Programme Finance Analyst (Nationals only)

* This position is open to Iraq nationals ONLY

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.

UNDP support’s the Government’s vision for a sustainable, peaceful Iraq through an approach that strengthens societal resilience to better deal with social, economic, environmental and political shocks and stresses.

Guided by the Country Programme Document (CPD) 2020-2024, UNDP  supports four interlinked, inclusive and holistic development pathways. Underpinned by a resilience-based strategy that addresses the needs of the most vulnerable communities, the four pathways in the CPD are as follows:

1. Strengthened stabilization; 2. Diversified pro-poor economic growth for sustainable livelihoods; 3. Improved governance with accountable institutions that protect the rights of vulnerable groups and pave the way for citizen-state trust; and 4. Decreased fragility to climate change.

These pathways are reinforced by a strategy for achieving social cohesion, protection and inclusion, as critical to ensuring the humanitarian-peace-development nexus and forging a new social contract in Iraq. All activities are developed in coordination with central, governorate and local level institutions to both build capacity and ensure long-term sustainability through an improved sense of ownership.

The Programme Management Support Unit (PMSU) in the UNDP Iraq Country Office, comes directly under the oversight of the Resident Representative, and works in close coordination with Deputy Resident Representative Programme and Deputy Resident Representative Operations. The Unit leads on providing strategic planning support and advisory services to Senior Management on quality programme and project management, and lead on strengthening Programme and Project quality assurance, programme finance management and results-based management systems in the Country Office.

Position Purpose

Under the direct supervision and guidance of the Head of Programme Management Support Unit (PMSU), the Programme Finance Analyst is responsible for effective delivery of programme finance services to the Programme Team and Senior Management, to ensure effective and transparent utilization of financial resources and integrity of financial services in UNDP Iraq.

The Programme Finance Analyst will work in close collaboration with Programme and Operations teams in the CO and UNDP HQ for resolving complex programme finance and operations-related issues, ensuring successful CO performance in programme and project management. In carrying out his/her functions, this position will need to work in close coordination with the Programme Management Specialist and M&E Specialist in PMSU, and will maintain a very close collaboration with the UNDP Iraq Finance Unit.

Key Duties and Accountabilities

• Provide advisory support for effective programme and project management and quality assurance of programme finance
• Support to implement the Country Office resource mobilization strategy
• Support to ensure financial quality controls are in place for cash-based interventions and engagement with Responsible Parties and Grant Recipients
• Facilitate knowledge building and management.
• Provide advisory support for effective programme and project management and quality assurance of programme finance

• Support to develop and follow up on the operationalization of the Pipeline and Project Tree in Atlas (from July 2022 on Quantum).

• Quality assure the Multi-Year Work Plans (MYWPs) and Annual Work Plans (AWPs) prepared by Projects and monitors the completion of Budget Revisions and related financial data entry in ATLAS/Quantum.

• Finalize budget revisions in ATLAS/Quantum based on approved Work Plans and/or once authorized.

• Support Project Teams to ensure that cost recovery is accurately budgeted for.

• Monitor budgetary status versus Authorized Spending Limits (ASL), follows up with HQs on ASL for development projects.

• Support Programme Team and Project Mangers upon request to analyze the General Ledger data.

• Support to strengthen programme finance resource management by Projects through constructive guidance on enhanced systems for financial planning, monitoring the use of resources, and practical guidance to Project teams on effective budgeting

• Ensure implementation of effective internal controls, proper functioning of a client-oriented financial resources management system. Identification of operational and financial problems, and propose solutions;

Support to develop Standard Operating Procedures within PMSU

• Analysis of requirements and synthesis of proposals relating to suitable mechanisms to eliminate deficiencies in budget management;

• Prepare analysis to enable the Country Office to establish annual delivery targets; working in coordination with the Finance Unit, puts in place a mechanism for Regular monitoring of the CO delivery;

• Analyze core resource (TRAC) and 11888 resource allocations in the Country Office by ensuring funds are transferred/budgeted accurately upon Senior Management approval;

• Monitor the use of these resources and regularly provides analysis to Senior Management to enable decision making.

