Project Operations and Finance Analyst (Open to Internal and External Applicants)

In line with the commitment to safeguard capacity and support personnel already in the Organization, a majority of UNDP UNCDF/UNV vacancies are advertised using a tiered application process whereby:

• Tier 0: UNDP/UNCDF/UNV IP staff holding permanent (PA) and fixed-term (FTA) appointments, whose posts will be abolished, or contracts will be terminated or not renewed during 2026.
• Tier 1: Other UNDP/UNCDF/UNV staff holding permanent (PA) and fixed-term (FTA) appointments
• Tier 2: UNDP/UNCDF/UNV staff holding temporary appointments (TA), personnel on regular PSA contracts, and Expert and Specialist UN Volunteers
• Tier 3 or no tier indicated: All other contract types from UNDP/UNCDF/UNV and other agencies, and other external candidates

Please make note of the Tier(s) indicated in the vacancy title, if any, and ensure that you satisfy the eligibility to apply.

UNDP’s Rule of Law Programme in Pakistan is working to strengthen the rule of law and to ensure equal access to justice and security services, particularly for women and marginalized groups across Pakistan in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) including the merged districts (MDs), Balochistan, and Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT). In close collaboration with a range of government, rule of law and justice sector institutions, the overall Programme aims to enhance and sustain peace and stability for the longer- term in Pakistan. 

The Programme activities and interventions therefore directly correspond with the government of Pakistan’s strategies and commitments to rule of law and justice reforms, as well as improving the efficiency and effectiveness of institutions to deliver accountable and affordable security and justice services to the public. 

The Rule of Law Programme implementation is guided by the following four strategic objectives:

• Policy, legal and regulatory frameworks strengthened to warrant people-centered, equitable, timely, affordable justice and security delivery to all people with an emphasis on women, marginalized and vulnerable groups, and digital technologies. 
• Capacity of justice and security stakeholders (duty bearers) enhanced to deliver inclusive, timely, and accessible services to all people with an emphasis on women and digital technologies.
• Capacity of women, and the most vulnerable and marginalized (rights holders) strengthened to access referral pathways to justice and security. 
• Justice and security sector institutional facilities enhanced to deliver inclusive, timely, and accessible justice and security services, through women friendly and gender- responsive infrastructure development support with an emphasis on flood resilience and green energy. 

Against this backdrop, UNDP actions and interventions are aimed at restoring public confidence and service delivery in the formal justice and rule of law sectors through a range of initiatives i.e. policy development and reform, fostering justice and security sector governance, as well as oversight and accountability at an institutional level with emphasis on inclusive and gender-responsive programming. The overall engagement strategy, therefore, involves both federal and local levels.  The Programme is implemented in partnership with the Judiciary, Police, Prosecution, Prisons, Probation and Reclamation, Bar Associations, Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) and the academia both at federal and provincial levels.

The Project Operations & Finance Analyst will provide financial management, operational coordination and administrative support for the effective implementation of the Rule of Law Programme. The Analyst will support sound budget planning and monitoring, financial analysis, forecasting, expenditure review, financial reporting, risk management, internal controls and the coordination of programme operational processes in accordance with UNDP rules, regulations, policies and procedures and applicable donor requirements.

The Analyst will provide advice and support to programme management on the efficient, accountable and timely use of programme resources and will coordinate closely with designated other team members and relevant Country Office colleagues to anticipate operational requirements, address implementation bottlenecks and maintain audit-ready financial and operational records.

The Operations & Finance Analyst will report directly to the Team Lead – Programme Specialist. The Analyst will provide specialized financial management, operational coordination and administrative support for the Rule of Law Programme, helping ensure that programme resources are planned, utilized, monitored and reported in an efficient, accountable and compliant manner.

The Analyst will support budget preparation and revisions, financial forecasting, expenditure and commitment monitoring, financial reporting, internal controls, audit readiness, risk management and the coordination of operational processes required for timely programme implementation. S/he will provide regular financial and operational analysis to support management decision-making and promote value for money and effective resource utilization.

The Analyst will maintain effective coordination with designated other team members and relevant UNDP Country Office functions to ensure that financial and operational requirements are anticipated and addressed in a timely manner and that programme implementation remains consistent with UNDP policies, procedures and applicable donor requirements.

UNDP adopts a portfolio approach to accommodate changing business needs and leverage linkages across interventions to achieve its strategic goals. Therefore, UNDP personnel are expected to work across units, functions, teams and projects in multidisciplinary teams to enhance and enable horizontal collaboration.

