Programme Finance Analyst

UNCDF has been present in the Pacific since 2008. From 2008 to 2020, together with UNDP, UNCDF implemented the Pacific Financial Inclusion Programme (PFIP). The PFIP played a leading role in bringing about profound changes in the market, which resulted in almost 3Million pacific islanders accessing financial services. The success PFIP helped position UNCDF as the agency with a wide network and extensive knowledge on financial, digital financial and digital services and products, and today our flagship programmes in the Pacific include:

The Pacific Digital Economy Programme (PDEP) which is implemented with UNCTAD and UNDP,  aims to support the development of inclusive digital economies in the Pacific addressing the impact of COVID-19 and at the same time leveraging its catalytic capacity.

The Pacific Insurance and Climate Adaptation Programme, implemented with UNDP, aims to improve the financial preparedness and resilience of Pacific islanders towards climate change and natural hazards

The STREIT programme, a partnership with FAO, UNDP, ILO and ITU and that aims to support rural entrepreneurship, investment and trade in Papua New Guinea (PNG).

The portfolio across the region identifies and promotes the deployment of blended finance instruments to lower the upfront capital and/or reduce the investment risk for the private sector. For example, UNCDF is supporting Coral Reef Preservation in Fiji and PNG though our partnership with the Global Fund for Coral Reefs and the issuance of the Blue Bond in Fiji, a project implemented in partnership with UNDP.

Primary countries of focus are Fiji, PNG, Samoa, Solomon Islands (SOI), Tonga, Vanuatu, Timor-Leste and Kiribati.  

Position Purpose:

This position is primarily focused in ensuring proper financial management and timely delivery of the programmes in the Pacific. In this context, under the overall guidance and supervision of the Regional Coordinator and in close collaboration with the Operations Analyst and the Regional Manager, the Programme Finance Analyst contributes to the effective implementation of financial monitoring and works with the Regional Office to ensures the financial integrity of the programme portfolio to align evolving new programmes and projects in the Pacific.

With proper and accurate programme financing, the incumbent, supports the design, planning and management of financial resources of the different programmes of UNCDF-IDE in the Pacific.  In doing so, s/he works in close collaboration with Programme Assistance and Project staff at country and regional level, the Office of Finance and Management Services (OFMS) team in Bangkok and NY, for resolving complex programme and operations-related issues, ensuring successful performance of programmes and projects in the Pacific. S/he operates under the overall supervision of the Regional Programme Manager with matrix reporting to the Programme Specialist based in Bangkok.

1. Implementation of operational and financial management strategies for IDE Programmes in the Pacific.
2. Programme financial management and resources planning.
3. Implementation of the resource mobilization strategy and oversight of project financing agreements.
4. Facilitation of knowledge building and knowledge sharing, guidance to all stakeholders on financial matters.
5. Coordination of Audit and Assurance Activities.

Ensures implementation of operational and financial management strategies for IDE Programmes in the Pacific through:

• Full compliance of financial activities, financial recording/reporting system and audit follow up with UNDP/UNCDF rules, regulations, policies and strategies; implementation of effective internal control, proper design and functioning of a client-oriented financial resources management system.
• Continuous analysis, and monitoring of the financial situation, preparation of forecasts for development and management of programme resources
• Support Programme and Project Managers in the preparation of annual work plans and quality assurance plans.
• Finance business processes mapping and elaboration of the content of Standard Operating Procedures in Finance in consultation with office management.
• Elaboration of proposals and implementation of cost-saving and reduction strategies in consultations with the programme team.
• Routinely monitors financial exception reports for unusual activities, transactions, and investigates anomalies. Informs supervisors and other UNCDF staff at Headquarters of the results of the investigation when satisfactory answers are not obtained

Ensures effective programme financial management, resource planning and analysis through:

• Support the planning and monitoring of various programme/project budgetary resources and ensuring proper entry of transactions, creation of projects and budget revisions in in UNCDF ERP System (Quantum).
• Analyse information related to current and future obligations and prepare reports containing budgetary implications and financial situation. This includes following up on GMS revenue forecast and analysis.
• Implementation of effective internal controls, proper functioning of a client-oriented financial resources management system.
• Monitoring of Combined Delivery Reports preparation, advice on relevant issues, and maintenance of a database of all CDRs.
• Monitoring of timely Operational and Financial Closure of projects, reimbursement of remaining balances to donors, and liaising with UNCDF HQ on donor reimbursements.
• Performing the functions of the Treasury/Finance in Quantum, undertaking responsibilities in line with the Internal Control Framework.
• Exercise quality assurance for revision, including checking of correct allocation of funds between donors and consistency of approved budget with cash/ASL limits.
• Liaise with Regional Programme Quality Assurance and coordinate project operational and financial closure activities.
• Support in monitoring relevant corporate key performance and dashboard indicators in the area of programme and project financial management and ensure full compliance and high performance.
• Monitoring of the Accounts Receivables for UNCDF projects and maintenance of General Ledger.

