NATIONAL POST: Finance Associate, G-7, Dili, Timor-Leste

Organizational Context

The Finance Associate supports effective financial resource management and oversight within the UNFPA Country Office in Dili, Timor-Leste, reporting to the International Operations Manager. This role ensures adherence to UNFPA's financial rules, regulations, and IPSAS standards, applying financial management knowledge to enhance efficiency, transparency, and compliance. The position contributes to UNFPA's mandate of ensuring every pregnancy is wanted, every childbirth is safe, and every young person's potential is fulfilled, by ensuring accurate and compliant financial processing.

Job Purpose

The Finance Associate is responsible for managing the Country Office's financial processes, utilizing in-depth knowledge of UNFPA's financial rules, regulations, and the Quantum ERP system to ensure compliance and provide essential financial information for decision-making across all funding streams. Beyond transaction processing and review, the role involves monitoring financial workflows, identifying areas for improvement within established policies, and collaborating closely with operations, programme, and project teams. The Finance Associate also contributes to local inter-agency coordination to meet UNFPA's needs in common systems and service issues, working with UN agencies, vendors, and other external partners to ensure successful financial performance.

Responsibilities

The Finance Associate is accountable for effective financial resource management, including planning, monitoring, and control mechanisms in line with UNFPA rules. This involves supporting budget preparation and monitoring, maintaining rigorous financial oversight to track budget execution, and processing financial transactions and cost-recovery bills in Quantum. The role includes conducting financial analysis, monitoring all CO financial resources, and providing regular updates and reports to management and programme teams, including donor reports. Maintaining cash management standards, preparing cashflow projections, and processing bank transfers are key duties. The Associate also tracks audit recommendations, supports assurance activities, and assists implementing partners in maintaining financial integrity through budget oversight and expenditure tracking. Furthermore, the role ensures compliance with established financial processes, identifies cost-saving measures, investigates financial anomalies, and coordinates efficient financial services for staff and clients, reviewing payment requests and transactions for accuracy and compliance.

Work Experience

Requires a minimum of seven (7) years of relevant experience in finance and budget management. Proven experience in managing and implementing financial policies, processes, and systems in development organizations is essential. Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications (Excel, Word) and experience with ERP systems (e.g., Quantum) are necessary. Experience with UN organizations is desirable.

Skills

Key skills include managing financial resources, implementing management systems, and fraud/risk management. Demonstrates integrity, accountability, and commitment to UNFPA and the UN system. Possesses strong analytical and strategic thinking abilities, business acumen, and the capacity to multitask and balance competing priorities. Effective communication, teamwork, and client orientation are also crucial.

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