Finance Associate [Open to Tier 0, 1 & 2 applicants]

Tiered Approach

In line with the commitment to safeguard capacity and support personnel already in the Organization, a majority of UNDP UNCDF/UNV vacancies are advertised using a tiered application process whereby:

• Tier 0: UNDP/UNCDF/UNV IP staff holding permanent (PA) and fixed-term (FTA) appointments, whose posts will be abolished, or contracts will be terminated or not renewed during 2026.
• Tier 1: Other UNDP/UNCDF/UNV staff holding permanent (PA) and fixed-term (FTA) appointments
• Tier 2: UNDP/UNCDF/UNV staff holding temporary appointments (TA), personnel on regular PSA contracts, and Expert and Specialist UN Volunteers
• Tier 3 or no tier indicated: All other contract types from UNDP/UNCDF/UNV and other agencies, and other external candidates

Please make note of the Tier(s) indicated in the vacancy title, if any, and ensure that you satisfy the eligibility to apply.

Background

UNDP’s decades-long partnership with Egypt has fostered a diverse portfolio of support across the economic, social, and environmental sectors. The current strategy builds on this strong foundation, aligning with Egypt Vision 2030 to advance a green, inclusive, and resilient development pathway driven by innovation and collaboration.

As a strategic partner, UNDP Egypt plays a central role in accelerating progress toward the SDGs, with three pillars of support: Inclusive Growth and Digital Transformation; Governance, Social Inclusion, and Gender; and Climate and Nature. Drawing on global expertise and grounded in local experience, the Country Office works closely with partners on policy advisory and programmatic support, and bringing stakeholders together across the spectrum including government, private sector, academia and CSOs to address complex challenges and take advantage of opportunities.

To remain agile within a rapidly changing development landscape, UNDP Egypt is implementing an organizational change process that aims to transition to a structure and financially viable business model that is more effectively and efficiently able to deliver on evolving national priorities.

It is guided by four core principles:

• Retaining key capacities while investing in new expertise
• Strengthening and integrating quality assurance and programme finance
• Standardization and optimization across the teams / functions
• Financial sustainability of core structure - with flexibility for expansion / contraction

This restructuring positions UNDP Egypt to remain a lean, responsive, and financially sustainable partner, one that is equipped to deliver integrated development solutions that support the country’s long-term aspirations.

Position Purpose

Under the guidance and supervision of the Finance Analyst, the Finance Associate ensures effective execution of financial services and processes in the Country Office and transparent utilization of financial resources. The Finance Associate promotes a collaborative, client-oriented approach consistent with UNDP rules and regulations

The Finance Associate works in close collaboration with the Operations, Programme, and projects’ staff in the CO and with UNDP HQ and GSSC staff to exchange information and resolve finance-related issues.

UNDP adopts a portfolio approach to accommodate changing business needs and leverage linkages across interventions to achieve its strategic goals. Therefore, UNDP personnel are expected to work across units, functions, teams, and projects in multidisciplinary teams in order to enhance and enable horizontal collaboration.

Incumbent is expected to display managerial innovation, initiative, and a strong client orientation that encourages and rewards the timely delivery of financial services for all clients and partners. S/he might be required to undertake emerging tasks and additional duties as requested by direct supervisor or senior management.

Duties and Responsibilities

1.) Support administration and implementation of operational strategies and adapt processes and procedures:
• Ensure CO financial processes, financial records and reports, and audit follow-up comply with UNDP Programme and Operations Policies and Procedures (POPP). Implement effective internal control framework.
• Support office management in preparing and reviewing CO finance business processes mapping and elaboration of the content of internal standard operating procedures in finance in consultation with the direct supervisor and office management.
• Provide input for implementation of cost-saving and reduction strategies in consultation with the office management.
• Routinely monitor financial exception reports for unusual activities and/or transactions; and investigate anomalies or unusual transactions. Inform senior CO management and other UNDP staff at Headquarters of the results of the investigation when satisfactory answers are not obtained.

2.) Support administration of budgets of CO management projects, and functioning of an optimal cost-recovery system:
• Provide researched information for planning and status of financial resources of the CO.
• Prepare and modify budgets for UNDP management projects and Common Service projects.
• Assist in the preparation of required budget revisions (ensuring multiyear budget revision) within the unit at required period and timely securing of ASLs.
• Prepare timely cost-recovery/DPC bills in ERP for the services provided by UNDP, implement the revenue tracking system, and follow up on cost recovery.

3.) Provide accounting and administrative support to the Finance unit:
• Support proper control of the supporting documents for payments invoices and proper document management including systematic archiving.
• Prepare financial reports for projects and management funds/budget balance; and prepare all types of invoices.
• Maintain the internal expenditures control system which ensures that invoices processed are matched and completed, transactions are correctly recorded and posted in ERP, and travel claims and other entitlements are duly processed.
• Coordinate and review allocated General Ledger and sub-ledger accounts and support timely project closure.
• Answer inquiries from UN agencies with supporting documents and take timely corrective actions on erroneous data in ERP and on unposted invoices, including the invoices with validation errors, match exceptions, and/or unapproved invoices. Prepare financial reports as required. Provide timely response to HQ requests to resolve financial data issues.
• Maintain the Accounts Receivables for UNDP projects.
• Ensure timely recording, reconciliation, and submission of VAT claims to the relevant TAX authority and following up on VAT reimbursements.

