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General Information

Position Title
Project Finance Senior Analyst
Job Category
Finance
Duty Station(s)
Vienna
Seniority Level
Mid Level
ICS Level
ICS 09
Contract Type
ICA - IICA - Regular
Contract Level
IICA 1
Posting Start Date
28-Jan-2026
Posting End Date
09-Feb-2026
Duration
Ongoing, subject to organizational requirements, availability of funds and satisfactory performance

Job Highlight

This is an excellent opportunity to contribute to the effective financial management of UNOPS projects, ensuring transparency and accountability in resource utilization. The position offers exposure to a variety of projects and donors, providing valuable experience in international development finance.

About the Group

The Finance Group serves as a strategic partner and fiduciary advisor, ensuring transparent, accountable, and effective resource management across UNOPS. The Group defines financial strategy in alignment with organizational goals, establishes finance policies, systems, and processes, and leads corporate budgeting to enable full cost recovery and ensure long-term financial sustainability. Throughout the project lifecycle, the Finance Group provides expert guidance, oversight, and tailored financial solutions. Responsibilities include delivering comprehensive financial and corporate performance reporting, strengthening financial capacity across the organization, and continuously enhancing resource planning and allocation. In addition, the Finance Group prepares and oversees the implementation of finance-related policies, upholding the highest standards of financial stewardship and supporting UNOPS in achieving operational excellence and fiscal responsibility.

Job Specific Context

The Finance Group (FG) serves as a strategic partner and fiduciary advisor, ensuring transparent, accountable, and effective resource management across UNOPS. The Group defines financial strategy in alignment with organizational goals, establishes finance policies, systems, and processes, and leads corporate budgeting to enable full cost recovery and ensure long-term financial sustainability. Throughout the project lifecycle, the Finance Group provides expert guidance, oversight, and tailored financial solutions. Responsibilities include delivering comprehensive financial and corporate performance reporting, strengthening financial capacity across the organization, and continuously enhancing resource planning and allocation. In addition, the Finance Group prepares and oversees the implementation of finance-related policies, upholding the highest standards of financial stewardship and supporting UNOPS in achieving operational excellence and fiscal responsibility.

Role Purpose

The Project Finance Senior Analyst reports to a senior member of the Project Finance Team, which provides broad supervision and guidance. As a senior team member, the incumbent could be requested to take on the Officer in Charge (OIC) role for a Project Finance Specialist in their absence. The role contributes to FG’s vision of being a true business partner to UNOPS projects, by providing advice on all financial matters for partner relationship questions and project delivery to internal and external senior stakeholders. This includes establishing aspects of the financial framework within which client projects can operate, i.e. the policies and systems that govern cost recovery, financial aspects of global agreements with partners, implementation support and oversight, financial reporting, closure of records and support to audits and verifications. The role is part of a centre of excellence, providing seamless, appropriate, relevant and proactive project-specific tools, guidance and support. The role includes collaboration on project setup, implementation and closure with UNOPS delivery functions and UNOPS Partnerships Group, and supports outreach and training on all things related to project finance.

Functions / Key Results Expected

Summary of Key Functions:

  • Partner Negotiations

  • Project Finance

  • Implementation/ Transactional Services Delivery Support

  • Cost Recovery

  • Knowledge Management

  • People Management 


Partner Negotiations

  • Draft partner-specific process guidance and supporting documents to ensure quality and process compliance with UNOPS policies as well as documentation of the partner’s needs. 


Project Finance 

  • Provide inputs to audit queries from both internal (Internal Audit & Investigations Group) and external bodies (UN Board of Auditors, Joint Inspection Unit). Provide support for project audits and verifications as needed.  

  • Act as an approver in accordance with the assigned Delegation of Authority. 

  • Provide both regular and ad hoc internal and external reporting on client projects and the cost recovery model as requested. Ensure accurate reconciliation of general ledger accounts/ under the responsibility of project finance.

  • Configure reporting templates and dashboards on UNOPS financial reporting platforms to support oversight on UNOPS project status.

  • Gather requirements and coordinate with IT to ensure IT systems are configured to support project requirements


Implementation/Transactional Services Delivery Support

  • Provide finance support to UNOPS delivery functions throughout the entire agreement life cycle

  • Review of implementation and transactional service agreements and their amendments 

  • Validate the system setup of finance-related records (such as project/service accounts, budgets, cost recovery setup, etc.) 

  • Review and approval of accounting entries related to expenditure/recovery as per delegation

  • Prepare financial reports for partners 

  • Ensure compliance and closure of financial records at the end of an agreement


Cost Recovery

  • Support the continuous development and implementation of UNOPS’ cost recovery model. Analyse and recommend cost recovery-related budgets, rates, processes, tools and performance. 

  • Review and report on the consistent application of UNOPS cost recovery principles and support the refunds of any excess recoveries to UNOPS partners. 

  • Provide analysis and support as required during the annual budgeting and target-setting process.

  • Provide analysis and prepare reports as required, including the project finance quarterly report to senior management 


Knowledge Management and Innovation

  • Contribute to the development and introduction of innovation in UNOPS project finance practices.

