Finance Assistant (Internal to UNOPS personnel)

Under the guidance and supervision of the Finance Manager, the Finance Assistant in the East and Southern Africa Regional Hub provides a variety of specialised finance, accounting, and clerical functions related to project accounting and financial reporting. The Finance Assistant ensures high quality, accuracy and consistency of work and promotes a client-oriented approach consistent with UNOPS financial rules and regulations. The Finance Assistant works in close collaboration with the UNOPS operations, program and projects’ staff for resolving finance-related issues and information exchange.

Summary of Key Functions:

• Implementation of operational strategies

• Treasury functions

• Accounting, administrative and clerical support

• Financial Reporting

• Knowledge building and knowledge sharing

Ensures implementation of operational strategies, focusing on achievement of the following results:

• Full compliance with UNOPS rules and regulations of financial processes, financial records and reports and audit follow up; implementation of the effective internal control framework.

• Input to the content of internal Standard Operating Procedures in Finance in consultation with the direct supervisor and office management.

Provides support to Treasury, focusing on achievement of the following results:

• Review of payment requests for completeness prior to processing to ensure that documentation is complete and all information concerning the payment has been supplied; proper accounting codes used; certification of services rendered/goods delivered is written on the payment document and duly signed by authorized officials; payment to sub-contractors are in compliance with terms and conditions of agreement.

• Review and confirmation of appropriateness of operational transactions processed through the interpretation and determination of applicable policies, regulations, rules

• Review and confirmation of validity of charges by verifying authorized amounts and ensuring availability of budget and funds.

• Frequent contact with the local bank to obtain day-to-day information on rates of exchange, interest rates, changes in procedures and bank regulations, etc.

• Running the pay-cycle and preparation of bank transfer documents.

Provides accounting, administrative and clerical support to the Finance Unit, focusing on achievement of the following results:

• Review of vouchers and review of supporting documents to ensure completeness, accuracy and correctness of accounts codes charges; entry of transactions in the computerized accounting and finance system.

• Monitoring of financial recorded expenditures and related contributions to ensure timely and accurate accounting information.

• Analysis of reports, investigation and adjustment as required.     

• Communication with colleagues/clients on areas requiring verification, corrections, additional information, etc. to improve quality of output and/or account submission and increase knowledge base in the process. 

• Monitoring of cash requirements and expenditures.

• Provision of finance system support (UNOPS ERP Financial System, PeopleSoft) to field offices and regional office staff for Project Accounting and Financial Reporting

• Ensure the maintenance of a good filing and archiving system for the purpose of achieving quick reference and up-to-date financial records.

Ensures accurate financial reporting, focusing on achievement of the following results:

• Implementation of reporting systems and reports to meet Funding source requirements.

• Reconciliation of expenditures recorded in oneUNOPS.

• Assistance to Project Managers with oneUNOPS reporting and analysis.

• Provision of ad-hoc financial reports as needed including for Year-End closure

• Prepare Monthly management reports to be shared with Senior Management Team 

• Monitoring of the UN common costs and pool accounts to ensure timely settlement of vendor t invoices.

• Assist the finance officer in the management of the VAT and Operational Advance balance accounts 

Ensures facilitation of knowledge building and knowledge sharing, focusing on achievement of the following results:

• Participation in the training for the operations/ projects staff on Finance.

• Contributions to knowledge networks and communities of practice.

Monitoring and Progress Controls

The key results have an impact on the overall execution of the UNOPS financial services.  Accurate data entry and presentation of financial information and a client-oriented approach enhances UNOPS’ capability to effectively and efficiently manage financial resources.

Education;

• Completion of Secondary School is required.

• Diploma Certificate in Accounting, Business Administration, Finance or or other relevant disciplines with two (2) years of relevant experience may be accepted.

• University Degree in Accounting, Business Administration, Finance  or other relevant disciplines will be an asset. 

Experience; 

• A minimum of four (4) years of relevant accounting and financial management experience at national level is required. 

• Experience /knowledge of web-based applications and Google Suite products, especially google forms, sheets, docs and slides is an asset.

• A minimum of one (1) year UNOPS work experience in the relevant field is required.
  
  

• 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
• 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 (around 4 hours) in your own time, before providing services to UNOPS.
• 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.

• This is a local post and is open to Kenyan Nationals only or those with valid residence permits.
• The position is based in a family duty station

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
peace and 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 5,000 UNOPS personnel and approximately 7,400 personnel recruited on
behalf of our partners, spread across 80 countries, our workforce represents a range of
nationalities and cultures. We promote a balanced and diverse labour force — a
strength that helps us better understand and address our partners’ needs. We
continually strive to improve our gender balance through initiatives and policies that
encourage the recruitment of qualified female candidates.

Work life harmonization

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


Background Information – Kenya Multi Country Office 

Located in Nairobi, Kenya, the Kenya Multi Country Office manages a growing portfolio of engagements, including associated strategic and operational risks. The KEMCO sub-region currently consists of an established Operation Centre in Nairobi/Kenya which manages a portfolio of engagements in multiple countries in East and South Africa. This includes primarily transactional projects in partnership with the Nairobi based UN Agencies, UN-Habitat and UNEP, and multiple ‘operational’ projects in Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Zimbabwe and several island states.