Background
UNDP is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence.
UNDP does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.
The Philippines is one of the fastest growing economies in Southeast Asia and plays an important role in the stability of the region. Environmental degradation and more frequent climatic events are likely to be key political, economic, and security disrupters over the longer term. Humanitarian crises can undermine growth, reverse development gains, increase poverty, and cause instability that can last for decades. 
To address this challenge, the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) through the support of the Government of Australia Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade in the Philippines (DFAT), is implementing the Strengthening Institutions and Empowering Localities Against Disasters and Climate Change (SHIELD) Program. Australia invested AUD18 million in SHIELD which aims to make all people in target communities safer and more resilient to the impacts of natural hazard events and climate change. This will be realized by achieving three interdependent components:
  • Component 1: Government, private sector, and civil society stakeholders in targeted local government units (LGUs) are collaborating to unlock funding and implementing informed and inclusive resilience actions
  • Component 2: Relevant national government agencies (NGAs) are prioritizing action on local climate and disaster resilience
  • Component 3: Philippine scientific agencies are producing tailored and accessible information for local resilience action

The SHIELD Program is implemented in partnership with the Government of the Philippines through the Department of Interior and Local Government and four Consortium Partners, namely, United Nations Human Settlement Program (UN-HABITAT), Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP), National Resilience Council (NRC), and the Consortium of Bangsamoro Civil Society (CBCS).  The program will partner with 11 provinces, Metro Manila and the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM). 

UNDP has set up a SHIELD Support Unit (SSU) responsible for the day-to-day operations of the program. The SSU will undertake key functions to support the SHIELD Program Board, Executive Committee, Program Management Team, and collaborate with Multistakeholder Partners at the national and sub-national levels.

The Project Finance Analyst will support the entire project and will be tasked to manage all financial activities and transactions, while ensuring high quality, accuracy, and consistency of work. The Project Finance Analyst is expected to report daily to the Project Manager. The position holder is also expected to demonstrate a client-oriented approach, tact, and ability to work with people of different backgrounds. Moreover, the Project Finance Analyst shall work in close collaboration with other project colleagues of the SHIELD SSU, as well as with Consortium partners, government agencies, technical advisors and experts, and civil society to successfully implement the activities.

Duties and Responsibilities

Project Finance Analyst will work under the direct supervision of the Project Manager.

Project Finance Analyst will be responsible for the following tasks:

Ensures the implementation of financial management strategies and adapts processes and procedures focusing on achievement of the following results:

  • Full compliance with UNDP rules, regulations, policies and strategies, financial recording/ reporting system and implementation of effective internal controls, proper functioning of a customer-oriented financial resources management system
  • Continuously review the financial situation and support the project in the preparation of forecasts and periodic disbursement requests to be submitted to the donor
  • Supports the development of funding requests, grant negotiations and amendments to the grant confirmations
  • Review and approve the funding authorization and expenditure certificate (FACE) from partners as and when required
  • Facilitate annual audits; and
  • Regularly monitor financial exception reports for unusual activities and transactions and review anomalies or unusual transactions and inform the supervisor of the results of the review and the corrective actions being proposed.

Ensure the management of programme budgets of the optimal cost recovery system focusing on achievement of the following results:

  • Finalization of the financial sections of the update of the progress report and the disbursement request and preparation of quarterly and biannual forecasts of cash flows and annual cash flows
  • Timely review and finalization of the improved financial report and other ad hoc financial reports as required by the project
  • Timely preparation of program budget reviews and provision of justifications for budget reallocation / reprogramming requests
  • Preparation and monitoring of budgets; regular analysis and reporting on budget approvals and delivery status
  • Monitor and ensure that donor contributions are properly transferred to UNDP in a timely manner
  • Ensure that advance payments and direct payments are properly reviewed and made in a timely manner, and ensure that payment information is correctly recorded in the Atlas system in a timely manner
  • Ensures proper management of cash receipts and petty cash; and
  • Maintenance of the proper filing system for finance records and documents.