• Support preparation, review and consolidation of programme budgets, annual workplans and financial plans in line with approved programme documents, available resources and implementation priorities.
• Prepare and regularly update financial forecasts and cash-flow projections to support timely implementation and informed management decision-making.
• Monitor budget availability and utilization across programme activities and cost categories and identify potential funding gaps, underutilization, over-expenditure or other variances requiring management attention.
• Support preparation and processing of budget revisions, reallocations and other financial adjustments in accordance with UNDP procedures and applicable donor requirements.
• Analyse the financial implications of programme implementation decisions and provide timely financial advice to programme management.
• Support results-based budgeting by linking financial planning and expenditure monitoring with approved workplans, implementation progress and programme priorities.

• Monitor programme expenditures, commitments, advances and available balances on a regular basis and maintain accurate financial monitoring records.
• Review financial transactions and supporting documentation for completeness, accuracy, budget availability and compliance with applicable UNDP policies and programme requirements.
• Prepare periodic budget-versus-expenditure analyses and other financial management reports, highlighting variances, trends, risks and recommended corrective actions.
• Monitor delivery rates and financial performance against approved workplans and forecasts and follow up on delayed or outstanding actions.
• Support reconciliation and resolution of financial discrepancies, outstanding commitments, advances and other financial issues in coordination with relevant UNDP Country Office colleagues.
• Maintain financial information required for management oversight, donor reporting, audits and programme closure, and promote efficient resource utilization and value for money.

• Prepare and coordinate financial information and supporting schedules required for programme and donor financial reporting, ensuring accuracy, completeness and consistency with UNDP financial records.
• Support compliance with applicable donor requirements and UNDP financial rules, regulations, policies and procedures.
• Maintain organized and complete financial and operational records and supporting documentation to facilitate accountability, verification and audit readiness.
• Support internal and external audits, spot checks, financial reviews and other assurance exercises, including preparation of documentation, coordination of responses and follow-up on recommendations.
• Support identification, documentation and monitoring of financial and operational risks and contribute to appropriate mitigation and internal-control measures.
• Advise designated other team members on applicable financial procedures, controls and documentation requirements and promote consistent compliance.
• Support financial aspects of programme closure, including reconciliation of accounts, outstanding obligations, asset-related financial records and final financial reporting, as required.

• Coordinate day-to-day operational and administrative requirements of the Programme to support timely implementation of approved activities.
• Support operational planning and sequencing of finance, procurement, contracting, human resources, travel, logistics and other administrative actions in coordination with designated other team members and relevant Country Office colleagues.
• Maintain an integrated overview of key operational actions and deadlines and follow up on bottlenecks that may affect programme delivery.
• Support budget availability checks, financial clearances and contract-related financial matters while respecting the responsibilities of designated UNDP functions.
• Support programme management with administrative processes related to personnel, consultants, travel, missions, workshops and programme events, including budget planning, financial monitoring and coordination of required operational actions.
• Liaise with relevant UNDP Country Office operations, finance, human resources, procurement and administrative functions to facilitate timely and compliant programme implementation.

• Provide regular financial and operational updates to programme management, including analysis of expenditure, forecasts, delivery, commitments, operational risks and pending actions.
• Support preparation of programme workplans, implementation reviews, management meetings and donor discussions by providing relevant financial and operational analysis.
• Contribute financial and operational inputs to programme progress reports, donor reports, briefing notes, presentations and other management documentation.
• Support periodic reviews of implementation arrangements and operational processes and recommend practical measures to improve efficiency, compliance and timeliness.
• Review relevant financial and operational documentation and support quality assurance of financial information, budgets, forecasts and supporting records.
• Keep abreast of changes in relevant UNDP policies, procedures and systems and applicable donor financial requirements and advise on their application.
• Contribute to a collaborative working environment and effective coordination between programme and operations functions.

• Provide support in identifying training needs of UNDP personnel for the purpose of capacity development in finance compliance. 
• Organize and conduct training for the operations/programme/projects staff on financial management and RBM. Assist in providing regular training and technical guidance/advice on audit and compliance matters, including implementation of Internal Control Framework (ICF). 
• Synthesize lessons learned and best practices in Finance. 
• Provide sound contributions to knowledge networks and communities of practice. 

The Rule of Law Programme is placed within the Democratic Governance Unit of the UNDP Country Office in Pakistan, and the Analyst will work under the supervision of the Team Lead – Programme Specailist and coordinate with designated other team members and relevant Country Office colleagues.

