Programme Planning and Finance Analyst (NPSA-8)

UNDP supports countries to tackle complex development challenges and achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through SDG integration. In the context of its country programme for Serbia for 2021-2025, the UNDP Country Office (CO) in Serbia, through the SDG Integration (SDGi) Center is scaling up its support for the SDG agenda in Serbia through integrated policy and programming as well as innovation and learning. The SDG Integration Center, established in January 2019, highlights the new #NextGenUNDP approach to tackle complex development challenges and accelerate Serbia’s progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals by implementing integrated solutions. The Center works on cross-cutting initiatives covering a broad thematic area and it is devoted to strengthening old and acquiring new partnerships – from working with the central government institutions to private sector entities and civil society, academia, and media.

The SDG Integration Center is seeking to expand its work and is reorganizing its operations by expanding on horizontal roles and functions. The present post will support the planning and financial management of emerging initiatives underlying the achievement of SDGs in Serbia.

Oversee and support SDGi Center programme and project planning

• Prepare inputs for formulation of annual and quarterly work plans and budgets in consultation with portfolio managers and national partners. Provide support to portfolio managers for their presentation to the National Project Directors/Project Board for review/approval.
• Prepare AWPs for new projects in the initiation phase and monitor the development of pipeline initiatives by developing project budgets.
• Preparation and monitoring of budgets within the SDGi Center.
• Work plans and budgets updated to consider changes in circumstances.
• In cooperation with the Programme Officer for SDG Integration and Programme Specialist prepare and develop project budgets, work plans, and pipeline development.
• Support the portfolio managers and officers in determining the best modalities for implementing activities.
• Together with the Programme Officer – SDGi performs quality assurance over projects and ensures recommendations are followed up in further planning phases.
• Proper planning and expenditure tracking including extra-budgetary income in accordance with UNDP rules and regulations.
• Delivery, cash, and resource mobilization planning.
• Ensure follow-up to audit recommendations.
• Compile required internal reports related to delivery projections.

Ensure effective project budgeting in accordance with UNDP Programme and Operations Policies and Procedures and UNDP Serbia Standard Operating Procedures:

• Ensure full compliance of financial activities, financial recording/reporting system and audit follow-up with UN/UNDP rules, regulations, policies, and strategies; implementation of effective internal control, proper design and functioning of the financial resources management system.
• Follow up on activities and monitor advances balances and verify availability of funds for SDG Integration Center portfolio activities.
• All financial transactions are identified, recorded, and verified in compliance with IPSAS as outlined in the corporate policies and procedures.
• Assess delivery issues and work with national counterparts on the financial aspect of project activities.
• Elaboration of the internal expenditures control system which ensures that vouchers processed are matched and completed, transactions are correctly recorded and posted in Atlas; payrolls are duly prepared; travel claims and other entitlements are duly processed, receipting of goods and services, and establishment of accruals are properly done in compliance with UNDP policies and procedures.
• Prepare and follow through with program necessary steps for ensuring tax exemption of projects.

Partnership building and knowledge management: 

• Coordinate with Programme Officer for SDG Integration and support the Programme Specialist with facilitation and coordination of all partnership management processes related to budget issues.
• Coordinate finance reporting processes, including reviews and feedback.
• Involve in and coordinate cross-cluster collaboration for the projects implemented across the office and coordinated by SDGi Center.
• Provide onboarding for new people and supervise supporting staff in regards to finance-related issues and procedures and planning
• Knowledge building and sharing with regard to management and operations, organization of training, synthesis of lessons learned/best practices, and sound contributions to UNDP knowledge networks and communities of practice.

  Institutional Arrangement:

The Programme Planning and Finance Analyst will work under the overall guidance and supervision of the  Programme Officer for SDG Integration.

• 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 and 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
• Digital & Innovation - Digital & Innovation:
  • Digital & Innovation Ability to extract, analyze and visualize data (including Real-Time Data) to form meaningful insights and aid effective decision making
• Finance - Financial communication and impact:
  • Understands how to clearly communicate sometimes complex financial information to others using easy-to-understand media and language
• Business Management - Customer Satisfaction/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 be\and clients' immediate requests.
  • Ability\ to anticipate client's upcoming needs and concerns

Required Skills and Experience:

• Master’s degree in economics, business administration, or related field.
• Bachelor’s degree in combination with 2 years of experience can be taken into consideration in lieu of Master`s degree.
• Part-qualified accountants from an internationally recognized institute of accountancy will have a distinct advantage.
• Long-listed candidates may be required to undergo the UNDP Advanced Accountancy & Finance Test (AAFT).

• Minimum 2 years (with Bachelor's degree) of relevant experience in project administration and finance.
• Work experience in international organization and or government institution would be desirable.

Languages: 

• Excellent knowledge of Serbian and English (written and spoken). 

Required skills:

• Good proficiency in MS office software.
• Good organizational and time management skills.
• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability.
• Demonstrates integrity by modeling ethical standards.
• Focuses on impact and result for the client and responds positively to critical feedback.
• Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude.
• Builds strong relationships with clients and external actors.
• Excellent information technology skills, including word processing, database applications, presentation software, and internet.

Desired skills in addition to the competencies covered in the Competencies section:

• Experience in UNDP/UN/International development agencies/ SCO is highly preferable.
• Experience and knowledge of the 2030 agenda and SDGs related projects or research.
• Knowledge on basic financial management and development project management.

The following documents shall be required from the applicants:

1. Personal CV or P11, indicating all past positions held and their main underlying functions, their durations (month/year), the qualifications, as well as the contact details (email and telephone number) of the Candidate, and at least three (3) the most recent professional references of previous supervisors. References may also include peers.
2. A cover letter (maximum length: 1 page) indicating why the candidate considers him-/herself to be suitable for the position.
3. Managers may ask (ad hoc) for any other materials relevant to pre-assessing the relevance of their experience, such as reports, presentations, publications, campaigns or other materials.