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Finance Associate (Nationals Only)

Bishkek

  • Organization: UNDP - United Nations Development Programme
  • Location: Bishkek
  • Grade: Level not specified - Level not specified
  • Occupational Groups:
    • Operations and Administrations
    • Administrative support
    • Banking and Finance
  • Closing Date: 2024-04-30

Background
 
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion are core principles at UNDP:  we value diversity as an expression of the multiplicity of nations and cultures where we operate, we foster inclusion as a way of ensuring all personnel are empowered to contribute to our mission, and we ensure equity and fairness in all our actions. Taking a ‘leave no one behind’ approach to our diversity efforts means increasing representation of underserved populations. People who identify as belonging to marginalized or excluded populations are strongly encouraged to apply. Learn more about working at UNDP including our values and inspiring stories.

UNDP does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.

As the United Nations lead agency on international development, UNDP works in 170 countries and territories to eradicate poverty and reduce inequality. We help countries to develop policies, leadership skills, partnering abilities, institutional capabilities, and to build resilience to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. Our work is concentrated in three focus areas; sustainable development, democratic governance and peace building, and climate and disaster resilience. UNDP advocates for change, and connects countries to global knowledge, experience and resources to help people build a better life.

UNDP has supported Kyrgyzstan’s development progress since 1992 and supports the country in charting future pathways towards greater prosperity, resilience, and social cohesion. As an impartial policy advisor and integrator, UNDP works within the UN system and with all stakeholders in government, civil society, and private sector to advance inclusive, fundamentally sound development solutions and reforms in complex settings. Our United Nations identity ensures neutrality and respect for people’s choices. Transparency and accountability in operations makes us a trusted partner for national and international development stakeholders. 

UNDP encourages and enables collective intelligence, collaboration, integration, critical thinking, and thought leadership. We mainstream innovation, digitalization opportunities, gender equity and diversity/inclusion principles in all aspects of our work. Our staff consistently strive for excellence, effectiveness, efficiency and inclusion across all areas of work. 

In close cooperation with the UNDP Programme teams and other Country Office units, the Operations team supports the UNDP Country Office and programme implementation through the provision of relevant and timely procurement, finance, ICT and digital services, General Admin Services, Common Services, and Human Resources support. This includes a focus on collaboration, innovation, speed and administrative efficiency as well as advisory services for enhanced planning. 

The unit contributes to a collective engagement with other teams, partners, and clients to offer timely, well-planned, and efficient services that meet the standard and requirements of UNDP policies and procedures. Through cross-unit collaboration, the teams harness innovation and digital solutions, while fostering an environment of continuous learning. 

Position Purpose: Under the overall guidance of the Operations Manager and the direct supervision of the Head of Financial Services, the Finance Associate ensures the effective execution of financial services and processes in CO and transparent utilization of financial resources. The Finance Associate promotes a collaborative, client-oriented approach, consistent with UNDP rules and regulations.

The Finance Associate works in close collaboration with the operations, programme, and project staff in the CO, and with UNDP HQs, Regional Hub, and GSSC staff for resolving finance-related issues and information exchange.

 
Duties and Responsibilities
  1. Administration and implementation of financial strategies and policies, adapts processes and procedures.
    • Full compliance of UN/UNDP regulations and rules of financial processes, financial records and reports, and audit follow-up; implementation of effective internal control framework.
    • CO Finance business process mapping and elaboration of the content of internal Standard Operating Procedures in Finance in consultation with the direct supervisor and office management.
    • Provide support and information on corporate strategies, changes in policies, rules and regulations, implementation of financial rules, strategic use of financial processes, application of rules, assessing the impact of changes and making recommendations on their implementation in the CO. 
    • Support to the identification and development of concepts for e-tools to be applied in the management of financial processes.
    • Support timely case submission to GSSC as needed, and proactively follow-up for timely case completion.
    • Contribute to UNDP being a partner of choice for operational backbone services in the UN system, and to the development of strong client relationships with UN agencies to which we provide Agency services.
  2. Ensures effective administration of budgets and functioning of the optimal cost-recovery system.
    •  Preparation and modifications of budgets for UNDP management projects, follow-up with HQs on ASL for management projects.
    • Presentation of researched information for planning and status of financial resources of the CO.
    • Sending project budgets to KK if authorized by Senior Management (based on signed prodocs and project budgets)
    • Timely preparation of cost-recovery bills in the ERP for the services provided by UNDP, implementation of the income tracking system and follow-up on cost-recovery.
  3. Provides accounting and administrative support to the Finance Unit and performs payment and reporting functions.
    • Proper control of the supporting documents for payments and financial reports for all projects; preparation of all types of invoices, pay cycles and payment execution.
    • Support to Global Payroll processing in the ERP as necessary.
    • Maintenance of the internal expenditures control system that ensures that vouchers processed are matched and completed, transactions are correctly recorded and posted in the ERP; payrolls are duly prepared and processed; travel claims, MPOs and other entitlements are duly processed.
    • Timely accounts closure
    • Timely corrective actions on unposted vouchers, including the vouchers with budget check errors, match exceptions, unapproved vouchers. Timely response to HQ requests to resolve financial data issues.
    • Maintenance of the Accounts Receivables for UNDP projects and follow-up with partners on contributions, deposits creation in the ERP and their application to AR pending items.
    • Timely VAT reimbursements, payments received from the government.
  4. Ensure proper CO cash management.
    • Timely review of cash position for local accounts to ensure sufficient funds on hand for disbursements. Timely identification and recording of receipts for income application.
    • Daily review and monitoring of zero-balance account statements in the ERP; identification and recording of contributions.
    • Transaction and stop payment initiation on internet banking systems.
    • Preparation of monthly UN exchange rate report to Treasury.
    • Timely and accurate preparation of bank reconciliations.
    • Timely preparation of monthly cashflow forecast for use by Operations Manager/Finance Analyst. Liaison with UN Agencies to obtain estimate of their cash requirement.
    • Initiation of bank transfers and deals in the ERP.
    • Creation of bank transfers (replenishment), deals and bank reconciliation processing.
  5. Facilitation of knowledge building and knowledge sharing.
    • Organization of trainings for the operations/ projects staff on Finance matters, including induction for newly recruited staff to Financial processes as necessary.
    • Regular update of the Finance section of the CO intranet.
    • Synthesis and application of lessons learnt and best practices into CO Financial processes.
    • Sound contributions to knowledge networks and communities of practice.

