Finance Specialist

Dakar

Organization: UNDP - United Nations Development Programme
Location: Dakar
Grade: Level not specified - Level not specified
Occupational Groups:
- Operations and Administrations
- Banking and Finance
Closing Date: Closed

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, as an integral part of its mission to fight poverty and improve the lives of people around the world, is committed to being open, transparent and accountable. As part of this commitment, UNDP adopted International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSAS) and established a Global Shared Service Centre (GSSC) to provide IPSAS transactional recording (in the areas of revenue, expenses and fixed assets), procurement, advisory and support services to UNDP Offices worldwide, and to provide training to UNDP Offices where needed.

As an essential component of the strategic direction of the UNDP Bureau for Management Services (BMS) and the emphasis on the provision of cost-effective and integrated management transactions services, the UNDP Global Shared Services Center (GSSC) combines the resources of GSSC (Copenhagen), GSSC (Kuala Lumpur) and Regional Service centers in line with approvals from the Executive Group such as Dakar and Panama.

Under the supervision of the Finance Integration Specialist (P4) in Kuala Lumpur, the Finance Specialist, Dakar will on a day-to-day basis, serve as the interlocutor between management and staff to ensure that the finance service lines are fit for purpose and that implementation of transactions, products and service are rooted in a clear understanding of the work of UNDP Country Offices. In doing so, the incumbent will exercise fiduciary responsibility over the execution of financial transactions, services and products assigned to the GSSC Finance Team in Dakar, Amman and Panama and will ensure that operational policies and procedures are implemented according to the UNDP Financial Rules and Regulations (FRR) and the Internal Control Framework (ICF).

The Finance Specialist, Dakar will also provide support to the Finance Integration Specialist (P4) and Finance Manager (P5) in KL with the design and implementation of training necessary for the successful performance of the Finance Team in Dakar consisting of three sub-units – Emergency Transaction Processing for Africa, Arab States and Europe time zones, Accounts Payable for RBA Francophone countries and Accounts Payable for RBAS countries. The Finance Specialist will support the Finance Integration Specialist (P4) and Finance Manager (P5) in KL in providing technical leadership and guidance in Dakar with the setting of key performance indicators and management targets, the implementation of audit recommendations, ensuring the smooth integration of new functions and processes and building and maintaining a continuous culture of business improvement. In addition, the Finance Specialist will assist the Finance Integration Specialist (P4) in KL in supervising and supporting the Finance Analyst who leads the Emergency Transaction Processing and RBLAC Accounts Payable streams in Panama.

The Finance Specialist ensures that the three sub-units within the Dakar Finance Team, work in close collaboration with the GSSC Contact Centre teams located in Dakar and Panama, the GSSC Finance Teams located in KL and Panama and with other units of GSSC and BMS, as necessary, to achieve management excellence in service of client Country Offices in the 5 Regional Bureaus.

This position aims to ensure efficient delivery of high-quality financial services in the Finance pillar(s) under the incumbent’s responsibility. The incumbent leads the finance team deployed in Dakar, Amman and Panama to deliver excellent client service within a sound internal control environment and in line with UNDP’s Internal Control Framework (ICF).

The Incumbent will be accountable for delivering quality results in the following:

Finance Operations Planning and Management
Knowledge Management and Knowledge Sharing
Management Excellence

Duties and Responsibilities

1. Finance Operations Planning and Management

Develop and manage a client-oriented and highly skilled Finance Team that is fully committed to the achievement of GSSC functions and management targets. Provides guidance and interpretation on structure and representation on behalf of the Finance Team members.
Manage the day-to-day operations as a business, responding to changes in volumes and workload, including careful planning for peak workload periods while monitoring the application of flexible working arrangement policies.
Work with each sub-unit team to identify additional IT system requirements and ensures the full utilization of those systems to support efficient client relationship management, content management and knowledge sharing.
Using the assigned delegation of authority, validates the consistent application of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), UNDP rules, regulations, policies and procedures, particularly with clarity and consistency to IPSAS principles. Search for opportunities to harmonize business processes between teams and initiates documentation of and adherence to new processes.
In close coordination with Sub-Unit Team leads, scrutinize financial exception reports to identify unusual activities and transactions, investigate all anomalies and unusual transactions and informs the Finance Integration Specialist P4 in KL when satisfactory answers are not obtained.
Coordinate the provision of periodic reports and feedback of the performance of the GSSC Finance Team Dakar, Amman and Panama and works closely with Strategic Performance and Client Management Team within the GSSC Directorate to maintain expectations and apply best practice mechanism that achieve optimal service delivery. This includes instilling a performance management culture throughout GSSC, including continuously evaluating services to clients with a view to improving delivery through innovation and deployment of best practices.
Responsible for the general management and overall supervisory of the GSSC Finance Team in Dakar and provides oversight to the team in Amman and Panama with respect to issues related to team coverage & absences, annual work plans, annual performance appraisals, design and delivery of on the-job training and learning requirements.