Core Competencies 

• Achieve Results: LEVEL 1: Plans and monitors own work, pays attention to details, delivers quality work by deadline
• Think Innovatively: LEVEL 1: Open to creative ideas/known risks, is pragmatic problem solver, makes improvements
• Learn Continuously: LEVEL 1: Open minded and curious, shares knowledge, learns from mistakes, asks for feedback
• Adapt with Agility: LEVEL 1: Adapts to change, constructively handles ambiguity/uncertainty, is flexible
• Act with Determination: LEVEL 1: Shows drive and motivation, able to deliver calmly in face of adversity, confident
• Engage and Partner: LEVEL 1: Demonstrates compassion/understanding towards others, forms positive relationships
• Enable Diversity and Inclusion: LEVEL 1: Appreciate/respect differences, aware of unconscious bias, confront discrimination

  Cross-Functional & Technical Competencies Finance

• Financial planning and budgeting: Ability to create and manage processes to achieve UNDP's long and short-term financial goals, including through planning, budgeting, forecasting, analysing and reporting

Business Management

• Resource Management Allocate and use resources in a strategic or tactical way in line with business needs and priorities and principles of accountability and integrity
• Risk Management Identify and organize action around reducing, mitigating and proactively managing risks
• Operations Management Ability to effectively plan, organise and oversee different parts of corporate operations, simultaneously and in an integrated way, in order to convert the organisation’s assets into the best results in the most efficient way. Knowledge of relevant concepts and mechanisms.
• Systems 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
• Project Management Ability to plan, organize, prioritize and control resources, procedures and protocols to achieve specific goals

Administration and Operations

• Inventory management Each office to ensure sufficient inventory items are available for use as well as reporting for items which are beyond the corporate threshold of $5K and above

Min. Education requirements

• A professional accounting qualification from an internationally accredited institute of accountancy, and/or Advanced (Master´s) University Degree in Finance and/or Accounting is required. Or a first-level university degree (bachelor’s degree) in combination with an additional two years of qualifying experience will be given due consideration in lieu of the advanced university degree.
• Candidates with professional accounting qualifications from an internationally accredited institute of accountancy will have a distinct advantage.
• Candidates with no professional accountancy qualifications, but with degrees that major in accountancy and/or finance must complete the Finance Training and Certification Programme (FTCP), if recruited.
• Candidates satisfying the two above criteria are exempted from undertaking the UNDP Advanced Accountancy and Finance Test (AAFT).
• Candidates with MBA or master's in finance with no accountancy qualification but with relevant experience must successfully undertake the UNDP Advanced Accountancy and Finance Test (AAFT) to be eligible for shortlisting.

Min. years of relevant work experience

• Minimum of two years (with master's degree) or four years (with bachelor's degree) of relevant professional experience in financial management, programme operations, budgeting, administration or related areas is required.

Required Skills

• Demonstrated experience in programme or project financial management, including budget planning, expenditure monitoring, forecasting and financial analysis.
• Experience in preparing financial reports, budget revisions, reconciliations and management financial information.

Desired Skills

• Experience in programme or project operations and administration, including coordination of operational processes and compliance requirements.
• Experience applying financial rules, internal controls, audit requirements and risk-management procedures.
• Experience supporting donor-funded programmes and working with donor financial and contractual requirements; experience with European Union-funded programmes.
• Experience supporting audits, financial reviews, spot checks or other assurance exercises.
• Experience using enterprise resource planning and financial management systems; including UNDP Quantum or comparable ERP systems.
• Experience coordinating with procurement, human resources, travel, logistics and other operations functions in support of programme implementation.
• Experience in financial analysis, cash-flow planning and preparation of management dashboards or financial monitoring tools.
• Experience applying UNDP financial rules, regulations, policies and procedures.
• Previous work experience with UNDP, UN agencies or international development organizations.

Required Language(s)

• Fluency in English and Urdu is required.

As an equal opportunity employer, UNDP values diversity as an expression of the multiplicity of nations and cultures where we operate and, as such, we encourage qualified applicants from all backgrounds to apply for roles in the organization. Our employment decisions are based on merit and suitability for the role, without discrimination. 

UNDP is also committed to creating an inclusive workplace where all personnel are empowered to contribute to our mission, are valued, can thrive, and benefit from career opportunities that are open to all.

UNDP does not tolerate harassment, sexual harassment, exploitation, discrimination and abuse of authority. All selected candidates, therefore, undergo relevant checks and are expected to adhere to the respective standards and principles. 

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.

Applicants are invited to read UNDP’s guidance for candidates on using AI responsibly in UNDP recruitment and selection

UNDP does not charge a fee at any stage of its recruitment process. For further information, please see www.undp.org/scam-alert.

Please click here to view UNDP Data Privacy Statement