Perform other duties within your functional profile as assigned and deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the office.
 

Core Competencies

Achieve Results: 
   LEVEL 1: Plans and monitors own work, pays attention to details, delivers quality work by deadline 
Think Innovatively:
   LEVEL 1: Open to creative ideas/known risks, is pragmatic problem solver, makes improvements  
Learn Continuously
   LEVEL 1: Open minded and curious, shares knowledge, learns from mistakes, asks for feedback 
Adapt with Agility 
   LEVEL 1: Adapts to change, constructively handles ambiguity/uncertainty, is flexible  
Act with Determination 
   LEVEL 1: Shows drive and motivation, able to deliver calmly in face of adversity, confident 
Engage and Partner
   LEVEL 1: Demonstrates compassion/understanding towards others, forms positive relationships 
Enable Diversity and Inclusion
   LEVEL 1: Appreciate/respect differences, aware of unconscious bias, confront discrimination  
 
Cross-Functional & Technical Competencies
Thematic Area Name Definition
Business management Communication Ability to communicate in a clear, concise and unambiguous manner both through written and verbal communication; to tailor messages and choose communication methods depending on the audience.
Business management Digital Awareness and Literacy Ability and inclination to rapidly adopt new technologies, either through skillfully grasping their usage or through understanding their impact and empowering others to use them as needed
Business Development Knowledge generation Ability to research and turn information into useful knowledge, relevant for context, or responsive to a stated need
Finance Banking and cash management Ability to collect, handle, and manage cash, which involves assessing market liquidity, cash flow, and investments
Finance Budget management Ability to support budgetary aspects of work planning process, drawing and management of team budgets
Finance Management and cost accounting Ability to produce periodic qualitative and quantitative performance reports to facilitate effective decision making and performance monitoring. Ability to use a range of costing techniques and analyse cost related data to provide quantitative information to the users of reports.
Finance Contributions management Ability to receive, record, report and manage contributions received

Required Skills and Experience

Education:
  • Secondary Education is required with specialized certification in Accounting and Finance.

or

  • Bachelor’s Degree in Finance/Accounting, Business or Public Administration, and relevant fields will be given due consideration.
  • Long-listed candidates may be required to take the UNDP Advanced Accountancy and Finance Test.
Experience:
  • Minimum of 6 years with Secondary education or 3 years with Bachelor’s degree of progressively responsible Financial and administrative experience is required at the national or international level. 
  • Knowledge of the Financial services management practice in an organization of the United Nations system or similar international organization is desirable.
  • Professional Financial / Accounting Certification from a reputable international institution of accounting is a distinct advantage.
  • Prior work experience in using UN /UNDP ERP systems is desirable. 
  • Knowledge of UNDP policies and guidelines is an asset.
  • Experience with Financial processes re-engineering is an advantage.

Language requirements:

  • Fluency in English and Russian is required. Kyrgyz language is a strong advantage. Fluency in other UN languages is also beneficial.
Please note that continuance of appointment beyond the initial 12 months is contingent upon the successful completion of a probationary period.

 
Disclaimer
 
 
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.
 
Non-discrimination
 
UNDP has a zero-tolerance policy towards sexual exploitation and misconduct, sexual harassment, and abuse of authority. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles.  
 
UNDP is an equal opportunity and inclusive employer that does not discriminate based on race, sex, gender identity, religion, nationality, ethnic origin, sexual orientation, disability, pregnancy, age, language, social origin or other status.
 
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