Syria: Programme Finance Associate (Disaster Risk Reduction and Recovery)

Jan 23, 2022 | UNDP
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The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is a United Nations organization tasked with helping countries eliminate poverty and achieve sustainable economic growth and human development.

Background

Under The direct supervision of the Programme/Portfolio Team Leader, the Finance Associate provides the Programme with financial services ensuring effective and transparent utilization of Programme financial resources and integrity of financial services. The Programme Finance Associate promotes a client-oriented approach consistent with UNDP rules and regulations.

The Programme/Finance Associate works in close collaboration with the Programme, Project, Field and Operations teams in the Country Office (CO) to resolve complex programme financial management-related issues and information delivery.

Position Purpose

  • Administration and implementation of Programme financial management strategies
  • Support to programme finance management and administration of relevant budget and expenditures.
  • Support to implementation of the Programme resource mobilization strategy
  • Facilitation of knowledge building and knowledge sharing, guidance to all stakeholders on financial matters.

Key Duties & Accountabilities

Ensures administration and implementation of programme financial management strategies, adapts processes and procedures focusing on achievement of the following results:

  • Full compliance with UN/UNDP rules, regulations, and policies of programme financial activities, programme financial recording/reporting system and follow-up on audit recommendations in respect of programme activities; implementation of effective internal controls, proper functioning of a client-oriented programme financial resources management system.
  • Implementation of cost sharing and trust fund agreements, as applicable to the programme
  • Elaboration of conditions of contributions within the programme resource mobilization efforts.
  • All kinds of disbursements.

Provides support to programme finance management and administration of relevant budget and expenditures focusing on the achievement of the following results:

  • Entry of data of new grants/contributions related to programme into Atlas in the form of Annual Work Plans (AWPs) including relevant GMS rates and its distribution, monitoring of AWPs status.
  • Enter project budgets (AWPs) into UNDP ERP in line with available programme financial resources in the relevant projects and established expenditures targets.
  • Revision of award and project status and follow up on financial closure of programme or related tasks, once operationally completed, including the Project Completion Check List in coordination with the GSSU.
  • Implementation of effective internal controls for programme budget and expenses, proper functioning of a client-oriented programme financial resources management system control mechanism through monitoring budget preparation and modifications, budgetary status versus Authorized Spending Limit (ASL), follow up on ASL for programme.
  • Proper control of the supporting documents for payments, review of financial reports for programme expenses.
  • Identification of programme financial problems, proposal of solutions.
  • Accuracy verification of Combined Delivery Reports including F&A (GMS) amounts collected
  • Contribution to the regular monitoring of programme delivery related to the portfolio.
  • Contribution to the preparation of programme financial reports including donor reports
  • Verification and reconciliation of various expenditures reports from the CO, HQ and Responsible Party.
  • Provision of researched information for the DIM audits related to programme, implementation of audit recommendations

Support to implementation of the Programme resource mobilization strategy:

  • Following up on project finances related to the portfolio including budget, expenses, expiry of funds and reporting and compliance with the donor requirements.
  • Inputs on the overall TOR from programme/finance associates in the unit to be sought.

Ensures facilitation of knowledge building and knowledge sharing, guidance to all stakeholders on financial matters focusing on the achievement of the following results:

  • Guidance to responsible parties on routine implementation of activities, tracking use of financial resources.
  • Advice on DIM reporting, in particular on budgetary issues.
  • Synthesis of lessons learned and best practices in programme and project finance.
  • Sound contributions to knowledge networks and communities of practice.

Expected Demonstration of Competencies


Core Competencies:

  • Achieve Results: Plans and monitors own work, pays attention to details, delivers quality work by
  • deadline
  • Think Innovatively: Open to creative ideas/known risks, is pragmatic problem solver, makes improvements
  • Learn Continuously: Open minded and curious, shares knowledge, learns from mistakes, asks for feedback
  • Adapt with Agility: Adapts to change, constructively handles ambiguity/uncertainty, is flexible
  • Act with Determination: Shows drive and motivation, able to deliver calmly in face of adversity, confident
  • Engage and Partner: Demonstrates compassion/understanding towards others, forms positive relationships
  • Enable Diversity and Inclusion: Appreciate/respect differences, aware of unconscious bias, confront discrimination

Cross- Functional & Technical Competencies:

  • 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
  • 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
  • Communication: Ability to communicate in a clear, concise and unambiguous manner both through written and verbal communication; to tailor messages and choose communication methods depending on the audience.
  • Financial reporting and analysis: Ability to extract, evaluate financial data.
  • Audit (General): Understands the key stages of audit work, including planning, documentation, testing and reporting.
  • 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.

Requirements:

Education

  • High School Diploma with specialized Finance certificate.
  • A first-level University degree in Finance, Business or Public Administration, or any other related field will be considered.
  • Qualified accountants from an internationally recognized institute will have an advantage.
  • Longlisted candidates may undertake the UNDP Finance and Accountancy Test (AFT)

Experience, Knowledge and Skills

  • 7 years (High School) or 4 years (Bachelor) of progressively responsible financial management accounting, or management experience is required at the national or international level.
  • Knowledge of programme or project finance desirable.
  • Experience in the usage of computers and office software packages (MS Word, Excel, etc) and advance knowledge of spreadsheet and database packages is a must.
  • Experience in handling of web-based management systems is desirable.
  • Knowledge of International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSAS) and/or International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS), Finance Accounting and Management Accounting is desirable.

Language requirements:

  • Fluency in English and Arabic.

Important note:

  • Candidates selected pursuant to this vacancy may be subject to UNDP’s policy on Probation upon assignment.