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Job Title: Finance Specialist

Organisation: United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS)

Duty Station: Entebbe, Uganda

About US:

United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS)’s mission is to expand the capacity of the UN system and its partners to implement peace building, humanitarian and development operations that matter for people in need. Working in some of the world’s most challenging environments, UNOPS vision is to always satisfy partners with management services that meet world-class standards of quality, speed and cost effectiveness. By assisting UN organizations, international financial institutions, governments and other development partners, UNOPS makes significant, tangible contributions to results on the ground.

Job Summary: Under the direct supervision of the Head of Support Services, the Finance Specialist acts as an advisor to Senior Management on all aspects of financial management and operations. This includes strategic financial resources management, within UNOPS rules and regulations. S/He leads the financial management operation, ensuring financial integrity of the Business Unit’s programmes/ projects operations, consistent delivery of efficient and effective financial management services to the client office, primarily, Budget Preparation and Management; Cash Management and Control of Payments.  Leading and guiding the Business Unit Financial management Team, s/he fosters collaboration within the team, with programme staff and with other stakeholders with a client-oriented approach. The incumbent provides solutions to a wide spectrum of complex financial management issues, maintains oversight over the financial management of projects and promotes a collaborative, client-oriented approach.

Key Duties and Responsibilities:

Implementation of operational and financial management strategies.

Ensures the implementation of operational and financial management strategies, focusing on the achievement of the following results:

• Support and advise the Programme Management and other relevant stakeholders in the office (HOSS, Finance colleagues) to ensure full compliance of financial activities, financial recording,  monitoring and reporting with UNOPS rules, regulations, and policies.
• Financial resources management through planning, guiding, controlling and auditing of the resources in accordance with UNOPS rules and regulation.
• Operational efficiency of the managerial or accounting aspects of the areas managed.
• Continuous analysis and monitoring of the financial situation, presentation of forecasts for projects.
• Implementation of the effective internal control, proper design and functioning of the financial resources management system.
• Performance of appropriate role in Enterprise system for transactions approvals and bank reconciliation.
• Control of the workflows in the Finance Unit.
• Elaboration and implementation of cost saving and reduction strategies.
• Monitoring of financial exception reports for unusual activities, transactions, and investigates anomalies or unusual transactions.
• Informs supervisors and other UNOPS colleagues at Headquarters of the results of the investigation when satisfactory answers are not obtained.
• Support for the development and implementation of Financial Standard Operating Procedures, guidelines and control mechanisms, in conformity with UNOPS rules and regulations.

Budget Management

Manages the project budgets focusing on achievement of the following results:

• Advise Programme Management in the formulation of concept notes and draft programmes budgets.
• Coordination of the preparation of the field operating budgets; review of budget submissions, regular analysis and reporting on the budget approvals and the delivery situation; monitoring of expenditures against budget allotments and reporting on variances.
• Review, analysis and revision of data with respect to the finalization of cost estimates and budget proposals, in terms of staff and non-staff requirements submitted by project managers; review of budget proposals for reasonableness, consistency with the organizational goals and priorities.
• Monitoring of budget implementation, expenditure levels against allotments and determination/recommendation of reallocation of funds when necessary.
• Review and appropriate recommendations with respect to the finalization of budget performance reports, analysing variances between approved budgets and actual expenditures.
• Elaboration of proper mechanisms to eliminate deficiencies in budget management.

Control of office cash management and of payments

Ensures proper control of office cash management and of payments by focusing on achievement of the following results:

• Elaboration of the internal expenditures’ control system which ensures that vouchers processed are matched and completed, transactions are correctly recorded and posted in Enterprise system; payrolls are duly prepared; travel claims and other entitlements are duly processed, receipting of goods and services and establishment of accruals are properly done.
• Timely accounting and reconciliation of all transactions, security for cash assets on site.
• Performing Paycycle manager role in Enterprise system.
• Timely preparation of monthly cash flow forecast for use by Programmes. Liaison with supported programmes/projects to obtain estimates of their cash requirements.
• Management and oversight of the operational advance accounts and expenditure tracking and recording of the Cash disbursements made on sites.
• Timely response to HQ requests to resolve financial data issues.

Team Management

• Facilitate the engagement and provision of high quality results and services of the team supervised through effective recruitment, work planning, performance management, coaching, and promotion of learning and development.
• Provide oversight, ensuring compliance by team members with existing policies and best practices.

Knowledge building and knowledge sharing

• Organize, facilitate and/or deliver training and learning initiatives for personnel on finance related topics.
• Lead, approve and conduct initiatives on capacity development and knowledge building for Finance personnel, including network development, plans, learning plans and activities, Finance practice information and best practice benchmarking.
• Oversee team’s contributions to Finance knowledge networks and communities of practice including collaborative synthesis of lessons learnt and dissemination of best practices in human resources management.
• Guide team’s collection of feedback, ideas, and internal knowledge about processes and best practices and utilize productively.

Impact of Results

• The effective and successful achievement of results by the Finance Specialist directly impacts on the availability of UNOPS’ financial resources to effectively develop and implement the organization’s programmes and projects. It enhances the organization’s financial and programme performance, demonstrating UNOPS’ effective stewardship of donor and partner funds. These promote the credibility of the organization as an effective service provider in project services and management.

Qualifications, Skills and Experience:

• The ideal applicant must hold a University Degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) with five years of relevant experience OR a First Level University Degree (Bachelor’s degree or equivalent) with 7 years of relevant experience. Required.
• Relevant experience is defined as experience in providing financial management services in the areas of accounting, budget management or cash management in a private or public organization.
• Experience working with an international governmental organization is desired (e.g. UN, OSCE, World Bank, etc.).
• Experience working with ERP systems is desired.
• Knowledge of UNOPS financial rules and regulations is an asset.
• Experience managing a team is desired.
• Fluency in English (Reading, Speaking & Writing) is required.
• Knowledge of another official UN language is an asset.

How to Apply:

All interested Ugandan nationals who wish to join the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) are encouraged to click on the link below and follow the application instructions after reviewing the job details.

Click Here

Deadline: 26^th April 2022

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