Finance Associate

Job title: Finance Associate

Tiered Approach

In line with the commitment to safeguard capacity and support personnel already in the Organization, a majority of UNDP UNCDF/UNV vacancies are advertised using a tiered application process whereby:

• Tier 0: UNDP/UNCDF/UNV IP staff holding permanent (PA) and fixed-term (FTA) appointments, whose posts will be abolished, or contracts will be terminated or not renewed during 2026.
• Tier 1: Other UNDP/UNCDF/UNV staff holding permanent (PA) and fixed-term (FTA) appointments
• Tier 2: UNDP/UNCDF/UNV staff holding temporary appointments (TA), personnel on regular PSA contracts, and Expert and Specialist UN Volunteers
• Tier 3 or no tier indicated: All other contract types from UNDP/UNCDF/UNV and other agencies, and other external candidates

Please make note of the Tier(s) indicated in the vacancy title, if any, and ensure that you satisfy the eligibility to apply.

Background

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is a global organization that is part of the broader United Nations System, dedicated to promoting sustainable development. Established in 1965, UNDP plays a pivotal role in supporting nations in their efforts to eradicate poverty, reduce inequality, and advance socio-economic development. With a focus on inclusive and equitable growth, UNDP provides technical expertise, mobilizes financial resources, and delivers policy and other services to support the formulation and implementation of effective development strategies and solutions that align with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). UNDP operates in over 170 countries and territories, collaborating with local partners, governments, and other stakeholders to build resilient communities and foster sustainable development. UNDP's initiatives span a wide range of areas, including climate change, gender equality, governance, and crisis response, embodying its commitment to creating a better and more sustainable future for people across the globe.

Under the overall guidance of the Operations and Finance Specialist, the Finance Associate supports the highest efficiency in People Programme operations, as well as other programmes and partnerships within the PPP team, including timely and accurate donor reporting, financial resources management and the provision of accurate, thoroughly researched and documented financial information. He/she analyzes operational rules and regulations and provides solutions to a wide spectrum of complex operational issues. The Finance Associate promotes a collaborative, client-oriented approach consistent with UNDP rules and regulations.

Under the guidance and direct supervision of the Finance Specialist, the Finance Associate provides support in execution of financial services in the BMS/OHR/PPP Team ensuring effective and transparent financial management

The Finance Associate works in close collaboration with the BMS/OHR New York, BMS/Office of Financial Resources Management (OFRM)/Corporate Financial Reporting and Agency Services Team, BMS/Information and Technology Management Office (ITM), as well as the transactional part of HR and finance services ensuring successful operations, human resources management, financial resource management, and client-orientation of the People Programmes.

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.

Duties and Responsibilities

Ensures implementation of the People Programme financial management strategies

• Ensure People Programmes financial activities, financial recording/reporting system, and follow-up on audit recommendations are in full compliance with UNDP Programme and Operations Policies and Procedures (POPP) and strategies.
• Support implementation of effective internal controls and proper functioning of a client-oriented financial resources management system.
• Assist in supporting office management to articulate the framework and conditions of contributions to People Programmes.
• Assist in monitoring People Programme financial resources, reconcile donor accounts and prepare forecasts.
• Support in monitoring of financial exception reports for unusual activities, transactions and investigation of anomalies or unusual transactions. Provision of information to management on the results of the investigation when satisfactory answers are not obtained.
• Support in reviewing and approving cost estimates, including update and development of tools for calculation of JPO/SDP/Seconded expert costs and continuous alignment with UNDP finance policies.
• Assist in monitoring and follow up on contributions from donors to the JPO Programme positions.
• Support in organization of cost-recovery mechanisms for services provided by UNDP to JPO Programmes of UN agencies.
• Assist in controlling and monitoring of co-financing arrangements and processes
• Support in controlling and monitoring of Centrally Management Costs arrangements and processes
• Support end-year reversal of UN Organisations JPO Programme financial transactions from UNDP books.

Ensure implementation of timely and accurate financial reporting on People Programmes

• Support implementation of JPO Programme financial management model and suggest improvements as applicable.
• Assists in preparation of reports containing analysis of the People Programme financial situation.
• Support in monitoring and preparation of People Programmes financial reports to donors and UN Agencies on a timely and quality basis.

Provide accounting, operational and administrative support to the OHR/PPP unit

• Reviewing and approving of invoices and purchase orders (POs) within the established approval threshold, ensuring the accuracy of data and the completeness of all supporting documentation.
• Ensure proper control of the supporting documents and payment invoices and proper document management including systematic archiving.
• Support in reviewing periodic oversight of financial reports for projects and management funds/budget balance.
• Maintain internal expenditures control system which ensures that invoices processed are matched and completed, transactions are correctly recorded and posted in ERP; and travel claims and other entitlements are duly processed.
• Assist in coordinating and reviewing allocated General Ledger and sub-ledger accounts and support timely project closure.
• Take 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.
• Support in facilitation of JPO travel requests, including organization of air tickets and monitoring of Duty Travel and Training Balances
• Support in designing, developing and maintaining Business Intelligence (BI) and Data Analytics tools such as Power BI, while leveraging advanced Excel capabilities to analyse complex data from multiple sources into user friendly reports and summaries to support daily operations as well as strategic decision making.
• Support in designing, refining and developing emerging HR, financial and operational oversight tools such as UN All, Power BI, Dashboards.

Ensure facilitation of knowledge building and knowledge sharing

• Organize training for the human resources team on financial management.
• Synthesize lessons learned and best practices in financial management.
• Provide sound contributions to knowledge networks and communities of practice.
• Support the team in building capabilities on essential corporate tools for business efficiency such as UN all, Power BI, Gemini.

The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for