Finance Assistant

United Nations Development Programme

jobs-near-me.org

JOB DETAIL

Background
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion are core principles at UNDP:  we value diversity as an expression of the multiplicity of nations and cultures where we operate, we foster inclusion as a way of ensuring all personnel are empowered to contribute to our mission, and we ensure equity and fairness in all our actions. Taking a ‘leave no one behind’ approach to our diversity efforts means increasing representation of underserved populations. People who identify as belonging to marginalized or excluded populations are strongly encouraged to apply. Learn more about working at UNDP including our values and inspiring stories.
UNDP does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.

The Egyptian Red Sea Initiative (ERSI) is an important new programme that aims to reduce drivers of coral reef degradation while simultaneously developing new finance sources and mechanisms for reef positive business and livelihoods.  To ensure that the Egyptian Red Sea region’s coral reefs continue to provide vital ecological and socio-economic services, the programme will also advance science on coral reef resilience, identify and protect climate refugia1, and implement sustainable financing mechanisms for Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) that harbour critical coral reef ecosystems.   

Through the establishment and operationalization of a new Egyptian Fund for Coral Reefs (EFCR), which will leverage finance for reef-positive businesses that support conservation, economic development, community livelihoods, and enhanced community resilience to climate change, the programme will accelerate the development of reef-positive business models, especially in the ecotourism, sustainable fisheries, and waste management sectors.   

With additional finance for conservation and investment from the private sector, the programme is expected to leverage at least an additional USD 45 million in grants through the Egyptian Fund for Coral Reefs (EFCR) to support coral reef conservation in the Egyptian Red Sea.  

Duties and Responsibilities

The Finance Assistant will be responsible for providing back-office/financial support to the Project Lead and National Project Coordinator including:

Support implementation of operations strategies 

  • Financial tracking of activities and expenses

Monitoring project activities and expenses to ensure accurate budgeting, timely reporting, and compliance with organizational or donor requirements.

  • Support with project budget and payments.

Support the project budget and payments by ensuring timely disbursements, accurate tracking of expenditures, and adherence to financial guidelines.

  • Request new tranches.

Request new tranches of funding, provide a detailed financial report of the previous tranche, highlighting the expenditures, project progress, and remaining balance.

  • Liaising with UNDP country office and global ERSI administrative team to facilitate financial reporting and compliance with UNDP Financial.

Provide project budget management support.

  • Provide support with all financial and administrative requirements of the project, especially those related to project funding and accounting.
  • Assist in ensuring that project is executed in a timely and appropriate manner.
  • Facilitate, guide, and monitor the work of the national ERSI team; manage payment schedules.
  • Assist in project related activities, and project budget.
  • Any other duties assigned by the National ERSI Leader or National Project Coordinator that have direct relevance to the project.

Provide financial oversight support.

  • Support in managing the project budget, oversee procurement and accounting, together with the UNDP Country Office and the global ERSI Team.
  • Ensure financial resources are disbursed on time to implementing partners.
  • Maintain records of expenditures and collaborate in financial reporting.

The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization.

Key deliverables (products and processes):

  • Develop calculations for the development of the annual workplan/budget.
  • Assist in processing budget revisions.
  • Monitoring budget and expenditures, while solving budget errors
  • Ensuring sufficient funds available to cover expenses and requests.
  • Revising needed budgets and ensuring no misspending or overspending is taking place.
  • Processing payments, on time, using corresponding UNDP DIM forms.
  • Supporting audits

Institutional Arrangement  

The Project Management unit (PMU) will consist of a Project Manager, a Finance Assistant (this position), a coordinator an administrative officer and a driver. The Finance Assistant will be responsible for providing finance support to the Project Lead and National Project Coordinator.