• Provide advice on financial reporting, and preparation of reports including donor reports. Review and clear financial reports prepared by projects and other units.

• Conduct periodic monitoring of financial and project management dashboards and exceptions, and timely identification of the remedial actions that need to be taken.

• Coordinate with the Finance Unit for any support needed to take corrective measures relating to cost-recovery charges.

• Monitor the release of and settlement of funding provided by or through UNDP to UN Agencies, and support Project teams to quality assure financial reporting from UN Agencies. 

• Lead coordination of the quarterly Combined Delivery Report (CDR) certification process in the Country Office; support teams where needed to verify the accuracy of the data in the Combined Delivery Reports generated; works to ensure timely sign off by Implementing Partner (in DIM= UNDP); ensure CDRs are uploaded on the CDR Bridge.

• Support audit processes (i.e., CO Audit, DIM Audit, HACT Audits) including the planning phase and support teams with timely follow-up on implementation of audit recommendations.

• Serve as an alternate HACT Focal Point for the Country Office; actively support developing HACT Micro Assessment and Assurance Plans; implementation and reporting on the plan; reflect updates on the HACT Share-point/Dashboard

• In coordination with the HACT Focal Point, leads on planning for HACT Financial Audits for Responsible Parties; manages the Audit process; ensures CARDS is updated in a timely manner.

• Monitor the Project Closure process and provides timely support to ensure closure requirements are met; proactively supports Pillar Teams and Project Managers to address issues with the Financial Closure process; initiates financial closure with GSSU following the established SOPs/Guidelines.

Support to implement the Country Office resource mobilization strategy

• Working in collaboration with the Programme Team supports the Country Office to establish resource mobilization targets; puts a system in place to regularly monitor progress towards achieving resource mobilization targets and provides updates to Senior Management

• Working in collaboration with relevant colleagues in PMSU, supports Programme Team and Project Managers with the preparation of Financing Agreements for donor contributions, provides clear guidance and supports on budgeting for cost recovery, supports to obtain clearances for deviations where needed.

• Ensures the timely submission of signed Financing Agreements and/or Amendments to GSSU, following the established Standard Operating Procedure (SOP).

• Provide support to PMSU colleagues to ensure a system is in place to monitor the status of Financing Agreements

• Put a system in place to monitor Accounts Receivable; and follow up with relevant teams to update the status of overdue tranches

• Provide advice to Programme and Project Staff on how to meet different donor reporting requirements, and quality assure financial reports to be submitted to donors.

• Support the Country Office to ensure refunds to donors are completed in a timely manner.

Support to ensure financial quality controls are in place for cash-based interventions and engagement with Responsible Parties and Grant Recipients

• Engage in full implementation of the Harmonized Approach to Cash Transfer (HACT) framework within all development Projects, including providing Project teams, Implementing Partners and/or Responsible Parties with timely and accurate guidance.

• Develop/strengthen a control mechanism for all cash interventions developed by Projects, and support replication within the Office when required

• Advise on payment modalities for cash transfers to Implementing Partners and/or Responsible Parties, taking into consideration Audit observations and lessons learned

• Support the Project teams in the processes of selecting Responsible Parties

• Support the Project teams to quality assure the budgets in Agreements (LOAs, RPAs, UN to UN Agreements) signed with Responsible Parties and financial reporting done by Responsible Parties

• In coordination with relevant PMSU colleagues, support teams with planning for implementing Low Value Grant schemes, with emphasis on the budgeting, financial reporting, and financial monitoring aspects.

• Ensure Low Value Grants are issued in keeping with Low Value Grant thresholds.

• In coordination with relevant PMSU colleagues, put in place a mechanism for monitoring Low Value Grants issued by the Country Office, ensuring financial thresholds are not exceeded.

Facilitate knowledge building and management.

• Provide guidance to Responsible Parties on the routine implementation of projects within the Harmonized Approach to Cash Transfer (HACT) framework, the use of the FACE Forms and tracking the use of financial resources.

• Advise Programme Team and Project staff on UNDP administrative and reporting requirements, including within the HACT Framework.

• Organize/conduct trainings for the Operations, Programme / Project Staff on financial management and result-based budgeting.

