Finance Manager (Internal Vacancy)

UNOPS

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.

Working in some of the world’s most challenging environments, our vision is to advance sustainable implementation practices, always satisfying or surpassing our partners’ expectations. With over 7,000 personnel spread across 80 countries, UNOPS offers its partners the logistical, technical and management knowledge they need, wherever they need it. A flexible structure and global reach means that we can quickly respond to our partners' needs, while offering the benefits of economies of scale.

The South East Asia and Pacific Multi Country Office (SEAMCO) supports, develops and oversees the UNOPS portfolio of projects in South East Asia and the Pacific. SEAMCO was established in January 2023 following the merger of the Thailand Multi-Country Office, which covered 20 countries across  North East Asia, South East Asia and the Pacific, and the Cambodia Multi-Country Office, which covered 4 countries South East Asia - 3 countries in the Mekong Sub-region (Cambodia, Lao PDR and Vietnam) and the Philippines.  SEAMCO currently covers 24 countries across North East Asia, South East Asia and the Pacific. With its head office in Bangkok, the Multi-Country Office comprises nine business units: SEMCO Thailand, SEAMCO Indonesia,  SEAMCO Pacific Operations Cluster, SEAMCO Papua New Guinea, SEAMCO China, SEAMCO Vietnam, SEAMCO Lao PDR, SEAMCO Philippines and SEAMCO Cambodia.

In 2022, the UNOPS SEAMCO implemented projects worth more than USD 95.7 million, in the areas of Energy Transition, Digital Transformations, Sustainable Environmental Management, Climate Change, Waste Management, Rule of Law and Access to Justice, Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH), Post Conflict Reintegration, Emergency Relief, Post COVID19 Economic Transformations, and Health, through HR, procurement, construction, contract management, fund and program management services.  

The Multi Country Office head office in Bangkok provides strategic direction, operational support, delivery oversight and assurance of the excellence of business processes and quality standards across all of the entire Multi Country Office locations. It is also responsible for developing, delivering and managing the portfolio of engagements in the country of the MCO location itself. 

Operational Context

Summary of Key Functions  

1. Implementation of operational and financial management strategies

2. Budget management and organization of the cost-recovery system

3. Control of office accounts

4. Control of office cash management

5. Team management 

6. Knowledge building and knowledge sharing

Duties and Responsibilities 

Under the general guidance and supervision of the Head of Support Services (HoSS), the incumbent responsibilities include the following: 

• Advice to senior management on strategic financial resources management

• Authoritative interpretation of requirements for handling transactions advice and guidance concerning UNOPS’ financial practices and rules.

• Operational efficiency of the managerial or accounting aspects of the areas managed.

• Continuous analysis and monitoring of the financial situation, presentation of forecasts for projects.

• Full compliance of financial activities, financial recording/reporting system and audit follow up with UN/UNOPS rules, regulations, policies and strategies and IPSAS standards.

• Implementation of the effective internal control, proper design and functioning of the financial resources management system. 

• Proper management of the contributions management and accounting for contributions to ensure that funds due to UNOPS are properly identified, consistently and uniformly classified, recorded on a timely basis and received with sufficient supporting documentation. 

• Performance of appropriate role in Enterprise system for transactions approvals and bank reconciliation. 

• Approvals authority of pending disbursements (cheques, bank transfers, EFT) and bank reconciliations.

• Monitoring of financial exception reports for unusual activities, transactions and investigation of anomalies or unusual transactions.

• Member of bank signatory panel.

• Proper planning, expenditure tracking and audit of financial resources, including extra-budgetary income in accordance with UNOPS rules and regulations 

• Control of the workflows in the Finance Unit.

• Elaboration of the framework and conditions of contributions within the Business Unit’s resources mobilization efforts.

• Elaboration and implementation of cost saving and reduction strategies.

• Monitoring of financial exception reports for unusual activities, transactions, and investigates anomalies or unusual transactions. 

• Informs supervisors and other UNOPS colleagues at Headquarters of the results of the investigation when satisfactory answers are not obtained.

Manages the project budgets and supports the organization of an optimal cost-recovery system focusing on achievement of the following results:

• Financial resources management through planning, guiding, controlling of the resources in accordance with UNOPS rules and regulations.

• Contributing to the preparation and monitoring of budgets of management projects.

• Establishment of the development projects’ budgets preparation/modification monitoring system, control of budgetary status versus authorized spending limits (ASL) and budgets delivery levels.

• Elaboration of proper mechanisms to eliminate deficiencies in budget management.

• Preparation of cost-recovery bills in Enterprise system for the services provided by UNOPS

• Elaboration of the internal expenditures’ control system which ensures that vouchers processed are matched and completed, transactions are correctly recorded and posted in Enterprise system; payrolls are duly prepared; MPOs, travel claims and other entitlements are duly processed, receipting of goods and services and establishment of accruals are properly done 

• Timely accounting and reconciliation of all transactions, security for cash assets on site.

