Finance Analyst

The Special Trust Fund for Afghanistan (STFA) was established on 20 October 2021 as a pooled funding instrument to help address basic human needs across Afghanistan, in complementarity to the ongoing humanitarian assistance. The Fund ultimately seeks to support vulnerable Afghan communities withstand, in a sustainable manner, the multiple crises that arose from the new operating environment that came into place after the powershift of August 2021.  The Trust Fund Management Unit (TFMU) is the Fund Secretariat for STFA: it is the entity responsible for the operational functioning of the Fund and provides technical and management support to the STFA’s Steering Committee (SC). TFMU works under the direction of, and reports directly to, the STFA SC and its Chair, the UN Resident Coordinator; UNDP CO Afghanistan provides operational and logistical support to the unit for its day-to-day administration. 

STFA constitutes an important vehicle to enable the operationalization of the recently launched UN Strategic Framework for Afghanistan (UNSFA), 2023-2025, through joint, inter-agency, ‘Delivering as One’ (DaO) initiatives.  Programmatic activities under the UNSFA, undertaken alongside the humanitarian response, aim to mitigate, and hopefully avert, the immediate impact of the crises on lives and livelihoods of vulnerable Afghans. The Fund serves as also enables multiple contributing partners to channel their resources and coordinate their support for the implementation of the UNSFA and the UN joint programmes developed under it. The three outcome areas under UNSFA (on services, livelihoods and rights) remain key programmatic priorities under the scope of STFA’s Terms of Reference.

Under the direct supervision and overall guidance of the Finance Specialist, housed in the TFMU, the Finance Analyst is responsible for supporting financial management of the joint programmes, including planning and reporting and proper control of Trust Fund accounts; coordinating implementation of results-based budgeting; and contributing to knowledge sharing and management. The Finance Analyst also works in close collaboration with the Programme Management, Monitoring and Evaluation and Communications teams in the TFMU as well as with the finance focal points of the Participating UN Organizations (PUNOs).

Duties and Responsibilities

Ensures implementation of operational and financial management strategies, and adapts processes and procedures, focusing on the achievement of the following results: 

• Provide coordination and technical support to all the STFA PUNOs relating to financial management and reporting of the Trust Fund, including development of results-based budgeting systems for the joint programme.
• Full compliance of financial processes, financial recording/reporting system, and audit recommendations with UNDP Financial rules and regulations, policies and procedures, the internal control framework, other policies and strategies; implementation of the effective internal control, proper design and functioning of the financial resources management system.
• Continuous analysis and monitoring of the financial situation, presentation of cash flow forecasts for the Trust Fund and oversight for all resources managed by the Trust Fund and provision of high-quality professional advice to the management.
• Ensure timely fund transfer to the PUNOs and liaise with the MPTFO for disbursement to the PUNOs.
• Monitor accurate, completeness and timely preparation of a comprehensive set of management, operational and statutory reports through which the organization fulfils in part its accountability requirement to Donors.
• Elaboration and implementation of cost saving and reduction strategies.
• Routinely monitors financial exception reports for unusual activities, transactions, and investigates anomalies or unusual transactions. Informs supervisors and other UNDP/PUNO staff at CO of the results of the investigation when satisfactory answers are not obtained.
• Organization and oversight of Trust Fund cash management processes, including liquidity management, risk assessment, timely accounting and reconciliation of all transactions.
• Support results-based budgeting of the projects in line with corporate and Trust Fund requirements and ensure collection of reliable financial records.
• Lead implementation of effective mechanisms for financial monitoring of the programmes and projects and provide technical advice on financial management, interpretation and analysis to review/verify PUNOs/MPTF financial reports, improve quality of recording and reporting system.
• Lead quarterly and annual reporting using inputs from the joint programmes for dissemination to the donor community, Participating UN Organizations and other key stakeholders.
• Ensure proper and timely project closure as well as timely refund of the unspent balances to the MPTFO/donors.
• Ensure there is no unrecorded expenditure left against a particular donor.
• Support to maintain a ‘watch list’ for risk areas and provide risk management support to the Integrated Risk Management Unit team.
• Provide financial-data related support to the Third Party Monitoring.
• Provide operations related administrative support, contract management and ensure timely payment of all types of invoices received from the suppliers
• Extend support in exploring for non-traditional  resource mobilization (e.g. digital fundraising/ crowdfunding initiatives)
• Attend all TFMU meetings (SC, Donors, TCWG and PUNOs) and take notes on financials issues.

