Financial Management Specialist

In accordance with UNOPS policies, procedures and practices, the Financial Management Specialist’s duties include:

1. Ensure effective and accurate financial resources management and oversight, focusing on achievement of the following results:

• Elaboration of proposals for planning of financial resources of the Operational Center, continuous analysis and monitoring of the financial situation and presentation of forecasts for development and management projects; provision of high-quality professional advice to the Operational Center’s management
• Proper planning, expenditure tracking and audit of financial resources, in accordance with UNOPS financial rules and regulations.
• Organization and oversight of the Operational Center’s cash management processes, including liquidity management, recommendation of imprest level, risk assessment, bank relationship management, timely accounting and reconciliation of all transactions, security for cash assets on site.
• Monitoring of financial exception reports for unusual activities, transactions and investigation of anomalies or unusual transactions. Provision of information to supervisors and other UNOPS staff at HQ on the results of the investigation when satisfactory answers are not obtained.
• Identification of problems in financial and administrative areas, suggesting alternative solutions to resolve issues in compliance with broader UNOPS policies, rules and procedures.

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

• Full compliance of financial activities, financial recording/reporting system and audit follow up with UNOPS rules, regulations, policies and strategies; implementation of effective internal control, proper design and functioning of the financial resources management system.
• Elaboration/establishment of internal standard operating procedures and control of the workflows in the Finance Unit.
• Elaboration and implementation of cost-saving and reduction strategies.
• Up-to-date on policy developments on UNOPS financial management issues.

1. Support timely budget preparation and effective monitoring and control, focusing on achievement of the following results:

• Provides direct support to the Programme Management Office (PMO) during the development and implementation of project acquisition.  Guides PMO in ensuring that financial aspects of new business sought can be efficiently implemented by UNOPS and that the financial components of the project proposals are in line with the corporate UNOPS policies specifically the client pricing policy.
• Works closely with the Regional Office in ensuring that new projects are established with sound financial and budgetary baselines, ensuring that such baseline contribute to the effective monitoring and financial performance of new projects.
• Coordination with the Project Managers to ensure compliance with UNOPS financial rules and regulations, financial policies and procedures and that project budgets and revisions are prepared in accordance with established procedures and budgetary guidelines of the funding agency; ensure that project budget rephrasing’s are processed accurately and in a timely manner.
• Identification of administrative budgetary requirements; provision of guidance on guidelines for budget preparation, the format to be used in reflecting budget proposals and the procedures for submission to facilitate consolidation at the global level.
• Review, analysis and revision of data with respect to the finalization of cost estimates and budget proposals, in terms of staff and non-staff requirements submitted by project managers; review of budget proposals for reasonableness, consistency with the organizational goals and priorities.
• Collaboration in the improvement of the UNOPS Project Budget formulation system, with the cooperation of the Information Technology group, ensuring relevance of system at all times by updating and proposing change to facilitate financial management of project

1. Ensures proper Operational Center cash management and treasury functions, focusing on achievement of the following results:

• Timely review of cash position for local accounts to ensure sufficient funds on hand for disbursements; identification and recording of receipts for income application.
• Establishment of efficient local banking arrangements and compliance with local financial and banking regulations
• Discussion and communication with the Project Managers on the savings or potential concerns that may require further review.
• Analysis of trends and forecasting of income from projects and other sources.

1. Ensures proper control of Operational Center accounts and payments, focusing on achievement of the following results:

• Analysis and elaboration of proposals for the internal expenditures’ control system which ensures that vouchers processed are matched and completed, transactions are correctly recorded and posted in oneUNOPS (oU); payrolls are duly prepared; monthly payment orders (MPOs), travel claims and other entitlements are duly processed.
• Quality control of the account by performing ongoing review, analysis and reconciliation of accounts. Investigation of discrepancies and initiation of timely corrective actions on unposted vouchers, including the vouchers with budget check errors, match exceptions, unapproved vouchers. Timely response to HQ requests to resolve financial data issues.
• Control of the Accounts Receivables for UNOPS projects and follow up with partners on contributions, maintenance of the General Ledger.
• Ensuring proper maintenance of the project financial accounts; preparation of financial records, statements and reports as required or approval of the work of subordinates; coordination of field replies to internal and external audit queries;
• Ensuring proper receipt, management, safeguarding and disbursement of payments handled by the project; review, modification, initiation and implementation of internal control procedures in coordination with Headquarters;
• Proper control of the supporting documents for payments; preparation of all types of vouchers; Pay Cycle and payments execution.
• Ensuring proper maintenance of the Accounts Receivables for UNOPS projects and follow-up with partners on contributions, deposits

1. Provides support to knowledge building and knowledge sharing, focusing on achievement of the following results:

• Organization and conduct of training for the operations/ projects staff on Finance.
• Synthesis of lessons learned and best practices in Finance.
• Sound contributions to knowledge networks and communities of practice.
• Provide technical guidance and on the job training to ensure work standards are achieved, both in terms of quantity/quality of input/output processed

• Master’s Degree in Accounting, Business Administration, Financial Management, Finance or related field. A First Level University Degree with additional 2 years extensive experience in accounting, auditing, budget or finance may be accepted in lieu of the Master’s Degree requirement
• Certified Public Accountant or equivalent professional qualification an asset
• Membership from a recognized professional accountancy body advantageous
• Minimum 5 years of progressively responsible professional accounting experience with responsibility for project accounting and preparation of financial statements in a computerized environment
• Practical experience with UN financial management procedures, with special emphasis on finance, accounting, disbursing, reporting and other financial controls based on established procedures, including holding the Office's imprest account
• Good knowledge of UNOPS (or UN/UNDP) financial regulations and rules; with special emphasis on application of IPSAS to financial reporting
• Working knowledge of oneUNOPS or familiarity with any Enterprise Resource Planning Financial application is an asset
• Solid computer skills, including proficiency in word processing and spreadsheets and experience with MS Office 2010 and/or newer versions.
• Proficiency in written and spoken English