Senior Finance Officer, Multiple positions

Notes

• Even though the duty station is indicated as New York, USA, consideration may be given to allow the position to be home-based, depending on the incumbent’s personal situation. For home-based positions, a location-specific fee scale is applied in determining the contractor’s fee.

• The incumbent is expected to ensure availability during the working hours of the New York office.

Financial Compliance and Internal Controls

• Ensure full compliance with UNOPS financial rules, regulations, and policies.

• Contribute to the Implementation of the effective internal controls and maintenance of client-oriented financial resources management system.

• Help Develop and maintain internal Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) in Finance, in consultation with office management.

• Respond to queries and observations of auditors (both internal and external).

• Serve as a backup during leave of an ECR Finance Associate and Finance Analyst for the following financial transactions:  Payment Approvals, Cash Forecast (Treasury), GLJEs, Operational Advances, Project Budget Setup Review, Data Quality and Periodical Reporting (FG/IPAS); Petty Cash & Operational Advance; and Corporate Credit Card.

• Perform other duties as requested by the Line Manager.

Budgetary and Monitoring Control

• Provide support to Portfolio Managers Managing project budgets, ensuring compliance with UNOPS financial policies and procedures.

• Conduct expenditure reviews and analysis, prepare budget estimates, and monitor budget allocations and expenditures.

• Provide feedback and mutually agree on corrective actions with clients/partners.

• Approve budgets in oneUNOPS, as per awarded proposals and review budget revisions, as delegated.

Accounting and Administrative Support

• Maintain ledgers and accounting records, ensuring timely entry of transactions in the one UNOPS ERP.

• Prepare monthly, quarterly and year end related entries in General Ledger.

• Review financial adjustments proposed by the field and portfolios for supporting documentation and accuracy.

• Reconcile various general ledger account codes as advised, investigate balances long overdue.

• Perform Account analysis, account reconciliation and preparation of adjusting journal entries.

• Ensure the appropriateness of operational transactions processed through the interpretation and determination of applicable policies, regulations, and rules.

Client Financial Reporting and Control

• Prepare financial statements for clients and ensure compliance with Funder Agreement schedules and UN/UNOPS Memoranda of Understanding.

• Review and Certify the financial statements for clients as delegated.

• Maintain schedule of client reports by due date, produce progress Financial reports by Portfolio, prepare Interim Financial Statements for certification by the IPAS and Final Financial Statement certification by the Comptroller.

• Guide the Portfolio Managers and clients to design, establish and harmonize financial reporting and performance assessment documents for gauging the financial delivery/performance of their portfolio/projects

• Interact with colleagues and clients to exchange information and seek cooperation when following up on operational transactions and client reporting requirements.

• Draft and send communications to clients concerning financial matters.

• Support UNOPS Portfolio Managers to maintain Cash-Flow projections for cash based projects and ensure effective and accurate cash flow forecasts.

• Collaborate with project colleagues to ensure the quality of financial activities and reports.

• Act as financial closure manager for projects entering financial closure stages.

• Support the development and roll-out of automated reports for client financial reporting.

Cash Management

• Ensure accurate reflection of client contributions to project cash flow in the ERP.

• Review Advance Financing requests and ensure their reflection in the overall regional AF tracking.

• Provide support to portfolio colleagues on cash flow issues.

Knowledge Building and Sharing

• Contribute to the development of guidelines, tools, and templates to support internal portfolio and project stakeholders in the financial management of projects.

• Act as a technical expert, providing financial input and perspective to portfolio management of client projects.

Education

• An advanced university degree (master or equivalent), preferably in accounting, finance, business administration, or a related field, with 2 years of relevant work experience;

 OR

• A first level university degree (bachelor or equivalent) with 4 years of relevant experience.

• A professional accounting qualification such as Certified Public Accountant (CPA), Chartered Accountant (CA), or equivalent, is desired.

Experience Relevant experience is defined as progressively responsible experience in financial management, accounting, or auditing, preferably in an international development or humanitarian context.

• Experience in managing budgets, preparing financial statements, and conducting financial audits is required.

• Experience working with UNOPS or other international organisations, including knowledge of UNOPS financial rules, regulations, and procedures, is desired.

• Experience in project management, particularly in the context of development or humanitarian projects, is desired.

Language

• Fluency in English (read, write, speak) is required.

• Knowledge of another UN official language is desired.