Coordinate implementation of results-based budgeting and ensures management of the budgets focusing on achievement of the following results:

• Financial resources management through planning, guiding, controlling of the resources in accordance with UNDP rules and regulations, allocation strategy as well as MPTF guidance.
• Prepare financial schedules and reports; monitors effective and timely execution of the accounting activities for all contributions and other related income, as well as for treasury accounting for Trust Fund finances.
• Review PUNO budgets and ensure monitoring the delivery of the PUNOs, ensure that all the financial transactions are recorded and verified in compliance with IPSAS as outlined in the corporate policies and procedures.
• Timely reviewing of PUNOs financial delivery, analysis of budget vs expenditures, and to guide PUNOs on financial management of STFA fund.
• Review and analysis of PUNOs budget revision requests and ensure compliance with STFA Operations Manual to ensure minimum operations cost allocated.
• Review AWP of the TFMU and provide technical support for budget entry into Quantum.
• Elaboration of proper mechanisms to eliminate deficiencies in budget management
• Establish and implement a system for regular financial monitoring and spot checks and follow up on the implementation of recommendations by the PUNOs implementing the projects funded by the Trust Fund.
• Ensure consolidated periodical financial reports (monthly/quarterly/annual) are prepared in line with established requirements and in a timely manner
• Other tasks as requested by the Trust Fund Manager or Finance Specialist

Maintains revenue management system; maintaining donor contribution agreements; development of donor profiles and updating of the pipeline table:

• Contribute in reviewing of Standard Administrative Arrangement / cost sharing and trust fund agreements to ensure compliance with corporate policies and procedures.
• Assist in analyzing and researching on donors’ information, identification of opportunities for cost-sharing on donors, preparation of donor’s profile.
• Follow up on the resource mobilization activities, income and reporting schedules and assist on timely donor reporting.
• Provide advice on different donor reporting requirements; monitoring of financial reports to be submitted to donors.
• Ascertain and monitoring donor reporting requirements, ensuring that donor reports meet donors’ informational needs.

Knowledge sharing and management:

• Regularly update STFA allocation strategy paper and support compliance with the Trust Fund financial reporting and programme management by reviewing joint programme documents, AWPs and other relevant documents and suggesting any mitigating measures, where required.
• Support implementation of relevant trainings related on reporting, financial monitoring and management.
• Support the Participating UN organizations in preparation of various financial reports for joint the UNSFA and STFA.
• Collaborate and coordinate with focal points of the Participating UN organizations other teams on financial management and project management related issues and contribute inputs on project management, financial management and financial monitoring/spot checks/audit to knowledge networks, thematic sub-groups

Required Skills and Experienc

Education:

• A professional accounting qualification from an internationally accredited institute of accountancy, or Advanced (Master’s) University Degree in Finance and/or Accounting, Business Administration is required. Candidates with professional accounting qualifications from an internationally accredited institute of accountancy will have a distinct advantage.
• Candidates with no professional accountancy qualifications, but with degrees that major in accountancy and/or finance must complete the Finance Training and Certification Programme (FTCP), if recruited.
• Candidates satisfying the two above criteria are exempted from undertaking the UNDP Advanced Accountancy and Finance Test (AAFT).
• Candidates with MBA or Master’s in Finance with no accountancy qualification but with relevant experience must successfully undertake the UNDP Advanced Accountancy and Finance Test (AAFT) to be eligible for shortlisting.

Experience:

• 2 years (with Master’s degree) or 4 years (with Bachelor’s degree) of relevant experience in providing financial management services, and/or managing staff and operational systems.
• Experience in the use of computers and office software packages (MS Word, Excel, etc.) and advanced knowledge of spreadsheets and web-based management systems such as ERP financials and database packages  is required.
• Experience of IPSAS and/or IFRS is required for external candidates.
• Previous work experience in trust fund finance management is highly desirable.
• Previous experience with multi-million joint programmes or large programme portfolios is highly desirable.
• Prior experience  of donor contribution management is highly desirable.
• Working experience with diverse and multi-cultural teams is desirable.

Required languages: 

• Fluency in English – both written and oral is required.
• Fluency in the national language, Dari and/or Pashto is required.

Source: https://estm.fa.em2.oraclecloud.com/hcmUI/CandidateExperience/en/sites/CX_1/requisitions/job/21038