Background

With offices in Copenhagen, Kuala Lumpur, Dakar, Amman, Panama City and Istanbul, the Global Shared Services Centre (GSSC) services over 180 countries, 40,000 personnel and more than 70 other UN Agencies and Organizations. Through its functional service lines, the BMS/GSSC ensures high quality and timely delivery of human resources and financial services as well as information and innovative tools to its various clients and stakeholders.

The BMS/GSSC is led by the Director, who reports to the Director of Bureau for Management Services (BMS). Reporting to the Finance Specialist/Analyst, the Finance Associate works collaboratively within the BMS/GSSC Finance Service Delivery Teams with a client-oriented approach.

Duties and Responsibilities

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

• Full compliance with UN/UNDP rules and regulations of financial processes.
• Preparation of relevant reports and audit follow up; implementation of the effective internal control framework.
• Finance business processes mapping and elaboration of the content of internal Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) in Finance in consultation with the direct supervisor and office management.
• Ensures financial records are in compliance with SOPs, IPSAS and UNDP Financial Rules and Regulations.

2. Provides accounting and finance support to Country Offices (COs) and performs various analysis functions focusing on achievement of the following results:

• Proper review/validation of the supporting documents for advance requests by UN Agencies and the expenditures submitted on the Project Delivery Reports (PDRs), under the Project Clearing Account (PCA) modality.
• Timely follow up with COs on pending information on processing donor refunds and project financial closure.
• Respond to UNALL and email communications from COs regarding the tasks assigned.
• Ensures proper adherence to Service Level Agreement (SLAs) contribute to the evolution of services proposed by GSSC and the establishment of a continuous improvement environment.
• Perform accounting tasks such as creating credit memos, analyzing account payables and pending project financial closure cases.
• Conducts accounts analysis between sub-system and General Ledger (GL) in the ERP system (Quantum), to prepare accounts reconciliations, identify differences and take corrective actions.
• Assist in the implementation of accounting, closing calendars, audit requirements and quarterly, bi-annual and year-end certifications.
• Support the implementation of the Internal Control Framework.
• Other tasks as assigned.

3. Ensures facilitation of knowledge building and knowledge sharing in the Finance Unit focusing on the achievement of the following results:

• Support the organization of training for staff in the Finance Stream.
• Synthesis of lessons learned and best practices in Finance.
• Facilitate knowledge building and knowledge sharing in the Finance Unit as requested by the supervisor.
• Sound contributions to knowledge networks and communities of practice.

Competencies

Required Skills and Experience

Min. Education Requirements:

• Secondary Education including subjects or modules in Accounting and/or Finance. University Degree in Finance or Accounting is desirable.

Min. Years of Relevant Work Experience

• Minimum 6 years with secondary school education or 3 years with a Bachelor’s Degree, of relevant experience in Finance and/or Accounting.

Required Skills:

• Experience in the usage of computers and MS Office packages
• Advanced knowledge of spreadsheet and database packages
• Hands-on experience with CRM or ERP, preferably with Oracle
• Knowledge of IPSAS and/or IFRS

Required Language(s):

• Fluency in English. Knowledge of any other UN languages is desirable.

Professional Certificates:

• A professional accounting qualification from an internationally accredited institute of accountancy is desirable.