Specialist, Donor Reporting and Partnerships

Background

UNDP is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence.

UNDP does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.

Organizational Context

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is the global development network of the United Nations system that is on the ground in 177 countries, with its Headquarters in New York, USA. The Bureau for Management Services (BMS) is a central Bureau tasked with the development of corporate strategies, policies, tools and systems in key cross-cutting management areas. Drawing on sound analytics and a risk-management approach, BMS supports the achievement of development results through management advice, innovative business solutions, and other corporate services in line with international best practices and evolving needs and expectations of development partners. BMS also ensures policy adherence in operations management within UN Rules & Regulations, safeguarding UNDP’s accountability vis-à-vis Member States and other stakeholders.

Office of Financial Resources Management (OFRM) performs a pivotal role within BMS and within UNDP’s global finance function, partnering with Bureaux and Country Offices. The primary role of OFRM is to maintain the financial integrity of UNDP through providing financial leadership, supporting the efficient and effective management of its financial resources, promoting financial sustainability and responsible resource allocation in the context of a fluctuating funding environment. This is accomplished by the development and implementation of sound financial policies and practices, oversight of corporate financial management performance, and flexible scalable support to resource allocation. OFRM is a key source of information for the Executive Board, General Assembly, to Partners and wider civil society. It supports transparency through the provision of on time and quality statutory and other financial reports that comply with international standards and regulatory guidelines.

This post is part of OFRM’s Partnership and Donor Interactions Unit in the Financial Business Partnering Division and performs the critical functions described below.

The Specialist, Donor Reporting and Partnerships will form a key link in the OFRM management team to ensure UNDP’s BERA/Partnerships Group and OFRM teams, including the Strategic Resources Planning Unit and Corporate Financial Reporting and Agencies unit, are aligned in presenting a unified set of reports and data to UNDP’s partners, and supports the clearance of financing agreements with partners. As part of this link between UNDP’s divisions that support donor and partner relationships, the Specialist brings financial management and customer relationship management skills to bear to ensure that UNDP presents a technically strong and professional corporate image. The Specialist, Donor Reporting and Partnerships leads the team that is primarily responsible for the reporting and analysis of UNDP programme (including cost sharing and trust funds) financial data. In addition, the Specialist is also responsible for the design, development and effective implementation of reports to fulfill UNDP’s requirements to accurately report on the new and innovative financing modalities.

The Specialist, Donor Reporting and Partnerships reports to the Budget and Partnerships Specialist, Financial Business Partnering Division.

Duties and Responsibilities

Functions / Key Results Expected

Summary of Key Functions

Reporting and financial analysis;

Client Relationship Management;

Data presentation;

Advisory services in the area of Donor Reporting and Partnerships.

Ensure sound reporting that is based on thorough analysis of Atlas and other reliable data to meet UNDP donor, statutory and other reporting requirements.

Working with the Strategic Management Advisor, prepare draft reports and provide input into drafting analyses of the annual financial results of UNDP and its administered funds and trust funds (including the Annual Review of the Financial Situation) for submission to the Executive Board.

Oversee the preparation of statutory reports, and provides information and analyses for use in EG and OPG Briefs, and Executive Board documents

Ensure a submission and preparation of the annual certified financial reports to the donors.

Ensure continuous improvement in the quality of reporting, working closely with Analytics Team in the Innovations and Solutions Unit, to facilitate a greater report reliability to enable informed decision making.

Manage the donor reporting team.

1. Maintain excellent customer relationship with both external and internal clients

Ensure continuous improvement in responses to donors that enable UNDP to maintain accountability to its donors and other co-financing partners;

Maintain close liaison with BERA/Partnerships Group, Donors and Partners to ensure greater levels of internal and external customer satisfaction;

Advise Bureaux Advisors and country offices on matters related to UNDP’s financial reporting to donors;

Working closely with Innovations and Solutions Unit in supporting their formulation of new partnerships, support partnerships in the area of donor reporting.

2. Provide quality assurance in the compilation of data and presentations:

Oversee and monitor the production of the UNDP highlights of financial results such as the graphical presentation and design, sorting/organization of data etc. In this connection, ensures that information necessary for preparation of the highlights are received and review the schedules/information to ascertain that they agree with the UNDP financial statements and system of record.

