Finance Senior Assistant

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.  

UNOPS has supported Sri Lanka’s development since 1998, expanding operations in 2005 to support the post tsunami response and reconstruction process. Within the organization's mandate in project management, infrastructure and procurement, UNOPS Sri Lanka implements socio-economic development projects that benefit vulnerable people and develop national capacities. Achievements in Sri Lanka include the development of sustainable and climate-resilient infrastructure, procurement services and capacity building and project management in education, fisheries, roads, health, water supply systems and integrated solid waste management sectors. UNOPS works closely with government counterparts and communities to ensure increased ownership, sustainability and accountability of Projects.

Project Information 

The Health Information Quality Improvement (HIQI) Project The HIQI project is implemented under the Ministry of Health(MoH) Sri Lanka. The project is funded by the Global Fund by the direction of the Government of Germany who transferred a foreign debt owed by Sri Lanka to Germany into a grant under a debt2health scheme. The total grant amount is US$25 million; UNOPS implementation value is approximately US$ 13.2 Mn. The project as a whole is in its fourth year of implementation under the MoH; UNOPS has been requested to assist with bringing the project back on track. The HIQI project will undertake the digital transformation of the MoH by procuring and installing hardware at the Health Information Unit at the Ministry and across 30 pilot hospitals in Sri Lanka. The project will conduct networking, interconnectivity and interoperability activities as well. The project has multiple components and entities managed at the MoH by the Project Implementation Unit (PIU). The Senior Finance Officer will work closely with the Project Implementation Unit at MoH and the UNOPS project team in the finance management and reporting aspects of the HIQI Project as a whole. The digitization scope begins centrally at the MoH and will interlink and expand to 30-50 government hospitals. The project will involve stakeholders from the public and private IT sector in Sri Lanka and internationally and will closely involve the Health Information Unit at the MOH, the lead in this process, along with identified government hospitals earmarked for digitization.

Under the direct supervision of the Senior Finance Officer, who reports to the Project Manager, the Finance Senior Assistant will provide financial and administrative support to the timely processing, recording, monitoring, and maintaining of financial transactions and accounts relating to payments and receipts in accordance with Government of Sri Lanka, UNOPS’ and Global Fund financial rules, regulations, policies, and processes. The Finance Senior Assistant will assist the Senior Finance Officer on the financial aspects of the UNOPS and Ministry of Health (MOH) portions of the grant as a whole. Working with the PIU at the MOH to ensure that finances are streamlined and monitored in a systematic manner for ease of tracking and reporting.

The functional responsibilities include:

• Support to PIU/MOH for proper control of the supporting documents for payments and financial reports for projects; preparation of vouchers for projects; PO vouchers; Pay Cycle and payment execution.

• Maintenance of the internal expenditures control system which ensures that vouchers processed are matched and completed, transactions are correctly recorded and posted in Enterprise system; travel claims, MPOs and other entitlements are duly processed.

• Timely corrective actions on unposted vouchers, including the vouchers with budget check errors, match exceptions, unapproved vouchers. 

• Presentation of information on the status of financial resources as required.

• Maintenance of the Accounts Receivables for projects and recording of deposits in Enterprise system. 

• Review of payment requests including supporting documents against the annual work plan and UNOPS FRRs.

• Ensuring that vouchers processed are matched and completed, and transactions are correctly recorded and posted in ERP/electronic or paper-based systems.

• Preparation of bank reconciliations and making timely adjustments.

• Support Audit by providing relevant supporting documents, as requested.

• Full compliance of financial processes and financial records with UNOPS and Government of Sri Lanka(GOSL) rules, regulations, policies and strategies.

• Review and confirm that operational transactions are appropriately processed through interpreting and identifying applicable policies, rules and regulations.

• Support the organization and delivery of  training and learning initiatives for personnel on finance-related topics.

• Provide sound contributions to knowledge networks and communities of practice by synthesizing lessons learnt and dissemination of best practices in finance management support services.

• Contribute feedback, ideas, and internal knowledge about processes and best practices and utilize productively.

• A first level University degree (bachelor or equivalent) in Finance, Accounting, Business Administration, or equivalent disciplines with one (1) year of relevant experience;

• Secondary school (high school diploma) or equivalent with five(5) years of relevant experience.

• Relevant experience in accounting and finance at national level is required.

• Experience within the UN or government entity is an advantage.

• Basic knowledge of government accounting procedures is preferred.

• Experience/knowledge of web-based applications and Google Suite products (especially Google Forms, Sheets, Docs and Slides) is desired.

• Fluency in English and Sinhala is required.

• Knowledge of Tamil language is an asset.

• Please note that UNOPS does not accept unsolicited resumes.

• Applications received after the closing date will not be considered.

• Please note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process, which involves various assessments.

• UNOPS embraces diversity and is committed to equal employment opportunity. Our workforce consists of many diverse nationalities, cultures,  languages, races, gender identities, sexual orientations, and abilities. UNOPS seeks to sustain and strengthen this diversity to ensure equal opportunities as well as an inclusive working environment for its entire workforce. 

• Qualified women and candidates from groups which are underrepresented in the UNOPS workforce are encouraged to apply. These include in particular candidates from racialized and/or indigenous groups, members of minority gender identities and sexual orientations, and people with disabilities.

• We would like to ensure all candidates perform at their best during the assessment process.  If you are shortlisted and require additional assistance to complete any assessment, including reasonable accommodation, please inform our human resources team when you receive an invitation.

Terms and Conditions 

• For staff positions only, UNOPS reserves the right to appoint a candidate at a lower level than the advertised level of the post. 

• For retainer contracts, you must complete a few mandatory courses ( they take around 4 hours to complete)  in your own time, before providing services to UNOPS. Refreshers or new mandatory courses may be required during your contract. Please note that you will not receive any compensation for taking courses and refreshers. For more information on a retainer contract here.

• All UNOPS personnel are responsible for performing their duties in accordance with the UN Charter and UNOPS Policies and Instructions, as well as other relevant accountability frameworks. In addition, all personnel must demonstrate an understanding of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in a manner consistent with UN core values and the UN Common Agenda.

• It is the policy of UNOPS to conduct background checks on all potential personnel. Recruitment in UNOPS is contingent on the results of such checks.