• Synthesis of lessons learned and best practices in programme and project financial management, budgeting and financial analysis.

• Sound contributions to knowledge networks and communities of practice.

Supervisory/Managerial Responsibilities:

This position would be required to supervise a Programme Associate (s).

Requirements:

Education

Master’s Degree in Finance/Accounting, Business Management/Administration, or Public Administration, or a professional accounting qualification from an internationally recognized institute of accountancy.

Bachelor’s Degree with additional 2 years of relevant experience will be accepted in lieu of Master’s.

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

 Experience, Knowledge, and Skills

• Minimum 2 years with Master’s degree and 4 years with Bachelor’s of demonstrated experience in working on programmes and/or project level financial management, financial analysis, resource planning and providing budget management advisory services

Essential knowledge and skills:

• Demonstrated experience in planning for and/or managing audit processes is required.
• Demonstrated knowledge of UNDP’s Programme Finance policies would be an advantage.
• Experience in the usage of computers and office software packages (MS Word, Excel, etc) and advance knowledge of spreadsheet and database packages;
• Strong analytical, written, and verbal communication skills.
• Possess strong communication and relationship-building skills.
• Result-oriented, attention to detail, and able to work on his/her own initiative and provide high-quality deliverables.
• Demonstrated ability to work as part of a team.

Desired knowledge and skills:

• Demonstrated experience in work plan development and/or quality assurance of work planning processes, with emphasis on budget formulation.
• Demonstrated knowledge and experience applying the Harmonized Approach to Cash Transfer (HACT) Framework would be an added advantage.
• Experience within a UNDP Direct Implementation Modality (DIM) context being an advantage.
• Experience in working with web-based management systems and ERP financials, preferably ATLAS will be an added asset and highly valued.

Language requirements:

• Fluency in Written and Spoken English Language is required.
• Working knowledge of Arabic and/or Kurdish Languages is an advantage

Expected Demonstration of Competencies

Core

Achieve Results: LEVEL 1: Plans and monitors own work, pays attention to details, delivers quality work by deadline

Think Innovatively: LEVEL 1: Open to creative ideas/known risks, is pragmatic problem solver, makes improvements

Learn Continuously LEVEL 1: Open minded and curious, shares knowledge, learns from mistakes, asks for feedback

Adapt with Agility LEVEL 1: Adapts to change, constructively handles ambiguity/uncertainty, is flexible

Act with Determination LEVEL 1: Shows drive and motivation, able to deliver calmly in face of adversity, confident

Engage and Partner LEVEL 1: Demonstrates compassion/understanding towards others, forms positive relationships

Enable Diversity and Inclusion LEVEL 1: Appreciate/respect differences, aware of unconscious bias, confront discrimination

Cross-Functional & Technical competencies

Business Direction and Strategy Systems Thinking Ability to use objective problem analysis and judgement to understand how interrelated elements coexist within an overall process or system, and to consider how altering one element can impact on other parts of the system

Business Development Knowledge Generation Ability to research and turn information into useful knowledge, relevant for context, or responsive to a stated need

Business Management Client Management Ability to respond timely and appropriately with a sense of urgency, provide consistent solutions, and deliver timely and quality results and/or solutions to fulfil and understand the real customers' needs.

• Provide inputs to the development of customer service strategy.
• Look for ways to add value beyond clients' immediate requests.
• Ability to anticipate client's upcoming needs and concerns

Business Management Working with Evidence and Data Ability to inspect, cleanse, transform and model data with the goal of discerning useful information, informing conclusions and supporting decision-making

Finance Audit risk management  Ability to address audit issues raised in the course of an audit and propose solutions in order to ensure a true and fair audit opinion is achieved

Finance  Budget management Ability to support budgetary aspects of work planning process, drawing and management of team budgets

Finance Financial and process innovation  Financial and business process engineering expertise required to innovate, design, change and implement new financial business models, financial instruments, financing opportunities, business processes, policies and procedures, and technological solutions

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

IMPORTANT NOTE:

Candidates selected pursuant to this vacancy may be subject to UNDP’s policy on Probation upon assignment.

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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.

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