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 is the leading United Nations organization in fighting to end the injustice of poverty, inequality, and climate change. Working with our broad network of experts and partners in 170 countries, we help nations to build integrated, lasting solutions for people and planet. Learn more at undp.org or follow at @UNDP

The UNDP Pacific Multi-Country Office (MCO), headquartered in Fiji, serves ten Pacific Island countries and operates through three sub-offices located in Fiji, Solomon Islands, and the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM). The Fiji MCO leads regional programming across climate resilience, inclusive economic development, and governance, with a strong emphasis on gender equality and human rights. It also spearheads innovative financing mechanisms such as the Sustainable Pacific Blue Circle Fund and supports climate adaptation infrastructure, including land reclamation in Tuvalu and early warning systems in Fiji and Solomon Islands.

To ensure localized delivery and deeper engagement in the North Pacific, the Fiji MCO works in close partnership with its sub-office in Pohnpei, FSM. The FSM North Pacific Office, established in 2021, provides tailored support to FSM, Kiribati, Nauru, Palau, and the Republic of the Marshall Islands. It works in close coordination with the Fiji MCO to implement the Multi-Country Programme Document (MCPD), ensuring alignment with national priorities while addressing regional challenges such as climate resilience, misinformation, and disaster risk reduction. The office also plays a key role in donor coordination, civil society engagement, and advancing community-led development initiatives.

Within the  FSM office, the Operations Team provides backbone support and services to programme related to finance, human resources, ICT services, travel and logistics, as well as agency services and transactions support. The team supports the FSM Office in the promotion of its sustainable development agenda by continuously enhancing FSM Office financial performance, delivering sound management of financial resources, and ensuring strong accountability through informed decision making, effective financial management processes, and transparent financial reporting that complies with international standards and regulatory guidelines. The team further provides demand driven common services to the UN agencies (per agreed procedures) as well as provide administrative support to UNDP Staff including project personnel e.g., protocol, visa facilitation, travel, and others.
 

Duties and Responsibilities

The NPSA 8 Finance Analyst FSM works under overall guidance of the Operations Manager in FSM and day to day management by the NOA Finance Analyst, Fiji. The Finance Analyst collaborates closely with the operations and programme team in the FSM, as well as the operations team in Fiji.


Under the overall guidance of the Operations Manager in FSM and direct supervision and day-to-day management of NOA Finance Analyst for Fiji, the NPSA 8 Finance Analyst FSM is responsible for ensuring the highest efficiency in financial resources management and the provision of accurate, thoroughly researched and documented financial information, effective delivery of financial services, and transparent utilization of financial resources. The Financial Analyst analyzes and interprets the financial rules and regulations and provides solutions to a wide spectrum of complex financial issues. The Finance Analyst promotes a collaborative, client-oriented approach consistent with UNDP rules and regulations.

The Finance Analyst works in close collaboration with the Programme, Operations, and project teams in the FSM Office, the Fiji MCO,  UNDP HQ and GSSC staff, and Government officials of North Pacific countries to ensure successful financial performance of the FSM office.

UNDP adopts a portfolio approach to accommodate changing business needs and leverage linkages across interventions to achieve its strategic goals. Therefore, UNDP personnel are expected to work across units, functions, teams, and projects in multidisciplinary teams in order to enhance and enable horizontal collaboration.

The following outlines the key roles and responsibilities of the Finance Analyst:    

Financial Management and Operational Support

  • Ensure FSM office’s financial activities, financial recording/reporting system and audit follow up are in full compliance with UNDP Programme and Operations Policies and Procedures (POPP) and strategies.  Provide support in closure of audit gaps, implement effective internal controls, and ensure proper design and functioning of the financial resources management system with attention to risk management. 
  • Ensure financial analysis and oversight of all resources managed by the FSM Office and provide high quality professional advice to FSM management. Continuously analyze and monitor the FSM Office financial situation and potential risks, and provide forecasts for allocated development and management projects, transactions, and activities.
  • Support office management to articulate the framework and conditions of contributions within the FSM Office resource mobilization efforts.
  • Elaborate and implement cost saving and reduction strategies (including introduction and development of e-banking).
  • Routinely monitor financial exception reports for unusual activities, transactions, and investigate anomalies or unusual transactions. Informs FSM Office senior management and other relevant UNDP s of the results of the investigation when satisfactory answers are not obtained. 
  • Perform data analysis and presentation of information/reports using corporate dashboard, Executive snapshots and other tools and resources. 
  • Ensure efficient billing to the agencies and UNDP projects for all operations related services; report on expenditures and follow up for UNDP remittances and proper recording of receipts in Quantum and ensure integrity of data.
  • Coordinate preparation of budget, audit and other reports and support to audit exercises.
  • Timely corrective actions on erroneous data in Quantum (in coordination with finance team in Suva). Preparation of financial reports as required.

