Background Diversity, Equity and Inclusion are core principles at UNDP: we value diversity as an expression of the multiplicity of nations and cultures where we operate, we foster inclusion as a way of ensuring all personnel are empowered to contribute to our mission, and we ensure equity and fairness in all our actions. Taking a ‘leave no one behind’ approach to our diversity efforts means increasing representation of underserved populations. People who identify as belonging to marginalized or excluded populations are strongly encouraged to apply. Learn more about working at UNDP including our values and inspiring stories. 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.Anchored in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and in line with the priorities outlined in the UNDP Strategic Plan, the Regional Bureau for Arab States (RBAS) supports the Arab States region to achieve sustainable development by eradicating poverty in all its forms and dimensions, accelerating structural transformations for sustainable development, and building resilience to crises and shocks. Within this work, the Regional Bureau for Arab States responds to needs across development settings including Least Developed Countries, Middle Income Countries, Net Contributor Countries and countries affected by crisis, with a view to support the building of resilience, fight climate change, leverage the promise of innovation, and prioritize the advance of women, youth and vulnerable groups as part of its commitment to the principles of universality, equality and leaving no one behind in an increasing complex regional context.
The Regional Hub for Arab States in Amman focuses on thought leadership, crisis response and country office support. With a focus on effective, timely and responsive support in line with UNDP’s programme priorities and tailored to the emerging and changing needs and priorities in the region the offer of support includes strategic policy advice, programme development and implementation, capacity development, policy research and analysis, knowledge services, and operations.
The Amman Regional Hub implements regional initiatives under the Regional Programme for Arab States 2022-2025 which touches upon the following areas of work: governance and anti-corruption, regional cooperation for the reduction of poverty and inequality, knowledge economy, conflict prevention and peacebuilding, climate security, youth engagement and empowerment, gender equality, resilience building, among others.
Through its regional projects, the Regional Programme generates and avails development knowledge, experience and expertise to countries across the region; supports the creation and development of inter-country initiatives and networks among governmental and non-governmental partners to address shared challenges at a sub-regional and regional levels; facilitates inter-country collaboration on cross-border issues, such as trade, environment, and migration; advances regional dialogues, and experience exchange on development issues that may be sensitive where regional level advocacy may enable country level engagement and action, such as with efforts to fight corruption and exclusionary practices targeting certain groups; and promotes experimentation and innovation to help overcome institutional, financial and knowledge barriers that may be too high for an individual country to surmount.
Duties and Responsibilities Scope of Work:
Under the overall guidance from the Chief/Deputy Regional Hub Director, and direct supervision of the Regional Programme Manager, the Programme Finance Analyst is responsible for the following:
1.Ensure implementation of operational strategies and adapt processes and procedures as per the following:
- Ensure full compliance with UNDP Programme and Operations Policies and Procedures (POPP) of financial activities, financial recording, and reporting system.
- Facilitate the Regional Programme Finance business processes by mapping and elaborating on the content of standard operating procedures in programme finance in consultation with the Regional Hub Senior management.
- Follow-up on audit recommendations for the Regional Programme, and provide support in closure of audit gaps.
- Implement financing and trust fund agreements.
- Elaborate proposals and implement cost saving and reduction strategies in consultations with Senior management.
- Provide continuous analysis and monitoring of the Regional Programme financial situation, and present forecasts for allocated development projects/transactions/activities.
- Routinely monitor financial exception reports for unusual activities and/or transactions, investigate anomalies, and inform Senior management when satisfactory answers are not obtained.
2. Ensure effective regional programme finance management as per the following:
- Develop, implement, and follow up on the Regional Programme Pipeline in relevant system (Quantum+).
- Ensure proper programme financial resources management through planning, guiding, and controlling of the resources.
- Routinely monitor the overall financial situation of the regional programme resources, and escalate to the Regional Programme Manager issues related to the projects’ financial management (financial agreements, delays in receipt of installments from donors, overspending, etc..
- Provide substantive inputs in the preparation of projects’ annaul work plans.Prepare and monitor the projects budgets related to the Regional Programme, and alert the Regional Programme Manager to any relevant issues.
- Oversee ERP matching, implement effective internal controls, and ensure proper functioning of a client-oriented programme financial resource management system
- Implement control mechanisms by monitoring budget preparation and modifications, and budgetary status versus ASL and cash.
- Analyze requirements, and synthesize proposals on proper mechanisms to eliminate deficiencies in budget management.
- Ensure control of Accounts Receivables, and combined delivery through regular monitoring of the regional programme delivery. Ensure review and certification of quarterly combined delivery reports (CDRs).
- Provide advice on administrative and Programme reporting, particularly on budgetary issues, and prepare reports including donor reports, as needed.
- Monitor dashboards and exceptions, and identify remedial actions.
- Review cost-recovery bills for the services requested by reginoal programme/projects and follow up on its timely payment.
- Ensure application of cost recovery mechansims in all regional projects.
- Participate in projects’ audit, control on the follow up, as needed.
3.Ensure implementation of the resource mobilization as per the following:
- Support the Regional Programme to articulate the framework and conditions of contributions within resources mobilization efforts.
- Monitor financing contributions.
- Provide advice to the Regional Programme on different donor reporting requirements, and monitor the financial reports to be submitted to donors.
- Track and report on mobilized resources.
4. Ensure facilitation of knowledge building/sharing, and provide guidance to all stakeholders on financial matters as per the following:
- Organize and conduct training for the Projects/Programme Staff on financial management and budgetary issues.
