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Operations & Finance Associate

New York City

  • Organization: UNDP - United Nations Development Programme
  • Location: New York City
  • Grade: Junior level - Junior - Internationally recruited position
  • Occupational Groups:
    • Operations and Administrations
    • Banking and Finance
  • Closing Date: Closed

Background

The Fund Operations and Finance Associate (G7) ensures the effective execution of a broad set of operational and finance support services, that enable effective fund administration at the level of individual Funds and for the overall MPTF Office overall portfolio including Funds with the European Commission as a contributing partner.
The MPTF Office is a UN center of expertise on pooled financing mechanisms. It supports development effectiveness and UN coherence through the efficient, accountable and transparent design and administration of innovative pooled financing instruments as well as provision of advisory services for fund operations. Housed within UNDP, the MPTF Office is firewalled from all UN implementing entities, UNDP included. The MPTF Office has put in place a number of tools and systems to support its fund administration services, including a separate General Ledger Business Unit in ATLAS (MDTF1) and the MPTF Office Gateway (see mptf.undp.org).
The MPTF Office’s current portfolio is over $7 billion in total (> 750 million/year) and includes over 100 pooled financing mechanisms (country-level and global MDTFs, Joint Programmes (JPs) and National Funds), established for humanitarian, transition, development and climate change activities. 
 
 
 

Duties and Responsibilities

MPTFO Portfolio maintenance for Cross portfolio analysis and/or coordination
  • Contribute to office strategy and workplan development.
  • Coordinate and/or support the organization of knowledge events on specific Funds/JPs or the overall MPTF Office portfolio.
  • Support strategy development and implement cost recovery policies for advisory services 
  • Advise on the eligibility and charging of AA direct costs charged for non-standard donor agreements and facilitate the recording process through reconciliation between direct cost eligibility and deferred revenue; lead on detailed knowledge of complex donor agreements
  • Support the Chief of Finance in any European Commission verification missions
  • Complete assigned MDTF1 closure processes ensuring complete and accurate coding and recording of transactions in the GL and KK 
  • Contribute to business process and systems design to generate on-going and maintain efficiency and productivity across the portfolio; including drafting business process maps
  • Synthesize lessons learnt and best practices related to specific aspects of Fund operations administration
  • Complete other tasks as assigned to support implementation of the strategic plan and business continuity of the finance and operations team 
Fund administration for funds under an assigned portfolio (or in support of the team)
  • Implement all activities in accordance with UNDP’s Financial Regulations and Rules, MPTFO’s Operations manual and the office Internal Control Framework issued by the Executive Coordinator
  • Accurately record donor earmarking and Steering Committee/Secretariat allocations and prepare and validate earmarking reports/funding frameworks as required in support of Fund Secretariats
  • Prepare financial transactions in Atlas and transfer notifications
  • Liaise with Participating Organizations and the Fund Treasury & Finance Associate to identify and record Participating Organizations refunds, and resolve issues related to non USD currencies
  • Provide advice and support to a variety of internal and external stakeholders to resolve finance fund related issues
  • Complete provide review of General Ledger data to ensure data integrity and accuracy, including mid-year and year-end closure workpapers
  • Provide analysis and support in managing assigned MPTFO UNDP1 projects for AA direct costs and/or Advisory Services 
Fund Reporting for funds under an assigned portfolio (or in support of the team)
  • Prepare and validate accurate annual Statement of Sources and Uses of Funds for authorization and certification
  • Prepare and validate accurate annual standard financial reports and tables for inclusion in portfolio narrative reporting, including additional reports required for non-standard donor agreements, such as with the European Commission
  • Prepare and validate accurate Funding frameworks and other ad-hoc financial reporting on request 
Support to Fund Portfolio team for funds under an assigned portfolio (or in support of the team)
  • Monitor financial closure of projects with POs for assigned Funds or Agencies, implementing proactive client service approaches to influence compliance with donor reporting timelines and quality of information, in particular non-standard donor agreements
  • Liaise with POs to advise and facilitate correction of over expenditure and / or project closure issues where resolution requires fund specific knowledge or as the Agency focal point
  • Conduct final financial closure review for projects/Funds as per the Operations Manual
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Competencies

CORE Competencies

  • Acts as a team player and facilitating team work 
  • Facilitates and encourages open communication in the team, communicates effectively 
  • Creates synergies through self-control and managing conflict
  • Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability
  • Demonstrates corporate knowledge and sound judgment 
  • Learns and shares knowledge and encourages the learning of others. 

