Financial Mgmt Specialist

Background

The Office of Financial Resources Management (OFRM), Bureau of Management, supports the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in the promotion of its sustainable human development agenda. It achieves this by developing and making fully operational a dynamic and harmonized integrated resource management framework based on comprehensive analysis that enhances UNDP’s financial and administrative performance, as well as facilitates UN reform and coherence. To these ends, the framework addresses strategically critical financial resource planning and management issues, including results based budgeting; the integration of the Programming Arrangements and the Institutional Budget within the context of the integrated budget from 2014 onwards; enhanced cost classification and cost recovery; capital budgeting; adherence to IPSAS; foreign exchange and investment activities; corporate reporting of organizational assets; performance management tools and initiatives; and support to UN harmonization.

Effective and efficient integrated resources management is enabled through a continuous and robust process comprising:

• Formulation and implementation of corporate financial and administrative strategies, policies and procedures;
• Formulation, alignment, documentation and implementation of UNDP’s funding frameworks, assuring their integrity, viability and alignment with the Strategic Plan;
• Provision of policy guidance, advisory services and operational support to strengthen client capacities and help them achieve results, seeking to build consensus within UNDP and with key stakeholders on critical budgetary related matters requiring Executive Board legislation;
• Administration of the organization’s internal control framework, overseeing and monitoring financial management of all global UNDP offices, including through formulation/implementation of resource planning, management and oversight tools and reports;
• Promoting clear accountability for financial transactions and producing financial statements, including financial reporting to donors and the UNDP Executive Board.
• Providing corporate reporting guidance to ensure that fixed assets are adequately recorded in all locations.

As part of OFRM's Financial Performance and Reporting Division, the Financial Performance Management Specialist directly undertakes activities and manages relationships to help ensure strategic resource planning and results based allocation of resources for UNDP Regional and Central Bureaux and Country Offices. The staff member will report to Manager, FPMR who will have the primary supervisory responsibility for setting PMD objectives and evaluating performance.

Working closely with the Manager, FPMR and the Financial Resources Management Associate, as well as his/her corporate clients, the incumbent is expected to provide effective performance assessment of financial management, resource plans and allocations. While assisting OFRM to undertake the financial performance assessment of Regional Bureaux (RBX), HQ units, Country Offices (COs) and Shared Services (GSSU) in support it its corporate oversight responsibilities, and ensuring resource management is in compliance with overall corporate goals and the Strategic Plan, s/he needs to: provide objective guidance and analyses; leverage opportunities provided by Atlas Finance application tools; contribute to and disseminate policies and best resource management practices; help prioritize the allocation of OFRM resources based upon risk analysis; and provide inputs to the corporate decision-making process.

Duties and Responsibilities

Monitoring of Financial Resources and Corporate Analytics

• Compiles and interprets critical resource data and projections as inputs to performance assessment and management decision-making process
• Assess performance of the HQ Units and COs against the financial dashboard and other financial indicators, identifying risks and areas of improvement
• Analyzes trends in resource plans, allocations and budgets to assess the organization’s direction against budgets & plans
• Assesses the utilization of all management resources (operating/staff) and development resources (regular/other), to confirm availability of resources, integrity of balances and provision for reserves
• Assist the Manager, FPMR in the development and provision of policies and procedures on financial matters.

Performance Assessment and Feedback

• Participates in indicators and target setting to establish reliable performance assessment criteria.
• Coordinates, compiles, analyses and interprets performance related data for resources and results, to facilitate senior management’s review and assessment of such
• Supports the refinement and development of performance assessment tools to enhance the performance assessment process.

Assess adherence of UNDP’s financial policies:

• Provide inputs to enhance Atlas, including design of enhanced tools, functionality and reporting.
• Contribute to the development of clear and holistic reports to UNDP Management on policy adherence, financial performance and risk issues.
• Establish criteria and measure the effectiveness of monitoring and accounting processes and controls.

Managerial Functions

• Resource Management by supporting the Manager, FPMR in providing strategic and data inputs
• Manage periodic financial tasks.
• Content Management by ensuring (1) prescriptive content within functional area is continuously updated and available (2) Best Practices are continuously identified, documented and made available to clients and peers and (3) appropriate and up-to-date information and learning tools are available.
• Information Technology Management through leveraging PeopleSoft functionality for improved business results, simplification of transaction and reporting processes.
• Matrix Management by ensuring product/results, handovers and consultations are prepared and executed, as well as effective and efficient management of a multitude of partnerships within OFRM, with clients and external stakeholders.

Other duties:

• Participate in other strategic initiatives within the Office of Financial Resources Management.

Impact of Results:

Incumbent contributes to implementation of UNDP policies and best resource management practices, as well as alignment of resource allocation and planning processes with corporate goals and priorities. His/her work outputs along with those of other FPMR members will impact and drive effectiveness of corporate financial resources management.

