Internship: Finance Administration

Job Description

Work Location: Remote or Geneva, Switzerland

Expected duration: 6 Months

Duties and Responsibilities

The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is the leading global environmental authority that sets the global environmental agenda, promotes the coherent implementation of the environmental dimension of sustainable development within the United Nations system and serves as an authoritative advocate for the global environment.

The overall objective of the UNEP’s Industry and Economy Division is to encourage decision makers in government, local authorities and industry to develop and adopt policies, strategies and practices and technologies that promote sustainable patterns of consumption and production, make efficient use of natural resources, ensure safe management of chemicals and contribute to making trade and environment policies mutually supportive. It promotes the development, use and transfer of policies, technologies, economic instruments, managerial practices and other tools that assist in environmentally sound decision making and the building of corresponding activities.

The United Nations Environment Programme Finance Initiative (UNEP FI) is the strategic partnership between the United Nations and over 500 banks, insurers and investors. For over 32 years UNEP FI has been shaping and driving the international sustainable finance agenda, setting global standards and growing a global network of leading financial institutions. Through its work-streams delivering resources to advance sustainable finance and regional activities, peer learning, training and research, UNEP FI carries out its mission to help the financial industry align with and contribute to the Sustainable Development Goals and with that take on the crucial role it must play in achieving a sustainable future.

Tasks

The intern will work with the UNEP FI Finance Team and the position will contribute to support the UNEP FI Secretariat on the following tasks:

1. Extract and analyze large data sets to identify trends and patterns in the vast UN data sets and derive financial insights from the data analyzed.
2. Review obligations and assist with the necessary actions to close them.
3. Assist in drafting and preparing presentations and reports.
4. Undertake other tasks and activities as requested.
5. Assist FI Finance team with their invoicing process, by tracking invoices, filing the required paperwork, and assisting in following up with member institution if required.
6. Drafting, reconciling billing statement with balances on the receivable’s general ledger and monitoring cash application deposits.
7. Rigorously maintain the record of members who have received bills for various sponsorships and memberships.
8. Assist in drafting responses to queries from UNEP FI members.
9. Assist in budgetary actions.
10. Assist to fill/ complete vendor/supplier forms of UNEP FI members and uploading invoices on vendor management systems.
11. Assist with UNEP FI website maintenance.
12. Support with the collection and analysis of data as well as preparation of data presentations and reports for information sharing, responding to queries, knowledge management, planning and decision-making.
13. Perform other related duties as required.

The candidate should have strong administrative and analytical skills, and a sound knowledge of the field of Finance. Excellent research, communication and writing skills in English, as well as a high degree of motivation and self-organization are required.

Qualifications/special skills

Applicants must at the time of application meet one of the following requirements:

• Be enrolled in a graduate school programme (second university degree or equivalent, or higher);
• Be enrolled in the final academic year of a first university degree program (minimum Bachelor’s level or equivalent);
• Have graduated with a university degree and, if selected, must commence the internship within a one-year period of graduation.

Final year undergraduate or master’s degree student in Business Administration, Finance, or a related area, or recently graduated (candidates are eligible for this position up to one year after the graduation date). The intern must be able to show proof of enrolment or of graduation date if selected for this position.

Applicants to the UN Internship Programme are not required to have professional work experience. However, a field of study that is closely related to the type of internship that you are applying for is required. Please explain how you meet this criterion.

Applicants must be a student in the final year of the first university degree (bachelor or equivalent), Master’s or Ph.D. Programme or equivalent, or have completed a Bachelor’s, Master’s or PH.D. Programme.

Do you meet any of the above criteria? If yes, please indicate which one and attach proof to the application. Please note that you will have to provide an official certificate at a later stage.

Languages

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this internship, fluency in oral and written English is required. Knowledge of another UN Language is desirable.

Additional Information

1. A Completed application (Personal History Profile) and Cover Note, through the UN careers Portal. Incomplete applications will not be reviewed. The Cover Note must include:
• Title of the degree you are currently pursuing
• Graduation Date
• IT skills and programmes you are proficient in
• Explain why you are the best candidate for this specific internship
• Explain your interest in the United Nations Internship Programme, ensure to include all past work experience (if any).
2. Proof of enrollment from current University (if not graduated).
3. A copy of the degree certificate (if you have already graduated).

No working experience is required to apply for the United Nations Internship Programme. Your training, education, advance course work or skills should benefit the United Nations during your internship.

Assessment

Potential candidates will be contacted by the hiring manager directly for further consideration.

Special Notice

Your application for this internship must include:

1. A Completed application (Candidate Profile) through the UN careers Portal. Incomplete applications will not be reviewed. In your Personal History Profile (CP), be sure to include all past work experiences, IT Skills, and three references.
2. Proof of enrollment (click on link to access and attach to your application) List the IT skills and programmes that you are proficient in using, and Explain why you are the best candidate for the internship and what you hope to gain from the internship.
3. A certified copy of degree certificate (if you have already graduated).

Due to a high volume of applications received, ONLY successful candidates will be contacted.

DEADLINE: Feb 22, 2026