Job Description
Empowering financial integrity and efficiency, the Finance Officer drives strategic financial management, reporting, and compliance.
The United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) is an operational arm of the United Nations, supporting the successful implementation of its partners’ peacebuilding, humanitarian and development projects around the world. UNOPS supports partners to build a better future by providing services that increase the efficiency, effectiveness and sustainability of peace building, humanitarian and development projects. Mandated as a central resource of the United Nations, UNOPS provides sustainable project management, procurement and infrastructure services to a wide range of governments, donors and United Nations organizations.
The New York Portfolios Office (NYPO) leads the organization’s New York-based portfolios to successfully deliver project and programme management as well as procurement, human resources, and financial management services for its partners with global mandates, ranging from the UN Secretariat to UN funds, programmes, and agencies, and ultimately to UN Member States.
The Sustainable Development Cluster (SDC) supports diverse partners with peacebuilding, humanitarian, and development operations. It was formed by combining the following portfolios: Grants Management Services (GMS), UN Technology Support Services (UNTSS), Development and Special Initiatives Portfolio (DSIP). It provides Services to partners’ programmes that are designed, structured, and managed with a global perspective and primarily serving partners headquartered in New York. The SDC has a footprint of approximately 125 countries.
Under the direct supervision of the functional supervisor and the overall guidance of the Finance Specialist, the Finance Officer supports the implementation of financial management processes and contributes to maintaining an effective control environment. The incumbent assists in ensuring compliance with UNOPS financial rules, policies, and procedures while supporting the timely and accurate delivery of financial services.
The role contributes to the effective financial management of UNOPS projects by supporting project financial monitoring, reporting, and closure activities, while ensuring the quality and accuracy of financial data and documentation.
The incumbent will be personnel of UNOPS under its full responsibility.
Important Considerations:
These Terms of Reference are generic and indicative. Not all tasks listed may be required, and additional duties may be assigned as appropriate and consistent with the scope of services.
This recruitment aims to fill an ongoing, full-time position. Depending on actual needs, the hiring unit may decide to recruit endorsed qualified professionals for contracts with different working conditions (short/long term, part/full-time, retainer, regular or ongoing positions).
*Applicants with Non-UN experience are encouraged to apply.*
*UNOPS evaluates all applications based on the skills, qualifications and experience requirements outlined in the vacancy announcement. We are committed to considering all candidates in a fair and transparent manner, and we value diverse perspectives and experiences, including those of women, indigenous and racialized communities, individuals with diverse gender identities and sexual orientations, and people with disabilities.*
The Finance Officer ensures the effective delivery of financial management, reporting and compliance services in accordance with UNOPS Financial Rules and Regulations (FRRs), policies and procedures. The incumbent leads on budget formulation and monitoring, treasury and cash management, accounting oversight, and financial reporting. The Finance Officer also provides analytical and advisory support to management, ensuring financial integrity, cost efficiency and timely decision-making across the portfolio.
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 roll-out and continuous improvement of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) in finance, ensuring consistency and accuracy across financial processes.
- Monitor financial exception reports, identify and investigate anomalies, and recommend corrective actions.
- Advise management on cost-saving measures, financial efficiencies and expenditure optimization in collaboration with operations 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 budgets for projects and administrative operations, 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 warnings on deviations and advising corrective measures.
- Coordinate project budget revisions and ensure timely re-phasing and approvals in the enterprise resource planning (ERP) system.
- Provide financial planning support to project managers, including forecasting, scenario analysis, and financial risk assessment.
- Contribute to the development and improvement of budgeting tools and systems to enhance transparency and performance-based budgeting.
Cash Management and Treasury
- Oversee cash management operations to ensure liquidity and accuracy in fund allocation.
- Review daily and monthly cash positions to maintain sufficient balances for disbursements and manage the zero-balance and imprest accounts.
- Prepare cash flow forecasts for operational and project needs and ensure alignment with budget projections.
- Initiate and approve bank transfers and foreign exchange transactions in the ERP system in compliance with authorization levels.
- 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 treasury analyses and forecasting of income and expenditure trends to inform 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 the completeness of supporting documentation and proper use of account codes.
- Ensure that transactions are properly recorded, reconciled and reported in the ERP system.
- Maintain control of accounts receivable and payable, ensuring timely recording and follow-up with clients, partners and donors.
- Support the establishment and implementation of an effective expenditure control framework, ensuring that vouchers are matched, verified, and cleared in accordance with financial rules.
- Manage financial data quality through ongoing review, reconciliation, and corrective action for unposted or exception items.
- Supervise timely accounts closure, including accruals, provisions and adjusting journal entries.
- Coordinate with HQ and the Regional Office on complex payment or compliance issues and resolve financial data discrepancies.
Financial Reporting
- Prepare, review and analyze monthly, quarterly and annual financial reports for management and donors, ensuring accuracy and adherence to reporting timelines.
- Support the preparation of client financial statements, interim financial reports (IFRs), and delivery reports in line with contractual and audit requirements.
- Develop and maintain financial dashboards and reporting tools for portfolio oversight and performance analysis.
- Contribute to the annual financial closure process, ensuring all accounts are reconciled and adjustments made in compliance with UNOPS standards.
- Provide financial input and analysis for strategic reports, audits and evaluations.
- Lead or support the implementation of audit recommendations and contribute to internal and external financial reviews.
Knowledge Building and Sharing
- Support the organization, facilitation and delivery of training and learning sessions on finance topics.
- Participate in knowledge-sharing initiatives and Communities of Practice (CoPs), contributing insights and lessons learned.
- Conduct research on finance-related topics and contribute to the drafting of reports, summaries and briefing notes.