Ensures proper control of project accounts focusing on achievement of the following results:

  • Ensure analysis and development of proposals for the internal expenditure control system ensuring that the supporting documents processed are matched and completed, that the transactions are correctly recorded and displayed in Atlas
  • Monthly payment orders (MPOs), claims for reimbursement of travel expenses and other entitlements are properly processed and receipt of goods and services and provisioning are properly carried out in accordance with IPSAS and UNDP policies and procedures
  • Timely corrective actions on unrecorded vouchers, including vouchers with budget verification errors, match exceptions, unapproved vouchers
  • Timely response to requests from headquarters to resolve financial data issues
  • Support in the development and implementation of an asset and inventory management for the programme.

Ensures proper programme cash management functioning focusing on achievement of the following results:

  • Timely review of SR cash accounts to ensure availability of sufficient funds for implementation and appropriate disbursements
  • Timely identification and registration of receipts for the income request
  • Timely preparation of monthly cash flow forecasts for use by supervisor; and

Ensures capacity building and knowledge sharing on financial matters focusing on achievement of the following results:

  • Capacity building of implementing partners on overall financial management
  • Sound contributions to knowledge networks and communities of practice.
  • Any other duty assigned by the Project Manager.
Competencies

Core Competencies:

  • Achieve Results: LEVEL 2: Scale up solutions and simplifies processes, balances speed and accuracy in doing work
  • Think Innovatively: LEVEL 2: Offer new ideas/open to new approaches, demonstrate systemic/integrated thinking
  • Learn Continuously: LEVEL 2: Go outside comfort zone, learn from others and support their learning
  • Adapt with Agility: LEVEL 2: Adapt processes/approaches to new situations, involve others in change process
  • Act with Determination: LEVEL 2: Able to persevere and deal with multiple sources of pressure simultaneously
  • Engage and Partner: LEVEL 2: Is facilitator/integrator, bring people together, build/maintain coalitions/partnerships
  • Enable Diversity and Inclusion: LEVEL 2: Facilitate conversations to bridge differences, considers in decision making

Cross-Functional & Technical competencies:  

Finance:

  • Financial planning and budgeting: Ability to create and manage processes to achieve UNDP's long and short-term financial goals, including through planning, budgeting, forecasting, analyzing and reporting
  • Financial communication and impact: understand how to clearly communicate sometimes complex financial information to others using easy-to-understand media and language 

Digital & Innovation:

  • Ability to extract, analyze and visualize data (including Real-Time Data) to form meaningful insights and aid effective decision making

Procurement:

  • Contract management   Knowledge of contract management concepts, principles and methods, and ability to apply this to strategic and/or practical situations
Required Skills and Experience
Education:
  • Master’s degree in Finance/Accounting, Business or Public Administration, or Bachelor’s degree in relevant field with 4 years of experience in lieu of Master’s degree.
  • a professional accounting qualification from an internationally accredited institute of accountancy will be a strong advantage 

Long-listed candidates may be required to undergo the UNDP Advanced Accountancy & Finance Test (AAFT)

Experience:
  • Minimum 2 years of relevant experience in providing financial management services (for master’s degree); Minimum 4 years of relevant experience (for bachelor’s degree)
  • Knowledge of accounting concepts, principles, regulations, and policies and ability to apply to strategic and/or practical situations
  • Strong knowledge of UN or UNDP financial rules, policies and procedures, is an asset.
  • Work experience with an international organization is an asset.
  • Experience in handling of web-based management systems and ERP financials, preferably PeopleSoft (Experience of IPSAS and/or IFRS for external candidates.)
  • Experience in the usage of computers and office software packages (MS Word, Excel, etc) and advance knowledge of spreadsheet and database packages
  • Ability to improve performance and satisfaction
  • Ability to listen, adapt, persuade and transform
  • Ability to get things done
  • Ability to identify and prioritize risks, and organize action around mitigating them
  • Ability to capture, develop, share and effectively use information and knowledge

Required Languages:

  • Fluency in English and Pilipino
Professional Certificates:
  • Those with a professional accounting qualification certificate from an internationally recognized institute of accountancy will have a distinct advantage and those without will require the UNDP Accounting and Finance Test.

Note: This position is open for Philippines nationals only

Disclaimer
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.
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