Finance Officer

Job Posting Organization:
The UNOPS regional office for Africa, based in Nairobi, Kenya, oversees the implementation of over 250 projects across 40 countries, focusing on fragile and conflict-affected areas. Supported by more than 1,000 staff across five multi-country offices, covering North, West, Central, East, Southern Africa, and the Horn of Africa, the office advances national priorities through strategic initiatives focused on climate action, health, infrastructure, peace and security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">security, support for middle-income countries, and small island developing states (SIDS). The regional office provides strategic direction, operational support, and oversight in key areas such as partnerships, communication, management and monitoring, infrastructure and project management, health and safety, and security. By promoting excellence in project delivery, encouraging knowledge sharing, and driving continuous improvement, the office contributes to sustainable infrastructure development, transparent resource management, and improved quality of life for populations across the continent.

Job Overview:
The Finance Officer is responsible for the effective delivery of financial management services, monitoring, and compliance in accordance with UNOPS financial rules and regulations (FRR), policies, and procedures. The incumbent leads budget preparation and monitoring, cash management and liquidity management, accounting oversight, and financial reporting. They also provide analytical and advisory support to management, ensuring financial integrity, cost efficiency, and timely decision-making across the portfolio. This role is critical in ensuring that financial operations align with the strategic objectives of UNOPS and contribute to the overall success of projects and initiatives.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Implementation of operational strategies: Ensure full compliance with UNOPS financial rules, regulations, policies, and procedures, as well as donor and audit requirements. Implement and maintain effective internal control systems and risk management frameworks to safeguard financial resources. Support the deployment and continuous improvement of standard operating procedures (SOPs) in finance, ensuring consistency and accuracy in financial processes. Monitor financial exception reports, identify and analyze discrepancies, and recommend corrective actions. Advise management on cost-saving measures, financial efficiency, and expenditure optimization in collaboration with operational teams. Support internal and external audit exercises, coordinate responses, and track the implementation of audit recommendations.
• Budget preparation, monitoring, and control: Lead the preparation, consolidation, and monitoring of project and administrative budgets, ensuring alignment with UNOPS and donor requirements. Review and analyze budget proposals for accuracy, consistency, and alignment with strategic and financial objectives. Conduct variance analyses and monitor expenditure levels against approved budgets, providing early alerts on deviations and advising on corrective measures. Coordinate project budget revisions and ensure timely re-phasing and approvals in the integrated management system (ERP). Provide financial planning support to project managers, including forecasting, scenario analysis, and financial risk assessment. Contribute to the development and enhancement of budgeting tools and systems to strengthen transparency and performance-based budgeting.
• Cash management and liquidity management: Oversee cash management operations to ensure liquidity and accurate fund allocation. Review daily and monthly cash positions to maintain sufficient balances for disbursements and manage zero-balance and advance accounts. Prepare cash forecasts for operational and project needs, ensuring alignment with budget projections. Maintain strong relationships with local banking institutions and ensure compliance with national financial and banking regulations. Monitor operational advances, recoveries, and petty cash accounts, ensuring timely reconciliation and closure. Conduct periodic cash analyses and revenue and expenditure trend forecasts to guide financial planning and risk management.
• Commitments and payments: Ensure accuracy, validity, and compliance of financial transactions, commitments, and payments against budget allocations and contractual terms. Review and approve payment requests, verifying completeness of supporting documentation and proper use of accounting codes. Ensure that transactions are accurately recorded, reconciled, and reported in the ERP system. Manage accounts receivable and payable, ensuring prompt recording and follow-up with clients, partners, and donors. Support the establishment and implementation of an effective expenditure control framework, ensuring that vouchers are reconciled, verified, and liquidated in accordance with financial rules. Oversee timely financial closing, including accruals, provisions, and adjustment entries. Coordinate with headquarters and regional office on complex payment or compliance issues and resolve discrepancies in financial data.
• Financial reporting: Prepare, review, and analyze monthly, quarterly, and annual financial reports for management and donors, ensuring accuracy and timeliness. Support the preparation of client financial statements, interim financial reports (IFR), and performance reports in accordance with contractual and audit requirements. Develop and maintain financial dashboards and tracking tools for portfolio oversight and performance analysis. Contribute to the annual financial closing process, ensuring all accounts are reconciled and adjustments made in accordance with UNOPS standards. Provide financial data and analyses for strategic reports, audits, and evaluations. Lead or support the implementation of audit recommendations and contribute to internal and external financial reviews.
• Knowledge sharing and capacity building: Support the organization, facilitation, and delivery of training and learning sessions on financial topics. Participate in knowledge-sharing initiatives and communities of practice (CoP), providing insights and feedback. Conduct research on finance-related topics and contribute to the drafting of reports, summaries, and information notes.

Required Qualifications:
Mandatory: Bachelor's degree (or equivalent) in finance, accounting, business administration, or other relevant fields with 2 years of relevant professional experience OR Master's degree (or equivalent) in one of the above disciplines with no prior experience required. Desired: A professional certification (e.g., CPA, ACCA, CA, CIMA) is desired. Knowledge of IPSAS or other international accounting standards is desired.

Educational Background:
Mandatory: Bachelor's degree (or equivalent) in finance, accounting, business administration, or other relevant fields with 2 years of relevant professional experience OR Master's degree (or equivalent) in one of the above disciplines with no prior experience required. Desired: A professional certification (e.g., CPA, ACCA, CA, CIMA) is desired. Knowledge of IPSAS or other international accounting standards is desired.

Experience:
Mandatory: Relevant experience in financial management of projects, budgeting, cash management, and financial reporting, or related fields. Demonstrated proficiency in collaboration and productivity tools (e.g., MS Office, G Suite, etc.) and online management systems. Desired: Experience working in multicultural environments or within the UN system in a developing country is desired. Experience in development or humanitarian action contexts is desired.

Languages:
Mandatory: French (Fluent), English (Intermediate), Malagasy (Fluent). Good to have: Additional languages may be beneficial but are not specified as mandatory.

Additional Notes:
The position is a regular ICA - LICA - Specialist contract for a duration of 6 months, specifically for maternity leave replacement. The seniority level is Associate, and the ICS level is ICS 0

• UNOPS does not accept unsolicited resumes and will not request candidates to make payments during the recruitment process. Applications must be received before midnight Copenhagen time (CET) on the closing date. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for the next stage of the selection process, which may include various assessments. UNOPS is committed to diversity and equal employment opportunities, and encourages applications from a wide range of nationalities, cultures, and backgrounds.