Finance Associate

The United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) is seeking a Finance Associate to join its Finance Group in Nairobi, Kenya. This is a pivotal operational role within one of the United Nations' most active implementing arms, supporting the delivery of projects across governments, international financial institutions, and humanitarian partners worldwide.

The Finance Associate will contribute directly to the preparation of corporate financial statements, financial oversight and monitoring, transaction processing, and systems improvement initiatives. The role demands a meticulous professional who upholds the highest standards of financial compliance under UNOPS Financial Rules and Regulations, while collaborating effectively with internal and external stakeholders across global operations.

• Support the preparation of interim and year-end corporate financial statements, including supporting schedules and explanatory notes.
• Assist in data consolidation and development of working files and tables used in financial statement preparation.
• Provide direct support to the audit focal person during internal and external audit processes.
• Maintain and update audit recommendation logs, extracting actionable data for analysis and follow-up.
• Coordinate and monitor quarterly and year-end financial closure processes to ensure timely and accurate completion.
• Review reconciliation submissions and account balances for compliance with UNOPS Financial Rules and Regulations and applicable Organizational Directives and Operational Instructions.
• Perform detailed analysis of General Ledger (GL) data across relevant accounts, producing working files and variance analyses.
• Communicate with internal stakeholders to address areas requiring verification, corrections, or additional information to improve output quality.
• Review General Ledger finance data for completeness, accuracy, and correctness of account entries in assigned focus areas.
• Conduct periodic monitoring and oversight of transactions and account balances to ensure compliance with organizational reporting standards.
• Contribute to capacity building efforts and recommend system improvements to enhance the efficiency of financial operations.

• Demonstrate ability to prepare and review financial statements in accordance with IPSAS or IFRS standards, ensuring completeness and accuracy.
• Apply General Ledger analysis skills to identify discrepancies, perform reconciliations, and recommend corrective entries.
• Use ERP systems (e.g., Oracle, SAP, or equivalent) to process financial transactions and extract analytical data reliably.
• Interpret and apply institutional financial rules, regulations, and operational instructions to day-to-day financial functions.
• Communicate clearly and professionally with cross-functional and international stakeholders on financial matters, both in writing and verbally.
• Manage competing deadlines during financial closure periods while maintaining accuracy and compliance standards.
• Hold a Bachelor's degree or professional certification in Finance, Accounting, Business Administration, or a closely related field.
• Bring 2 to 6 years of progressively responsible experience in finance, accounting, or audit — ideally within an international organization, UN system, or donor-funded environment.
• Demonstrate proficiency in Microsoft Excel for financial modelling, data consolidation, and reporting.

UNOPS offers competitive compensation benchmarked against the United Nations Common System pay scale. For this associate-level position based in Nairobi, the estimated monthly gross compensation falls between KES 150,000 and KES 250,000, subject to UN tax exemption provisions applicable to locally recruited staff. Additional benefits are aligned with UNOPS HR policies and may include health coverage, pension contributions, and leave entitlements as per organizational standards.

Ideal candidates are detail-oriented finance professionals with a solid grounding in financial reporting, reconciliation, and compliance — particularly those with exposure to the UN system, INGOs, or multilateral institutions. You thrive under audit pressure, are comfortable working across time zones with global colleagues, and bring genuine commitment to the UN's mission of sustainable development and humanitarian impact.

Do not apply if you have fewer than 2 years of hands-on accounting or finance experience, lack familiarity with General Ledger systems, or are unable to commit to a full-time position based in Nairobi. This role is not suitable for candidates seeking remote-only arrangements.

• Visit the UNOPS official careers portal at jobs.unops.org and search for the Finance Associate vacancy in Nairobi.
• Create or log in to your UNOPS candidate profile and complete the online application form in full.
• Upload your updated CV, a cover letter outlining your relevant finance and compliance experience, and copies of relevant academic and professional certificates.
• Ensure your application is submitted before the closing date of 29 June 2026 — late submissions will not be considered.
• Important: Never pay any fee, notarisation charge, or certificate cost as part of this or any legitimate UNOPS recruitment process. If in doubt, contact UNOPS directly through official channels.