Contribute to the further development and upgrade of the ERP financial system where it affects donor reporting, and systems to allow funding partners and clients to access financial information (such as IATI and other transparency initiatives) that improve the transparency, accuracy and timeliness of providing financial information.

Formulate quarterly reports on data quality issues for Bureaux Advisors and Financial Reporting and Agencies Units, and monitor improvements.

3. Provide advisory services and contribute to the development of new procedures through continuously scanning the horizon for innovative and ground-breaking solutions and in keeping abreast with best practices in comparable organizations and in entities external to the UN system:

Oversee and monitor the production of the UNDP highlights of financial results such as the graphical presentation and design, sorting/organization of data etc. In this connection, ensures that information necessary for preparation the highlights are received and review the schedules/information to ascertain that they agree with the UNDP financial records.

Contribute to the development of business requirements for new reports and subsequent system enhancement.

Provide input into the revision of Financial Regulations and Rules, policies and prescriptive content, as well as relevant segments of the user guides; draft detailed reporting requirements and procedures as stated; and provide guidance and advice on related policy issues.

Provides guidance to Bureaux Advisors, Trust Fund Managers, Country Offices and other units in OFRM and BMS on all matters relating to donor reporting issues, and provide periodic reports of data quality issues.

Contribute to improvement in business processes in the area of resource management and planning that ultimately impact annual and final certified financial reporting to donors.

4. Participate in other strategic initiatives within the Office of Financial Resources Management.

5. Manage the donor reporting team to ensure sound and timely reporting.

Impact of Results

The successful performance of this role will lead to a greater degree of consistency in the presentation of the UNDP reports, contribute to the implementation of UNDP policies and best resource management practices, and help strengthen UNDP’s partnerships. Any errors or omissions could potentially damage the reputation of the organization and deteriorate the relationship with Donors and the Executive Board.

Competencies

Corporate Competencies

Demonstrates commitment to UNDP’s mission, vision and values.

Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability.

Functional Competencies

Strong Diagnosis Skills

Must be able to review and analyze financial data to ensure consistency and inter-dependency of different reporting segments and requirements.

Must be able to analyze complex dataset from different data source while ensuring timeliness and accuracy.

Must be able to analyze in detail requests and determine the priority and relative value of the request versus other existing demands.

Relationship Building

Developing and maintaining strong and productive business relationships with clients in the UN system, UNDP HQ, regional centers and Country Offices.

Influencing

Able to negotiate with external parties the prioritization and design of reporting and queries in the overall interests of UNDP. In some cases able to convince others that request are not needed and data required already exists in a useable format.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:
Advanced (Masters) University Degree in Finance/Accounting, or Business Administration, or a professional accounting qualification from an internationally recognized institute of accountancy. Professionally qualified accountants from an internationally recognized institute of accountancy will have a distinct advantage. Long-listed candidates will be required to undergo the UNDP Accountancy and Finance Test (UNDP AFT).

Experience:
5 years of relevant work experience in the area of resource management;

In depth knowledge of the ERP Financials, Peoplesoft preferred;

Experience of working with ERP systems on a global basis;

A sound and detailed understanding of the UN environment, and the Finance and Accounting policies of UNDP, preferred

Detailed knowledge and experience complying with IFRS or IPSAS;

General familiarity and experience with data extraction tools.

Language Requirements:
Fluency in English.

Fluency in French or another UNDP working language an asset.

Disclaimer

Important information for US Permanent Residents (‘Green Card’ holders)

Under US immigration law, acceptance of a staff position with UNDP, an international organization, may have significant implications for US Permanent Residents. UNDP advises applicants for all professional level posts that they must relinquish their US Permanent Resident status and accept a G-4 visa, or have submitted a valid application for US citizenship prior to commencement of employment.

UNDP is not in a position to provide advice or assistance on applying for US citizenship and therefore applicants are advised to seek the advice of competent immigration lawyers regarding any applications.

Applicant information about UNDP rosters

Note: UNDP reserves the right to select one or more candidates from this vacancy announcement. We may also retain applications and consider candidates applying to this post for other similar positions with UNDP at the same grade level and with similar job description, experience and educational requirements.

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