Overview
The Finance Senior Officer ensures effective financial management, reporting, and compliance across a portfolio of funds and programmes. The role provides analytical and advisory support to management to ensure financial integrity, cost efficiency, and timely decision-making.
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.
- 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.
- Prepare cash flow forecasts for operational and project needs.
- Initiate and approve bank transfers and foreign exchange transactions.
- 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 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.
- 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
- 4 years of relevant experience with a Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) in Finance, Accounting, Business Administration or other disciplines.
- 2 years of relevant experience with a Master’s degree (or equivalent) in Finance, Accounting, Business Administration or other disciplines.
- 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.
- Experience with financial systems or ERP software 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.
