Finance Analyst

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.

Afghanistan is one of the world’s most complex emergencies, and the world’s largest humanitarian crisis. Afghan people are grappling with the impact of conflict, poverty, economic decline, and natural disasters. In this context, Afghan women and girls face unique vulnerabilities and require urgent support as gender inequality is interwoven with conflict dynamics and humanitarian needs. It is essential that Afghan women and girls can continue to shape the development of their country, and that their gains are protected. UN Women remains fully committed to supporting Afghan women and girls and to putting them at the center of the global response to the crisis in Afghanistan. UN Women has been in Afghanistan for two decades. UN Women’s programming approach is informed by analysis of the political, economic, and humanitarian situation, risks to and capacities of partner organizations, and needs of Afghan women and girls. UN Women Afghanistan currently has four key programme priorities: (1) Gender in Humanitarian Action, (2) Ending Violence Against Women, (3) Women’s Economic Empowerment, and (4) Women, Peace, and Security.

Under the overall guidance of the Deputy Director for Financial Management in Headquarters (HQ) and the daily supervision of the Finance Specialist and the Deputy Country Representative - Operations, the Finance Analyst is responsible for providing assistance to Afghanistan Country Office  to ensure capacity and support; assistance with development projects for UN Women for better business practices and controls as well as automation; ensuring all finance users are compliant with and trained in the accounting standards, financial regulations and rules, policies and procedures; assisting Finance Section HQ and Finance Section at the Regional Office in dedicated support, training, and advice; and acts as the Audit focal point for the Country Office in co-ordination with Finance Section HQ and the Regional Office. 

The Finance Analyst supervises and leads support staff of the Finance Team. The Finance Analyst works in close collaboration with Finance Section HQ, Finance Section at the Regional Office, Programme and Operations colleagues and teams, UNDP staff and Government officials ensuring high performance and efficiency in Finance.

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.

Afghanistan is one of the world’s most complex emergencies, and the world’s largest humanitarian crisis. Afghan people are grappling with the impact of conflict, poverty, economic decline, and natural disasters. In this context, Afghan women and girls face unique vulnerabilities and require urgent support as gender inequality is interwoven with conflict dynamics and humanitarian needs. It is essential that Afghan women and girls can continue to shape the development of their country, and that their gains are protected. UN Women remains fully committed to supporting Afghan women and girls and to putting them at the center of the global response to the crisis in Afghanistan. UN Women has been in Afghanistan for two decades. UN Women’s programming approach is informed by analysis of the political, economic, and humanitarian situation, risks to and capacities of partner organizations, and needs of Afghan women and girls. UN Women Afghanistan currently has four key programme priorities: (1) Gender in Humanitarian Action, (2) Ending Violence Against Women, (3) Women’s Economic Empowerment, and (4) Women, Peace, and Security.

Under the overall guidance of the Deputy Director for Financial Management in Headquarters (HQ) and the daily supervision of the Finance Specialist and the Deputy Country Representative - Operations, the Finance Analyst is responsible for providing assistance to Afghanistan Country Office  to ensure capacity and support; assistance with development projects for UN Women for better business practices and controls as well as automation; ensuring all finance users are compliant with and trained in the accounting standards, financial regulations and rules, policies and procedures; assisting Finance Section HQ and Finance Section at the Regional Office in dedicated support, training, and advice; and acts as the Audit focal point for the Country Office in co-ordination with Finance Section HQ and the Regional Office. 

The Finance Analyst supervises and leads support staff of the Finance Team. The Finance Analyst works in close collaboration with Finance Section HQ, Finance Section at the Regional Office, Programme and Operations colleagues and teams, UNDP staff and Government officials ensuring high performance and efficiency in Finance.

1. Supervise and lead staff of the Finance Team in  provision of financial and accounting services to the Afghanistan Country Office in accordance with UN Women internal control framework, rules, regulations, policies and procedures

• Ensure payment services are delivered for programme implementation, office management and operations in a   timely manner, with correctness, completeness, and full compliance with UN Women rules, regulations, policies and procedures;
• Ensure timely, correct and complete recording of expenditures incurred by UN Women, implementing partners and responsible parties, ensure proper verification of financial reports submitted by implementing partners and responsible parties, sufficiency of supporting documents and proper filing and retention for audit purpose;
• Ensure proper functioning of budgetary control over payments and all other financial transactions, coordinate for timely resolution of budget errors/issues in close collaboration with programme budget owner and Budget section;
• Recommend and/or implement cost saving and reduction strategies;
• Review and/or verify financial transactions/activities, recording/reporting system and audit reports. Co-ordinate with Finance Section HQ and Regional Office on suggestions for amendments;
• Review financial business processes and use of ERP system to ensure accurate and complete reporting of financial transactions by UN Women staff in accordance with the Internal Control Framework and Delegation of Authority and the timely flow of financial information in UN Women for management, monitoring and oversight purposes;
• Analyze and oversee all financial resources managed by the Country Office and provide high-quality professional advice on financial issues to  management and programme colleagues, as necessary;

      2. Coordinate cash management processes, including liquidity management, recommend impress level, risk assessment, security            for cash assets on site;

