Finance Advisor (Fiduciary)

Afghanistan

With more than 20 years of experience in the country, UNOPS Afghanistan focuses on providing maximum support to the people of Afghanistan through the delivery of projects and services that improve the lives of people in need. The UNOPS Afghanistan Country Office (AFCO) serves as an organizational mechanism to deliver a range of projects for which UNOPS has been designated as the implementation agency.  At present, UNOPS AFCO activities cover a range of sectors including humanitarian, basic human needs, cash for work, infrastructure, development, procurement and HR services. 

The functional objective of UNOPS AFCO is to contribute to improving the lives of girls, boys, men and women living in Afghanistan. The aim of UNOPS AFCO is to provide efficient and cost-effective implementation services on behalf of all our partners to support the humanitarian response and development of the country. UNOPS AFCO’s mission is to exceed the expectations of all stakeholders in the delivery of AFCO services, at all times, in all places, in all circumstances, in order to improve the lives of Afghans in need. 

Under the direct supervision of the  Programme Director, the Finance Advisor (Fiduciary) ensures that robust fiduciary controls are in place and contributes to the achievement of the project's strategic objectives and plan. They are responsible for full compliance of financial activities, financial recording/reporting system and audit follow up with UN/UNOPS rules, regulations, policies and strategies. They implement effective internal control, proper design and functioning of the financial resources management system, and lead on the project’s finance business processes mapping and the implementation of internal standard operating procedures. 

The Finance Advisor (Fiduciary) continuously analyzes and monitors the financial situation, presents financial forecasts for the project and has the overall responsibility for controlling all expenditures under the project, including financial oversight on facilitating partner (FP) financial management, ensuring the timely financial administration of all transactions and providing advice to the Programme Director on complex financial management issues. The Finance Advisor (Fiduciary) liaises with the World Bank and other stakeholders (including third party monitoring agents) on issues related to financial management and ensures compliance with UNOPS and donor financial management policies, procedures and practices. The Finance Advisor (Fiduciary) leads on identifying innovative options and solutions for ensuring robust, efficient and effective financial management processes.

Summary of Key Functions  

1. Implementation and monitoring of  project financial management 

2. Budget planning and management 

3. Accounting management

4. Cash and treasury management

5. Financial reporting

6. Team Management 

7. Knowledge building and knowledge sharing

1. Implementation and monitoring of project financial management

Ensures the implementation of the project financial management, focusing on the achievement of the following results:

• Lead the project’s finance business processes mapping and elaboration/establishment of internal standard operating procedures; control of the workflows in the project.

• Advice to senior management on sound financial resources management.

• Provide guidance on requirements for handling transactions concerning UNOPS’ financial practices and rules.

• Continuous analysis and monitoring of the financial situation, presentation of forecasts for projects, and provide recommendations on appropriate measures to meet programme needs.

• Implement and regularly review the financial database and financial management information system for the project that supports budgeting and planning in a way that enables UNOPS to respond to the financial reporting requirements of the funding partner.  Enhance the fiduciary monitoring of Afghanistan’s Community Resilience and Livelihoods project.

• Regularly review and provide recommendations to enhance  monitoring mechanisms. Provide advice on strategy to the Programme Director on how to implement recommendations and support in delivering recommendations to AFCO senior management.

• Full compliance of financial activities, financial recording/reporting system and audit follow up with UN/UNOPS rules, regulations, policies and strategies and IPSAS standards.

• Implementation of the effective internal control, proper design and functioning of the financial resources management system. 

• Proper management of the contributions management and accounting for contributions to ensure that funds due to UNOPS are properly identified, consistently and uniformly classified, recorded on a timely basis and received with sufficient supporting documentation. 

• Monitoring of financial exception reports for unusual activities, transactions and investigation of anomalies or unusual transactions.

• Proper planning, expenditure tracking and control on the utilization of the project financial resources, including through facilitating partners (FPs).

• Elaboration and implementation of cost saving and reduction strategies.

• Monitoring of financial exception reports for unusual activities, transactions, and investigation of anomalies or unusual transactions. 

• Informs supervisors and other UNOPS colleagues at Headquarters of the results of investigations when satisfactory answers are not obtained.

2. Budget planning and management 

Manages the project budgets focusing on achievement of the following results:

• Financial resources management through planning, guiding, controlling of the resources in accordance with UNOPS (and funder) rules and regulations.

• Preparation and monitoring of the project’s budget.

• Processing of project budget revisions upon authorization by the Senior Management (can be done only on the basis of signed documents and project budgets).

• Elaboration of proper mechanisms to eliminate deficiencies in budget management.

