies of scale. 

Background Information - Job-specific

Under the guidance and supervision of the Regional Financial Management Officer the Finance Associate acts as the finance focal point and provides leadership in execution of financial services in the region ensuring effective and transparent utilization of financial resources and integrity of financial services. The Finance Associate promotes a client-oriented approach consistent with UNOPS rules and regulations.

The Finance Associate supervises and leads the support staff of the Regional/Centre Finance Unit. The Finance Associate works in close collaboration with Project Managers and Project teams for resolving finance-related issues and information exchange.

Functional Responsibilities

  • Implementation of operational strategies
  • Budgetary and monitoring control
  • Treasury and payments functions
  • Accounting and administrative support
  • Financial reporting and control
  • Facilitation of knowledge building and knowledge sharing

1.     Ensures implementation of operational strategies, adapts processes and procedures focusing on achievement of the following results:

  • Full compliance with UNOPS rules and regulations of financial processes, financial records and reports and audit follow up; implementation of the effective internal control framework.

  • Support on the elaboration of the content of internal Standard Operating Procedures in Finance in consultation with the direct supervisor and office management.

2.  Ensures efficient budgetary and monitoring control, focusing on achievement of the following results:        

  • Extraction of required financial information from UNOPS project agreements and set up of necessary quality controls in line with existing UNOPS financial policies and procedures.
  • Support the RFMO in the revision and validation of yearly budgets in the region.
  • Maintenance of budget databases by verifying and entering approved budgets. Support the RFMO on the preparation and control of financial indicators monitoring tools.
  • Review and adjustment of project expenditures/obligations against approved budgets.
  • Budgets in conformity with UNOPS Financial Rules and Regulations & procedures of the funding source.

3.     Provides support to offices on Treasury and ensures proper payments processing, focusing on achievement of the following results:

  • Support offices in the preparation of bank reconciliations and monitor that bank reconciliations for LCR are up to date.
  •  Review any petty cash establishment request and the petty cash replenishment requests. Maintenance and control of petty cash monitoring tool and preparation of status report. Follow up with offices for the timely reconciliations
  • Review any operational advance establishment request and the operational advance replenishment requests. Maintenance and control of operational advance monitoring tool and preparation of status and reconciliation report. Follow up with offices for the timely reconciliations
  • Monitoring of prepayments requests
  • Support offices on the monitoring of bank guarantees
  • Monitoring advance financing requests and follow-up when problems arise; 

4.     Provides accounting and administrative support to the Finance Unit, focusing on achievement of the following results:

  • Periodic review of outstanding request to offices related to finance and ensure review and required action is taken by relevant staff; (according to the finance request calendar)
  • Preparation and review of journal entries and supporting documentation for completeness, accuracy, compliance with UN Financial Rules and Regulations and correctness of account code charges. 
  • Analysis of data quality reports, investigation and preparation of adjustment as required.
  • Preparation of recurring, ad-hoc or special financial reports as required.   
  • Communication with colleagues/clients on areas requiring verification, corrections, additional information, etc. to improve quality of output and/or account submission and increase knowledge base in the process.  
  • Preparation of statistical reports on workflow/processes
  • Oversight of data entry into financial databases by the Finance/Payments Clerk and guidance on data entry and validation.
  • Review of signed agreements/Approvals from Governments/UN Agencies/Other Clients for compliance and completeness prior to management review
  • Monitoring of financial recorded expenditures and related contributions to ensure timely and accurate accounting information.
  • Provision of finance UNOPS ERP Financial System support to field offices and regional office staff for Project Accounting and Financial Reporting

5. Ensures effective financial reporting and control, focusing on achievement of the following results

  • Contacts with offices in LCR to verify, correct, add and improve quality of financial activities of a particular project, including financial reports. 
  • Frequent contact with other finance staff in the organization in the support of preparation of payments, data reconciliation, client reporting, or audit activities.
  • Implementation of reporting systems and reports to meet Funding source requirements.
  • Preparation of financial and statistical reports.
  • Support on the preparation of periodic financial statements to funding sources and external clients in compliance with established reporting requirements.
  • Support on the preparation of Financial Statements against specific projects for Audit Certification and forwarding to Lending institutions/Donors/UN Agencies and Governments.
  • Assistance to Porfolio Managers with OneUnops reporting and analysis.
  • Support on the provision of reports as needed for Year-End close
  • Support the RFMO on Proper closure of projects and refund of unspent balances to Donors/UN Agencies.  

