Operations Associate

Job Posting Organization:
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is the leading UN organization dedicated to eradicating poverty, reducing inequality, and combating climate change. Established to support nations in achieving sustainable development, UNDP operates in 170 countries, leveraging a vast network of experts and partners. The organization focuses on building effective, inclusive, and accountable governance, promoting gender-sensitive public administration, and facilitating meaningful participation in decision-making processes. UNDP's work is aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and emphasizes democratic governance, social development, and environmental sustainability. In Suriname, UNDP collaborates with various stakeholders, including government entities, civil society, and international organizations, to advance national development agendas and deliver impactful projects.

Job Overview:
The Operations Associate plays a crucial role in supporting the UNDP Country Office's operations by managing a variety of administrative and financial processes. This position is responsible for ensuring high-quality service delivery and compliance with UNDP policies. The Operations Associate will assist in financial planning, budgeting, and monitoring of development projects, ensuring that all financial transactions are accurately recorded and reported. The role requires collaboration with various teams within the office and other UN agencies to facilitate effective communication and service delivery. The Operations Associate will also be involved in procurement processes, ensuring adherence to UNDP procurement policies, and will support capacity-building initiatives by providing training on financial administration to partners. This position is essential for maintaining sound financial management and resource allocation for UNDP's development programs.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Provide accounting and administrative support to the Country Office, including financial planning, budgeting, and oversight of payments under management projects. Ensure compliance with UNDP financial policies and maintain accurate bookkeeping.
• Ensure the functioning of the cost-recovery system by preparing timely cost-recovery invoices and ensuring reconciliation.
• Support procurement processes for the Country Office and projects, ensuring compliance with UNDP procurement policies and exploring opportunities for joint procurement.
• Ensure compliance with UNDP financial policies and procedures, including responding to auditors' findings and maintaining the Harmonized Approach to Cash Transfers (HACT) compliance dashboard.
• Support capacity building and knowledge sharing by providing finance and fraud awareness training to partners and contributing to policy updates.
• Perform other duties as necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess secondary education with specialized certification in accounting and/or finance, or a university degree in Finance or Accounting. Part-qualified accountants from internationally accredited institutes will have an advantage. Fully qualified accountants or those who have completed the UNDP Finance Training and Certification Programme (FTCP) are preferred. Candidates without professional qualifications but with relevant degrees must complete the FTCP if recruited. Those with no qualifications but relevant experience must pass the UNDP Accountancy and Finance Test (AFT) before shortlisting and complete the FTCP if recruited.

Educational Background:
A secondary education with specialized certification in accounting and/or finance is required. A university degree in Finance or Accounting is desirable. Candidates who are part-qualified accountants from an internationally accredited institute will have a distinct advantage. Fully qualified accountants or those who have completed the UNDP Finance Training and Certification Programme (FTCP) are preferred. Candidates without professional accountancy qualifications but with degrees that major in accountancy and/or finance must complete the FTCP if recruited. Candidates with no professional accountancy qualifications but with relevant experience must successfully undertake the AFT before shortlisting and must complete the FTCP if recruited.

Experience:
A minimum of 7 years of progressively responsible finance and accounting and/or general administration experience at the national or international level is required for candidates with secondary education. For those with a bachelor's degree, a minimum of 4 years of relevant experience is required. Proven experience in collaborating with international and national experts and institutions is essential, along with proficiency in key software packages such as MS Office. Candidates should also have experience in drafting reports on environment-related policies and demonstrate the ability to work effectively within multidisciplinary and multicultural teams.

Languages:
Fluency in Dutch and English is required for this position. Candidates should possess strong communication skills in both languages to effectively engage with diverse stakeholders and partners.

Additional Notes:
This position is subject to local recruitment, and UNDP values diversity and encourages qualified applicants from all backgrounds to apply. The organization is committed to creating an inclusive workplace and does not tolerate harassment or discrimination. New fixed-term appointments are contingent upon successful completion of a probationary period. UNDP reserves the right to select multiple candidates from this vacancy announcement and may retain applications for similar positions at the same grade level. It is important to note that UNDP does not charge any fees during the recruitment process.