• Proper management of the contributions management business process and accounting for contributions to ensure that funds due to UNOPS are properly identified, consistently and uniformly classified, recorded on a timely basis and received with sufficient supporting documentation

• Manager level in Enterprise system.

• Control of accounts closure

• Approval of vendors in Enterprise system

• Timely corrective actions on unposted vouchers, including the vouchers with budget check errors, match exceptions, unapproved vouchers. Timely response to HQ requests to resolve financial data issues.

• Control of the Accounts Receivables for UNOPS projects and maintenance of the General Ledger

• 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.

• Monitoring of financial exception reports for unusual activities, transactions and investigation of anomalies or unusual transactions. Provision of information to supervisors and other UNOPS staff at HQ on the results of the investigation when satisfactory answers are not obtained.

• Daily review of zero-balance account bank statements in Enterprise system to monitor imprest level; identification and record of contributions.

• Primary contact with local bank management on routine operational matters including negotiation of exchange rate on replenishments.

• Member of bank signatory panel.

• Timely and accurate approval of bank reconciliation, including documented review of exceptions.

• Initiation of bank transfers and deals, selecting bank transfers and deals for approval and settlement. 

• Performing Paycycle manager role in Enterprise system

• Timely preparation of monthly cashflow forecast for use by Operations Manager. Liaison with UN Agencies to obtain estimate of their cash requirements.

• Cash disbursements made on sites.

• Facilitate the engagement and provision of high quality results and services of the team supervised through effective recruitment, work planning, performance management, coaching, and promotion of learning and development.

• Provide oversight, ensuring compliance by team members with existing policies and best practices.

• Organize, facilitate and/or deliver training and learning initiatives for personnel on finance related topics.

• Lead, approve and conduct initiatives on capacity development and knowledge building for Finance personnel, including network development, plans, learning plans and activities, Finance practice information and best practice benchmarking.

• Oversee team’s contributions to Finance knowledge networks and communities of practice including collaborative synthesis of lessons learnt and dissemination of best practices in human resources management.

• Guide team’s collection of feedback, ideas, and internal knowledge about processes and best practices and utilize productively.

Impact of Results 

The effective and successful achievement of results by the Finance Manager directly impacts on the availability of UNOPS’ financial resources to effectively develop and implement the organization’s programmes and projects.  It enhances the organization’s financial and programme performance, demonstrating UNOPS’ effective stewardship of donor and partner funds. These promote the credibility of the organization as an effective service provider in project services and management.

Education: 

• Advanced Degree or equivalent in Finance, Accounting, Business Management, Business Administration or related fields is required. 

• For internal candidates, a first-level university degree, in combination with 2 additional years on top of the minimum required, may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Experience: 

• Minimum of five (5) years of professional-level experience in accounting and/or finance in a reputable organization is required

• Experience in the international context (working in an international organization, working as an international personnel, etc) is required

• Experience supervising a team of at least three (3) people is required

• Experience managing a team or teams in multiple locations is an added advantage 

• Experience in the field of accounting/finance in the UN common system is an added advantage;

• Knowledge of UNOPS financial rules and regulations; working knowledge of ERP, experience with Google Suite application, and financial management, using electronic systems, environment and are desired.

Language Requirements:

• Full working knowledge of English is required.

1. Contract type: Individual Contractor Agreement (IICA)
2. Contract level: IICA 2
3. Contract duration: Ongoing ICA – ‘Open-ended, subject to organizational requirements, availability of funds and satisfactory performance.’

• Please note that UNOPS does not accept unsolicited resumes.

• Applications received after the closing date will not be considered.

• Please note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process, which involves various assessments.

• UNOPS embraces diversity and is committed to equal employment opportunity. Our workforce consists of many diverse nationalities, cultures,  languages, races, gender identities, sexual orientations, and abilities. UNOPS seeks to sustain and strengthen this diversity to ensure equal opportunities as well as an inclusive working environment for its entire workforce. 

• Qualified women and candidates from groups which are underrepresented in the UNOPS workforce are encouraged to apply. These include in particular candidates from racialized and/or indigenous groups, members of minority gender identities and sexual orientations, and people with disabilities.

• We would like to ensure all candidates perform at their best during the assessment process.  If you are shortlisted and require additional assistance to complete any assessment, including reasonable accommodation, please inform our human resources team when you receive an invitation.

Terms and Conditions 

• For staff positions only, UNOPS reserves the right to appoint a candidate at a lower level than the advertised level of the post. 

• For retainer contracts, you must complete a few Mandatory Courses (they take around 4 hours to complete) in your own time, before providing services to UNOPS. For more information on a retainer contract here.

• All UNOPS personnel are responsible for performing their duties in accordance with the UN Charter and UNOPS Policies and Instructions, as well as other relevant accountability frameworks. In addition, all personnel must demonstrate an understanding of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in a manner consistent with UN core values and the UN Common Agenda.

• It is the policy of UNOPS to conduct background checks on all potential personnel. Recruitment in UNOPS is contingent on the results of such checks.