• Preparation of Budget variance reports

3. Accounting Management

Ensures effective accounting systems focusing on achievement of the following results in compliance with IPSAS and UNOPS policies and procedures:

• Elaboration of the internal control framework which ensures that payment requests (RFP) are  processed, are e-matched and completed, financial transactions are correctly recorded and posted in Enterprise system (ERP); travel claims and other entitlements are duly processed and timely receipting of goods and services in the ERP system.

• Timely accounting and reconciliation of all transactions.

• Security for cash and valuable assets.

• Proper management and accounting for contributions to ensure that funds due to the project are properly identified, consistently and uniformly classified, recorded on a timely basis and received with sufficient supporting documentation.

• Timely corrective actions on unposted payment requests, including RFPs with budget and fund check errors, match exceptions and  unapproved payment vouchers. Follow up with HQ for timely resolution on finance  requests.

4. Cash and Treasury Management

Ensures effective cash management systems focusing on achievement of the following results:

• Timely review of the monthly and quarterly cash flow requirement for the project to ensure sufficient funds on hand for disbursements. Timely identification and recording of receipts for income application.

• Monitoring of financial exception reports for unusual activities, transactions and investigation of anomalies or unusual transactions. Provision of information to supervisors and other UNOPS staff at HQ on the results of the investigation when satisfactory answers are not obtained.

• Weekly  review of the Project cash balances in the Enterprise system to ensure adequate cash to meet the project’s payment and fund commitment needs. Primary contact with local bank management on routine operational matters.

• Timely and accurate approval of bank reconciliation, including documented review of exceptions.

• Timely preparation of monthly cash-flow forecasts for use by UNOPS Treasury to fund the local Bank accounts.

5. Financial Reporting 

• Prepare Monthly and Quarterly Interim Financial Reports (IFR’s) for both the Senior Management and the Client, in the prescribed format.

• Prepare and submit the Contribution’s Tranche requests, in prescribed format.

6. Team Management

• Facilitate the engagement and provision of high quality results and services of the team supervised through effective recruitment, work planning, performance management, coaching, and promotion of learning and development.

• Provide oversight, ensuring compliance by team members with existing policies and best practices.

• Ensure principles of human rights, gender equity, peace, voice and accountability, ‘doing no harm’ and aid effectiveness in all activities.

• Create, foster and role model a culture of respect and zero tolerance for discrimination, abuse of authority, harassment, sexual harassment and sexual exploitation and abuse. Ensure accountability for actions and perform duties in accordance with protection mechanisms and action plans, as expected by UNOPS policies, standards and commitments.

7. Knowledge building and knowledge sharing

• Provide strategic guidance and on-the-job training to ensure work standards are achieved, both in terms of quality and quantity of inputs/outputs processed. 

• Lead, approve and conduct initiatives on capacity development and knowledge building for Finance personnel, including network development, plans, learning plans and activities, Finance practice information and best practice benchmarking. This includes identification of capacity building needs of facilitating partners and provision of capacity building support where needed. 

• Oversee team’s contributions to Finance knowledge networks and communities of practice including collaborative synthesis of lessons learnt and dissemination of best practices in human resources management.

• Guide team’s collection of feedback, ideas, and internal knowledge about processes and best practices and utilize productively.

Impact of Results

The effective and successful achievement of results by the Finance Advisor (Fiduciary) directly impacts on the development and performance of the project. It confirms UNOPS’ role as a key and trusted partner to the World Bank, and UNOPS’ position as a critical service provider, in all challenging work environments. Given the current political and humanitarian situation in Afghanistan, this project supports the positioning of AFCO and strengthens UNOPS presence and visibility in Afghanistan, raising the profile of UNOPS  in the global humanitarian context. 

Monitoring and progress controls will be in accordance with work plans that the Supervisor and incumbent will prepare at the beginning of the assignment.   

Qualifications and Experience

a. Education

• An advanced university degree (e.g. Masters) in Finance, Management, Business/Public Administration, or other relevant discipline is required. A first-level university degree (e.g. Bachelor)  in combination with some additional years of progressively relevant experience may be accepted in lieu of an advanced university degree. 

b. Work experience 

• A minimum of 7 years of progressively responsible experience in finance or accounting is required.

• Experience in the preparation of financial statements is desirable.

• Experience in implementing projects funded by the World Bank is desirable.

• Experience in working in post crisis countries is desirable.

• Knowledge of UNOPS financial rules and regulations is an advantage.

• Financial management experience and use of electronic systems is desired.

c. Languages

• Proficiency in English is required.

• 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.