UN Women: Finance Analyst, Istanbul, Turkiye, P2, FTA International

Background:

UN Women, grounded in the vision of equality enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations, works for the elimination of discrimination against women and girls; the empowerment of women; and the achievement of equality between women and men as partners and beneficiaries of development, human rights, humanitarian action and peace and security.

Under the overall guidance of the Deputy Director for Financial Management in Headquarters (HQ) and the daily supervision of the Regional Operations Manager, the Finance Analyst is responsible for providing assistance to offices in the Europe and Central Asia (ECA) Region as necessary to ensure capacity and support; assistance with development projects for the finance users of UN Women for better business practices and controls as well as automation; ensuring all finance users are compliant with and trained in the accounting standards, financial regulations and rules, policies and procedures; assisting Finance Section HQ in dedicated support, training, advice for Regional Offices, Multi-Country Offices and COs (ROs/MCOs/COs); and acts as the Audit focal point for the Region in co-ordination with Finance Section HQ, as well as finance users in ROs and COs.

The Finance Analyst supervises and leads support staff of the Finance Sub-Unit. The Finance Analyst works in close collaboration with Finance Section HQ, Programme and Operations colleagues, teams at the country level, and UN Women staff ensuring high performance and efficiency in Finance.

Functions:

1. Coordinate the financial planning, analysis, and provision of services to the RO and ECA Offices in accordance with UN Women internal control framework, rules, regulations, policies and procedures:

• Recommend and/or implement cost saving and reduction strategies;
• Review and/or verify financial transactions/activities, recording/reporting system and audit reports. Co-ordinate with Finance Section HQ on suggestions for amendments;
• Review financial business processes and use of Quantum system to ensure accurate and complete reporting of financial transactions by UN Women staff in accordance with the Internal Control Framework and Delegation of Authority and the timely flow of financial information in UN Women for management, monitoring and oversight purposes;
• Analyze and oversee all financial resources managed by the RO and provide high-quality professional advice on financial issues to the RO management, as necessary;
• Coordinate cash management processes, including liquidity management, recommend impress level, risk assessment, security for cash assets on site.
• Assist with financial risk assessment reviews for the RO, by identifying areas of risk and providing recommendations and action plans for addressing issues raised.

2. Coordinate the monitoring and oversight of financial systems in accordance with UN Women rules, regulations, policies and procedures

• Monitor financial systems and reports for unusual activities, transactions, investigate anomalies;
• Coordinate the RO and ECA Offices timely completion of their Month-end Instructions Checklist and Year-end Instructions Closure Checklist;
• Draft all financial reports in accordance with International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSAS) and ensure continued compliance.  Monitor the RO and ECA Offices for compliance with IPSAS accounting standards by reviewing business processes and systems modules resulting in IPSAS compliant general ledger and financial statements;
• Review Implementing Partner advance procedures and test against UN Women policies to ensure compliance.  Investigate and follow up on any anomalies for timely action and resolution, as necessary;
• Review all contractual arrangements with suppliers of goods and services to ensure that the financial terms and conditions of all contracts are being adhered to by the suppliers of goods and services;
• Report to the Regional Operations Manager for Financial Management any case of non-adherence for timely action and recommendations for actions/decisions, as necessary;
• Respond to questions and provide analysis as requested to the Finance Section HQ.

3. Coordinate financial reporting in the RO and ECA Offices in accordance with UN Women rules, regulations, policies and procedures

• Draft timely and accurate automated interim financial reports to governments and donors as required under the donor agreements and other cost-sharing arrangements for submission to Virtual Global Service Centre Finance Specialists;
• Track and report contributions within the resource mobilization efforts, including pipeline, contracted and overdue and future milestones. Review contributions receivables and provide information to the Regional Operations Manager for follow up, as necessary;
• Write ad hoc financial Donor and other reports as requested;
• Follow up and/or take prompt action to respond to audit and other findings on financial management.

4. Coordinate the audit process in accordance with UN Women rules, regulations, policies and procedures

• Coordinate the pre-audit preparations for financial management of the RO and ECA Offices to be audit ready and complete the pre-audit checklist.  Travel to ECA Offices as necessary to assist during audits.
• Contribute technically to the training in the RO ECA Offices as part of the training plan or requirement of pre-audit preparations or as otherwise determined by Regional Operations Manager or Deputy Director for Financial Management;
• Write responses to internal and external audit inquiries and other findings related to financial management for review/approval by Regional Operations Manager and Deputy Director for Financial Management and incorporate recommendations in development in policies, procedures and practices;
• Plan and track expenditures and performance audit of financial resources, including extra-budgetary income.

5. Coordinate programme/ project budgets in accordance with UN Women rules, regulations, policies and procedures

• Coordinate all financial resources of programmes/ projects through planning, guiding, monitoring and controlling of the resources;
• Prepare and monitor budgets of management projects;
• Analyze and report on the budget approvals and the delivery situation of management projects;
• Contribute to the proper mechanisms to eliminate deficiencies in budget management;
• Submit financial information for timely preparation of donor reports;
• Prepare advance payments and direct payments for programme implementation and record them in Quantum.
• Provide assistance to offices in the region in relation to project closure and provide training on a regular basis, in conjunction with Virtual Global Service Centre Finance Specialists.

