Overview
The Finance Officer ensures the effective delivery of financial management, reporting and compliance services in accordance with UNOPS Financial Rules and Regulations. The role leads on budget formulation and monitoring, treasury and cash management, accounting oversight, and financial reporting.
Key Responsibilities
- Ensure full compliance with UNOPS financial rules, regulations, policies and procedures, as well as donor and audit requirements.
- Implement and maintain effective internal control systems and risk management frameworks.
- Support the roll-out and continuous improvement of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) in finance.
- Monitor financial exception reports, identify and investigate anomalies, and recommend corrective actions.
- Advise management on cost-saving measures, financial efficiencies and expenditure optimization.
- Support internal and external audit exercises, coordinate responses, and track the implementation of audit recommendations.
- Lead the preparation, consolidation and monitoring of budgets for projects and administrative operations.
- Review and analyze budget proposals for accuracy, consistency and alignment with strategic and financial objectives.
- Conduct variance analyses and monitor expenditure levels against approved budgets.
- Coordinate project budget revisions and ensure timely re-phasing and approvals in the enterprise resource planning (ERP) system.
- Provide financial planning support to project managers, including forecasting, scenario analysis, and financial risk assessment.
- Contribute to the development and improvement of budgeting tools and systems.
- Oversee cash management operations to ensure liquidity and accuracy in fund allocation.
- Review daily and monthly cash positions to maintain sufficient balances for disbursements and manage the zero-balance and imprest accounts.
- Prepare cash flow forecasts for operational and project needs.
- Initiate and approve bank transfers and foreign exchange transactions in the ERP system.
- Maintain strong relationships with local banking institutions and ensure compliance with national financial and banking regulations.
- Monitor operational advances, recoveries and petty cash accounts.
- Conduct periodic treasury analyses and forecasting of income and expenditure trends.
- Ensure accuracy, validity and compliance of financial transactions, commitments and payments against budget allocations and contractual terms.
- Review and approve payment requests, verifying the completeness of supporting documentation and proper use of account codes.
- Ensure that transactions are properly recorded, reconciled and reported in the ERP system.
- Maintain control of accounts receivable and payable.
- Support the establishment and implementation of an effective expenditure control framework.
- Manage financial data quality through ongoing review, reconciliation, and corrective action.
- Supervise timely accounts closure, including accruals, provisions and adjusting journal entries.
- Coordinate with HQ and the Regional Office on complex payment or compliance issues.
- Prepare, review and analyze monthly, quarterly and annual financial reports for management and donors.
- Support the preparation of client financial statements, interim financial reports (IFRs), and delivery reports.
- Develop and maintain financial dashboards and reporting tools.
- Contribute to the annual financial closure process.
- Provide financial input and analysis for strategic reports, audits and evaluations.
- Lead or support the implementation of audit recommendations and contribute to internal and external financial reviews.
- Support the organization, facilitation and delivery of training and learning sessions on finance topics.
- Participate in knowledge-sharing initiatives and Communities of Practice (CoPs).
Required Experience
- 2 years of relevant experience OR 0 years of relevant experience with a Master’s degree.
- Relevant experience is work in project financial management, budgeting, cash management and financial reporting, or related areas.
- Demonstrable proficiency in the use of collaboration and productivity tools (e.g. MS Office, G-Suite, etc) and web-based management systems.
- Experience of working in multicultural environments or UN system organizations in a developing country is desired.
- Experience in development or humanitarian contexts is desired.
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) in Finance, Accounting, Business Administration or other disciplines.
- Master’s degree (or equivalent) in any of the above disciplines.
- Professional certification (e.g. CPA, ACCA, CA, CIMA) is desired.
- Knowledge of IPSAS or other international accounting standards is desired.
