Finance Associate

The Finance Associate supports financial, accounting, and operational management of the census project in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The role ensures effective and transparent financial services, processes complex transactions, monitors budget execution, and ensures compliance with UNFPA financial rules and donor requirements.

Responsibilities

• Process and verify all financial transactions related to the census project in the UNFPA Enterprise Resource Planning system (Quantum).
• Ensure strict compliance with UNFPA financial guidelines, correct chart of accounts coding, fund availability and application of standard internal controls before payment processing.
• Manage a high volume of operational and supplier payments for census providers, logistics partners and consultants.
• Reconcile census financial accounts, monitor outstanding commitments (purchase orders) and maintain financial journals and tracking sheets.
• Facilitate payments for field mapping, pilot census and main enumeration activities including field allowances, transport allocations and operational advances across 26 provinces.
• Coordinate modern disbursement mechanisms such as Mobile Money, direct bank transfers and secure field cash logistics to ensure timely and accurate payment of field agents and enumerators.
• Perform post-disbursement reconciliations by collecting and verifying field payrolls, attendance lists and payment receipts.
• Process advances, direct payments and reimbursements for national census entities (Central Census Office / INS).
• Review and verify payment authorization forms and expenditure certificates submitted by national partners for accuracy, supporting documents and compliance with approved work plans.
• Ensure compliance with Harmonized Approach to Cash Transfers (HACT) financial management standards, supporting micro-assessments, spot checks and financial audits of implementing partners.
• Provide technical advice and regular training to BCR financial staff on UNFPA financial procedures and reporting standards.
• Monitor expenditure execution rate of the census project against approved annual work plans and multi-donor fund allocations.
• Prepare regular financial summaries, budget utilization reports and financial tables required by UNFPA management, donor progress reports (e.g. World Bank, AfDB, bilateral donors) and steering committee meetings.
• Support budget preparation, budget revisions and year-end financial closure activities for the census project.
• Maintain complete digital and physical financial records organized and audit-ready, ensuring all supporting documents, invoices and approvals are securely archived.
• Facilitate internal and external audit missions by serving as a key focal point for extracting financial documentation and responding to auditor information requests.

Requirements

• High School certificate required; University degree (Bachelor) in finance, accounting, financial management, commerce or business administration is desirable.
• Minimum 6 years of relevant experience in accounting, financial management or general administration.
• Experience processing a high volume of financial transactions within an international organization, UN agency, NGO or donor-funded project.
• Practical experience using UN ERP systems such as Quantum is highly desirable.
• Practical experience with field disbursements, Mobile Money payments and multi-donor grant management in DRC or similar contexts is an asset.
• Fluency in French and professional working knowledge of English required.
• Demonstrated integrity and commitment to UNFPA and UN system values.
• Ability to deliver results, accountability, professional expertise, analytical and strategic thinking, teamwork and self-management skills.
• Experience in financial reporting and transaction processing.
• Experience in financial resource management.

Skills

• Finance Management
• Accounting
• Financial Reporting
• Transaction Processing
• Budget execution monitoring
• UN ERP Systems
• QUANTUM ERP
• Field Disbursements
• Mobile money transfers
• Multi-Donor Grant Management
• Financial Resource Management
• Compliance with UN Financial Regulations
• Donor Compliance
• Financial Transaction Processing
• International Organization Finance

Languages

French, English