6. Coordinate financial training and communication for the RO and ECA Offices

• Monitor the effectiveness of the services of the finance team on a regular basis to ensure close relationship between Finance Section and Finance Users in RO and ECA Offices and take corrective measures as needed;
• Coordinate development projects to ensure effective finance and communication tools are in place and regularly monitored for improvements;
• Perform the Finance Helpdesk function for RO and ECA Offices to ensure accurate and timely response to issues and advice requested in conjunction with HQ Finance Field Support Unit;
• Support in the implementation of the approved Training plans (specifically QUANTUM and IPSAS) in conjunction with HQ Finance Field Support Unit on a recurrent basis to ensure competency across all Finance Users at RO and ECA Offices;
• Provide oversight for Finance staff of the RO and ECA Offices and monitor progress and provide guidance and direction to the staff as necessary to ensure goals and objectives are achieved.

7. Participate in knowledge management and capacity building

• Identify, participate in the development and/or recommend enhancement/updates/improvement in Quantum financial modules for better business practices and controls in the RO and ECA Offices;
• Capture, synthesize and/or codify lessons learned and best practices in the RO and ECA Offices support and financial management and services. Disseminate to Finance Section HQ to share knowledge and build capacity;
• Contribute to the design of learning tools, best practices and innovations in financial business operational practices and management, promote transparency, ease of communications, hosting of financial documents, and all policies and procedures between all UN Women users of the RO and ECA Offices data.

8. Financial tasks, approving and certifying function

• Oversee that vouchers processed are matched and completed, transactions are correctly recorded and posted in Quantum; payrolls are duly prepared; travel claims and other entitlements are duly processed;
• Implement timely corrective actions on unposted vouchers, including the vouchers with budget check errors, matching exceptions, unapproved vouchers;
• Provide timely response to HQ requests to resolve financial data issues;
• Perform delegated approval function in Quantum on a timely basis;
• Review and provide financial clearance of all donor agreements as delegated for compliance with standard agreements on a timely basis.
• Act as RO IDAM Approver for the RO and the Region’s User Roles in UNALL and in OneApp ICF/DOA system.

The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization.

Supervisory/Managerial Responsibilities: The incumbent supervises the Finance Associate at ECA RO.

Competencies :

Core Values:

• Integrity;
• Professionalism;
• Respect for Diversity.

Core Competencies:

• Awareness and Sensitivity Regarding Gender Issues;
• Accountability;
• Creative Problem Solving;
• Effective Communication;
• Inclusive Collaboration;
• Stakeholder Engagement;
• Leading by Example.

Please visit this link for more information on UN Women’s Values and Competencies Framework:

Functional Competencies:

• Good knowledge and expertise in financial planning and management;
• Good knowledge of complex financial rules and regulations, preferably UN/UN Women Financial Rules and regulations;
• Good conceptual/strategic skills and success in implementing financial re-engineering, management systems development, policy design, innovation and knowledge product development is an asset;
• Good knowledge and experience in the application of complex financial systems and modules (such as Quantum);
• Good knowledge of spreadsheet and database packages;
• Ability to provide advice and support;
• Demonstrated knowledge of IPSAS/IFRS.
• Good analytical skills.

Recruitment Qualifications:

Education and certification:

• Master’s Degree (or equivalent) in Finance/Accounting, or a Professional accounting qualification from an internationally recognized institute of accountancy, Chartered Accountant, or Certified Public Accountant is required.
• Successful completion of UN Women’s Accounting technical test, as part of the selection process.

Experience:

• At least 2 years’ experience in an accounting-specific role within a large international organization preferably in the UN system is required.
• Demonstrated financial experience using an ERP financial system is required.
• Demonstrated experience in providing financial and budget support to programmes/projects; Demonstrated experience at developing detailed financial reports for senior management is required.
• Demonstrated experience in supporting more than one office simultaneously is desirable;
• Demonstrated financial experience of working in a regional or multi-country context is desirable;
• Experience in the usage of computers and office software packages (MS Word, Excel, etc.) and spreadsheet and database packages, experience in handling of web-based management systems is required.
• Experience in the use of a modern web-based ERP System, preferably Oracle Cloud, is desirable.

Language Requirements:

• Fluency in English are required
• Working knowledge of any other UN official languages is an asset.

Statements :

In July 2010, the United Nations General Assembly created UN Women, the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women. The creation of UN Women came about as part of the UN reform agenda, bringing together resources and mandates for greater impact. It merges and builds on the important work of four previously distinct parts of the UN system (DAW, OSAGI, INSTRAW and UNIFEM), which focused exclusively on gender equality and women's empowerment.

Diversity and inclusion:

At UN Women, we are committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment of mutual respect. UN Women recruits, employs, trains, compensates, and promotes regardless of race, religion, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, ability, national origin, or any other basis covered by appropriate law. All employment is decided on the basis of qualifications, competence, integrity and organizational need.

If you need any reasonable accommodation to support your participation in the recruitment and selection process, please include this information in your application.

UN Women has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UN Women, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination. All selected candidates will be expected to adhere to UN Women’s policies and procedures and the standards of conduct expected of UN Women personnel and will therefore undergo rigorous reference and background checks. (Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check.)

Note: Applicants must ensure that all sections of the application form, including the sections on education and employment history, are completed. If all sections are not completed the application may be disqualified from the recruitment and selection process.