Finance Associate

Job Posting Organization:
UNOPS, established in 1995, is a United Nations organization that provides project management, infrastructure, and procurement services to help governments and organizations deliver sustainable development solutions. With a presence in over 80 countries, UNOPS employs thousands of personnel and operates across various sectors, including health, infrastructure, and humanitarian response. The organization is committed to operational excellence and high performance, ensuring that its services align with the goals of the United Nations and its partners.

Job Overview:
The Finance Associate position at UNOPS is crucial for ensuring efficient and compliant financial operations within the organization. The role involves providing comprehensive support in accounting, budget administration, cash management, and financial reporting, all while adhering to UNOPS financial rules and regulations. The Finance Associate will work under the guidance of the Finance Senior Officer, contributing to the overall financial health of projects and ensuring that financial services are delivered with high quality, accuracy, and consistency. This position is particularly important in the context of the Verification of Claims and Expenditures Project (VCEP), which aims to verify outstanding claims from contractors and suppliers for works completed in Afghanistan prior to August 202

• The Finance Associate will play a key role in supporting the financial aspects of this project, ensuring that all financial operations are conducted smoothly and in compliance with established protocols.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Budget Administration and Cost Recovery: Support the preparation, monitoring, and revision of project and office budgets, ensuring accuracy and alignment with UNOPS financial policies and donor agreements. Prepare financial data and analysis on budget utilization, claims, and invoices for management decision-making. Contribute to verification reports and ensure proper recording in the ERP system. Assist in project financial closure processes.
• Accounting and Payments: Review and verify payment requests for completeness and compliance with budgets. Prepare and process vouchers and execute pay cycles in the ERP system. Maintain an internal expenditure control system and perform monthly account reconciliations.
• Cash and Treasury Management: Monitor cash positions for local claimants, prepare cash flow forecasts, and conduct account reconciliations.
• Financial Reporting and Analysis: Prepare financial reports and variance analyses, participate in financial closure activities, and support audit exercises.
• Knowledge Building and Sharing: Facilitate training sessions on finance topics and contribute to knowledge-sharing initiatives.

Required Qualifications:
The ideal candidate for the Finance Associate position should possess a secondary school diploma or equivalent, with a university degree in Business Administration, Finance, Human Resources, or a related field being preferred. Candidates should have a strong understanding of financial principles and practices, as well as experience in project operations, finance, HR, procurement, or administrative support. Proficiency in collaboration tools and web-based ERP management systems is also required.

Educational Background:
Candidates must have at least a secondary school diploma. A university degree (Bachelor's or Master's) in Business Administration, Finance, Human Resources, or a related field is desired, as it provides a solid foundation for the financial responsibilities associated with this role.

Experience:
Candidates should have a minimum of 6 years of relevant experience in project operations, finance, HR, procurement, or administrative support if they hold a secondary school diploma. If they possess a Bachelor's degree, a minimum of 2 years of relevant experience is required. Experience working within a UN System organization and managing operations for large-scale donor-funded projects is highly desirable.

Languages:
Fluency in English is required for this position. Proficiency in additional languages may be considered an asset but is not mandatory.

Additional Notes:
The position is classified as an Associate level role (ICS 06) and is a full-time contract for a duration of 12 months. The recruitment process is open to internal candidates only, and UNOPS emphasizes diversity and equal employment opportunities. Candidates are encouraged to apply before the deadline, as late applications will not be considered. Background checks will be conducted for final candidates to ensure compliance with UNOPS standards.