Project Analyst

Cities Alliance, which is hosted by UNOPS, is a global partnership for the promotion of cities in poverty reduction and sustainable development. Headquartered in Brussels and supported by a Secretariat, it is a unique partnership with a diverse membership including – global organisations of local authorities, national governments, international non-governmental organisations, foundations, knowledge networks and multilateral organisations – which have come together to strengthen both impacts and coherence in urban development. Cities Alliance is a global leader, with a strong track record in grant making, that supports strategic city planning, slum upgrading strategies and national policies designed to make cities more inclusive and sustainable. Members promote longer-term and integrated work programmes, while actively promoting gender equality throughout all activities. Through UNOPS, the Cities Alliance operates a Multi-Donor Fund supported by an efficient, flexible grant-making mechanism with global reach.

Cities Alliance is implementing its 2018-2021 Strategic Plan, with a recalibrated business model combining a Global window for normative work and a Country/City window for operations across Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean, and the MENA region.

To support implementation of the Strategic Plan, the Cities Alliance Secretariat is being strengthened to drive organisational maturity and operational excellence, to ensure strong coordination, organisational alignment and coherence, and to foster and ensure financial sustainability.

All funds to the Cities Alliance are managed through a multi-donor fund, a flexible instrument to manage funds from diverse sources and award grants, with robust fiduciary standards, to different entities across the globe from international institutions to grassroots community organisations.

To support global efforts in responding to Covid-19 outbreak, Cities Alliance has launched a Response Programme funded by Sida for 12 months to be implemented in selected developing countries. The programme’s main objective is to enhance the overall resilience of slum organisation and communities during the Covid-19 crisis. Cities Alliance is seeking a highly motivated, dynamic and technically skilled Project Analyst for the project who will have responsibilities in the areas of grants, financial analytics, and business process automation.

The Project Analyst will report to the Financial Manager of the Cities Alliance, and work very closely with the Portfolio Supervision team to drive operational excellence in grant making, grant management, and project management processes.

Project & Grant monitoring and management

• Under the guidance of the Head of Finance and Finance Specialist, support Task Managers, based on priorities assigned, in all key processes of grant making and management: project identification, project proposal assessment and approval, grant set up and supervision, and grant closure.
• Ensure compliance with UNOPS polices and rules and the Cities Alliance Standard Operating Procedures, Manuals and Guidelines related to projects and grants.
• Monitor the implementation of a select number of grants in the Cities Alliance portfolio, primarily in the SIDA funded SDI fund management project. Liaise with grantees, ensure milestones are met, all reporting is submitted on time, and potential issues are flagged in a timely way to support management action.
• Ensure all grant-funded projects are on track, compliant, meet all grant and project reporting obligations required by Cities Alliance and UNOPS, and meet performance targets for organisational efficiency.
• Ensure all documents and reports related to grants are recorded accurately in the Cities Alliance Information Management system and provide support for all Programme Audit exercises and Independent Evaluations
• Prepare and provide certified project financial statement to stakeholders in accordance with format and frequency specified in the project agreement
• Ensure accurate and up-to-date data, documentation, review and analysis to support the improvement and implementation of Cities Alliance portfolio team.
• Prepare draft Agreements for grant awards using standard templates. Liaise with grantees on the signature processes and ensure first disbursements are processed within service standards.

Financial analytics and business processes

• As part of the finance team analyse existing business processes related to projects practiced in Cities Alliance and propose and implement innovative changes that will contribute to efficiency gains in the implementation of the projects.
• Streamline all templates related to project financial management and automate processes where possible to avoid duplication of data and streamline all templates and formats for financial proposals and financial reporting.
• Analyse data and information to support and participate in the preparation of specific information required for corporate reporting and corporate planning exercises.
• Analyse financial data on a range of cost drivers (personnel, grants, procurement, travel etc) and prepare comparative reports and charts for management purposes.
• Assist the Financial Manager as required on tasks related to financial management, fiduciary control and member/donor reporting using the UNOPS financial/ERP system. 
• Design and automate and/or further improve the existing financial reporting that provides both a snapshot of the financial health of the organisation and the details for each programme within the Annual Work Plan and Budget.

Teamwork and the effective and efficient management of resources

• Participate in teamwork and specific analyses and initiatives that support the effectiveness and efficiency of the Cities Alliance grant facility and project implementation
• Participate in other corporate exercises that drive organisational maturity and operational excellence.  
• Contribute to the Cities Alliance corporate priority on the mainstreaming of gender in all its programmes and projects.
• Stay abreast of all new developments of UNOPS policies, rules and tools regarding budgeting, financial management and accounting.

• Advanced university degree (Masters or equivalent) in finance, accounting, business administration, public administration, economics, international relations or related field or Professional certification in CPA, CIMA or equivalent is required.
• A first level university degree combined with two additional years of relevant experience related to the responsibilities of the position may be accepted in lieu of an advanced university degree.

• At least two years of work experience in project/financial/grant management support in the areas of grants, analysis and reporting is required.
• Experience of working for UNOPS is required.
• Experience with the UNOPS ERP system is an asset.. 
• Strong ICT skills; advanced skills in Excel required.
• Prince2 certifications are an asset.

1. Contract type: Individual Contractor Agreement (ICA)
2. Contract level - International ICA Specialist Level 1
3. Contract duration - Open-ended, subject to organizational requirements, availability of funds and satisfactory performance.

• Please note that the closing date is midnight Copenhagen time
• Applications received after the closing date will not be considered.
• Only those candidates that are short-listed for interviews will be notified.
• Qualified female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.
• UNOPS seeks to reasonably accommodate candidates with special needs, upon request.
• Work life harmonization - UNOPS values its people and recognizes the importance of balancing professional and personal demands. We have a progressive policy on work-life harmonization and offer several flexible working options. This policy applies to UNOPS personnel on all contract types
• The incumbent is responsible to abide by security policies, administrative instructions, plans and procedures of the UN Security Management System and that of UNOPS.  

It is the policy of UNOPS to conduct background checks on all potential recruits/interns.
Recruitment/internship in UNOPS is contingent on the results of such checks.

UNOPS is an operational arm of the United Nations, supporting the successful implementation of its partners’ peacebuilding, humanitarian and development projects around the world. Our mission is to help people build better lives and countries achieve sustainable development.

UNOPS areas of expertise cover infrastructure, procurement, project management, financial management and human resources.

Working with us

UNOPS offers short- and long-term work opportunities in diverse and challenging environments across the globe. We are looking for creative, results-focused professionals with skills in a range of disciplines.

Diversity

With over 4,000 UNOPS personnel and approximately 7,000 personnel recruited on behalf of UNOPS partners spread across 80 countries, our workforce represents a wide range of nationalities and cultures. We promote a balanced, diverse workforce — a strength that helps us better understand and address our partners’ needs, and continually strive to improve our gender balance through initiatives and policies that encourage recruitment of qualified female candidates.

Work life harmonization

UNOPS values its people and recognizes the importance of balancing professional and personal demands.