Finance Specialist Vacancy: UNDP Nigeria

Finance Specialist is responsible for effective delivery of financial services, transparent utilization of financial resources and management of the Finance Unit managing resources of the two projects.  He/she analyzes and interprets the financial rules and regulations and provides solutions to a wide spectrum of complex financial issues.  He/she works in close collaboration with the Operations Manager, UNDP Country Office (CO) Operations Section, UNDP Service Centre and Government officials to ensure successful project financial performance.  In addition to technical skills, the position requires strong managerial competences as well as interpersonal skills for a multicultural environment.

Duties and Responsibilities

Summary of key functions:

• Ensures implementation of operational strategies
• Manages the budget of development and management projects and organizes an optimal cost-recovery system
• Ensures proper control of project accounts
• Ensures promotion of knowledge sharing and management for results approach

Ensures implementation of operational strategies focusing on achievement of the following results:

• Under the direction of the Operations Manager, conduct financial accounting of projects income and expenditures, following project management structures, operational procedures, project document set of activities and most importantly, UNDP rules and regulations;
• Ensure effective management of the two projects resources in connection to the overall  multi donor relationship and funding arrangements;
• Advices on the management of funds as per agreed budget and disbursement schedules;
• Ensures full compliance of financial activities, financial recording/reporting system and audit follow up with UNDP rules, regulations, policies and strategies; implementation of the effective internal control, proper design and functioning of the financial resources management system;
• Ensures routinely monitors financial exception reports for unusual activities, transactions, and investigates anomalies or unusual transactions. Prepares corrective steps for such transactions for consideration of supervisors and senior management in compliance with rules and regulations;
• Supervises submission of necessary documentation for an audit of the two projects;
• Provides other financial services as required by the projects;
• Provides substantial advice on supervision of expenditure in effectively monitoring resource utilization by other partners of the projects;
• Ensures the collection of accounts, reports and receipts from the sub-contractors are done within established timelines;
• Prepares all documentation for the regular financial summary narrative(s) and consolidated accounts of the projects;
• Supervises the payroll of national PMU personnel both long-term and short-term;
• Supervises and manages the operational advance account (including a petty cash management) and issue/receive cash payments for operational expenses of the PMU;
• Guide and advices Reporting Officer in preparing Quality and accountable reporting system by supervising Reporting Officer;
• Supervises and leads two Finance Associates of the two projects;
• Oversee other assignments such as Census project funds management and reporting, etc.

Manages the budget of development and management projects and organizes an optimal cost-recovery system focusing on achievement of the following results:

• Management of Financial resources through planning, guiding, controlling of the resources in accordance with UNDP rules and regulations;
• Preparation and monitoring of projects budgets;
• Establishment of the development projects’ budgets preparation/modification monitoring system, control of budgetary status versus authorized spending limits (ASL) and budgets delivery levels;
• Process project budget for sending to Commitment Control (KK) by the Senior Management based on signed prodocs and project budgets;
• Submission of financial reports to donors on a timely and quality basis.

Ensures proper control of project accounts focusing on achievement of the following results:

• Elaboration of the internal expenditures’ control system which ensures that vouchers processed are matched and completed;
• Correctly recording of transactions and posting in Atlas;
• Control of projects accounts closures;
• Approval of vendors.

Ensures promotion of knowledge sharing and management for results approach

• Prepare and organize training for all PMU staff on UNDP Financial rules and regulations
• Develop Finance staff learning plans in line with UNDP corporate direction and manuals
• Supervising of Finance staff learning in connection to the roles and functions
• Promote knowledge sharing through practice network and encouraging use of best practices

Competencies

Corporate Competencies:

• Demonstrates integrity by modelling the UN’s values and ethical standards
• Promotes the shared vision, mission, and strategic goals of the partners financing the ECS and DDN projects
• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability
• Treats all people fairly without favouritism.

Functional Competencies:
Knowledge Management and Learning

• Promotes knowledge management in UNDP and a learning environment in the office through leadership and personal example
• Actively works towards continuing personal learning and development in one or more Practice Areas, acts on learning plan and applies newly acquired skills
• Development and Operational Effectiveness
• Ability to lead strategic planning, results-based management and reporting
• Ability to formulate and manage budgets, manage contributions and investments, manage transactions, conduct financial analysis, reporting and cost-recovery
• Ability to implement new systems and affect staff behavioural/ attitudinal change

Management and Leadership

• Builds strong relationships with clients, focuses on impact and result for the client and responds positively to feedback
• Sets clear performance goals and standards and assess finance unit staff accordingly
• Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude
• Demonstrates good oral and written communication skills
• Demonstrates openness to change and ability to manage complexities
• Demonstrates integrity by modelling the UN’s values and ethical standards
• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability

Planning and Organizing

• Ability to establish priorities and to plan, coordinate and monitor own work plan.
• Proven ability to work under pressure and produce output that is accurate, timely and of high quality.
• Ability to manage conflicting priorities.

Professionalism

• Proven International Financial adoption on project participation skills and ability to apply accounting policies for relevant project management aspects.
• Ability to provide necessary advice on financial rules and regulations matters appropriate to the project activities.
• Promotes a collaborative, client-oriented approach consistent with UNDP rules and regulations.

Teamwork

• Resourcefulness, good interpersonal skills and ability to work in a multi-cultural, multi-ethnic environment with sensitivity and respect for diversity. Demonstrated ability to develop and maintain effective work relationships with financial counterparts

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

• Master’s Degree in Business Administration, Public Administration, Finance, Accounting, Economics or related field.

Experience:

• A minimum of 5 years of relevant experience at the national or international level in providing financial services and managing staff and accounting systems.
• Knowledge of internal financial management and control framework(s) is required.
• Experience with UNDP-EU Financial Administrative Framework agreement (FAFA) and/or procedures employed by other donors such as DFID and CIDA in project financial management and reporting.
• Experience in web based ERP systems, e.g. UNDP/UNFPA/UNOPS Atlas or other ERP platforms.

Language Requirements:

• Fluency in written and spoken English is required.

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