Financial Analyst
Career opportunities at UNDP (Financial Analyst)
Position: Financial Analyst
Job
ID: 37504
Practice Area – Job Family: Management
– FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT
Vacancy End Date: 08/06/2021
(Midnight New York, USA)
Duty Station: Kathmandu,
Nepal
Education & Work
Experience: I-Master’s Level Degree – 2 year(s) experience
Languages
Required:
Desired: English,
Nepali
Grade: NOB
Vacancy Type: FTA
Local
Posting Type: External
Bureau: Asia
& the Pacific
Contract Duration: 1
Year with possibility for extension
Only for Nepalese Nationals
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
has been supporting the Nepalese people in their struggle against poverty since
it opened an in-country office in 1963. Much of this support has gone to
building up the capacity of government agencies, civil society and community
groups to fight poverty, and to bringing these groups and Nepal’s development partners
together to design and implement successful projects to contribute to the
achievement of Nepal’s development objectives.
In
parallel to the roll-out of its new Country Programme, 2018-2022, UNDP Nepal
has recently gone through an internal reorganization and is moving towards
strategically repositioning UNDP’s contributions in support of the Sustainable
Development Goals and collaboration with national development partners. Nepal
is transforming itself in a federal state as per its new Constitution which has
implications for how UNDP engages with national and sub-national authorities.
Meanwhile, Nepal’s GNI continues to grow, making graduation from LDC status a
scenario for which UNDP needs to begin planning and adapting to different
models of development cooperation.
In
this context, under the guidance and supervision of the Operations Manager, the
Finance Analyst is responsible for effective delivery of financial services,
transparent utilization of financial resources and management of the Country
Office (CO) Finance Unit. He/she 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 supervises and leads the staff of the Finance Unit. The Finance
Analyst works in close collaboration with the operations programme and project
teams in the CO and with UNDP HQs staff and Government officials ensuring
successful CO performance in Finance.
Duties and
Responsibilities
1.
Ensures planning and Managing of Programme Resource Framework focusing
on achievement of the following results:
·
Coordinates
and advises the Operations Manager, Senior Management and programme team for
complete, accurate and timely allocation of available resources in order to
optimize resource allocation in a result based environment;
·
Ensures
that systematic and efficient mechanism is in place for preparing project
budgets and their modifications; monitoring of programme delivery within the
authorized spending limits (ASL) and Country Office delivery targets;
·
Continuous
analysis and monitoring of the programme resource situation based on pipeline
build ups and programme expenditures through various tools and systems and
timely and periodic reporting to senior management on resource situation;
·
Assesses
on an ongoing basis the availability of resources for redeployment
(reallocation) due to emerging opportunities and/or unforeseen needs;
·
Efficient
and effective resource management (both core and non core) through strategic
planning, guiding, and managing the resources in accordance with UNDP rules and
regulations;
·
Oversees
the utilization of all management and development resources (regular/other)
against approved work plans/initiatives to confirm alignment with
organizational priorities and results;
·
Assist
Operations Manager and Senior management in finalizing cost sharing agreements
with donors to ensure consistency with corporate resource management policies
in line with IPSAS;
·
Provides
regular oversight in managing receivables from donors as per the cost sharing
agreements and supports donor relations;
·
Monitors
and initiates remedial actions to ensure targets are met on programme related
indicators on respective dashboards with particular attention to cost sharing
deficits and NIM advances.
2. Ensures
implementation of operational and financial management strategies, and adapts
processes and procedures, focusing on the achievement of the following results:
·
Full
compliance of financial activities, financial recording/reporting system and
audit follow up with UN/UNDP rules, regulations, policies and slrategies; implementation
of the effective internal control, proper design and functioning of the
financial resources management system;
·
CO
Finance business processes mapping and elaboration/establishment of internal
Standard Operations Procedures in Finance, control of the work flows in the
Finance Unit;
·
Continuous
analysis and monitoring of the financial situation, presentation of forecasts
for development and management projects;
·
Elaboration
of the framework and conditions of contributions within the CO resources mobilization
efforts;
·
Elaboration
and implementation of cost saving and reduction strategies;
·
Routinely
monitors financial exception reports for unusual activities, transactions, and
investigates anomalies or unusual transactions. Informs supervisor and other UNDP
staff at Headquarters of the results of the investigation when satisfactory
answers are not obtained.
3. Manages
the project budgets and organizes an optimal cost-recovery system focusing on
achievement of the following results:
·
Financial
resources management through planning, guiding, controlling of the resources in
accordance with UNDP rules and regulations;
·
Preparation
and monitoring of budgets of management projects;
·
Establishment
of the development projects’ budgets preparation/modification monitoring
system, control of budgetary status versus authorized spending limits (ASL) and
budgets delivery levels;
·
Sending
project budget to KK if authorized by the Senior Management (can be done only
on the basis of signed prodocs and project budgets);
·
Elaboration
of proper mechanisms to eliminate deficiencies in resource and budget
management;
·
Management
of Direct Project Costing and other cost recovery processes in the office;
·
Preparation
of cost-recovery bills in Atlas for the services provided by UNDP to other
agencies.
4. Ensures
proper control of CO accounts focusing on achievement of the following results:
·
Elaboration
of the internal expenditures’ control system which ensures that vouchers
processed are matched and completed, transactions are correctly recorded and
posted in Atlas; payrolls are duly processed; MPOs, travel claims and other
entitlements are duly processed, receipting of goods and services and
establishmen t of accruals are properly done in compliance with IPSAS and UNDP
policies and procedures;
·
Timely
corrective actions on unposted vouchers, including the vouchers with budget
check errors, match exceptions, unapproved vouchers. Timely response to HQ
requests to resolve financial data issues;
·
Control
of the Accounts Receivables for UNDP projects and maintenance of the General
Ledger.
