NATIONAL POST: Finance Associate, G-7, Dili, Timor-Leste

Please note that this vacancy is open only to nationals of Timor-Leste.

The Position:

Under the overall guidance and supervision of the International Operations Manager, the Finance Associate is responsible for supporting effective management, and oversight of financial resources in line with UNFPA financial rules, regulations and IPSAS standards. This role applies financial management knowledge and identifies opportunities for process improvement to enhance efficiency, transparency, accountability and compliance and ensure strong internal controls across all financial processes. By monitoring financial processes and transactions, ensuring effective utilization of internal systems and adherence to corporate financial policies, the Finance Associate ensures accurate and compliant financial processing to support programme management and delivery.

How you can make a difference:

UNFPA is the lead UN agency for delivering a world where every pregnancy is wanted, every childbirth is safe and every young person's potential is fulfilled. UNFPA’s strategic plan (2022-2025), reaffirms the relevance of the current strategic direction of UNFPA and focuses on three transformative results: to end preventable maternal deaths; end unmet need for family planning; and end gender-based violence and harmful practices. These results capture our strategic commitments on accelerating progress towards realizing the ICPD and SDGs in the Decade of Action leading up to 2030. Our strategic plan calls upon UN Member States, organizations and individuals to “build forward better”, while addressing the negative impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic on women’s and girls’ access to sexual and reproductive health and reproductive rights, recover lost gains and realize our goals.

In a world where fundamental human rights are at risk, we need principled and ethical staff, who embody these international norms and standards, and who will defend them courageously and with full conviction.

UNFPA is seeking candidates who transform, inspire, and deliver high-impact, sustained results, and who ensure effective external relations, communications, and partnership-building and resource mobilization in a rapidly changing development and funding landscape. We need staff who are transparent, exceptional in how they manage the resources entrusted to them, and who commit to delivering excellence in programme results.

Job Purpose:

The Finance Associate is responsible for the Country Office’s (CO) financial processes, applying in-depth knowledge of UNFPA's financial rules and regulations, and Quantum ERP to ensure compliance, provide financial information and reports to support decision making across all funding streams. In addition to transaction processing and review, the Finance Associate monitors financial processes and workflows, identifies areas for improvement within established policies and procedures, and refers proposals to the IOM for decision and implementation.
The Finance Associate works in close collaboration with the operations, programme and project teams in the CO and with UNFPA Regional Office & Headquarter's colleagues and national counterparts including government officials, ensuring successful CO performance in finance.
The Finance Associate contributes to local inter-agency coordination to ensure UNFPA’s needs in common systems and service issues are met. External partners include other UN agencies, vendors, and other non-UN partners that are essential to the work of the CO.

You would be responsible for:

A. Effective Financial Resources Management and Accounting

• Effective management of financial resources through planning, monitoring, and control mechanisms in accordance with UNFPA rules and regulations.
• Support preparation, revision and monitoring of programme and management budgets.
• Maintain rigorous financial monitoring sto track budget execution and enforce compliance with authorized spending thresholds.
• Review and process financial transactions in Quantum and process cost-recovery bills in Quantum for the services provided by UNDP.
• Carry out financial analysis, monitor all financial resources managed by the CO, and provide quality analysis, regular updates on financial status, and provide financial information and updates to the CO management and the programme team.
• Prepare and support the timely production of accurate financial reports and analysis for donor reports.
• Maintain rigorous cash management standards for CO and programme operations; prepare monthly cashflow projections and prepare and process bank transfers in alignment with UNDP financial protocols
• Track audit recommendations and support implementation of corrective actions
• Serve as focal point for planning, implementation, monitoring and reporting of assurance activities including spot-checks, audits, both HACT and DAO, and provide training and support to staff and implementing Partners.
• Support implementing partners in maintaining financial integrity through proactive budget oversight, expenditure tracking, and strict compliance. This involves a detailed audit of e-FACE forms and financial reports to guarantee precise documentation and efficient fund flow
• Monitor quarterly financial milestones and support the Year End Accounts closure processes

B. Ensure compliance and support financial process improvement

• Apply and refine established processes and procedures to maximize effectiveness and efficiency in financial management
• Identify and propose cost-saving and reduction measures to the IOM, an support implementation of approved recommendations.
• Routinely monitors financial exception reports for unusual activities and transactions, and investigates anomalies or unusual transactions, and reports findings with recommended corrective actions to IOM and HQ colleagues for decision.
• Coordinate and ensure the delivery of effective and efficient financial services to UNFPA’s staff and clients (payments, F10 settlements, reversals, petty cash, vendor initiation, etc.)
• Review and validate payment requests, purchase orders, and financial transactions for accuracy and compliance. This includes applying and maintaining established internal controls to ensure authorized transaction posting, payroll accuracy, and the timely processing of entitlements and accruals in strict accordance with IPSAS and UNFPA regulations.

Carry out any other duties as may be required by UNFPA leadership.

Qualifications and Experience:

Education:

Completed Secondary Level Education required. Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, Business Administration, or related field is an asset

Professional certification or membership in a professional association in accounting is an added asset.

Knowledge and Experience:

• Minimum of seven (7) years of relevant experience in finance and budget management.
• Proven experience and track record in successfully managing and implementing financial policies, processes and systems in development organizations.
• Proficiency in current Microsoft Office applications (especially Microsoft Excel and Word).
• Experience in using ERP systems (e.g., PeopleSoft, Quantum, Atlas, Oracle, SAP) or similar computerized applications.
• Ability to produce analytical reports and write clearly and concisely.
• Working experience with UN organizations is desirable.

Languages:

Fluency in English and Tetum is required. Working knowledge of Portuguese would be an advantage.

Required Competencies:

Values:

• Exemplifying integrity,
• Demonstrating commitment to UNFPA and the UN system,
• Embracing cultural diversity,
• Embracing change

Core Competencies:

• Achieving results,
• Being accountable,
• Developing and applying professional expertise/business acumen,
• Thinking analytically and strategically,
• Working in teams/managing ourselves and our relationships,
• Communicating for impact

Functional Competencies:

• Managing the organization’s financial resources
• Implementing management systems
• Fraud and operational risks management
• Business acumen and ability to multitask and balance competing priorities.
• Innovation and marketing of new approaches.
• Pro-activeness and client orientation

Compensation and Benefits:

This position offers an attractive remuneration package including a competitive net salary plus health insurance and other benefits as applicable.

UNFPA Work Environment:

UNFPA provides a work environment that reflects the values of gender equality, diversity, integrity and healthy work-life balance. We are committed to ensuring gender parity in the organization and therefore encourage women to apply. Individuals from the LGBTQIA+ community, minority ethnic groups, indigenous populations, persons with disabilities, and other underrepresented groups are highly encouraged to apply. Reasonable accommodation may be provided to applicants with disabilities upon request, to support their participation in the recruitment process. UNFPA promotes equal opportunities in terms of appointment, training, compensation and selection for all regardless of personal characteristics and dimensions of diversity. Diversity, Equity and Inclusion is at the heart of UNFPA's workforce - click here to learn more.

Disclaimer:

Selection and appointment may be subject to background and reference checks, medical clearance, visa issuance and other administrative requirements.

UNFPA does not charge any application, processing, training, interviewing, testing or other fee in connection with the application or recruitment process and does not concern itself with information on applicants' bank accounts.

Applicants for positions in the international Professional and higher categories, who hold permanent resident status in a country other than their country of nationality, may be required to renounce such status upon their appointment.