Budget Management and Cost Recovery

  • Manage all financial resources through planning, guiding, monitoring and controlling of resources in accordance with UNDP POPP guidelines. 
  • Establish development projects’ budget preparation/modification monitoring system; and monitor and report on control of budgetary status versus authorized spending limits (ASL) and budget delivery levels.
  • Coordinate the preparation of required budget revisions (ensuring multiyear budget revision) within the unit at required period, timely securing of authorized spending limits (ASLs); and detailed record keeping of funds released for projects as well as monthly ASL reporting for non-core/ GEF projects. 
  • Elaborate proper mechanisms to eliminate deficiencies in budget management. Collect information on internal and external clients’ satisfaction and needs in order to develop improvements to services.
  • Organize cost-recovery and DES mechanisms for services provided by UNDP ensuring the preparation of pro-forma invoices for UN agencies and monitor through the ERP tracking system. Ensure cost-sharing financing contributions are properly transferred to UNDP on a timely basis.
  •  Review and process advance and direct payments for projects to GSSC on a timely basis; and ensure payment information is properly recorded into the ERP system on a timely basis.
  • Prepare and submit financial reports for senior management of FSM and for donors reporting of FSM projects on a timely and quality basis.

Knowledge Sharing and Management

  • Provide support in identifying training needs of UNDP staff of FSM office for the purpose of capacity development in finance compliance.
  •  Organize training for the operations/ projects staff of FSM office on finance areas, and assist in providing regular training and technical guidance/advice on audit and compliance matters, including implementation of Internal Control Framework (ICF).
  • Synthesize lessons learned and best practices in Finance.
  • Provide sound contributions to knowledge networks and communities of practice.

Proper Control of FSM Office’s Accounts

  • Ensure proper planning, expenditure tracking and audit of financial resources, including extra budgetary income in accordance with UNDP POPP guidelines. 
  • Elaborate internal expenditures’ control system for all transactions, including invoices and General Ledger. Ensure invoices processed are matched and completed, transactions are correctly recorded and posted in ERP; and travel claims and other entitlements are duly processed in IPSAS compliance.
  • Ensure all financial transactions are identified, recorded, and verified in compliance with IPSAS as outlined in the corporate policies and procedures.
  • Ensure timely corrective actions on unposted invoices, including invoices with validation errors, match exceptions, and/or unapproved invoices. Provide timely response to HQ requests to resolve financial data issues.
  • Ensure control of the Accounts Receivables for UNDP projects and accounts closure of the FSM Office. Maintain the General Ledger
  • Periodically monitor dashboards and exceptions; and identify remedial actions.
  • Regularly review key indicators of integrated financial dashboard and take prompt preventive measures to avoid defaults during monthly dashboard runs.

General Administrative Support to the North Pacific

  • Lead/Facilitate events and conference management of the UNDP North Pacific including organizing support for trainings to be held in Fiji.
  • Substantive support with protocol matters, registration of staff, coordination with local authorities on administrative matters for North Pacific events held in Fiji.
  • Support other general administrative functions as required.    

The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization. 

Competencies

Core competencies:

  • Achieve Results: LEVEL 2: Scale up solutions and simplifies processes, balances speed and accuracy in doing work
  • Think Innovatively: LEVEL 2: Offer new ideas/open to new approaches, demonstrate systemic/integrated thinking
  • Learn Continuously: LEVEL 2: Go outside comfort zone, learn from others and support their learning
  • Adapt with Agility:  LEVEL 2: Adapt processes/approaches to new situations, involve others in change process
  • Act with Determination: LEVEL 2: Able to persevere and deal with multiple sources of pressure simultaneously
  • Engage and Partner: LEVEL 2: Is facilitator/integrator, bring people together, build/maintain coalitions/partnerships
  • Enable Diversity and Inclusion: LEVEL 2: Facilitate conversations to bridge differences, considers in decision making 

People Management (Insert below standard sentence if the position has direct reports.)