6. Ensures facilitation of knowledge building and knowledge sharing, focusing on achievement of the following results:

  • Training of  colleagues upon requests from portfolio managers, the supervisor and other finance officers in setting projects, budget revisions, troubleshooting and understanding of the processes on day to day financial transactions, reporting and other related tasks.
  • Synthesis of lessons learnt and best practices in Finance.
  • Sound contributions to knowledge networks and communities of practice

Functional competencies

Knowledge Management and Learning

  • Shares knowledge and experience.
  • Actively works towards continuing personal learning and development in one or more practice areas, acts on learning plan and applies newly acquired skills.
Development and Operational Effectiveness
  • Ability to perform a variety of specialized activities related to financial resources management, including formulating budgets, maintaining Accounts Receivables and Accounts Payables, making transactions, reporting.
  • Sound knowledge of UNOPS Financial Rules and Regulations, accounting.       
  • Ability to interact and communicate within a team and with clients.
  •  Keen sense of ethics and integrity in dealing with clients and service providers.

Competencies

           
Treats all individuals with respect; responds sensitively to differences and encourages others to do the same. Upholds organizational and ethical norms. Maintains high standards of trustworthiness. Role model for diversity and inclusion.
Acts as a positive role model contributing to the team spirit. Collaborates and supports the development of others. For people managers only: Acts as positive leadership role model, motivates, directs and inspires others to succeed, utilizing appropriate leadership styles.
Demonstrates understanding of the impact of own role on all partners and always puts the end beneficiary first. Builds and maintains strong external relationships and is a competent partner for others (if relevant to the role).
Efficiently establishes an appropriate course of action for self and/or others to accomplish a goal. Actions lead to total task accomplishment through concern for quality in all areas. Sees opportunities and takes the initiative to act on them. Understands that responsible use of resources maximizes our impact on our beneficiaries.
Open to change and flexible in a fast paced environment. Effectively adapts own approach to suit changing circumstances or requirements. Reflects on experiences and modifies own behavior. Performance is consistent, even under pressure. Always pursues continuous improvements.
Evaluates data and courses of action to reach logical, pragmatic decisions. Takes an unbiased, rational approach with calculated risks. Applies innovation and creativity to problem-solving.
Expresses ideas or facts in a clear, concise and open manner. Communication indicates a consideration for the feelings and needs of others. Actively listens and proactively shares knowledge. Handles conflict effectively, by overcoming differences of opinion and finding common ground.

Education/Experience/Language requirements

Education

  • University Degree in finance-related subjects or business administration is required.

Work Experience

  • Minimum of 2 years of relevant finance experience mainly in account reconciliation, budget revision and treasury is required at the national or international level. Experience in the usage of computers and office software packages (MS Office 2003 and/or newer versions) and advance knowledge of spreadsheet and database packages, experience in handling of web-based management systems.
  • Experience on International Organizations or/and UN financial rules will be consider a plus.

Language

  • Fluency in written and oral Spanish and English

Contract type, level and duration

Contract type: Local Individual Contractor (Regular Month). This contract modality is establish as a regular month contract, meaning that the services are requiered continually during the time of the contract, payments associate to this contract will be process at the end of each month.
Contract level: LICA-6
Contract duration:12 months (possibility of extensión base on good performance and Budget availability)


For more details about the ICA contractual modality, please follow this link:
https://www.unops.org/english/Opportunities/job-opportunities/what-we-offer/Pages/Individual-Contractor-Agreements.aspx 

Additional Considerations

  • Please note that the closing date is midnight Copenhagen time
  • Applications received after the closing date will not be considered.
  • Only those candidates that are short-listed for interviews will be notified.
  • Qualified female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.
  • For staff positions only, UNOPS reserves the right to appoint a candidate at a lower level than the advertised level of the post
  • The incumbent is responsible to abide by security policies, administrative instructions, plans and procedures of the UN Security Management System and that of UNOPS.  

It is the policy of UNOPS to conduct background checks on all potential recruits/interns. Recruitment/internship in UNOPS is contingent on the results of such checks.

This vacancy is now closed.
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