Finance Specialist

Job Title: Finance Specialist

Organization: UN Volunteers

Job Identification: 11752

Location: Bonn, Germany

Apply Before: 07/23/2023, 06:59 AM

Job Schedule: Full time

Grade: P3

Vacancy Type: Fixed Term

Practice Area: Management

Bureau: UNV

Contract Duration: 2 Year with Possibility for extension

Education & Work Experience: Master's Degree - 5 year(s) experience

Required Languages: English

Desired Languages: Another official UN language

Mobility required/no mobility: mobility required

Job Description

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.

UNV’s Management Services hold the responsibility for the strategic planning, managerial leadership, oversight and quality control of an integrated platform of operational services ensuring timely, effective and efficient delivery according to corporate performance standards and in compliance with the UN Regulations and Rules and UNDP´s accountability framework.

The Financial Resources Management Section (FRMS) is integrated by the following three teams: Policy and Quality Assurance Management; Financial Performance, Accounting and Reporting, and Budget and Financial Resources Management.

Position Purpose

Reporting to the Chief of the Financial Resources Management Services, the Finance Specialist is responsible for proactive seeking technology development and data analysis for optimizing business results, streamlining transactions and improving reporting processes.

He/she leads and supervises the Financial Performance, Accounting and Reporting team and promotes staff development and integration.  He/she strives for excellence by supporting and guiding the team to enhance the reporting functionality to respond to business needs and the optimization of the use of technology platforms for data analysis, integration, consolidation and early risk detection.    

As a Specialist, he/she is accountable for integrity, transparency, and equity in the management of UNV resources. 

Duties and Responsibilities
1.   Financial Performance Monitoring

• Create effective and pre-emptive monitoring systems including operational oversight to ensure effective management of assigned financial operations, ensuring due regard to segregation of financial tasks as required; 
• Contribute to the development and continuous evolution of strategic frameworks by providing substantive relevant financial information feeding to the establishment and monitoring of SF indicators related to financial management;
• Provide oversight to regular accounts closure and dashboard monitoring by the Financial Performance, Accounting and Reporting Team; 
• Analyze experience with other IFIs and development organizations to adopt best financial performance practices in administering UNV’s financial resources.

2.   Data Analytics and Reporting

• Responsible for thorough financial reporting and preparation of substantive responses for senior management on queries raised and views expressed by stakeholders/partners on UNV´s activities/initiatives as well as for internal and external audit observations concerning the assigned financial operation;
• In close collaboration with ICT Section, design analytical solutions that improve or optimize the internal and external clients' operations, and experience, including UN HEs, ROs, FUs, UNV HQ Sections;
• Design and develop new reports together with UNV´s ICT Section in response to strategic organizational needs in analytics and reporting. Link different data sets, present data for the identified objectives by senior management, and aim to introduce innovative approaches by keeping abreast of market development in reporting and available tools and opportunities;
• In close collaboration with ICT Section, define criteria for the identification of appropriate data sources for the development of new reports and maintenance of existing ones;
• Spearhead innovative approaches to financial reporting to ensure cost-effective solutions and reduction of slack and costly manual financial reporting activities. Ensure ERP’s optimal use to drive automated solutions;
• Compile and interpret critical financial resource data and projections as inputs to the resource management decision-making process;
• Analyze trends in resource plans, allocations and budgets to assess the organization’s direction and present relevant data consolidated analysis through specific and targeted dashboards; ERP reports (Quantum); Power Bi reports, ad-hoc reporting, etc.;
• Promote best practices in operations management and advanced analytics and strengthen the capacity of staff in these areas. Promote efficiency and effectiveness through quality management and regular soliciting of feedback for further improvement of financial and analytical reporting function in UNV.

3.   Risk Management 

• Assess financial performance and identify risk areas for prompt detection and corrective action.
  Monitor and assess the internal and external environment for financial risks and alerts Section Chief, Deputy Section Chief, and senior management as required; 
• Review audit reports and provide guidance to staff on sound financial reporting practices;
• Undertakes detailed analysis of the accounting transactions and identifies opportunities for clients for improvements and corrections to help improve the data accuracy, data integrity and compliance;
• Act as Approving Manager in Quantum, as required.

