Background Information – UNOPS

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 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 4,000 UNOPS personnel and approximately 7,000 personnel recruited on behalf of UNOPS partners spread across 80 countries, our workforce represents a wide range of nationalities and cultures. We promote a balanced, diverse workforce — a strength that helps us better understand and address our partners’ needs, and continually strive to improve our gender balance through initiatives and policies that encourage recruitment of qualified female candidates.

Work life harmonization

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

Based in Copenhagen, Denmark, the UNOPS Integrated Practice Advice and Support (IPAS) serves all the regions and headquarters, primarily with advice and solutions to everyday implementation challenges. IPAS consists of a diverse team of subject matter experts in the six practice areas of HR, Administration, Legal, Finance, Procurement, Project Management and Infrastructure. IPAS has three main roles:

● Support to operations in the field offices: IPAS provides timely advice and supports actively finding of solutions to everyday implementation challenges, based on policy and best practices. It also provides operational support in specific areas.

● Business efficiency: IPAS recommends changes to policies, processes and operating standards based on the feedback and experience of the field offices. IPAS also ensures transparent and efficient project implementation, in line with policy and business needs.

● Body of knowledge: IPAS contributes to research and coordination within the policy groups and project practitioners. It provides structured knowledge and subject matter expertise which is used across practice areas to provide coherent and tailored advice to the requesting offices.

Sneak peak of our working environment:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z8CyuSqczvI

Please note that the IPAS Finance unit is building a roster of qualified Finance professionals who are interested in both short term and long term opportunities.

Under the guidance and direct supervision of the IPAS Finance Specialist, the Finance Associate will work in close collaboration with the UNOPS operations, program and project staff. The incumbent will be responsible for providing transactional, advisory and oversight services while performing the following duties and responsibilities:

Project Accounting

• Support in pre-clearning Journals (GLJE) recording transactions which are not possible through normal process of Receipts,Payments or Payroll, or to correct an accounting error;
• Global Support Services (GSS) waiver review and escalation to policy holder. Ensuring GSS rates are applied and posted as per current policy;
• Support HQ units on financial related matters as needed.

Budgets Monitoring and Control

• Support pre-clearing budgets in conformity with UNOPS Financial Rules and Regulations and the funding source legal agreement;
• Support in the review and adjustments of project budget revisions;
• Support in the review of the project classification as agent or principal as per IPSAS;
• Support in correctly setting up projects in the system in regards to interest eligibility, cost recovery, etc.

Financial Reporting and Project closure

• Assist in the implementation of reporting systems and reports to meet Funding source requirements and UNOPS Financial Rules and Regulations.
• Prepare periodic financial statements to funding sources and external clients in compliance with established reporting requirements;
• Reconcile projects’ expenditure/revenues as recorded in the General Ledger when needed;
• Reconcile expenditures reported from Financial Dashboard;
• Assist Field Offices with Financial reporting and analysis;
• Resolve Financial Reporting system issues with Finance Practice Group and ICT at HQ;
• Provide reports as needed for year end closure activities;
• Assist field offices with the support needed relating to reporting and project closure;
• Review and prepare draft final financial statement related to project closure;
• Follow up with field offices on pending projects due for closure;
• Provide trainings on project closure and reporting to field colleagues, remotely and on-site;
• Develop monitoring tools and dashboards as required

Audit

• Assist with audits and self-audits and quality assurance activities as required;
• Assist in the preparation of ad-hoc reports as requested by internal/external auditors;
• Coordinate collection of audit samples and requirements during internal/external audit exercise(s);
• Support the implementation of audit recommendations as may be required.

Education:

• Secondary education / high school diploma is required;
• A university degree – Bachelor’s / Master’s or equivalent preferably in Finance, Accounting or Business Administration is strongly preferred and can compensate for some of the required years of experience.

Work Experience:

• Minimum 6 years of relevant work experience in the Accounting or Finance capacity or similar roles (with secondary education / high school diploma);
• Experience in the usage of computers and office software packages (G Suite/MS Office) and advance knowledge of spreadsheet and database packages is required;
• Experience in using ERP software or accounting software is required;
• Knowledge of UNOPS financial regulations and rules is considered an added asset;
• Knowledge and experience in client reporting and project financial closure is an added advantage.

Languages:

• Fluency in written and oral English required;
• Knowledge of a second UN language (preferably French or Spanish) is an asset.

Contract type: ICA
Contract level: Local ICA Support 6 / LICA-6
Contract duration: Open-ended full-time contract and/or short-term /part-time assignments, depending on the Hiring Unit’s needs.

For more details about the ICA contractual modality, please follow this link:
https://www.unops.org/english/Opportunities/job-opportunities/what-we-offer/Pages/Individual-Contractor-Agreements.aspx

• Please note that UNOPS does not accept unsolicited resumes.
• Applications received after the closing date will not be considered.
• Please note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process, which involves various assessments.
• UNOPS embraces diversity and is committed to equal employment opportunity. Our workforce consists of many diverse nationalities, cultures, languages, races, gender identities, sexual orientations, and abilities. UNOPS seeks to sustain and strengthen this diversity to ensure equal opportunities as well as an inclusive working environment for its entire workforce.
• Qualified women and candidates from groups which are underrepresented in the UNOPS workforce are encouraged to apply. These include in particular candidates from racialized and/or indigenous groups, members of minority gender identities and sexual orientations, and people with disabilities.
• We would like to ensure all candidates perform at their best during the assessment process. If you are shortlisted and require additional assistance to complete any assessment, including reasonable accommodation, please inform our human resources team when you receive an invitation.

Terms and Conditions

• 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 (they take around 4 hours to complete) in your own time, before providing services to UNOPS. For more information on a retainer contract here.
• All UNOPS personnel are responsible for performing their duties in accordance with the UN Charter and UNOPS Policies and Instructions, as well as other relevant accountability frameworks. In addition, all personnel must demonstrate an understanding of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in a manner consistent with UN core values and the UN Common Agenda.
• It is the policy of UNOPS to conduct background checks on all potential personnel. Recruitment in UNOPS is contingent on the results of such checks.