Finance Associate

The European School for the Eastern Partnership in Georgia Project

“The Eastern Partnership European School” Project implemented by the UNOPS is the first phase of a wider initiative by the European Commission (EC) for the six Eastern Partnership countries - Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Republic of Moldova and Ukraine - a flagship Project and one of the "Eastern Partnership - 20 Deliverables for 2020", to address the needs of youth, focusing on the secondary education.

Under the direct supervision of Project Manager, and overall direction of Head of Office, the Finance Associate will provide financial and administrative support to the timely processing, recording, monitoring, and maintaining of financial transactions and accounts relating to payments and receipts in accordance with UNOPS’ financial rules, regulations, policies, and processes.

Summary of key functions:

1. Administration of budgets and cost-recovery system
2. Accounting. Payments, Payroll 
3. Office cash management
4. Knowledge building and Knowledge sharing

1. Administration of budgets and cost-recovery system

Ensures administration of budgets and functioning of the optimal cost-recovery system focusing on achievement of the following results:

• Preparation and modifications of budgets for projects
• Presentation of researched information for planning and status of office’s financial resources
• Provision of inputs for implementation of cost-saving and reduction strategies in consultation with the office management
• Preparation of cost sharing and trust fund agreements, follow up on contributions within the office’s resource mobilization efforts

2. Accounting, Payments, Payroll 

Accounting, Payments, Payroll functions focusing on achievement of the following results:

• Proper control of the supporting documents for payments and financial reports for projects; preparation of all types of vouchers; Pay Cycle and payments execution
• Proper receipting of goods, services, and establishment of accruals
• Global payrolls processing in Enterprise system
• Maintenance of the internal expenditures control system which ensures that vouchers processed are matched and completed, timely corrective actions on unposted voucher taken, including those with budget check errors, match exceptions and unapproved vouchers; transactions are correctly recorded and posted; payrolls are duly prepared and processed; travel claims, MPOs and other entitlements are duly processed
• Review of payment requests including supporting documents against the annual work plan
• Timely accounts closure
• Timely response to HQ requests to resolve financial data issues
• Timely corrective actions on erroneous data in Enterprise system. Preparation of financial reports as required
• Maintenance of the Accounts Receivables for projects and follow-up with partners on contributions, deposits creation in Enterprise system and their application to pending items
• Timely reimbursements, payments of costs by the Government
• Preparation of vouchers for projects

3. Office cash management

• Ensures timely review of cash position for local accounts to ensure sufficient funds on hand for disbursements. Timely identification and recording of receipts for income application.
• Ensures daily review of zero-balance account bank statements in Enterprise system to monitor imprest level; identification and recording of contributions.
• Timely and accurate preparation of bank reconciliations.
• Ensures timely preparation of monthly cash flow forecast for use by Project Manager. Liaison with clients to obtain estimate of their cash requirement.
• Initiation of bank transfers and deals in Enterprise system.
• Creation of bank transfers (replenishment), deals and bank reconciliation processing.
• Effecting of operational Advances after submission of the reconciliation and settlement of the previous advances.

4. Knowledge building and knowledge sharing

• Organize, facilitate and/or deliver training and learning initiatives for personnel on finance-related topics.
• Provide sound contributions to knowledge networks and communities of practice by synthesizing of lessons learnt and dissemination of best practices in human resources.
• Contribute feedback, ideas, and internal knowledge about processes and best practices and utilize productively.
• As Key Business User provide financial management support in the financial management module of Enterprise system to internal clients.

• Completion of secondary school is required.
• First University Degree preferably in Business Administration, Public Administration, Economics, Finance or equivalent disciplines is desirable but not required.
• Relevant certification in financial management or accounting a distinct advantage.

Work Experience

• Six years of relevant working experience within the areas of financial management and/or accounting is required.
• Experience with financial management using electronic systems and environment is desired.
• Some experience in UN system organizations is desirable.
• Experience in use of Enterprise systems including OneUNOPS is desirable

Language Requirements

• Fluency in Georgian and English is required

Driving licence

• Driving license and ability to travel independently would be an asset

• 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
• UNOPS seeks to reasonably accommodate candidates with special needs, upon request.
• 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.

UNOPS is an operational arm of the United Nations, supporting the successful implementation of its partners’ peacebuilding, humanitarian and development projects around the world. Our mission is to help people build better lives and countries achieve sustainable development.

UNOPS areas of expertise cover infrastructure, procurement, project management, financial management and human resources.

Working with us

UNOPS offers short- and long-term work opportunities in diverse and challenging environments across the globe. We are looking for creative, results-focused professionals with skills in a range of disciplines.

Diversity

With over 4,000 UNOPS personnel and approximately 7,000 personnel recruited on behalf of UNOPS partners spread across 80 countries, our workforce represents a wide range of nationalities and cultures. We promote a balanced, diverse workforce — a strength that helps us better understand and address our partners’ needs, and continually strive to improve our gender balance through initiatives and policies that encourage recruitment of qualified female candidates.

Work life harmonization

UNOPS values its people and recognizes the importance of balancing professional and personal demands.