Finance Associate

New Delhi

Organization: UNDP - United Nations Development Programme
Location: New Delhi
Grade: Level not specified - Level not specified
Occupational Groups:
- Operations and Administrations
- Administrative support
- Banking and Finance
Closing Date: 2023-02-15

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 has been working in India since 1951 in almost all areas of human development. Together with the Government of India and development partners, we have worked towards eradicating poverty, reducing inequalities, strengthening local governance, enhancing community resilience, protecting the environment, supporting policy initiatives and institutional reforms, and accelerating sustainable development for all.

With projects and programmes in every state and union territory in India, UNDP works with national and subnational government, and diverse development actors to deliver people-centric results, particularly for the most vulnerable and marginalized communities. As the integrator for collective action on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) within the UN system, we are committed to supporting the Government of India’s national development vision and priorities and accelerating the achievement of the SDGs for the people and the planet.

UNDP India’s current Country Programme, 2018-2022, is in its final year of implementation. Our new Country Programme (2023-2027), which comes into effect in 2023, builds on our prior work and aims to provide an integrated approach to development solutions in three strategic portfolios:

- Strong, accountable and evidence-led institutions for accelerated achievement of the SDGs
- Enhanced economic opportunities and social protection to reduce inequality, with a focus on the marginalized
- Climate-smart solutions, sustainable ecosystems and resilient development for reduced vulnerabilities

South-South cooperation, gender equality and social inclusion are promoted across the pillars. The programme is supported by a framework of renewed partnerships and blended finance solutions, strategic innovation and accelerator labs, and data and digital architecture.

You are invited to join a team of future-smart development professionals to support India in achieving the national and globally agreed goals. As part of the UNDP team, your focus will be to work with diverse stakeholders to find country-specific solutions that lead to sustainable development and reach those furthest behind first.

Office/Unit/Project Description

More than half of all livelihoods in India is primarily dependent on agriculture. A massive 54.6% of the total workforce is engaged in agricultural and allied sector activities and 57% of the rural households are directly dependent on agriculture for their livelihoods. However, the agricultural sector is facing various challenges like small landholding, declining productivity, rising input costs, declining farm income, the adverse impact of climate change, and decline in the percentage share of workers engaged in the agriculture sector. Agricultural production shocks have huge social and financial repercussions, impacting rural income levels, Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and poverty rates.

The Government of India’s flagship schemes Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) and KCC/MISS have become important tools to strengthen the resilience of Indian farmers. The schemes ensure maximum benefits for the farmers by providing financial risk protection against natural calamities and catastrophic events including pests, climate uncertainties and environmental shocks. Apart from providing comprehensive risk coverage for the entire crop cycle, PMFBY also enables direct claim transfer into farmers’ accounts through e-remittance. Additionally, to address agrarian distress, Kisan Credit Card/ Modified Interest Subvention Scheme (MISS) was introduced by the Government of India to provide cheap and hassle-free credit for millions of farmers and to ensure continued investment into agriculture to bring in mechanisation, modernise agriculture practices and eventually enhance productivity.

UNDP’s Country Programme Document (2023-2027) intended outcome 2 states that “By 2027, people will benefit from and contribute to sustainable and inclusive growth through higher productivity, competitiveness and diversification in economic activities that create decent work, livelihoods, and income particularly for youth and women”. UNDP leverages its expertise in systems strengthening to support the Ministry of Agriculture through setting up of Central Program Management Unit (CPMU) for the implementation of PMFBY and KCC, to improve institutional and programme responsiveness, increase coverage and better access among marginalised and excluded farm households, offering innovative measures and support mechanisms for Agri-value chain financing, risk management and reduced crop loss for the rural population in India. The PMU will also focus on providing Capacity Building and Training support to participating state-level government departments involved in PMFBY and KCC and advancing the scheme among new states for improved uptake.

