Overview
The Project Finance Specialist role is part of a centre of excellence, providing project-specific financial tools, guidance, and support. The role involves collaboration on project setup, implementation, and closure, and supports outreach and training on project finance.
Key Responsibilities
- Represent FG Project Finance in negotiations with partners on financial matters covering MoUs, agreement templates and related annexes.
- Review and approve financial conditions/clauses as per delegation.
- Prepare partner-specific process guidance and supporting documents.
- Provide inputs to audit queries from internal and external bodies.
- Provide support for project audits and verifications.
- Act as an approver in accordance with the assigned Delegation of Authority.
- Oversee and coordinate regular and ad hoc internal and external reporting on client projects and the cost recovery model.
- Ensure accurate reconciliation of general ledger accounts under the responsibility of project finance.
- Develop and maintain financial reporting templates.
- Design and update financial reporting layouts and category groups within the UNOPS system.
- Support and coordinate any system development related to project finance.
- Support and implement any other project finance related tasks as needed.
- Ensure and provide finance support to UNOPS delivery functions throughout the entire service life cycle.
- Support the continuous development and implementation of UNOPS’ cost recovery model.
- Review and recommend cost recovery-related budgets, rates, processes and performance.
- Ensure consistent application of UNOPS cost recovery principles and support the refunds of any excess recoveries to UNOPS partners.
- Provide inputs to official UNOPS documents related to cost recovery.
- Contribute to the annual work plan for the project finance team.
- Propose objectives, performance measurements, standards and results expected for the role and any supervisees.
- Monitor implementation of the assigned tasks, report progress and ensure delivery of results.
- Promote teamwork and collaboration by providing supervisees with clear direction, objectives and guidance.
- Develop a flexible workforce with the skills and competencies needed.
- Foster a positive work environment, respectful of all, and ensure that the highest standards of conduct are observed.
- Contribute to the development and introduction of innovation in UNOPS project finance practices.
- Promote knowledge sharing and dissemination of lessons learned across the organization.
- Plan and lead capacity-building initiatives for personnel, clients and stakeholders.
- Maintain comprehensive knowledge of project finance activities.
Required Experience
Relevant experience is defined as working in financial management. Demonstrable proficiency in the use of collaboration and productivity tools (e.g. MS Office, G-Suite, etc) and web-based management systems. Highly desirable: Experience working in a field location. Highly desirable: Supervisory experience. Highly desirable: experience working on financial matters as they relate to project management, including project budgeting and project reporting. Understanding of the UNOPS financial model as it relates to client projects is a strong asset. Further experience with partner relations and project financial aspects are a strong asset.
Qualifications
Required Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) in Finance, Accounting, Business Administration or other relevant disciplines with 7 years of relevant experience OR A master's degree (or equivalent) in any of the above disciplines with 5 years of relevant experience is required. Desired Appropriate professional accreditation or qualification in Finance is desirable.