4.   Staff management 

• Establish the Reporting team’s annual work plans and set objectives, performance measurements, standards, and expected results in collaboration and discussion with the team and in coordination with the FMRS´s overall work plan; 
• Encourage learning by establishing learning plans and ensuring staff supervised meet their development needs while meeting the needs of UNV;
• Leverage ERP functionality for improved business results, simplification of transactions and reporting processes and improved client services; 
• Encourage innovation and streamlining of applicable procedures to optimize efficiency, timeliness and accuracy;
• Act as Section OIC, in the absence of Chief, as needed.  

5.   Knowledge management 

• Ensure facilitation of knowledge building and knowledge sharing; keep abreast of evolving trends, developments and needs, share ideas for improvement and align services according to needs;
• Utilize technology and tools to continually learn and innovate, share knowledge with team members and enhance service delivery;
• Formulate and deliver high quality and practical learning resources to transfer requisite resource management knowledge to clients;
• Build and maintain strong partnerships with Regional Offices and UN agencies in support of knowledge sharing and networking; 
• Scan business best practices and innovation initiatives to strengthen data analysis and reporting functionalities in UNV. Participate in relevant fora and encourage team to forge commitment to continuous learning. 

Competencies
Core Competencies
Achieve Results:

• Set and align challenging, achievable objectives for multiple projects, have lasting impact 

Think Innovatively:

• Proactively mitigate potential risks, develop new ideas to solve complex problems 

Learn Continuously

• Create and act on opportunities to expand horizons, diversify experiences

Adapt with Agility 

• Proactively initiate and champion change, manage multiple competing demands 

Act with Determination

• Think beyond immediate task/barriers and take action to achieve greater results

Engage and Partner

• Political savvy, navigate complex landscape, champion inter-agency collaboration

Enable Diversity and Inclusion

• Appreciate benefits of diverse workforce and champion inclusivity 

People Management

• UNDP People Management Competencies can be found in the dedicated site 

Cross-Functional & Technical competencies 

Data literacy   

• Understand the potential as well as the limitations of using data driven innovation
• Ability to use a mix of data sources (quantitative, qualitative or real-time techniques) to develop understanding, identify patterns to inform decision making or identify opportunities for further exploration 

Financial reporting and analysis 

• Understands changes in regulatory, legal and ethical frameworks and standards for financial reporting in the public sector. Ability to extract, evaluate financial data, derive relevant findings and present them in a meaningful and coherent manner to facilitate effective decision making and performance monitoring.
• Understands the benefits of integrated reporting, including non-financial resources such as human, social and intellectual capital, and environmental and governance performance

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 analyse cost related data to provide quantitative information to the users of reports.

Accounting (General)     

• Knowledge of accounting concepts, principles, frameworks, standards, regulations, policies and trends, and ability to apply this to strategic and/or practical situations

Digital Awareness and Literacy   

• Ability and inclination to rapidly adopt new technologies, either through skilfully grasping their usage or through understanding their impact and empowering others to use them as needed

Risk Management   

• Ability to identify and organize action around mitigating and proactively managing risks

Knowledge Generation   

• Ability to research and turn information into useful knowledge, relevant for context, or responsive to a stated need 

Required Skills and Experience
 Education:

• MBA or Master’s degree in Finance or Accounting, or a Professional accounting qualification/diploma from an internationally accredited institute of accountancy (e.g., ACCA Diploma of Financial Management with UNDP FTCP Programme or Chartered Accountant or Certified Public Accountant etc.).  

Experience:

• Minimum of 5 years of relevant experience in providing financial management advisory services;  
• Experience with International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSAS) and/or International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) is an asset;
• Substantive knowledge of and extensive experience working with Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems is desirable;
• CIPFA’s international public financial management qualification or ACCA (UNDP FTCP, pre-2013 for UNDP internal candidates) is required. Candidates with Masters in Finance with no accountancy qualification but with relevant experience, must successfully undertake the Advanced Accountancy and Finance Test (AAFT) before eligible;
• Knowledge of UN/UNDP financial rules and regulations is a major asset;
• Strong presentation skills;
• Fluency in English is required; 
• Knowledge of additional official UN languages is an asset. 
   

Disclaimer

Note:

• Only complete applications will be considered;
• Only short-listed applicants will be contacted;
• The successful candidate will hold a UNDP letter of appointment.

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

UNDP/UNV 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/UNV at the same grade level and with similar job description, experience and educational requirements.

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