FUNCTIONAL Competencies:   

  • Leadership and Self-Management
  • Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude
  • Remains calm, in control and good humoured even under pressure
  • Demonstrates openness to change
  • Responds positively to feedback and differing points of view
  • Client Orientation: Maintains effective client relationships
  • Establishes, builds and sustains effective relationships within the work unit and with internal and external clients
  • Approaches tasks using positive client-oriented behaviours and responds to internal and external client needs promptly, timely, and appropriately
  • Organizes and prioritizes work schedule to meet client needs and deadlines
  • Actively contributes and supports the immediate team and the broader office in meeting the office workplan and not just individual targets
  • Job Knowledge/Technical Expertise: Fundamental knowledge of processes, methods and procedures
  • Demonstrates knowledge of UNDG, UNDP and MPTFO regulations, rules, policies and procedures relating to the position and applies them consistently in work tasks 
  • Contributes to lessons learned, business process improvement and self-improvement in work related activities
  • Strives to keep job knowledge up-to-date through self-directed study and other means of learning
  • Demonstrates excellent skills in information technology and applies it in work assignments
  • Promoting Organizational Change and Development: Presentation of information on best practices in organizational change
  • Demonstrates ability to identify problems and propose choices, solutions and trade-offs considering multiple perspectives
  • Promoting Accountability and Results-Based Management 
  • Takes ownership of work assignments and office/team work plan

Required Skills and Experience

Education
  • Completed Secondary Education is required. 
  • University Degree or certificate in Finance, Accounting, Business Administration or equivalent is desirable, but it is not a requirement. 
Experience
  • Minimum 7 years experience in financial management/accounting, and working with ERP systems
  • Experience working with UN pooled funding mechanisms is a distinct advantage
  • Experience working with European Commission donor agreements and requirements, highly desirable.
  • Experience in the use of computers applications and software packages (MS Word, Excel, etc) as well as web based management systems. 
  • Experience in the use of computer applications and software packages (MS Word, Excel, etc) as well as web based management and ERP systems. 
Language Requirements
  • Fluency in both written and spoken English. Knowledge of another UN language is an asset. 
 

Disclaimer

Important applicant information

All posts in the GS categories are subject to local recruitment. 

Externally advertised GS fixed-term appointment and temporary appointment (TA) positions located in New York/Washington D.C. are open to candidates who are either US Permanent Residents, US Citizens or holders of a valid G4 visa at the time of their application and whose G4 visa has been acquired on account of their employment in the UN Systems based in New York or Washington, DC.

Selected candidates who meet the above mentioned eligibility criteria are responsible for their own travel and/or relocation costs.

Selection to GS fixed-term appointment positions at Headquarters requires passing a UN administered clerical test (ASAT). External applicants to General Service (GS) positions in New York who already possess a Bachelor’s degree or an accredited certification in a technical field (e.g. IT, Finance, or Procurement) will not need to obtain/pass the UN Administrative Support Assessment Test (ASAT). However, passing specialized tests (e.g. Finance and Accounting technical assessments) may still be required for some General Service (GS) positions, as specified in the vacancy announcement.

Applicants under serious consideration for short-listing of posts requiring accountancy and finance skills, must take the UNDP Accountancy and Finance Test (UNDP AFT) prior to short-listing.

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.

Workforce diversity

UNDP is committed to achieving diversity within its workforce, and encourages all qualified applicants, irrespective of gender, nationality, disabilities, sexual orientation, culture, religious and ethnic backgrounds to apply. All applications will be treated in the strictest confidence.

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This vacancy is now closed.
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