Finance Associate

UN Women, grounded in the vision of equality enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations, works for the elimination of discrimination against women and girls; the empowerment of women; and the achievement of equality between women and men as partners and beneficiaries of development, human rights, humanitarian action and peace and security.

Under the overall guidance of the Deputy Director of Financial Management in Headquarters (HQ) and the daily supervision of the Operations Analyst, the Finance Associate is responsible for the execution of a wide range of financial services and administrative processes in the Brazil Country Office, ensuring timeliness, efficiency and transparent use of financial resources and delivery of services in accordance with organizational financial rules, regulations, policies, procedures and approved allocations. The Finance Associate promotes a client-oriented approach consistent with UN Women rules and regulations, standard practices and guidelines. 

The Finance Associate works in close collaboration with the Programme and Operations Team as well as with the Operations and Programme teams in UN Women HQ for solving complex finance-related issues and information delivery. 

 Key Functions and Accountabilities:

Implement financial strategies, in full compliance of UN Women rules, regulations, policies, and recording andreporting systems:

• Perform duties in full compliance with UN Women financial regulations and rules, policies and standard operatingprocedures, including internal controls;
• Review and verify financial transactions, activities, and documentation; taking corrective actions as needed and reportingany unusual activities;
• Monitor financial exceptions reports for unusual activities or transaction, investigate anomalies and report to thesupervisor conclusions and/or present recommendations for actions/decisions;
• Draft reports on financial status, procedures, exchange rates, costs and expenditures;
• Follow-up on audit recommendations to monitor implementation of corrective actions;
• Collect, verify and present information and data for use in the planning of financial resources and the formulation of theCountry Office (CO) programme work plans, budgets, proposals on implementation arrangements and executionmodalities;
• Provide assistance in Annual Work Plan entry in Results Management System (RMS) as required.
• Provide advice and recommend solutions to a wide range of financial issues;
• Monitor the proper functioning of the financial resources management system for office and programmatic budgets andresources;
• Implement cost saving and reduction strategies;

Prepare and administer Brazil CO budgets in full compliance of UN Women rules, regulations, policies, and recordingand reporting systems:

• Formulate the budget, control allotments, monitor expenditures, and prepare revisions according to the needs of theBrazil CO;
• Track the appropriate and timely use of financial resources;
• Prepare cost recovery documents or bills for the services provided by UN Women to other programmes or organizations;
• Create projects in Quantum prepare budget revisions, revise project awards and status; and determine unutilized funds;
• Implement and maintain control mechanism for development projects through monitoring budgets preparation and modifications and budgetary status;
• Maintain internal expenditure control system;
• Undertake corrective actions on un-posted vouchers, including vouchers with budget check errors, match exceptions and unapproved vouchers. Respond to RO /HQ requests to resolve financial data issues;
• Prepare VAT reimbursements with adequate documentation support;
• Input data in Quantum and monitor status. Keep stakeholders and clients informed for timely action and/or decisions;
• Manage petty cash fund, cash impress level.

Provide finance support to the Programme and Operations team:

• Review accounts receivables for UN Women projects and follow-up with project managers and finance section at regional office and/or headquarters on contributions, deposits creation in Quantum and their application to AR pending items;
• Prepare PO and non-PO vouchers for development projects;
• Record and post transactions in Quantum, process payroll, travel claims, MPOs, and other entitlements;
• Monitor the setup of budgets in Quantum to ensure they are in accordance with budgets agreed with donors and are input into Quantum at the detailed Activity ID level;
• Monitor each month over-expenditure of budgets and follow up with Budget Owner;
• Monitor regularly transactions posted to projects ensuring actual expenditure has been recorded against correct budget category and activity, take timely corrective actions as required;
• Monitor proper follow up of advances to implementing partners, review their financial reports together with project managers;
• Monitor the financial status and under the guidance of the Operations Analyst implement control mechanisms for management/development projects;
• Monitor and proper follow up of all the financial items in Month-end and Year-end closure instructions status and under the guidance of the Operations Manager, take correction actions as required
• Keep stakeholders and clients informed for timely actions/decisions and review status reports for quality control;
• Provide information inputs to financial reports for Regional Office, HQ Finance and stakeholders
• Associate revenue and expenditure in commitment control for non-core projects.
• Provide inputs and take necessary actions to facilitate timely financial project closure;
• Support financial donor reporting by providing timely information and taking necessary actions as required by UN Women Virtual Global Service Centre for financial donor reporting;

Provide administrative support to Resource Mobilization:

• Compile and process information from donors, Brazil CO, and programme team, as inputs to various databases and documents.
• Prepare drafts for cost sharing agreements including conditions of contributions within resource mobilization efforts, adhering to standard agreements where possible. Follow up on contributions within the CO resource mobilization efforts.

Facilitate knowledge building and knowledge sharing:

• Conduct training and/or help organize training events and activities; as well as participate in trainings;
• Collect and compile lessons learned and best practices in financial management and services. Disseminate to clients and stakeholders as appropriate to build capacity and knowledge;
• Contribute to financial business operational practices and management innovations.
• The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization

Recruitment Qualifications:

Education and Certification:

• Completion of secondary education is required.
• Specialized national or international certification in accounting and finance is an asset.
• Bachelor’s degree in Finance or Accounting is an asset.
• Successful completion of UN Women Accounting and Finance Test is required as part of the selection process.

Experience:

• At least 6 years of progressively responsible experience in finance;
• Experience in the usage of computers and office software packages (MS Word, Excel, etc.) and spreadsheet and database packages, experience in handling of web-based management systems is required.
• Experience in the use of a modern web-based ERP System, preferably Oracle Cloud, is desirable.
• Working experience in the UN System, embassies or NGO is an asset.

Languages: 

• Fluency in English and Portuguese is required.
• Working Knowledge of Spanish is an asset

Source: https://estm.fa.em2.oraclecloud.com/hcmUI/CandidateExperience/en/sites/CX_1001/job/23051