Duties and Responsibilities

- Assist Project Accounting and Financial Management Analyst in Financial Reporting to the Government of India and the UNDP and relevant agencies as may be required.
- Assist in preparing annual work plan and keep updating them for the PMU.
- Assist the Senior Finance Officer in managing the project accounts during the entire project implementation.
- Support the Senior Finance Officer in preparation of the financial statements of the program account.
- Liaise with UNDP CO finance department to ensure processing of the payments related to the project on timely basis.
- Provide technical backstopping for inputs for training activities supported by the Project.
- Provide timely inputs for the timely submission of all progress reports as may be required by UNDP, the Ministry of Agriculture.
- Perform any other tasks consistent with the level of the post and/ or assigned by the supervisor; Project Accounting & Financial Management Analyst; NPD – TSU.

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*
	*Thematic Area*	*Name*	*Definition*
	*Audit & Investigation – General*	Financial and Managerial Accounting and Finance key concepts	Key concepts and principles of financial accounting, interpret financial analysis, managerial accounting, etc.
	*Partnership management*	Relationship management	Ability to engage with a wide range of public and private partners, build, sustain and/or strengthen working relations, trust and mutual understanding
	*Partnership management*	Multi- stakeholder engagement and funding	Knowledge and ability to forge multi-stakeholder partnerships, and remove any obstacles to resource mobilization and multi-stakeholder funding platforms
	*Finance*	Accounting (General)	Knowledge of accounting concepts, principles, frameworks, standards, regulations, policies and trends, and ability to apply this to strategic and/or practical situations
	*Finance*	Finance business partnering	Able to support business units and add value by innovating and providing solutions to financial issues/queries, including through FAQs, financial tools, advisory, etc. Influences and appropriately challenges non-finance colleagues for whom the service is being provided. Understands the operations, opportunities and challenges of the organization. Holds a commercial outlook, demonstrating accountability towards organizational goals

Required Skills and Experience

Education: High School OR Bachelor’ in Commerce/Economics or Finance or
equivalent from a reputed University.

Experience:

Essential

Minimum 6 years’ (High School) or 3 years (Bachelor’ Degree) of relevant experience in finance and accounting
Experience of working with Central and/or State Governments/ national/ international/ public private organisations/ on similar assignments will be preferred

Desirable

Additional years of relevant experience in finance and accounting.
Relevant experience at the national level working with Governments and private entities in the insurance sector.
Prior experience of technical advisory services in the insurance
Demonstrates integrity and ethical standards
Promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of the organization.
Advise on accounting systems and policies to promote optimal and soundest use of financial resources, advise business units on financial management and promote awareness of financial management dimensions to business activities.

Job Knowledge/ Technical skills

Sound knowledge and experience in the field Accounting and Financial management with capacity to function independently with minimum supervision.
Sound knowledge of the legal and regulatory environment in the insurance sector.
Demonstrates substantive and technical knowledge to meet responsibilities and requirements of the post with excellence.
Possesses the capacity for strategic planning, result – based management and reporting.

Communication Skills

Good communication skills.
Tailors and presents information to diverse audiences using a variety of communication delivery methods (e.g., written, electronic, oral, interpersonal) Documentation.
Good interpersonal skills and ability to establish and maintain effective partnerships and working relations with people in a multi- cultural, multi-ethnic environment with sensitivity and respect for diversity.

Management skills

Demonstrated skills connecting with a wide range of stakeholders

– insurance agencies, insurance regulator, state agencies etc.

Ability to participate and contribute consultative meetings at national and state level with partners and senior stakeholders to identify priorities and manage the timely delivery of project activities.
Reliable in delivering own parts of the work as part of a team effort.
Demonstrates excellent work/project planning skills.
Is open to change and ability to manage complex, ever-changing environments.

Disclaimer

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Remuneration starting at INR (Annual) 9,38,400 / 78,200 INR (Monthly) as per the scale depending on qualifications and experience. The remuneration is excluding 8.33% pension amount paid over and above the salary.

We do our best to provide you the most accurate info, but closing dates may be wrong on our site. Please check on the recruiting organization's page for the exact info. Candidates are responsible for complying with deadlines and are encouraged to submit applications well ahead.

Before applying, please make sure that you have read the requirements for the position and that you qualify.
Applications from non-qualifying applicants will most likely be discarded by the recruiting manager.

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