The Grants Financial Monitoring and Compliance Officer plays a critical role in safeguarding the financial integrity of grants and optimizing the effective utilization of funds disbursed to Grantees (Facilitating Partners – FPs). The position ensures robust financial management, rigorous oversight, and full compliance with donor requirements, UNOPS financial rules, and applicable regulatory frameworks. Under the direct supervision of the Grant Management Specialist and the technical supervision of the Finance Advisor, the Officer will work closely with the cross-functional teams, including Programme, Grants, and Finance, the Officer supports the coordinates targeted financial monitoring and spot checks of funds disbursed, reviews financial reports, and supports the grant closure process. With support from the Grant Management Specialist and Finance Advisor, the Officer develops and delivers grant financial capacity-building initiatives for FPs and internal stakeholders, strengthening compliance and financial management practices. This proactive oversight is essential to mitigating financial risks and ensuring full adherence to the Project Operations Manual (POM) and all relevant regulatory standards. The role will supervise five field office based Grants Financial Monitoring and Compliance Associates.

The Grants Financial Monitoring and Compliance Officer is responsible for maintaining and strengthening the grants financial management system and will work closely with the Finance Specialist and Grant Management Specialist. The role is responsible for financial management and monitoring, capacity building and compliance, and will also contribute to the identification and sharing of best practices in financial and grants management. 

1. Financial Monitoring and Reporting for Grant Management Activities

• In collaboration with the program team and supervisors, develop schedules for financial monitoring/spot checks. Coordinate, assign and oversee field monitoring, verifications missions and spot checks conducted by Grants Financial Monitoring and Compliance Associates, and develop summarised reports. Service as the focal point for financial monitoring of FPs, acting as lead during spot checks and financial verifications

• Actively follow up on action points arising from past spot check reports, TPMA reports and financial reviews

• With support from direct supervisor, lead and conduct spot checks at FP HQ level

• Support the analysis and identification of financial risks and the implementation of recommended internal control procedures

• With support from direct supervisor, establish key financial performance indicators for FPs to strengthen their financial management performance

• Review FP financial reports and verify supporting documents for sampled expenditures, assess alignment of expenditures with project outputs and recommend improvements

• Maintain accurate and up-to-date financial information in ERP and other grants reporting platforms, to support the Grants Management System

• Systematically and regularly update all files held in relation to grants and reconcile this data with other records where relevant

2. Capacity Building

• With support from direct supervisor, organize, manage, and oversee the implementation of training activities within the framework of the Project’s Capacity building Plan, focusing on financial management and reporting

• With support from direct supervisor, develop the training materials informed by findings and observations from audits, spot checks, TPMA reports, and other financial reviews

• With support from direct supervisor, deliver training sessions to FP Finance staff to ensure compliance with the grant agreement and increase the capacity of the FPs

• Support the capacity development of Grants Financial Monitoring and Compliance Associates through coaching, mentoring, and on-the-job support

3. Compliance

• Support direct supervisor in providing capacity-building assistances to Financial Partners (FPs) and the Project Team to ensure full compliance with applicable financial management policies, internal control requirements, and procedures

• Coordinate closely with the Finance Team to ensure that grant support related revenue and expenses are recorded and reported in compliance with IPSAS and other applicable financial reporting standards

• In collaboration with the program team, interpret and provide guidance on financial procedures to FPs to ensure a clear understanding of, and compliance with the Project Operations Manual (POM), grant support agreement and UNOPS requirements

• Comply with IPSAS requirements IPSAS 47 and 48

• Provide inputs to the IPSAS reporting requirements

4. Knowledge Management and Sharing

• Support direct supervisor in undertaking relevant training and learning opportunities to strengthen expertise in finance and grants management tools, approaches and procedures

• Document and share lessons learned and best practices, with FPs, project team and other relevant fora

• Contribute to the overall knowledge sharing and collaboration within the Finance team; and Grants and Contracts team in UNOPS Grants Management “Community of Practice”

5. Stakeholder Engagement

• Work closely with the FP Finance leads and field office team to ensure coordinated financial oversight and consistent application of monitoring procedures

• Contribute to continuous improvement of financial monitoring tools, templates, and procedures with all relevant stakeholders

6. Project Closure

• Contribute to grant closure processes by reviewing FP financial documentation and confirming completeness and accuracy of records

• Assist in analysis and review of the final financial reports submitted by the FPs prior to the processing of final payments by Finance Unit

• Coordinate and support the grant audit process, including liaison with relevant stakeholders

7. Ad-hoc Assignments

Perform any other duties and responsibilities assigned by the supervisor to support project delivery and team objectives.

Required

• First University Degree in Finance, Accountancy, Finance Management or equivalent disciplines

• A certification in chartered accountancy is accepted in lieu of a first-level university degree.

Desired

• Professional certification, such as Certified Public Accountant (CPA) or similar

Required

• A minimum of 2 years of relevant experience with responsibility for financial management support, project accounting, budgeting and financial reporting or related fields is required

• Experience working with grants projects, including monitoring financial performance, reviewing financial reports and providing capacity building support to grantees

• Knowledge of UNOPS financial rules and regulations is an asset.

• Good understanding of local fiscal policies and procedures

• Computer skills are required

Desired

• Experience working with the UN, World Bank and/or other donor agencies, government ministries, and/or NGOs is an asset.