1. General Corporate Accounting - Regularly review and monitor financial transactions in the General Ledger for accuracy, completeness, and appropriate accounting treatment, ensuring strict adherence to UNOPS Financial Rules and Regulations and other applicable Organizational Directives and Operational Instructions. This includes proactive identification of control gaps and the implementation of robust control checks to mitigate financial risks.
- Identification of risks and evaluation of controls to mitigate financial risks in line with UNOPS Internal Control and UNOPS ERM frameworks.
- Closely collaborate with the Risk and Compliance Group and other 3rd line of defense functions to address control deficiencies.
- Ensure the integrity and consistency of financial data by validating balances and checking transaction accuracy across ERP modules and sub-modules, with a dedicated focus on identifying, documenting, and rectifying control weaknesses within data processing flows.
- Monitor and coordinate monthly and quarterly closure of General Ledger modules and sub-modules, ensuring strict adherence to established internal control procedures at each stage of the closing process.
- Prepare quarterly analysis and management reports on General Ledger reconciliations, specifically highlighting key internal control issues, root causes of findings, and concrete recommendations for control enhancements.
- Manage and coordinate automation projects of General Ledger modules with ICT and related counterparts, with a paramount emphasis on designing, implementing, and testing robust automated controls within the system to reduce manual intervention and enhance data integrity.
- Provide expert advice on the use of appropriate General Ledger accounts and related accounting treatment according to IPSAS guidelines, acting as a critical control point to ensure proper financial recording and compliance.
- Ensure accuracy and strong internal control over the accounting for inventory and property, plant and equipment (PPE) in the GL, and actively support related control checks, physical verifications, and reconciliation processes to safeguard assets.
- Prepare analysis and feedback to queries from internal and external stakeholders related to accounting transactions, and consolidate a list of actionable internal control improvements for continuous implementation.
- Plan and coordinate timely implementation of Year-End Closure processes with related counterparts, ensuring all necessary control activities are meticulously performed and documented to support accurate and auditable corporate financial statements.
Prepare analysis and working files to support the preparation of corporate financial statements, with an emphasis on documenting the underlying internal control processes and ensuring comprehensive audit trails. |
| 2. Internal Control & Financial Oversight - Exercise rigorous control and oversight on General Ledger transactions carried out by counterparts. Systematically test the accuracy, appropriateness, and compliance of transactions recorded in the General Ledger in accordance with UNOPS Financial Rules and Regulations and other applicable Organizational Directives and Operational Instructions, specifically assessing the effectiveness of existing internal controls.
- Strategically sample transactions areas, scrutinize supporting documents for accuracy, completeness, existence, and classification conformance to applicable accounting treatment, with the explicit objective of identifying and assessing control breakdowns and non-compliance.
- Consolidate common issues identified during oversight exercises. Identify recurring control weaknesses, systemic deficiencies, and emerging risks, and develop targeted improvement plans to significantly strengthen the overall internal control environment.
- Monitor progress and implementation of milestones and deadlines regarding monthly, quarterly, and year-end closure, with a focus on strict adherence to established control schedules, segregation of duties, and authorization procedures.
- Rigorously validate GL reconciliations and bank reconciliations on regular intervals, explicitly performing independent control checks to ensure accuracy, completeness, and the timely resolution of discrepancies.
- Proactively identify and assess system and process areas requiring improvement and enhancement, and suggest comprehensive plans to optimize and reinforce the internal control framework around financial reporting.
- Perform trend analysis for selected segments, regions, and offices to identify unusual patterns or anomalies; investigate root causes, document findings, and recommend or initiate immediate corrective actions to address control deficiencies and prevent recurrence.
|
3. Internal and External Audit Coordination & Control Remediation - Prepare analysis and tables to support the preparation of corporate financial statements, ensuring the underlying data is fully auditable and demonstrably supported by strong internal controls.
- Prepare ad-hoc, audit-related reports and analysis to be submitted to the UN Board of Auditors, UNOPS Executive Board, and UNOPS management, specifically detailing internal control effectiveness, identified weaknesses, and remediation efforts.
- Prepare analysis reports of corporate financial statements and evaluation of trends, changes to components of corporate financial statements, with a critical eye towards identifying potential control gaps, areas of heightened risk, and the impact of control failures.
- Provide comprehensive support to the Head of Financial Statements and UNBOA Relations during internal and external audit processes, specifically on presenting evidence of internal control design and operating effectiveness.
- Actively monitor, track, and drive follow-up actions on both internal and external audit recommendations, collaborating with relevant practices in HQ and field offices to ensure timely, complete, and effective remediation of all identified control deficiencies.
- Under the guidance of the Head of Financial Statements and UNBOA Relations, consolidate internal audit recommendations across organizations and develop holistic plans to address common and regular areas of improvement, with a strong focus on implementing sustainable and preventative control enhancements. Develop a detailed lessons learned log specifically for control weaknesses and their remediation, and create robust preventative measures in processes and systems
4. Capacity Building, System Improvement & Robust Internal Control Optimization -
Developing and delivering targeted training for finance staff, focusing on internal control best practices and lessons learned from control failures. -
Ensuring clear and comprehensive documentation of all critical control points, segregation of duties, and approval workflows within financial processes. -
Consolidate training needs of finance practitioners in field offices. Analyze the lessons learned log related to internal control failures and best practices and develop a targeted training plan for implementation to address learning needs in the area of financial accounting and internal control. -
Support process documentation and continuous improvements in the corporate document management system (PQMS), ensuring that all critical control points, segregation of duties, and approval workflows are clearly defined, documented, and regularly reviewed within all financial processes. -
Develop innovative solutions to optimize financial processes and reduce manual work, specifically seeking opportunities to strengthen automated controls, enhance data validation, and minimize reliance on manual controls. -
Providing expert guidance and advice to finance practitioners in the area of an operational guidance on the application of accounting process and UNOPS FRR, with a strong emphasis on promoting a culture of strong internal control and risk awareness. |
| The key results have an impact on the overall Financial Group efficiency in financial resources management and success in introduction and implementation of operational strategies. Accurate, thoroughly researched and documented financial information, timely and appropriate delivery of services ensure client satisfaction and enhance UNOPS credibility in use of financial resources | |