2. Knowledge Management & Knowledge Sharing

Create/coordinate a culture of knowledge building and sharing on financial management and operations by synthesizing lessons learned and best practices and customizing them to ensure smooth integration into workflows and team interactions.
Create/build a deeper understanding of country office needs and behaviors that increases the success of the GSSC in meeting delivery expectations on global finance services and products.
Support the implementation of appropriate innovation strategies that contribute to enhanced support of business processes and controls within the target operating model. Reviews SOPs and workflows to identify and propose remedies for bottlenecks. Proposes amendments to SOPs and business processes as required.
Support development and implementation of coherent knowledge management platforms that aim to facilitate the gathering, processing, codifying, and use of knowledge required for smooth and effective operations.
Advocate for regular knowledge building and sharing initiatives, including webinars and other forms of knowledge exchange and dissemination.
Monitor staff/management issues within the expanding GSSC Finance Team in Dakar, Amman and Panama and support/advise management and staff as appropriate to improve information flow/exchange, manage relationships and resolve issues and conflicts. Provide support and representation to locally based staff-management bodies in the capacity of focal point for the GSSC Finance Team.

3. Management Excellence

Promote management excellence in the GSSC Finance stream by ensuring accountability in all areas and by demonstrating a high level of skills in the management of staff resources including staff selection based on merit and the needs of the organization, staff aspiration and counselling, systematic and equitable performance management, and staff development and learning activities. Effectively manage the human resources of the GSSC/Finance Dakar Team and ensure both are optimally utilized.
Monitor compliance with all systems and procedures and ensure management integrity and accountability with high quality standards in all activities in Finance. Ensure the implementation of agreed audit recommendations. Advise on corrective measures to be taken and establish relevant internal controls.
Liaise with all country office managers to develop learning/training sessions that benefit smooth understanding of SOPs and workflows of financial transactions and services between country offices and the GSSC.

Supervisory/Managerial Responsibilities: The Finance Specialist will be supervising and managing staff at International Professional level, National Officers and General Service levels.

Competencies

Core Competencies - UNDP Core Competencies can be found here.

Achieve Results - Level 3: Set and align challenging, achievable objectives for multiple projects, have lasting impact
Think Innovatively - Level 3: Proactively mitigate potential risks, develop new ideas to solve complex problems
Learn Continuously - Level 3: Create and act on opportunities to expand horizons, diversify experiences
Adapt with Agility - Level 3: Proactively initiate and champion change, manage multiple competing demands
Act with Determination - Level 3: Think beyond immediate task/barriers and take action to achieve greater results
Engage and Partner - Level 3: Political savvy, navigate complex landscape, champion inter-agency collaboration
Enable Diversity and Inclusion - Level 3: Appreciate benefits of diverse workforce and champion inclusivity

People Management Competencies - UNDP People Management Competencies can be found here.

Cross-Functional & Technical competencies

Accounting (General): Knowledge of accounting concepts, principles, regulations, policies and ability to apply this to strategic and/or practical situations.
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.
Treasury cash management: Ability to manage organization's cash and investment holdings with the ultimate goal of maximizing liquidity and mitigating risks
Contributions management: Ability to receive, record, report and manage contributions received.
Audit: Ability to examine and verify accounts and records.
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 beyond clients' immediate requests. Ability to anticipate client's upcoming needs and concerns.
Business Acumen: Ability to understand and deal with a business situation in a manner that is likely to lead to a good outcome. Knowledge and understanding of the operational frameworks in the organization and ability to make good judgments and quick decisions within such frameworks.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

A professional accounting qualification from an internationally accredited institute of accountancy.
Alternatively, an advanced university degree with major in accountancy and/or finance. Candidate must complete Finance Training and Certification Programme (FTCP), if selected.
Applicants with MBA or Master’s Degree in finance with no accountancy qualification but relevant experience must pass Advanced Accountancy and Finance Test (AAFT) in order to be eligible for further consideration.

Experience:

Minimum 5 years of management experience, including implementation of new business processes.
Demonstrated ability to analyze, interpret and implement corporate policies, procedures and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).
Solid understanding of UNDP Finance Rules and Regulations, policies and procedures.
Experience of delivering financial services to clients in a shared service context is required.
Experience of delivering financial services to or in multiple Country Offices of different typologies is an advantage.
In-depth knowledge of an ERP, preferably Peoplesoft or Oracle Cloud. Experience of working with ERP systems on a global basis.
At least 2 years of recent supervisory responsibility leading teams.
Experience in the usage of computers and MS Office packages (MS Word, Excel etc.). Demonstrated knowledge of integrated finance management systems would be an asset. Experience of working with a case management or CRM system, preferably Oracle CX or ServiceNow, is an advantage.

Language:

Fluency in English (both oral and written).
Working knowledge of other UN languages (French, Spanish or Arabic) is an asset.

Disclaimer

Important information for US Permanent Residents ('Green Card' holders)

Under US immigration law, acceptance of a staff position with UNDP, an international organization, may have significant implications for US Permanent Residents. UNDP advises applicants for all professional level posts that they must relinquish their US Permanent Resident status and accept a G-4 visa, or have submitted a valid application for US citizenship prior to commencement of employment.

UNDP is not in a position to provide advice or assistance on applying for US citizenship and therefore applicants are advised to seek the advice of competent immigration lawyers regarding any applications.

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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This vacancy is now closed.
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