Finance Analyst - Dispatch

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.

The United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) is an operational arm of the United Nations, supporting the successful implementation of its partners' peacebuilding, humanitarian and development projects around the world.  UNOPS supports partners to build a better future by providing services that increase the efficiency, effectiveness and sustainability of peace building, humanitarian and development projects.  Mandated as a central resource of the United Nations, UNOPS provides sustainable project management, procurement and infrastructure services to a wide range of governments, donors and United Nations organizations. 

Myanmar is one of UNOPS principal offices in Asia, acting as fund manager for three of the most extensive development programmes in the country, namely the Three Millennium Development Goal Fund(3MDG), the Livelihood and Food Security Trust Fund (LIFT) and the Joint Peace Fund (JPF). Also, UNOPS Myanmar is Principal Recipient for the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria in Myanmar and Cambodia, and for the Global Fund¹s Regional Artemisinin-resistance Initiative targeting drug-resistant malaria in the Greater Mekong sub-region. UNOPS provides procurement, infrastructure and project management services to a wide range of organizations in the country, including the Government of Myanmar, international development partners, other UN agencies, NGOs and INGOs. UNOPS Myanmar plays a critical role in ensuring that the quality of services provided to its partners meets stringent requirements of speed, efficiency and cost-effectiveness. UNOPS Myanmar Support Services are shared across all programmes. The successful delivery of financial services to all UNOPS operations in Myanmar is the responsibility of the Finance Unit, which is comprised of an Operations Team and a Managed Cash Flow Unit (MCFU) with personnel based around Myanmar.The Managed Cash Flow Unit (MCFU) allows the management and implementation of activities in the public sector through a cash transfer and payment process. This MCFU scheme aims to follow the public sector financing standards and to channel the money to support the Government Ministries under whose supervision the services are delivered.

1. Implementation of operational strategies and procedures

2. Operational Management, Monitoring and  Process Control

3. Cash Management

4. Knowledge Building and Sharing

5. Team Management

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

• Full compliance with UN/UNOPS rules, regulations, and policies of financial activities, financial recording/reporting system and follow-up on audit recommendations; implementation of effective internal controls, proper functioning of a client-oriented financial resources management system.
• Implementation of cost sharing and trust fund agreements, elaboration of conditions of contributions within the office’s resource mobilisation efforts.
• Implementation of cost saving and reduction strategies in consultations with office management.

2.Operational Management, Monitoring and Progress Controls: Ensures and is accountable for key elements of the following:

• Monitor the achievement of MCFU operational plans and regularly report to Management on performance indicators in the form of a regularly updated dashboard, allowing tracking of the teams’ and individual team members performance and the usage of technical tools (Dispatch system) to efficiently manage the teams performance; Provide reliable and updated information.
• Manage the dispatch system through analysis and registration of requests received, assign priority levels, and review pending processes assigned to reconciliation and payment teams
• Regular analysis and reporting functions of the dispatch system,
• Review the functionality of the dispatch system and propose enhancements to the administrator of the database Technical support to other users of the dispatch system.
• Identification of administrative budgetary requirements; provision of guidance on guidelines for budget  and workplan preparation.
• Review and update of guidelines and procedures in light of changing circumstances or for the purpose of complying with, streamlining and/or strengthening existing financial and budgetary procedures.
• Review quarterly work plans for the national programmes and provide necessary information for related activities.
• Monitor and analysis of disbursments as per the workplan, expenditure levels against allotments and determine/recommend reallocation of funds when necessary.
• Continuous analysis and monitoring of budgets and activities implemented, ensuring the MCFU cost is allocated accurately to the projects.
• Collaboration towards the improvement of the MCFU Budget formulation system.
• In cooperation with the Information & Communications Technology Unit, ensure relevance of system at all times by updating and proposing changes to facilitate financial management of projects and to enhance financial reporting.
• Review and offer appropriate recommendations with respect to the finalization of workplans performance reports, analysing variances between approved budgets and actual expenditures.

3. Cash management: Provides substantive review, contributions, and support towards achievement of the following: 

• Organization and oversight of cash management processes, including liquidity management, recommendation of imprest level, risk assessment, bank relationship management, timely accounting and reconciliation of all transactions, and security for cash assets on site.
• Timely review of cash position for local accounts to ensure sufficient funds on hand for disbursements;
• Building of team capacity to effect payments using ERP/OneUNOPS and/or Imprest Accounts.
• Discussion and communication with the Programme the savings or potential concerns that may require further review.

4. Knowledge building and knowledge sharing.

• Organize, facilitate and/or deliver training and learning initiatives for personnel and Government staff on Finance related topics.
• Contribute to Financial management knowledge networks and communities of practice by providing collaborative synthesis of lessons learnt and dissemination of best practices in financial management.
• Collect feedback, ideas, and internal knowledge about processes and best practices and utilize productively.

5. Team Management

• Facilitate the engagement and provision of high quality results and services of the team supervised through effective performance management, coaching, and promotion of learning and development.
• Provide oversight, ensuring compliance by team members with existing policies and best practices

• CPA or Advanced Degree or equivalent in Business Management, Business Administration or related fields is required.
• A first-level university degree, in combination with two additional years’ qualifying experience, may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree 

Experience     

• Minimum of one year of professional-level experience in accounting with responsibility for project accounting and preparation of financial statements in an international organization in providing financial management services;

• Knowledge of UNOPS financial rules and regulations; working knowledge of ERP (particularly Agresso), experience with MS Office 2010/or newer versions, and financial management, using electronic systems, and environment are desired.

• Knowledge of database management, data mining,advanced excel skills are desirable 

Language Requirements             

• Full knowledge of English language and Myanmar language is essential

Work-life harmonization 

We value our people and recognize the importance of balancing professional and personal demands. UNOPS has a progressive policy on work-life harmonization and offers flexible working options. This applies to UNOPS personnel on all contract types across the globe

• 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.
• Work life harmonization - UNOPS values its people and recognizes the importance of balancing professional and personal demands. We have a progressive policy on work-life harmonization and offer several flexible working options. This policy applies to UNOPS personnel on all contract types
• 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.