Competencies

Corporate Competencies

• Demonstrates commitment to UNDP’s mission, vision and values
• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability

Functional Competencies

• Knowledge of UNDP Financial Regulations and Rules, policies and procedures. Able to assess risks and correctly analyze the likelihood of them occurring. Able to then prioritize action to the risks with the biggest business impact.
• Understanding of the working of ERP. Thorough professional and technical knowledge of ATLAS Modules.
• Continuously look for ways to enhance financial performance within the region, and reduce errors and wastage.
• Operates in compliance with organizational regulations and rules.
• Strong understanding of regulatory frameworks and instrument
• Strong financial management and accounting skills.
• Strong analytical skills and sound judgment.
• Strong IT skills, knowledge of management support software applications.
• Must be able to manage a team of diverse nationalities to respond quickly to areas of concern.

Relationship Building

• Developing and maintaining strong and productive business relationships with clients in the UN system, UNDP HQ, regional centers and Country Offices.
• Ability to persuade country office management to adapt existing approaches and to acknowledge failings within their existing people and/or processes.
• Management and Leadership
• Ability to establish and spread best practices amongst the potential users. Ability to identify priority activities and adjusting priorities as required. Ability to work collaboratively with colleagues to achieve organizational goals, thus enabling a client-oriented environment. Ability to effectively manage human and financial resources – results oriented. Responds positively to feedback and differing points of view.

Professionalism

• Proven skills and ability to identify issues, formulate opinions, draw conclusions and recommend solutions.
• Remains calm whilst working effectively in stressful situations, shows motivation and pursues continuous personal development and learning. Must be able to work as part of a multi-level team of diverse nationalities to respond quickly to areas of concern. Developing and maintaining strong and productive business relationships with Country Offices, Bureau management and with other clients in the UN system, UNDP HQ etc.

Communication

• Proven ability to write in clear and concise manner and to orally communicate effectively;
• Ask questions to clarify situations and exhibits interest in having two-way communication. Tailors language, tone, style and format to match the audience. Demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed;

Accountability

• Takes ownership of all responsibilities and honors commitments. Delivers outputs for which one has responsibility within prescribed time, cost and quality standards. Operates in compliance with the Financial Regulations and Rules. Supports subordinates, provides oversight and takes responsibility for delegated assignments.

Judgment/Decision-Making

• Identifies issues in a complex situation, gathers relevant information before making decisions. Able to assess in discussions the capabilities of country level staff and determine where and how improvement needs to take place
• Takes decisions with an eye to the impact on others and on UNDP. Proposes a course of action or makes a recommendation based on all available information. Checks assumptions against facts. Determines that the actions proposed will satisfy the expressed and underlying needs.

Knowledge Management and Learning

• Encourages office staff to share knowledge and contribute to UNDP practice areas.
• Actively works towards continuing personal learning and development in one or more Practice Areas, acts on learning plan and applies newly acquired skills.
• Seeks and applies knowledge, information and best practices from within and outside of UNDP.
• Provides constructive coaching, feedback and capacity building.
• Focus on the development of the capacities of the staff in the Country Offices in the region.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

• Professional accounting qualification from an internationally recognized institute of accountancy is required.

Experience:

• Minimum 5 years’ experience in integrated resource management with proven expertise in the utilization of related software applications and programmes;
• Combined Field and HQ experience preferred.
• Experience of ERP system, preferably Peoplesoft.
• Detailed knowledge and experience complying with IFRS or IPSAS.
• Knowledge of audit and computer assisted audit techniques will be an added advantage.

Language Requirements:

• Fluency in English. Working knowledge of another UN language is an advantage, particularly Spanish or French.

Disclaimer

Important information for US Permanent Residents ('Green Card' holders)

Under US immigration law, acceptance of a staff position with UNDP, an international organization, may have significant implications for US Permanent Residents. UNDP advises applicants for all professional level posts that they must relinquish their US Permanent Resident status and accept a G-4 visa, or have submitted a valid application for US citizenship prior to commencement of employment.

UNDP is not in a position to provide advice or assistance on applying for US citizenship and therefore applicants are advised to seek the advice of competent immigration lawyers regarding any applications.

Applicant information about UNDP rosters

Note: UNDP reserves the right to select one or more candidates from this vacancy announcement. We may also retain applications and consider candidates applying to this post for other similar positions with UNDP at the same grade level and with similar job description, experience and educational requirements.

Workforce diversity

UNDP is committed to achieving diversity within its workforce, and encourages all qualified applicants, irrespective of gender, nationality, disabilities, sexual orientation, culture, religious and ethnic backgrounds to apply. All applications will be treated in the strictest confidence.

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Candidates must be resident in Malaysia, or have the right to work in Malaysia.

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