Finance Specialist (Finance Integration & Technologies (FIT))

The Finance Specialist (FIT) leads the design, implementation, and delivery of finance process improvements, automation initiatives, and data-enabled solutions within the Financial Performance Management & Reporting team at UNDP. The role focuses on strengthening the efficiency, quality, and control of core finance processes, supporting fast close and continuous accounting objectives, and driving technology-enabled process reengineering.

Responsibilities

• Conduct detailed analysis of current-state finance processes, particularly across the record-to-report lifecycle, to identify inefficiencies, control gaps, and opportunities for standardization and automation.
• Document and lead current-state and future-state process flows, business requirements, and control considerations to support system-enabled redesign.
• Lead the implementation of approved process improvements, ensuring alignment with financial policies, control requirements, and operational realities.
• Support fast close initiatives by identifying manual interventions, reconciliation bottlenecks, and reporting dependencies, and proposing practical, scalable improvements.
• Identify and support initiatives aimed at reducing manual interventions, reconciliation effort, and cycle times during month-end, quarter-end, and year-end close processes.
• Analyse close activities, identifying bottlenecks and data dependencies, and propose practical improvements under guidance from the Head, FIT.
• Conduct testing, validation, and rollout of process or system changes designed to improve close efficiency while maintaining audit-level quality and assurance.
• Implement automation and system-enabled initiatives by preparing requirements, assisting with configuration analysis, and conducting testing activities, including user acceptance testing (UAT).
• Work with finance, systems, and analytics colleagues to ensure solutions are embedded within core financial systems and supported by reliable data flows.
• Monitor the performance and effectiveness of implemented solutions and address refinement as required.
• Perform structured financial, process, and data analysis in support of approved transformation initiatives, including preparation of analytical outputs, dashboards, and briefing materials.
• Support the preparation of business cases, implementation plans, and progress reporting for finance innovation initiatives.
• Prepare the documentation, guidance, and knowledge materials to support adoption and sustainability of implemented changes.
• Lead coordination with relevant finance units, GSSC, IT, and other stakeholders to facilitate delivery of process and system improvements.
• Implement change management activities, including preparation of communication materials, training content, and user guidance.
• Monitor issue tracking and resolution during implementation phases, escalating risks or blockers to the Head, FIT as appropriate.
• Synthesize lessons learned and best practices in Finance.
• Provide sound contributions to knowledge networks and communities of practice.
• Perform other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization.

Requirements

• Advanced University Degree (master’s degree or equivalent) in Finance or Accounting, and/or a professional accounting qualification from an accredited institute of accountancy is required.
• A first-level university degree (bachelor’s degree) in the areas mentioned above, in combination with an additional two years of qualifying experience, will be given due consideration in lieu of an advanced university degree.
• Those with professional accounting qualifications from an accredited institute of accountancy will have a distinct advantage.
• Candidates with no accountancy qualification but with relevant experience must successfully undertake the UNDP Advanced Accountancy and Finance Test (AAFT) to be eligible for shortlisting.
• Candidates with no professional accountancy qualifications, but with degrees that major in accountancy and/or finance must complete UNDP Finance Training and Certification Programme (FTCP), if recruited.
• Minimum 5 years (with master´s degree) or 7 years (with bachelor´s degree) of relevant experience in datasets and financial system outputs, applying analytical techniques to identify trends, anomalies, and opportunities for process or control improvements.
• Strong analytical and report-writing skills with a proven track record.
• Demonstrated experience in AI, digital transformation, and process automation.
• Experience conforming to international accounting standards (e.g. IPSAS/IFRS) and full accruals accounting conventions.
• Experience in working with ERP systems (preferably Oracle Fusion Cloud ERP and Oracle Cloud EPM (Enterprise Performance Management)).
• Experience as a collaborative team player with flexibility to work across global time zones.
• Audit and/or consulting experience in a large international auditing firm is desirable.
• Process transformation experience in large organizations, including strong project management, process and problem-solving skills to resolve ambiguity and design scalable workflows, and translate clearly between business and technical stakeholders is desirable.
• Experience working in the UN system is desirable.
• Fluency in English is required.
• Working knowledge of another UN language is an advantage.
• Distinct Advantage: ACCA, CPA, CIMA, CIPFA, or other internationally recognized accounting certifications.

Skills

• Financial Analysis
• Accounting Standards
• IPSAS
• IFRS
• ERP Systems
• Oracle Cloud Fusion ERP
• Oracle Cloud EPM
• Process Automation
• Digital Transformation
• Data Analysis
• Financial Reporting
• Process Improvement
• Project Management
• Audit Experience
• Consulting Experience
• Report Writing
• Process Transformation
• Financial System Outputs
• Advanced Accountancy
• Finance Training and Certification Programme

Languages

English