• Assist with financial risk assessment reviews for the Country Office, by identifying areas of risk and providing recommendations and action plans for addressing issues raised;
• Coordinate the financial planning, analysis, monitoring and oversight of financial systems in accordance with UN Women rules, regulations, policies and procedures
• Monitor financial systems and reports for unusual activities, transactions, investigate anomalies, arrange for corrections and adjustments to be made in a timely and accurate manner where required;
• Coordinate the Country Office timely completion of  Month-end Instructions Checklist and Year-end Instructions Closure Checklist;
• Control and monitor advances to implementing partners, responsible parties, staff and other personnel, follow up and ensure timely clearance in coordination with programme managers, HR and operations teams;
• Ensure all financial reports are in accordance with International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSAS) and ensure continued compliance.  Monitor the Country Office for compliance with IPSAS accounting standards by reviewing business processes and systems modules resulting in IPSAS compliant general ledger and financial statements;
• Review Implementing Partner advance procedures and test against UN Women policies to ensure compliance.  Investigate and follow up on any anomalies for timely action and resolution, as necessary;
• Review all contractual arrangements with suppliers of goods and services to ensure that the financial terms and conditions of all contracts are being adhered to by the suppliers of goods and services;
• Report to Finance Specialist, Deputy Country Representative - Operations and Deputy Director for Financial Management any case of non-adherence for timely action and recommendations for actions/decisions, as necessary;
• Respond to questions and provide analysis as requested to the Finance Section HQ and the Regional Office;

       3. Coordinate financial reporting in the Afghanistan Country Office in accordance with UN Women rules, regulations, policies and             procedures

• Coordinate timely and accurate automated interim financial reports to governments and donors as required under the donor agreements and other cost-sharing arrangements in close collaboration with  Virtual Global Service Centre Finance Specialists;
• Track and report contributions within the resource mobilization efforts, including pipeline, contracted and overdue and future milestones.  Review contributions receivables and provide information to Finance Specialist, and Deputy Country Representative - Operations for follow up, as necessary;
• Write ad hoc financial Donor and other reports as requested;
• Follow up and/or take prompt action to respond to audit and other findings on financial management;

       4. Coordinate the audit process in accordance with UN Women rules, regulations, policies and procedures

• Coordinate the pre-audit preparations for financial management of the Country Office to be audit ready and complete the pre-audit checklist; 
• Contribute technically to the training in the Country Office as part of the training plan or requirement of pre-audit preparations or as otherwise determined by Finance Specialist, and Deputy Country Representative - Operations or Deputy Director for Financial Management;
• Write responses to internal and external audit inquiries and other findings related to financial management for review/approval by Finance Specialist, and Deputy Country Representative - Operations and Deputy Director for Financial Management and incorporate recommendations in development in policies, procedures and practices;
• Plan and track expenditures and performance audit of financial resources, including extra-budgetary income

        5.Coordinate knowledge management and capacity building

• Coordinate training and capacity building of staff of Finance Team;
• Coordinate orientation and training for non-Finance personnel in proper handling and control of financial transactions as required by UN Women Internal Control Framework, rules, regulations, policies and procedures;
• Coordinate orientation and training for implementing partners and responsible parties in proper handling of financial transactions and preparation for partner audit in accordance with signed partner agreements;
• Coordinate training for service providers to effectively carrying out financial reviews on behalf of UN Women, i.e. verification of partner’s financial reports and risk-based capacity assessment of potential partners;
• Identify, participate in the development and/or recommend enhancement/updates/improvement in ERP financial modules for better business practices and controls in the Country Office;
• Capture, synthesize and/or codify lessons learned and best practices in the Country Office, support financial management and services. Disseminate to Finance Section HQ to share knowledge and build capacity;
• Contribute to the design of learning tools, best practices and innovations in financial business operational practices and management, promote transparency, ease of communications, hosting of financial documents, and all policies and procedures between all UN Women users of the Country Office data;

       6. Financial tasks, approving and certifying function

• Oversee that payment vouchers and journal vouchers processed are matched and completed, transactions are correctly recorded and posted in Atlas; payrolls are duly prepared; travel claims and other entitlements are duly processed;
• Implement timely corrective actions on unposted vouchers, including the vouchers with budget check errors, matching exceptions, unapproved vouchers;
• Provide timely response to HQ and Regional Office requests to resolve financial data issues;
• Perform delegated approval function in ERP system  on a timely basis;
• Review and provide financial clearance of all donor agreements as delegated for compliance with standard agreements on a timely basis;

Core Values:

• Respect for Diversity
• Integrity
• Professionalism

Core Competencies:

• Awareness and Sensitivity Regarding Gender Issues
• Accountability
• Creative Problem Solving
• Effective Communication
• Client-oriented skills
• Inclusive Collaboration
• Stakeholder Engagement
• Leading by Example

Please visit this link for more information on UN Women’s Core Values and Competencies: https://www.unwomen.org/sites/default/files/Headquarters/Attachments/Sections/About%20Us/Employment/UN-Women-values-and-competencies-framework-en.pdf

Functional Competencies

• Good knowledge and expertise in providing financial services  and financial management;
• Good knowledge of complex financial rules and regulations, preferably UN/UN Women Financial Rules and regulations;
• Good conceptual/strategic skills and success in implementing financial re-engineering, management systems development, policy design, innovation and knowledge product development is an asset;
• Good knowledge and experience in the application of ERP or complex financial systems and modules ;
• Good knowledge of spreadsheet and database packages;
• Ability to provide advice and support;
• Demonstrated knowledge of IPSAS/IFRS;
• Good analytical skills;

Education and certification:

• Master's degree (or equivalent) in Finance/Accounting, or a Professional accounting qualification from an internationally recognized institute of accountancy, Chartered Accountant, or Certified Public Accountant is required. 
•  Successful completion of UN Women’s Accounting technical test as part of  the selection process. 

Experience:

• At least 2 years’ experience in an accounting-specific role with in a large international organization preferably in the UN system is required.
• Demonstrated financial experience using an ERP financial system is required.
• Demonstrated experience in providing financial services and advisory support to programmes/projects; Demonstrated experience at developing detailed financial reports for senior management is required.
• Demonstrated financial experience of working in a multi-national context is desirable.
• 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.

Language Requirements:

• Fluency in English is required
• Knowledge of the other UN official working language is desirable (French, Arabic, Chinese, Russian or Spanish).