Finance and Accounts Assistant

Asia and the Pacific: India

Organization: UNDP - United Nations Development Programme
Location: Asia and the Pacific: India
Grade: Administrative support - Administrative Services and Support - Generally no need for Higher Education
Occupational Groups:
- Administrative support
- Banking and Finance
Closing Date: Closed

Background

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion are core principles at UNDP: we value diversity as an expression of the multiplicity of nations and cultures where we operate, we foster inclusion as a way of ensuring all personnel are empowered to contribute to our mission, and we ensure equity and fairness in all our actions. Taking a ‘leave no one behind’ approach to our diversity efforts means increasing representation of underserved populations. People who identify as belonging to marginalized or excluded populations are strongly encouraged to apply. Learn more about working at UNDP including our values and inspiring stories.

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.

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 new Country Programme (2023-2027) 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 vulnerability

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.

. Project Description

The Green Climate Fund (GCF) project - on “Enhancing Climate Resilience of India’s Coastal Communities” supports the Government of India and the state governments in the project states of Andhra Pradesh, Odisha and Maharashtra, to enhance the resilience of vulnerable coastal communities to climate change through ecosystembased adaptation (EbA). The project combines GCF grant finance with significant leveraged co-finance from central and state governments to shift the paradigm towards a new approach, integrating ecosystem-centred and community-based approaches to adaptation into coastal management and planning by the public sector, the private sector and civil society.

The project supports the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Government of India and the nodal departments of the target State governments, to enhance the resilience of the lives and livelihoods of the most vulnerable populations, particularly women, in the coastal areas of India to climate change and extreme events, using an ecosystem-centered and community-based approach in three target states. This project as well contributes towards the achievement of climate priorities outlined in India’s National Action Plan on Climate Change (2008), the State Action Plans, as well as commitments outlined in India’s Nationally Determined Contributions (2015).

The Climate Change, Resilience and Energy portfolio at UNDP is currently working in various thematic areas of climate change adaptation and mitigation; disaster management and resilience; and access to clean and efficient energy. The project works at national, state and community levels to enhance capacities for ecosystem-based approaches to climate change adaptation and enable climate policy and finance shifts to catalyze climate action in all of India’s coastal states and union territories.

The project will enhance the resilience of coastal communities throughout India, through the implementation of interventions under the following inter-linked outputs:
· Output 1: Enhanced resilience of coastal and marine ecosystems and their services.
· Output 2: Climate adaptive livelihoods for enhanced resilience of vulnerable coastal communities; and
· Output 3: Strengthened coastal and marine governance and institutional frameworks for climate resilient management of coastal areas.

The above will be achieved through interventions outlined below in target landscapes in the three states - Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Odisha:
· Protect and restore ecosystems such as mangroves and seagrass
· Help communities adopt climate-adaptive livelihoods and value chains
· Mainstream EbA principles into coastal planning and governance, enabling intersectoral coordination for addressing climate risk across all of India’s coastal states. The target districts and landscapes in Maharashtra are as follows:

District Targeted landscape

Sindhudurg (i) Devgad (ii) Malvan (iii)Vengurla
Ratnagiri (iv) Dapoli (v) Guhagar (vi) Rajapur
Raigad (vii) Panvel (viii) Uran
Palghar (ix) Dahanu (x) Palghar

. Job Purpose and Scope of Work

The Finance and Accounts Assistant will be a part of the State project management team and will work under the direct supervision of the State Project Manager (SPM), Maharashtra and will work in close collaboration with the Finance and Admin Officer at the National Project Management Units (NPMU) (New Delhi). S/he will ensure engagement of all direct stakeholders and delivery of project objectives in coordination with the state nodal agency (Forest, Environment and Climate Change department, Govt. of Maharashtra), when needed.