  • Promote knowledge sharing and dissemination of lessons learned across the organization.

  • Plan and lead capacity-building initiatives for personnel, clients and stakeholders.

  • Maintain comprehensive knowledge of project finance activities to support UNOPS teams and other corporate functions as needed. 


People Management

  • Contribute to the annual work plan for the project finance team. 

  • Monitor implementation of the assigned tasks, report progress and ensure delivery of results as planned and according to expectation.

  • Foster a positive work environment, respectful of all, and ensure that the highest standards of conduct are observed.




Skills

Contract Negotiation, Financial Reporting, Financial Statement Analysis, Leadership, Project Finance, Project Implementation, Budgeting
Respect
Treats all individuals with respect; responds sensitively to differences and encourages others to do the same. Upholds organisational and ethical norms. Maintains high standards of trustworthiness. Role model for diversity and inclusion.
Collaboration
Acts as a positive role model contributing to the team spirit. Collaborates and supports the development of others. For people managers only: Acts as positive leadership role model, motivates, directs and inspires others to succeed, utilizing appropriate leadership styles.
Partnerships
Demonstrates understanding of the impact of own role on all partners and always puts the end beneficiary first. Builds and maintains strong external relationships and is a competent partner for others (if relevant to the role).
Excellence
Efficiently establishes an appropriate course of action for self and/or others to accomplish a goal. Actions lead to total task accomplishment through concern for quality in all areas. Sees opportunities and takes the initiative to act on them. Understands that responsible use of resources maximizes our impact on our beneficiaries.
Adaptability
Open to change and flexible in a fast paced environment. Effectively adapts own approach to suit changing circumstances or requirements. Reflects on experiences and modifies own behavior. Performance is consistent, even under pressure. Always pursues continuous improvements.
Decision-making
Evaluates data and courses of action to reach logical, pragmatic decisions. Takes an unbiased, rational approach with calculated risks. Applies innovation and creativity to problem-solving.
Communication
Expresses ideas or facts in a clear, concise and open manner. Communication indicates a consideration for the feelings and needs of others. Actively listens and proactively shares knowledge. Handles conflict effectively, by overcoming differences of opinion and finding common ground.

Education Requirements

Required

  • Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) in Finance, Business Administration, or related fields with 4 years of relevant experience OR

  • Master’s degree (or equivalent) in any of the above or related fields with 2 years of relevant experience is required


Desired

  • A globally or nationally recognized professional certificate in finance is desired.

Experience Requirements

Required

  • Relevant experience is work in financial management or related areas, of which a minimum of 2 years is required


Desired

  • Experience working on financial matters as they relate to project management, including project budgeting and project reporting

  • Supervisory experience

  • Understanding of UNOPS financial model as it relates to client projects

  • Experience with partner relations and project financial aspects

  • Experience working in a field location

  • Experience in development or humanitarian contexts is desired.

Language Requirements

LanguageProficiency LevelRequirement
EnglishFluentRequired
FrenchBasicDesirable
SpanishBasicDesirable
ArabicBasicDesirable
RussianBasicDesirable
Chinese, MandarinBasicDesirable

Additional Information

  • Please note that UNOPS does not accept unsolicited resumes. 
  • Please note that UNOPS will at no stage of the recruitment process request candidates to make payments of any kind.
  • Applications to vacancies must be received before midnight Copenhagen time (CET) on the closing date of the announcement. Applications received after the closing date will not be considered. 
  • Please note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process, which involves various assessments. 
  • UNOPS embraces diversity and is committed to equal employment opportunity. Our workforce consists of many diverse nationalities, cultures, languages, races, gender identities, sexual orientations, and abilities. UNOPS seeks to sustain and strengthen this diversity to ensure equal opportunities as well as an inclusive working environment for its entire workforce. 
  • Qualified women and candidates from groups which are underrepresented in the UNOPS workforce are encouraged to apply. These include in particular candidates from racialized and/or indigenous groups, members of minority gender identities and sexual orientations, and people with disabilities. 
  • We would like to ensure all candidates perform at their best during the assessment process. If you are shortlisted and require additional assistance to complete any assessment, including reasonable accommodation, please inform our human resources team when you receive an invitation.
 
Terms and Conditions
 
  • For staff positions only, UNOPS reserves the right to appoint a candidate at a lower level than the advertised level of the post. 
  • For retainer contracts, you must complete a few mandatory courses (they take around 4 hours to complete) in your own time, before providing services to UNOPS. Refreshers or new mandatory courses may be required during your contract. Please note that you will not receive any compensation for taking courses and refreshers. For more information on a retainer contract here
  • For more details about the contract types, please click here.
  • All UNOPS personnel are responsible for performing their duties in accordance with the UN Charter and UNOPS Policies and Instructions, as well as other relevant accountability frameworks. In addition, all personnel must demonstrate an understanding of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in a manner consistent with UN core values and the UN Common Agenda. 
  • It is the policy of UNOPS to conduct background checks on all potential personnel. Recruitment in UNOPS is contingent on the results of such checks.