Finance Associate

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Description

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Under the primary supervision of the Operations Assurance Specialist and secondary supervision of the Finance Specialist, the Regional Finance Associate provides leadership in execution of financial services in the UNCDF Regional Hub and Country Offices (COs) in Western Africa ensuring effective and transparent utilization of financial resources and integrity of financial services. The Regional Finance Associate promotes a collaborative, client-oriented approach consistent with UNDP rules and regulations. The Regional Finance Associate works in close collaboration with the Operations and Oversight Division and project teams in the Regional Hub, COs, UNCDF HQ, and GSSC to provide information delivery and resolve complex financial management-related issues.

Responsibilities

• Provision of inputs to the business processes mapping and elaboration of internal Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) in Administration and Logistics in consultation with the direct supervisor and office management. 
• Elaboration of proposals and implementation of cost saving and reduction strategies in consultations with office management.
• Verify the supporting documents and prepare in the Accounts Payable module (AP) all types of payment invoices for management and development projects.  
• Laisse with UNDP Finance Pay cycle team, project and suppliers to ensure payments were complete on time.
• Follow up with UNDP Finance team on deposits received and other outstanding financial transactions. 
• Serve as the focal point of regional management projects and cost recovery for services provided;
• Regularly update and maintain contracts database, monitor and follow up on financial dashboard of pending transactions.
• Proper control and filing of the supporting documents for payments, ensuring the proper filing system in Regional Hub Database both electronic and hard copies;
• Maintenance of the internal expenditures control system which ensures that invoices processed are matched and completed, transactions are correctly recorded and posted in Quantum; payrolls are duly prepared; travel claims, POs and other entitlements are duly processed.
• Review, research, verify, and reconcile of a variety of data and reports ensuring accuracy and conformance with financial rules and regulations; 
• Provide clear and systematic guidance to COs and projects on the processes and rules and regulations for financial management; 
• Prepare zero-dollar invoice (ZDI) and general ledger journal entries (GL JEs) for corrections to ensure transactions are accurate and liaise with Finance Section for review, verification and approval. 
• Review Petty Cash and all other type of Advance and follow up to ensure reconciliation are completed timely. 
• Support the year-end closure exercise to ensure financial transactions are IPSAS compliant;
• Prepare and generate Project Combined Delivery Reports (CDRs) quarterly for all projects, and other ad-hoc financial reports; 
• Serve as focal point of overall financial oversight and monitoring of financial activities for programmes in the region. Prepare regular updates on required budget, expense, and other balance sheet accounts analysis; Supports the various internal and external audits; 
• Other tasks as assigned by the supervisors.

Education:

• Secondary Education with specialized certification in accounting and/or Finance is required.
• University degree in Finance or Accounting is desirable. 
• Part-qualified accountants from an internationally accredited institute of accountancy will have a distinct advantage.
• Fully Qualified Accountant, from an internationally accredited institute of accountancy or Full Completion of the UNDP Finance Training and Certification Programme (FTCP). No UNDP Accountancy and Finance Test (AFT) is required. 
• Candidates with no professional accountancy qualifications, but with degrees that major in accountancy and/or finance must complete UNDP Finance Training and Certification Programme (FTCP), if recruited. However, no UNDP Accountancy and Finance Test (AFT) is required.
• Candidate with no professional accountancy qualifications but with relevant experience must successfully undertake UNDP Accountancy and Finance Test (AFT) before shortlisting and must complete the UNDP Finance Training and Certification Programme (FTCP), if recruited. 

Experience:

• Minimum of 7 years (with secondary education) or 4 years (with bachelor’s degree) of progressively responsible finance and accounting experience at the national or international level is required.
• Experience in the use of computers and office software packages (MS Word, Excel, etc.) and advanced knowledge of spreadsheets is required. 
• Experience in handling of web-based management systems and ERP financials, preferably Quantum, is desirable.
• Previous work experience in finance or budgeting in a UN Agency, UNDP, and/or UNCDF is highly desirable.
• Minimum of 7 years (with secondary education) or 4 years (with bachelor’s degree) of progressively responsible finance and accounting experience at the national or international level is required.

Languages:

• Fluency in English and French is required.
• Fluency in other official UN Languages is an advantage.

Source: https://estm.fa.em2.oraclecloud.com/hcmUI/CandidateExperience/en/sites/CX_1/job/26212

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