5. Ensures
proper CO cash management focusing on achievement of the following results:
·
Timely
review of cash position for local accounts to ensure sufficient funds on hand
for disbursements. Timely identification and recording of receipts for income
application;
·
Monitoring
of financial exception reports for unusual activities, transactions and
investigation of anomalies or unusual transactions. Provision of information to
supervisors and other UNDP staff at HQ on the results of the investigation when
satisfactory answers are not obtained;
·
Daily
review of zero-balance account bank statements in Atlas to monitor imprest
level; identification and record of contributions;
·
Primary
contact with local bank management on routine operational matters including
negotiation of exchange rate on replenishments;
·
Approval
and submission of monthly UN exchange rate reports to Treasury;
·
Timely
and accurate approval of bank reconciliation, including documented review of
exceptions;
·
Initiation
of bank transfers and deals, selecting bank transfersand deals for approval and
settlement;
·
Performing
Paycycle manager role in Atlas;
·
Timely
preparation of monthly cashflow forecast for use by Operations Manager;
·
Liaison
with UN Agencies to obtain estimate of their cash requirements;
·
Role
as cashier for cash disbursements made on site.
6. Ensures
effective oversight to assurance and audit of development projects focusing on
achievement of the following results:
·
Audit
exercise is timely undertaken for development projects in accordance with UNDP
requirements;
·
Audit
concerns are timely addressed and UNDP senior manaqement is updated of
implementation status of audit action plan;
·
Updates
and informs UNDP management of any significant occurrence in the course of
programme Implementation on management by exception basis;
·
Ensures
preparation and review of assurance plan in view of risk level associated with
Implementation Partners (IPs) and assurance activities are coordinated with
Ex-Com UN Agencies;
·
Organization
of trainings for the operations/ projects staff on programme issues including
implementation guidelines.
7. Ensures
capacity development of programme/ project staff in the areas of project
programme financial management focusing on achievement of the following
results:
·
Provides
training on HACT methodology in-house and Ex-com implementing partners;
·
Acts
as focal person for IPSAS in programme section;
·
Ensures
that programme and project personnel have required skills in Atlas operation
including external excess;
·
Updates
CO staff on significant changes in the POPP, relevant to programme and project
management and resources management;
·
Enhances
the skills of programme staff on project management supported by Atlas.
8. Ensure
Gender and Social Inclusions (GESI) is prioritized in all financial functions:
·
Ensure
that GESI is well captured and mainstreamed in financial reporting;
·
Coordinate
with GESI Specialist to ensure that the GESI-related results are well captured
in all financial functions;
·
Provide
advice and direction on strategic and policy issues to strengthen gender &
social inclusion initiatives in the work plan and implementation strategy;
·
Promote
work life balance policy, prevention of sexual harassment policy and ensure
gender and diversity principles practiced by all team members of the
unit/portfolio.
Competencies
Core
Innovation
Ability
to make new and useful ideas work
Level 4: Adept with complex concepts and challenges convention purposefully
Leadership
Ability
to persuade others to follow
Level 4: Generates commitment, excitement and excellence in others
People
Management
Ability
to improve performance and satisfaction
Level 4: Models independent thinking and action
Communication
Ability
to listen, adapt, persuade and transform
Level 4: Synthesizes information to communicate independent analysis
Delivery
Ability
to get things done while exercising good judgement
Level 4: Meets goals and quality criteria for delivery of products or services
Technical/Functional
Technical
Knowledge
Ability
to formulate and manage budgets, transactions, conduct financial analysis,
reporting and cost recovery
Level 4: Apply & Adapt: Contributes skills and knowledge with demonstrated
ability to advance innovation and continuous improvement, in professional area
of expertise
Promoting
organizational change and development
Ability
to diagnose problems and identifies and communicates processes to support
change initiatives
Level 4: Apply & Adapt: Contributes skills and knowledge with demonstrated
ability to advance innovation and continuous improvement, in professional area
of expertise
Development
and Operational Effectiveness
Ability
to lead strategic planning, results-based management and reporting.
Level 4: Apply & Adapt: Contributes skills and knowledge with demonstrated
ability to advance innovation and continuous improvement, in professional area
of expertise
Management
and Leadership
Builds
strong relationships with clients; consistently approaches work with energy and
positive attitude
Level 4: Apply & Adapt: Contributes skills and knowledge with demonstrated
ability to advance innovation and continuous improvement, in professional area
of expertise
Learning
and Development
Knowledge
of enterprise learning and development issues, concepts, and principles, and
ability to apply them to enhance the fulfillment and performance of employees
Level 4: Apply & Adapt: Contributes skills and knowledge with demonstrated
ability to advance innovation and continuous improvement, in professional area
of expertise
Required
Skills and Experience
Education
·
Completion
of Masters Degree in Finance/Accounting, Business, or Public Administration, or
a professional accounting qualification from an internationally recognized institute
of accountancy;
·
Professionally
qualified accountants from an internationally recognized institute of
accountancy will have a distinct advantage.
Experience
·
2
years of relevant experience in providing financial management and accounting
advisory services, managing staff and operational systems;
·
Experience
in the usage of computers and office software packages (MS Word, Excel, etc)
and advance knowledge of spreadsheet and database packages, experience in
handling of web based management systems and ERP financials;
·
Experience
of IPSAS and/or IFRS is required for external candidates;
·
UNDP
Advance Accountancy & Finance Test required.
Language
Requirements
·
Proficiency
in English and Nepali.
Disclaimer
Important
applicant information
All
posts in the GS categories are subject to local recruitment.
Applicant
information about UNDP rosters
Note: 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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