Competencies

Core

Achieve Results: 

LEVEL 1: Plans and monitors own work, pays attention to details, delivers quality work by deadline

Think Innovatively: 

LEVEL 1: Open to creative ideas/known risks, is pragmatic problem solver, makes improvements

Learn Continuously: 

LEVEL 1: Open minded and curious, shares knowledge, learns from mistakes, asks for feedback

Adapt with Agility: 

LEVEL 1: Adapt processes/approaches to new situations, involve others in change process

Act with Determination: 

LEVEL 1: Shows drive and motivation, able to deliver calmly in face of adversity, confident

Engage and Partner: 

LEVEL 1: Demonstrates compassion/understanding towards others, forms positive relationships

Enable Diversity and Inclusion: 

LEVEL 1: Appreciate/respect differences, aware of unconscious bias, confront discrimination

Cross-Functional & Technical competencies 

Thematic Area

Name

Definition

Business Management

Operations Management

Ability to effectively plan, organize and oversee different parts of corporate operations, simultaneously and in an integrated way. Knowledge of relevant concepts and mechanisms.

Finance

Accounting (General)

Knowledge of accounting concepts, principles, frameworks, standards, regulations, policies and trends, and ability to apply this to strategic and/or practical situations.

Finance

Budget management

Ability to support budgetary aspects of work planning process, drawing and management of team budgets.

Finance

Management and cost accounting

Ability to produce periodic qualitative and quantitative performance reports to facilitate effective decision making and performance monitoring. Ability to use a range of costing techniques and analyze cost related data to provide quantitative information to the users of reports.

Required Skills and Experience
Education:
  • Secondary education with specialized certification in accounting and/or finance is required.
  • A university degree in finance or accounting is desirable.
  • Part-qualified accountants from an internationally accredited institute of accountancy will have a distinct advantage.
  • Candidates with accountancy certification from an internationally accredited institute of accountancy will have a distinct advantage.
  • Candidates without certification but with relevant experience must complete the UNDP Finance Training and Certification Programme (FTCP), if recruited.
Experience:

Minimum of 5 years (with secondary education) or 2 years (with bachelor’s degree) of progressively responsible finance and /or accounting experience at the national or international level is required.

Required skills:

  • Experience in dealing with national experts and international institutions.
  • Sound understanding of key software packages (MS Office)
  • Proven track record of meeting deadlines for submitting project budget.
  • Experience in budget planning and monitoring expenses

Desired skills in addition to the competencies covered in the Competencies section:

  • Prior experience in project accounting with an international agency is an asset.
  • Experience with UNDP/UN is an asset.
Disclaimer
Under US immigration law, acceptance of a staff position with UNDP, an international organization, may have significant implications for US Permanent Residents. UNDP advises applicants for all professional level posts that they must relinquish their US Permanent Resident status and accept a G-4 visa, or have submitted a valid application for US citizenship prior to commencement of employment.
UNDP is not in a position to provide advice or assistance on applying for US citizenship and therefore applicants are advised to seek the advice of competent immigration lawyers regarding any applications.
Applicant information about UNDP rosters
Note: UNDP reserves the right to select one or more candidates from this vacancy announcement.  We may also retain applications and consider candidates applying to this post for other similar positions with UNDP at the same grade level and with similar job description, experience and educational requirements.
Non-discrimination
UNDP has a zero-tolerance policy towards sexual exploitation and misconduct, sexual harassment, and abuse of authority. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles.
UNDP is an equal opportunity and inclusive employer that does not discriminate based on race, sex, gender identity, religion, nationality, ethnic origin, sexual orientation, disability, pregnancy, age, language, social origin or other status.
Scam warning
The United Nations does not charge any application, processing, training, interviewing, testing or other fee in connection with the application or recruitment process. Should you receive a solicitation for the payment of a fee, please disregard it. Furthermore, please note that emblems, logos, names and addresses are easily copied and reproduced. Therefore, you are advised to apply particular care when submitting personal information on the web.

Cairo, Egypt

location

Apply for job
To help us track our recruitment effort, please indicate in your cover/motivation letter where (jobs-near-me.org) you saw this job posting.

Job Location