Main Purpose:
S/he shall look after the financial and administrative functions for smooth implementation of the project in the State and would be responsible for the overall financial management of the project activities including monitoring and budgeting of project expenditures, supervising, and maintaining the books of account, financial and banking operations and administrative related work.
Duties and Responsibilities:
· Assistance in preparation of documents, guidelines, presentation and follow up on finance related matters with state partners
· Facilitate data and information collection with the sectoral line departments for undertaking the project activities.
· Maintain financial records, petty cash and monitor systems to record and reconcile expenditures, balances, payments, statements and other data for day-to day transactions and reports.
· Support State Project Management Unit in managing vendor contracts, drafting & processing of letters and facilitate payments.
· Prepare monthly, quarterly, and annual expenditure statement, FACE form, Utilization certificate as per General Financial Rules 2017, bank reconciliation certificate and other financial reports as and when required.
· Assist in preparation of legal documents for contracting and procurement of goods and services, including maintenance and physical verification of assets.
· Support State Project Management Unit in managing vendor contracts, drafting & processing of letters and facilitate payments.
· Carry out necessary compliance with applicable financial procedures and rules of the Government of Maharashtra for purchases, procurement and all payments.
· Coordinate meetings/workshops, trainings and capacity building events. Provide technical and logistical support for organizing workshops, meetings and consultations with relevant stakeholders. Prepare and circulate meeting minutes, workshop proceedings etc.
· Any other related task assigned from time to time by State Project Manager.

Institutional Arrangement

Administrative Reporting To1 : State Project Manager (SPM), Maharashtra, UNDP
Overall Reporting To2 : State Project Manager (SPM), Maharashtra, UNDP and National Project Coordinator, UNDP
Reportees to this position (if applicable): NA

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

Administration & Operations- Assets management
· Knowledge of policy & procedures on PP&E; ability to prepare financial statements on PP&E; maintain Asset Management Module in ATLAS, Asset Dashboard; develop supporting tools for assets certification and further enhancements for AM module; design and run training programs, etc. on assets management and assets recording; run AP-AM interface; perform AP-AM-GL reconciliation; perform analytical review of AM reports and asset information to ensure completeness and accuracy of asset information

Administration & Operations- Documents and records management
· Overall document (hard or electronic) management; registry and retention policy including storing and archiving

Administration & Operations- Registry & correspondence management
· Ability to collect, register, maintain and deliver mail and UNDP pouch; ability to manage archives

Administration & Operations- Events management (including retreats, trainings and meetings)
· Ability to manage events, including venue identification, accommodation, logistics, catering, transportation, and cash disbursements, etc.

Administration & Operations- ERP travel and expense module
· Knowledge of the ERP Travel and Expense Module; ability to provide help desk support to UNDP and other UN agencies

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- Budget management
· Ability to support budgetary aspects of work planning process, drawing and management of team budgets

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, analysing and reporting

Required Skills and Experience

Min. Education requirements
· Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Commerce, Financial Management, or related field.

Min. years of relevant work experience
At least 2 years of relevant experience in financial management, general administration and programme support service.

Required skills
· Good understanding of all aspects of project management.
· Good understanding of financial, administrative and procurement processes.
· Experience in the usage of computers and office software packages (MS Word, Excel, etc.).
· Experience in handling of web-based management systems.
· Good written and verbal communication skills in English
· Ability to work independently and under pressure

Desired skills in addition to the competencies covered in the Competencies section
· Good understanding and experience of handling PFMS (Public Financial Management Systems) will be desirable
· Experience of working with Central and/or State Governments/UN and international agencies/ NGOs/ Civil Society on similar assignments will be preferred

Required Language(s)
Excellent knowledge of written and spoken English and Marathi

Professional Certificates N/A

Important Note: This is a NIM (National Implementation) Programme.

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.

Non-discrimination

UNDP has a zero-tolerance policy towards sexual exploitation and misconduct, sexual harassment, and abuse of authority. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles.

UNDP is an equal opportunity and inclusive employer that does not discriminate based on race, sex, gender identity, religion, nationality, ethnic origin, sexual orientation, disability, pregnancy, age, language, social origin or other status.

Scam warning

The United Nations does not charge any application, processing, training, interviewing, testing or other fee in connection with the application or recruitment process. Should you receive a solicitation for the payment of a fee, please disregard it. Furthermore, please note that emblems, logos, names and addresses are easily copied and reproduced. Therefore, you are advised to apply particular care when submitting personal information on the web.

This vacancy is now closed.
However, we have found similar vacancies for you: