Finance Manager

UNDP, as an integral part of its mission to fight poverty and improve the lives of people around the world, is committed to being open, transparent and accountable. As part of this commitment, UNDP adopted International Public-Sector Accounting Standards (IPSAS), and established a Global Shared Service Centre (GSSC) in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. This global centre of excellence provides IPSAS transactional recording (Payables, Revenue and Contribution Management, General Accounting and Project Accounting), procurement, and related advisory, training and support services to UNDP Offices worldwide.  

The GSSC is an integral part of the Global Shared Services Unit (GSSU), within the Bureau for Management Services (BMS), that supports all UNDP offices and UN clients with the provision of transactional services in Finance, Procurement and HR.

The Finance Manager, Global Shared Service Centre in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia is the global functional lead for Finance and reports directly to the Director, GSSU.

Under the supervision of the Director of the GSSU, the Finance Manager will manage the day-to-day services provided, monitoring performance and prioritising activities to deliver quality on-time services to clients. The Finance Manager will establish excellent relationships with global clients and seek opportunities to continuously innovate to improve efficiency and quality of services. S/he will lead, manage and develop a team of approximately four to six qualified staff, ensuring that professional standards are maintained, that controls are operating effectively, and that procedures and documentation is complete and up to date.

The Finance Manager will provide support to the Director in the oversight and guidance of financial streams, and provide regular data as agreed to the Office of Financial Resources Management and other internal clients to support corporate reporting, policy development and the provision of advisory services.

• Manage the day-to-day services provided, monitoring performance, rebalancing resources and prioritising activities to deliver quality on-time services to clients
• Providing direction, advice and support to Functional Stream leads, including the review and approval of complex transactions
• Create a climate for the effective development, training and engagement of staff.

• Strategic and business planning: Setting of priorities and planning of work in line with overall corporate goals; 
• Performance monitoring and management: To instil a performance management culture throughout the GSSC, including constantly evaluating services to clients with a view to improving delivery through innovation and deployment of best practices;
• Environmental scanning: to assist in the monitoring and analysis of the operating environment to ensure adequate agility, risk management and quick readjustment of the operations as needed;
• Business continuity and risk management: To implement business continuity and risk management systems, including accountability for the establishment and maintenance of professional accounting standards

• Client relationship management.  Ensure high levels of customer focus and satisfaction, manage the interface with key stakeholders.  
• Advocacy of services: To promote, advocate and expand the services of the GSSC;
• Regular and timely reports on progress as well as lessons learned are shared,
• Advice and guide in developing solutions for ongoing issues arising.
• Monitor KPIs and ensure that appropriate qualitative and quantitative measurements are in place and the tracks quality of service delivery and productivity of employees 

• Culture: facilitates a robust culture of continuous improvement and learning
• Business improvement: To identify, plan and implement initiatives to take forward the continual development and improvement of the GSSC, including innovation, digitization, design and application of improved workflows, and ensure the formulation of clear easy-to-follow Standard Operating Procedures for all finance processes;
• Ensure clarity in costing approach and methodology to be used for the provision of all services, and that service lines are costed accurately and billed to the respective clients/budgets on timely manner. 
• Review all MOU/SLA singed by GSSU with clients and ensure that all cost is accurately reflected. 

Core Competencies

• Professional accounting qualification from an internationally accredited institute of accountancy is a requirement.
• Advanced (Masters) University Degree in Finance or Accounting, is desirable, but not a requirement.

• 10 years of relevant experience in delivering financial transactional services, ideally in a shared services context. 
• 5 or more years of senior management responsibilities in finance, with similar experience and complexity.
• Experience in the usage of computers and office software packages (MS Word, Excel, etc) and advance knowledge of spreadsheet and database packages. 
• Experience in handling of web based management systems and ERP financials, preferably PeopleSoft, and Client Relationship Management (CRM) applications
• Expert knowledge of GAAP, ideally with experience in either IPSAS and/or IFRS. 

• Fluency in English required. Knowledge of another UN language is a distinct advantage

Important information for US Permanent Residents ('Green Card' holders)

Under US immigration law, acceptance of a staff position with UNDP, an international organization, may have significant implications for US Permanent Residents. UNDP advises applicants for all professional level posts that they must relinquish their US Permanent Resident status and accept a G-4 visa, or have submitted a valid application for US citizenship prior to commencement of employment. 

UNDP is not in a position to provide advice or assistance on applying for US citizenship and therefore applicants are advised to seek the advice of competent immigration lawyers regarding any applications.

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.

Scam warning