- Assist in providing regular training and technical guidance/advice on audit and compliance matters, including implementation of Internal Control Framework (ICF).
- Synthesize lessons learned and best practices in programme finance.
- Provide sound contributions to knowledge networks and communities of practice.
The incumbent will perform other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Regional Programme and the Organization.
Institutional Arrangement
Under the overall guidance from the Chief/Deputy Regional Hub Director, and direct supervision of the Regional Programme Manager, the Programme Finance Analyst is responsible for the delivery of programme finance services to ensure effective and transparent utilization of financial resources and integrity of financial services in the Regional Programme. S/he will work in close collaboration with the Programme, Operations, and Project teams, and staff in UNDP HQ, and GSSC to resolve complex programme, finance, and operations-related issues as well as to ensure successful financial management performance of the Regional Programme. The incumbent will promote a collaborative, and a client-oriented approach consistent with UNDP rules and regulations.
Competencies Core Achieve Results: LEVEL 1: Plans and monitors own work, pays attention to details,
delivers quality work by deadline
Think Innovatively: LEVEL 1: Open to creative ideas/known risks, is pragmatic problem
solver, makes improvements
Learn Continuously: LEVEL 1: Open minded and curious, shares knowledge, learns from
mistakes, asks for feedback
Adapt with Agility: LEVEL 1: Adapts to change, constructively handles
ambiguity/uncertainty, is flexible
Act with Determination: LEVEL 1: Shows drive and motivation, able to deliver calmly in face of
adversity, confident
Engage and Partner: LEVEL 1: Demonstrates compassion/understanding towards others,
forms positive relationships
Enable Diversity and Inclusion: LEVEL 1: Appreciate/respect differences, aware of unconscious bias,
confront discrimination
Cross-Functional &Technical competencies: Thematic Area Name Definition
Business Direction & Strategy
Systems Thinking Ability to use objective problem analysis and judgement to understand how interrelated elements coexist within an overall process or system, and to consider how altering one element can impact on other parts of the system.
Business Management Portfolio Management Ability to select, prioritize and control the organization's programmes and projects in line with its strategic objectives and capacity.
Ability to balance the implementation of change initiatives with regular activities for optimal return on investment. Knowledge and understanding of key principles of project, programme, and portfolio management.
Operations - Finance
Financial Risk Management
Ensures financial resilience through proactive assessment of risk, implementation of controls and taking mitigating action.
Understands risk and reward in relation to collaborative and commercial projects. Ensures a culture of positive risk management.
Operations - Finance Management and Cost Accounting Ability to produce periodic qualitative and quantitative performance reports to facilitate effective decision making and performance monitoring.
Ability to use a range of costing techniques and analyze cost related data to provide quantitative information to the users of reports.
Operations - Finance Audit Risk Management Ability to address risks and audit issues raised in the course of an audit and propose solutions in order to ensure a true and fair audit opinion is achieved.
Operations - Finance Accounting (General) Knowledge of accounting concepts, principles, frameworks, standards, regulations, policies and trends, and ability to apply this to strategic and/or practical situations.
Required Skills and Experience Min. Education requirements - A professional accounting qualification from an internationally accredited institute of accountancy, and/or Advanced (Masters) University Degree in Finance and/or Accounting is required. Candidates with professional accounting qualifications from an internationally accredited institute of accountancy will have a distinct advantage.
- A first-level university degree (bachelor’s degree) in combination with an additional two years of qualifying experience will be given due consideration in lieu of the advanced university degree
- Candidates with no professional accountancy qualifications, but with degrees that major in accountancy and/or finance must complete the Finance Training and Certification Programme (FTCP), if recruited.
- Candidates satisfying the two above criteria are exempted from undertaking the UNDP Advanced Accountancy and Finance Test (AAFT).
- Candidates with MBA or master's in finance with no accountancy qualification but with relevant experience must successfully undertake the UNDP Advanced Accountancy and Finance Test (AAFT)to be eligible for shortlisting.
Min. years of relevant work experience - Minimum 2 years (with master’s degree) or 4 years(with bachelor’s degree) of relevant experience in providing financial management services at national/international level is required.
- Experience of IPSAS and/or IFRS is required for external candidates.
Required skills/experience - Experience in working with spreadsheets, and web-based management systems such as ERP financials is required.
Desired skills/experience - Experience working with UN/UNDP/International organizations is desired.
- Experience in financial reporting and donor reporting is desired.
- Experience in financial risk management is an asset.
- Experience in programme oversight and programme performance management is desired.
- Experience in management of programme financial resources including planning, budgeting, and reporting is desired
Required Language(s) - Fluency in English is required, Knowledge of Arabic and French an asset
Professional Certificates - Candidates with professional accounting qualifications from an internationally accredited institute of accountancy will have a distinct advantage.
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Under US immigration law, acceptance of a staff position with UNDP, an international organization, may have significant implications for US Permanent Residents. UNDP advises applicants for all professional level posts that they must relinquish their US Permanent Resident status and accept a G-4 visa, or have submitted a valid application for US citizenship prior to commencement of employment.
UNDP is not in a position to provide advice or assistance on applying for US citizenship and therefore applicants are advised to seek the advice of competent immigration lawyers regarding any applications.
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.
Non-discrimination
UNDP has a zero-tolerance policy towards sexual exploitation and misconduct, sexual harassment, and abuse of authority. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles.
UNDP is an equal opportunity and inclusive employer that does not discriminate based on race, sex, gender identity, religion, nationality, ethnic origin, sexual orientation, disability, pregnancy, age, language, social origin or other status.
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