Finance Senior Associate

Application period 07-Sep-2025 to 21-Sep-2025
Functional Responsibilities:
Under the direct supervision of the Finance Specialist (Performance Management and Compliance) and the overall direction of the Head of Support Services, the incumbent will provide support in the areas:

• Compliance and oversight
• Business planning
• SSU performance monitoring and reporting
• SSU management support
• Knowledge building and knowledge sharing
• Compliance and Oversight
• Support the preparation, implementation of and reporting towards annual work plans of the Performance and Compliance business stream.
• Develop models to detect unusual activity and report irregularities to the supervisor; provide clear recommendations to address the irregularities and avoid recurrence.
• Review processes, templates, and procedures to ensure that they are relevant and fit for purpose.
• Develop the relevant guidelines and SOPs for documenting the whole cycle of internal control review and compliance works, and ensuring their periodic updates.
• Support other business streams in development of new and enhanced of the existing guidelines and SOPs from the risk management and internal control perspective.
• Assess the compliance of the Support Services Unit's (SSU) operations to internal procedures, controls mechanisms, UNOPS policies and procedures, donors requirements, and Government regulations, and ensure supporting documentation is exhaustive and consistent.
• Document, evaluate and test systems and controls to determine their adequacy and effectiveness toward (i) compliance with rules and regulations, (ii) accomplishment of management's objectives, (iii) reliability and integrity of information, (iv) efficient use of resources, and (v) safeguarding of assets.
• Support the monitoring of risks related to the achievement of EAPMCO financial and non-financial objectives under the SSU's purview and ensure the alignment of the risk management framework with the internal control measures.
• Support the mitigation of the risk of misuse of donor funds and ensure that an effective internal control mechanism is in place to prevent and detect fraud.
• Support in conducting special management reviews and assist in the coordination of the implementation of the internal/external audit recommendation, updating the audit tracking tool.
• Ensure accurate and timely preparation and submission of periodic reports on issues and any material weaknesses identified during the review period.
• Support in preparation of reports for the provision of regular briefings to the HoSS and Senior Management regarding operational matters and general systems controls.
• Coordinate the completion of the regional office-led Internal Control Self-Assessment (ICSA) exercise, ensuring timely solicitation of inputs from all internal stakeholders, thorough review of the inputs and assessment of evidence provided, and timely submission of the self-assessments to the regional office.
• Support audit and verification exercise, ensuring adequate knowledge sharing among key internal stakeholders and availability of audit documentation, and thorough review of submissions to auditors.
• Business Planning
• Contribute to the strategic planning and annual business planning processes by conducting various required analyses, generating reports and ensuring the availability of required data and information for management decision making.
• Contribute to the formulation of annual Administrative budgets (Management Expense, Locally Shared Services Cost (LSS) and Cost Recovery projects), ensuring accurate and reliable historical and forecasting data and information are available to the Head of Support Services (HoSS) and Senior Management for decision making.
• Enter data into the corporate target setting and budgeting tool as part of the annual business planning process
• SSU performance monitoring and reporting
• Assess, periodically, the performance of the SSU against established criteria (KPIs) and prepare periodic reports
• In consultation with the supervisor and the HoSS, prepare the annual client satisfaction survey tools, administer the surveys, and issue analytical survey reports
• Support the preparation of action plans aimed at addressing issues arising from the survey, closely monitor implementation of the plans, and prepare periodic and ad hoc implementation updates and reports
• Support the conduct of research on various aspects related to the performance and service delivery of the SSU and prepare reports as required
• SSU management support
• Support the supervisor and HoSS towards the conception, review, and roll-out of various initiatives aimed at innovation and enhancement of the SSU's offerings
• Monitor the implementation of action plans established to address issues arising from People Surveys / Pulse Surveys / Culture and Engagement surveys, and issue periodic and ad hoc monitoring reports.
• Provide secretariat support for SSU management team meetings, including scheduling meetings, agenda compilation, preparing and circulating meeting minutes, and following up on implementation of agreed actions
• Provide secretariat support for SSU all staff meetings, including scheduling, agenda compilation, and following up on implementation of agreed actions
• Knowledge Building and Knowledge Sharing
• Organize, facilitate and/or deliver training and learning initiatives for personnel on performance and compliance related topics.
• Attend initiatives on capacity development and knowledge building for Compliance and Finance personnel, including network development, plans, learning plans and activities, Finance and Compliance practice information and best practice benchmarking.
• Contribute to the process of collection of feedback, ideas, and internal knowledge about processes and best practices and utilize productively.

Education/Experience/Language requirements:
Education:

• Secondary education or a high school diploma is required.
• Technical/Professional License or Diploma, First university degree or higher degrees in Finance, Accounting, Risk Management, Business Management, Business Administration or related fields or relevant fields would be an asset and may substitute some of the required years of experience.
• Possession of a recognized qualification in internal auditing, risk management or compliance (CIA, FRM, PRM or equivalent) is a distinct advantage

Experience:

• Minimum of seven (7) years of professional-level experience in internal control, internal audit or risk management functions field with a high school diploma is required.
• Experience in the international context (working in an international organization) is an added advantage.
• Knowledge of UNOPS financial rules and regulations is desirable.
• Working knowledge of ERP (particularly Agresso) is desirable.
• Experience with Google Suite, financial management and using electronic systems in a professional environment is an asset.

Language Requirements:

• Full working knowledge of English is required.
• Knowledge of another official UNOPS language is an asset

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Remarks: Please note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.