Finance Analyst – Audit and Expenditure Verification

Background Information – Job-specific

Cities Alliance, which is hosted by UNOPS, is a global partnership for the promotion of cities in poverty reduction and sustainable development. Headquartered in Brussels and supported by a Secretariat, it is a unique partnership with a diverse membership – including global organizations of local authorities, national governments, international non-governmental organizations, foundations, knowledge networks and multilateral organizations – which have come together to strengthen both impacts and coherence in urban development.

Cities Alliance is a global leader, with a strong track record in grant making, that supports strategic city planning, slum upgrading strategies and national policies designed to make cities more inclusive and sustainable. Cities Alliance has a longstanding track record of supporting cities to build longer-term visions and plans for themselves that recognize the value of all residents; attract investment to where it is needed; strengthen basic services, housing, and job opportunities for slum dwellers; help integrate the informal economy into the city supply chains; and sustain the fabric of civil society and societal cohesion in “the last mile” within informal settlements, with specific attention to gender equality and strengthening resilience to climate change. Through UNOPS, the Cities Alliance operates a Multi-Donor Fund supported by an efficient, flexible grant-making mechanism with global reach.

Cities Alliance is implementing its 2022-2025 Strategic Plan, which conveys the realignment of 20 years of experience in fighting urban poverty and sharpens our focus on tested solutions to the unprecedented challenges that are impacting cities, their informal settlements, and most acutely, the urban poor. Cities Alliance operates through a business model which combines a Global window for normative work and a Country/City window for operations across Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean, and the MENA region.

Functional Responsibilities

• Financial statement verifications: Conducting independent verifications of Implementing Partner’s financial statements in accordance with UNOPS/Cities Alliance’s standard operating procedures on fiduciary spot checks
• Expenditure verifications: Verifying the accuracy, completeness, and compliance of expenditures incurred by Implementing Partners against agreed-upon budgets and contractual obligations.
• Compliance verifications: Assess Implementing Partners’ internal control systems, adherence to best practices for financial management and UNOPS/Cities Alliance policies, procedures, and relevant regulations for grants support.
• Preparation of verification reports: Issuing clear, concise, and informative verification reports in accordance with UNOPS/Cities Alliance reporting requirements.
• Communication and consultation: Maintaining open communication with Implementing Partners and with UNOPS/Cities Alliance management teams throughout the verification process.

Education/Experience/Language requirements

Education:

• A bachelor’s degree, advanced degree or equivalent in auditing, accounting, finance, business management, business administration, public administration or related fields

Experience:

• Minimum of 2 years of professional-level experience in auditing, accounting or related fields is required.
• Working experience with spot checks in accordance with the UN Harmonized Approach to Cash Transfers (HACT) is an advantage
• Working experience with ERP systems, and Microsoft Office or Google Workspace is an advantage.

Language Requirements:

• Fluency in English is required (oral and written).
• Fluency in French desirable.
• Working knowledge of another official UN language is an asset.