4.) Ensure proper CO cash and Treasury management functioning:
• Timely review of cash position for local accounts to ensure sufficient funds for disbursements and maintain liquidity level approved by Treasury. Identify and record receipts and create deposits for revenue application on a timely basis.
• Identify and record contributions & Deposits
• Prepare timely and accurate bank reconciliations and provide documentation to GSSC according to service level agreement. Initiate bank transfers and deals in ERP.
• Timely preparation of monthly cashflow forecast to ensure sufficient cash balance in local bank account. Liaise with participating UN Agencies to obtain disbursement estimate of their cash requirement.
• Oversee multiple bank accounts associated with UNDP operations. Implement E-Banking and Check printing of Paycycle. Track issued checks and manage cancellations or reissuance when necessary.

5.) Ensure facilitation of knowledge building and knowledge sharing in the CO:
• Assist in organizing training for the operations/ projects staff on finance, audit and compliance matters, and implementation of Internal Control Framework (ICF).
• Synthesize lessons learned and best practices in financial management.
• Provide sound contributions to knowledge networks and communities of practice.

The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization.

Supervisory/Managerial Responsibilities: None

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 Management

Customer Satisfaction/Client Management

• Ability to respond timely and appropriately with a sense of urgency, provide consistent solutions, and deliver timely and quality results and/or solutions to fulfil and understand the real customers' needs. Provide inputs to the development of customer service strategy. Look for ways to add value beyond clients' immediate requests. Ability to anticipate client's upcoming needs and concerns

Business Development Knowledge Generation

• Ability to research and turn information into useful knowledge, relevant for context, or responsive to a stated need
  Business Management
  Working with Evidence and Data
  • Ability to inspect, cleanse, transform and model data with the goal of discovering useful information, informing conclusions and supporting decision-making
    Finance
    Accounting (General)
    • Knowledge of accounting concepts, principles, regulations, policies and ability to apply this to strategic and/or practical situations.
      Finance Budget Management Finance Financial Reporting and Analysis Finance Audit Required Skills and Experience Education: Experience: Language Requirements Equal opportunity As an equal opportunity employer, UNDP values diversity as an expression of the multiplicity of nations and cultures where we operate and, as such, we encourage qualified applicants from all backgrounds to apply for roles in the organization. Our employment decisions are based on merit and suitability for the role, without discrimination. UNDP is also committed to creating an inclusive workplace where all personnel are empowered to contribute to our mission, are valued, can thrive, and benefit from career opportunities that are open to all. Sexual harassment, exploitation, and abuse of authority UNDP does not tolerate harassment, sexual harassment, exploitation, discrimination and abuse of authority. All selected candidates, therefore, undergo relevant checks and are expected to adhere to the respective standards and principles. Probation For all new UNDP fixed term appointments (FTA), including for staff members being transferred or seconded to UNDP under the Inter-Organization Agreement concerning Transfer, Secondment or Loan of Staff, on an appointment of more than one year, continuation of the appointment beyond the initial 12 months is contingent upon the successful completion of a probationary period. Right to select multiple candidates 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. Use of AI by candidates Applicants are invited to read UNDP’s guidance for candidates on using AI responsibly in UNDP recruitment and selection Scam alert UNDP does not charge a fee at any stage of its recruitment process. For further information, please see www.undp.org/scam-alert. #LI-DNI
      • Ability to support budgetary aspects of work planning process, drawing and management of team budgets
      • Ability to extract, evaluate financial data, derive relevant findings and present them in a meaningful and coherent manner to facilitate effective decision making and performance monitoring.
      • Ability to examine and verify accounts and records
      • Fully Qualified Accountant, from an internationally accredited institute of accountancy or Full Completion of the UNDP Finance Training and Certification Programme (FTCP). No UNDP Accountancy and Finance Test (AFT) required.
      • Candidates with no professional accountancy qualifications, but with degrees that major in accountancy and/or finance must complete UNDP Finance Training and Certification Programme (FTCP), if recruited. However, no UNDP Accountancy and Finance Test (AFT) is required.
      • Candidates with no professional accountancy qualifications but with relevant experience must successfully undertake UNDP Accountancy and Finance Test (AFT) before shortlisting and must complete the UNDP Finance Training and Certification Programme (FTCP), if recruited.
      • 6 years (with high school diploma) or 3 years (with bachelor’s degree) of progressively responsible finance and accounting experience at the national or international level is required.
      • Experience in the use of computers and office software packages (MS Word, Excel, etc.) and advanced knowledge of spreadsheets and web-based management systems such as ERP financials and database packages.
      • Knowledge of IPSAS and/or IFRS is required.
      • Advanced knowledge of spreadsheet and database packages is desired.
      • Working Experience with UN/UNDP is an advantage.
      • Fluency in English and Arabic is required.