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

Cross-Functional & Technical competencies:

Business Direction & Strategy    

  • Systems Thinking. Ability to use objective problem analysis and judgement to understand how interrelated elements coexist within an overall process or system, and to consider how altering one element can impact on other parts of the system

Business Management     

  • Portfolio Management. Ability to select, prioritize and control the organization’s programmes and projects, in line with its strategic objectives and capacity; ability to balance the implementation of change initiatives and the maintenance of business-as-usual, while optimizing return on investment. Knowledge and understanding of key principles of project, programme, and portfolio management
  • 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. 

Finance      

  • 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
  • Finance Business Partnering. Able to support business units and add value by innovating and providing solutions to financial issues/queries, including through FAQs, financial tools, advisory, etc. Influences and appropriately challenges non-finance colleagues for whom the service is being provided. Understands the operations, opportunities and challenges of the organization. Holds a commercial outlook, demonstrating accountability towards organizational goals.
  • 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
     

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

  • A professional accounting qualification from an internationally accredited institute of accountancy, and/or Advanced (Master’s) University Degree in Finance and/or Accounting is required. 
  • A professional accounting qualification from an internationally accredited institute of accountancy, and/or Advanced (Master’s) University Degree in Finance and/or Accounting is required.  Or 
  • A first-level university degree (bachelor’s degree) in the areas mentioned above, in combination with an additional two years of qualifying experience will be given due consideration in lieu of the advanced university degree
  • Candidates with professional accounting qualifications from an internationally accredited institute of accountancy will have a distinct advantage.
  • Candidates with no professional accountancy qualifications, but with degrees that major in accountancy and/or finance must complete the Finance Training and Certification Programme (FTCP), if recruited.
  • Candidates satisfying the two above criteria are exempted from undertaking the UNDP Advanced Accountancy and Finance Test (AAFT). 
  • Candidates with MBA or master's in finance with no accountancy qualification but with relevant experience must successfully undertake the UNDP Advanced Accountancy and Finance Test (AAFT) to be eligible for shortlisting.

Experience:

  • Applicants with Master’s degree (or equivalent) in a relevant field of study are not required to have professional work experience. Applicants with a Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) are required to have a minimum of two (2) years of relevant experience in providing financial management advisory services, and/or managing staff and operational systems.

Required skills:

  • Experience in the use of computers and office software packages (MS Word, Excel, etc.) and advanced
    knowledge of web-based management systems such as ERP financials and database packages.
  • Experience of IPSAS and/or IFRS is required for external candidates.


Desired skills in addition to the competencies covered in the Competencies section:    

  • Knowledge and experience of financial management of national / international organizations 
  • Strong interpersonal and communication skills
  • Excellent organizational and multitasking abilities
  • Familiarity and prior experience with UNDP requirements procedures is considered as an asset
  • Experience in preparation of financial reports and budget variance analysis
  • Professional accounting qualification from an internationally accredited institute of accountancy (CPA, CMA, CA, ACCA, etc)

Required Language(s):

  • Fluency in English and Itaukei and/or Fiji Hindi is required.
  • Knowledge of another UN language is desirable.
     

Equal opportunity

As an equal opportunity employer, UNDP values diversity as an expression of the multiplicity of nations and cultures where we operate and, as such, we encourage qualified applicants from all backgrounds to apply for roles in the organization. Our employment decisions are based on merit and suitability for the role, without discrimination. 

UNDP is also committed to creating an inclusive workplace where all personnel are empowered to contribute to our mission, are valued, can thrive, and benefit from career opportunities that are open to all.

Sexual harassment, exploitation, and abuse of authority

UNDP does not tolerate harassment, sexual harassment, exploitation, discrimination and abuse of authority. All selected candidates, therefore, undergo relevant checks and are expected to adhere to the respective standards and principles. 

Right to select multiple candidates

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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