Finance Associate (NPSA-7) Global Fund Project

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is the UN’s global development network, advocating for change and connecting countries to knowledge, experience and resources to help people build a better life. We are on the ground in 170 countries and territories, working with governments and people on their own solutions to global and national development challenges to help empower lives and build resilient nations.

The Bureau for Policy and Programme Support (BPPS) has the responsibility for developing all relevant policy and guidance and supports the results of UNDP’s 2022-2025 Strategic Plan, summarized in its “3x6x3” framework including, strengthening institutions to progressively deliver universal access to basic services based on Structural transformation, Building resilience and Leaving no-one behind. The HIV, Health and Development Group (HHD Group), within BPPS, is helping to contribute towards this outcome. The HIV and Health Strategy 2022-2025: ‘Connecting the Dots’ elaborates UNDP's work on HIV and health in the context of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

UNDP has an important role in supporting health outcomes by supporting countries to address the social, cultural and economic determinants of HIV and health, in partnership with UN entities and other organizations. This is done through UNDP’s core work in reducing inequalities and social exclusion that drive HIV and poor health, promoting effective and inclusive governance for health and building resilient and sustainable systems for health. UNDP also contributes through its coordinating and convening role in bringing together multiple partners and resources at national and local levels.

As a trusted, long-term partner with extensive operational experience, UNDP supports countries in the effective implementation of complex, multilateral and multi-sectoral health programmes while simultaneously investing in capacity development so that national and local partners can assume these responsibilities over time. UNDP partners with countries in crisis/post-crisis situations, those with weak institutional capacity or governance challenges, and countries under sanctions. When requested, UNDP provide support through various implementation modalities, including technical assistance, fund administration, interim Principal Recipient (PR) in these settings, working with national partners and The Global Fund (GF) to improve management, implementation and oversight, while simultaneously developing national capacity for governments or local entities to be able to assume the PR role over time.

UNDP has been identified by the Global Fund to support the national stakeholders as the interim PR for the Belarus HIV and TB grant (the ‘Grant’). Under the supervision of the Finance Analyst, the Finance Associate will provide technical support on the financial management for UNDP’s PR role in accordance with UNDP rules, policies and procedures and corporate agreements with the GF, and working in close coordination with national stakeholders, the GF (including Local Fund Agent), CCM and technical and UN partners.

• Support the Finance Analyst on the planning, coordination and revision of the work plan and budget for UNDP’s PR role including SR’s budgets across all functional areas in accordance with UNDP rules, policies and procedures and corporate agreements with the GF;
• Ensure full compliance of financial activities, financial recording/reporting system and audit follow-up with UN/UNDP rules, regulations, policies and strategies;
• Assist under the Financial Analyst guidance, the audits by the Office of Audit and Investigations and audits of SRs in line with UNDP rules, regulations, policies and procedures and the corporate agreements with the GF and support the timely implementation of audit recommendations and findings as they relate to financial, asset and SR management; 
• Assist the Finance Analyst in the implementation and update of the risk mitigation matrix in relation to assets and financial management which reflects the country's context for implementation, including contingency plans;
• Assist the Finance analyst with preparation of variance analysis, the annual progress report and disbursement request, reporting to national partners and CCM, assist with preparation of reprogramming requests;
• Maintenance of asset register and verification of assets;
• Develop and maintain a document management system (physical and electronic) for the Principal Recipient and Sub-recipient records; 
• Verification of SRs’ financial reports and supporting documents, reconciliation against bank statements.
• Assist the Sub-recipients in the development and update of the risk mitigation matrix in relation to assets and financial management which reflects the country's context for implementation, including contingency plans;
• Prepare cost estimates and financial forecasts for different activities according to the needs of programme management; 
• Implement an effective internal control, proper design and functioning of the financial resources management system; 
• Ensure knowledge generation through identification, documentation and dissemination of achievements, best practices and lessons learned directly linked to the Grant finance management;
• Ensures effective engagement with national stakeholders and knowledge transfer;
• Any other tasks related to finance domain as assigned by the Finance Analyst.

Core Competencies

• 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

• 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.
• Management and cost accounting: 
  • ​​​​​​​Ability to produce periodic qualitative and quantitative performance reports to facilitate effective decision making and performance monitoring. Ability to use a range of costing techniques and analyze cost related data to provide quantitative information to the users of reports.
• Financial risk management: 
  • ​​​​​​​Ensures financial resilience through proactive assessment of risk, implementation of controls and taking mitigating action. Understands risk and reward in relation to collaborative and commercial projects. Ensures a culture of positive risk management"
• Investment management: 
  • ​​​​​​​Ability to manage organization’s assets such as equity, bonds, cash, etc. according to the investment guidelines.
• UNDP representation: 
  • ​​​​​​​Ability to represent UNDP and productively share UNDP knowledge and activities; ability to advocate for UNDP, its values, mission and work with various constituencies
• Communication: 
  • ​​​​​​​Ability to communicate in a clear, concise and unambiguous manner both through written and verbal communication; to tailor messages and choose communication methods depending on the audience.
• Knowledge generation: 
  • ​​​​​​​Ability to research and turn information into useful knowledge, relevant for context, or responsive to a stated need.

Education:

• Secondary education.
• Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Public Administration, Accounting or related field is desired.

Experience:

• Minimum 7 years (with Secondary education) or 4 years (with Bachelor's degree) of progressively responsible experience in accounting or finance.

Required Skills:

• Experience in budgeting, forecasting and reporting;
• Experience in preparation of budget variance reports;
• Advanced knowledge of excel spreadsheets;
• Previous experience with ERP systems.

Desired Skills:

• Previous experience in development projects is desirable;
• Experience in audit is an asset.

Languages:

• Fluency in Russian.
• Working knowledge of English.

Institutional Arrangement

The Finance Associate will report to the Finance Analyst and work closely with the other functional teams.

Required Documents

• 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.
• A cover letter (maximum length: 1 page) indicating why the candidate considers him-/herself to be suitable for the position.
• 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.

Disclaimer

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

Applicant information about UNDP rosters

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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