Ensures implementation of the resource mobilization strategy and oversight of project financing agreements through:

• Elaboration of the framework and conditions of contributions within resources mobilization efforts.
• Review and quality assurance of donor reports as required by the financing agreements and facilitate the timely donor reporting submission
• Support programme colleagues on the corporate partnership arrangements with different donors, cost-sharing agreements, their monitoring, and management.
• Monitoring of cost-sharing contributions and timely receipt of contributions in accordance with the revenues plan and revenue related dashboard indicators.
• Monitoring of cost-sharing contributions, revenue management, including all new agreements, instalments, and amendments, and maintenance of the Revenue Service Request System
• Advice to Programme and Project Staff on different donor reporting requirements; monitoring of financial reports to be submitted to donors.
• Liaise with the Programme Finance Associate in HQ for oversight of the data entry and updates of project financing agreements in Quantum (ERP).

Ensures facilitation of knowledge building and knowledge sharing, guidance to all stakeholders on financial matters:

• Advice and guidance to Programme Associates and Project staff on UNCDF/UNDP administrative and Financial reporting, in particular, on budgetary issues.
• Organization/conduct of training for the Operations/Project/Programme Staff on financial management and RBM.
• In coordination with the Regional Office, synthesis of lessons learned and best practices in programme and programme finance.
• Sound contributions to knowledge networks and communities of practice

Lead the coordination of Audit and Assurance Activities for programmes:

• Support the implementation of UNCDF internal control framework (ICF)
• Lead the preparation for the project audits
• Lead the preparation for NIM and HACT audit and assurance activities in accordance with the UNSDG Harmonized Approach to Cash Transfers
• Prepare with the projects teams the assurance planning and activities.
• Lead the monitoring and assurance activities in various programme countries in the Pacific.

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

Supervisory/Managerial Responsibilities: Supervise Programme Performance team staff.

Achieve Results: LEVEL 2

• Scale up solutions and simplifies processes, balances speed and accuracy in doing work

Think Innovatively: LEVEL 2

• Offer new ideas/open to new approaches, demonstrate systemic/integrated thinking

Learn Continuously: LEVEL 2

• Go outside comfort zone, learn from others and support their learning

Adapt with Agility: LEVEL 2

• Adapt processes/approaches to new situations, involve others in change process

Act with Determination: LEVEL 2

• Able to persevere and deal with multiple sources of pressure simultaneously

Engage and Partner: LEVEL 2

• Is facilitator/integrator, bring people together, build/maintain coalitions/partnerships

Enable Diversity and Inclusion: LEVEL 2

• Facilitate conversations to bridge differences, considers in decision making

People Management: UNDP People Management Competencies can be found in the dedicated site. 

Cross-Functional & Technical:

Business Management - Portfolio Management:

• Ability to select, prioritise and control the organization´s programmes and projects, in line with its strategic objectives and capacity; ability to balance the implementation of change initiatives and the maintenance of business-as-usual, while optimising return on investment

Business Management - Monitoring:

• Ability to provide managers and key stakeholders with regular feedback on the consistency or discrepancy between planned and actual activities and programme performance and results.

Business Management - Evaluation:

• Ability to make an independent judgement based on set criteria and benchmarks - Ability to anticipate client's upcoming needs and concerns.

Business Direction & Strategy - System Thinking:

• Ability to use objective problem analysis and judgement to understand how interrelated elements coexist within an overall process or system, and to consider how altering one element can impact on other parts of the system

Business Development - Knowledge Generation:

• Ability to research and turn information into useful knowledge, relevant for context, or responsive to a stated need.

Finance/Accounting - Accounting (General):

• Knowledge of accounting concepts, principles, regulations, and policies and ability to apply to strategic and/or practical situations.

Finance/Accounting - Budget Management:

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