Finance Administrator

The United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO); Wien; On-site; EUR 55,000 - 85,000; Full time

Job summary

UNIDO, the United Nations Industrial Development Organization, invites applications for a Financial Management consultant based in Vienna, Austria. The appointment supports the Division of Circular Economy and Green Industry and the Responsible Materials and Chemicals Management Unit, with a focus on financial monitoring, reporting and compliance for development projects.

The role requires an advanced degree in accounting/finance and at least three years in financial management or grant

Qualifications

• Minimum of three (3) years of progressively responsible professional experience in financial management, accounting, project finance, grant management or audit.
• Professional accounting certification (e.g., ACCA, CPA, CIMA, CA or equivalent) is desirable.
• Experience with international development projects funded by multilateral donors is highly desirable.

Responsibilities

• Review financial reports submitted by implementing partners for completeness, accuracy, eligibility of expenditures and consistency with budgets.
• Review and monitor project budgets, expenditures and cash flow; identify variances and risks.
• Prepare financial clearance memoranda and recommendations for fund disbursement, and support audits and evaluations.

Skills

Financial management

Budgeting

Accounting

Education

Advanced university degree in Accounting/Finance/Public Financial Management

Tools

SAP

Job description

Requisition ID: 8126

Grade: ISA-P2

Country: Austria

Duty Station: Vienna

Category: International Consultant

Type of Job Posting: Internal and External

Employment Type: NonStaff-Regular

Contract Duration: 6 months

Application Deadline: 27-Oct-2026, 11:59 PM (Vienna, Austria time)

Vacancy Announcement

TEMPORARY APPOINTMENT OF PROJECT PERSONNEL

Female candidates are encouraged to apply.

ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT

The United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) is the specialized agency of the United Nations that promotes industrial development for poverty and hunger reduction, inclusive and fair globalization and environmental sustainability. The mission UNIDO, as described in the Lima Declaration adopted at the fifteenth session of the UNIDO General Conference in 2013, the Abu Dhabi Declaration adopted at the eighteenth session of UNIDO General Conference in 2019 as well as the Riyadh Declaration adopted at the twenty-first session of UNIDO General Conference in 2025, is to promote and accelerate inclusive and sustainable industrial development in Member States. The relevance of this mission as an integrated approach to all three pillars of sustainable development is recognized by the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the related Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which will frame United Nations and country efforts towards sustainable development. UNIDO’s mandate is fully recognized in SDG-9, which calls to “Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovation”. The relevance of inclusive and sustainable industrial development, however, applies to all SDGs.

The medium-term programme framework (MTPF) 2026 - 2029 is UNIDO’s core strategic document and it is in line with UNIDO’s Vision 2050. It sets a renewed vision to support Member States and shape their industries for development. The priorities include fair and sustainable global and regional supply chains, ending hunger through innovation and local value addition, renewable and clean energy, sustainable energy access and climate action. Cross-cutting priorities focus on industrial and economic policy advice, skills development, fostering digitalization and artificial intelligence, gender equality and the empowerment of women, supporting youth, promoting cleaner production and circular economy, and leveraging private sector investment and development finance.

Each of these programmatic fields of activity contains a number of individual programmes, which are implemented in a holistic manner to achieve effective outcomes and impacts through UNIDO’s four enabling functions: (i) technical cooperation; (ii) analytical and research functions and policy advisory services; (iii) normative functions and standards-related activities; and (iv) convening and fostering partnerships for knowledge and technology transfer, investment mobilization, networking and industrial cooperation. Such core functions are carried out in Divisions/Offices in its Headquarters, Sub-regional Offices and Country Offices.

The Directorate of Technical Cooperation and Sustainable Industrial Development (TCS), headed by a Managing Director, ensures the Organization's application of strategies and interventions for sustainable industrial development related to environment, energy, Micro, Small and Medium-Enterprises (MSMEs), and digitalization. The Directorate also oversees the Organization's normative contribution to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals through industrial policy advice and capacity development. Through coordination in-house and with Member States and industry stakeholders, it ensures that the services provided in these areas contribute to effective and appropriate technical, business and policy solutions and are focused on results, scaling up and positioning UNIDO as a leading platform for industrial development in developing countries and global fora.

The Division of Circular Economy and Green Industry (TCS/CEG) contributes to greener and more circular industries and products by minimizing both resource use along value chains and the emission of pollutants to the environment. The Division promotes just transitions to circular economies, reduced release of pollutants into the environment and other green industrial and economic approaches to help Member States to grow economically while simultaneously addressing the three planetary crises of climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution. It promotes circular economy policies, programmes and practices including circular business models that improve the profitability of industries while creating social and environmental benefits. It does so by supporting resource efficiency increases in the manufacturing and use of products along value chains and during the life cycle of the product; by reducing or eliminating the emission of non-fuel-related greenhouse gas emissions; and by assisting in achieving the objectives of and compliance with multilateral environmental agreements. In doing so, its activities further improve competitiveness, as well as the development of and access to markets, particularly for small and medium-sized enterprises. This contributes to climate-neutral, resilient, pollution-free industrial development, supporting co-existence that is in harmony with nature.

The position is located under the Responsible Materials and Chemicals Management Unit (TCS/CEG/RMC), which is responsible for supporting Member States to implement the chemicals and wastes obligations and requirements under the Basel, Minamata, Rotterdam, and Stockholm Conventions and other emerging relevant agreements, in particular where it relates to larger and formalized industries and sectors, and to leverage its experience to address industrial pollution mitigation in general as well as other emerging compliance mechanisms. With multi-stakeholder and novel approaches to materials and chemicals management and innovation, with capacity building and awareness raising, and by implementing circular economy approaches, process redesign of products, services and solutions, the Unit further leverages its experience to facilitate responsible materials sourcing and to support smaller enterprises and entrepreneurs in greening their businesses.

FUNCTIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES

Financial Review and Monitoring

• Review financial reports submitted by implementing partners for completeness, accuracy, eligibility of expenditures, and consistency with approved budgets and workplans.
• Verify expenditures against approved budget lines and funding allocations under the IPA.
• Review supporting financial documentation, including:
• General ledgers;
• Bank statements;
• Expenditure reports;
• Payroll records;
• Procurement documentation;
• Asset registers;
• Co-financing reports;
• Other supporting financial evidence as required.
• Assess compliance of financial submissions with:
• UNIDO Implementing Partner Agreement requirements;
• GEF financial management requirements;
• Approved project documents and budgets;
• UNIDO financial rules, regulations and procedures.
• Identify discrepancies, ineligible expenditures, unsupported costs, budget variances and compliance issues and prepare recommendations for corrective action.
• Follow up with implementing partners to clarify financial issues, obtain missing documentation and ensure timely resolution of observations.

Fund Disbursement Support

• Review financial reports and liquidation status as a basis for subsequent fund disbursement requests.
• Verify that disbursement conditions established under the IPA have been met.
• Prepare financial clearance memoranda and recommendations for release of instalments.
• Maintain accurate records of advances, expenditures, liquidations and balances.

Budget and Financial Analysis

• Monitor budget utilization and project cash flow requirements.
• Conduct periodic budget variance analyses and identify emerging financial risks.
• Review and assess budget revision requests submitted by implementing partners.
• Support Project Managers in analysing project expenditure trends and delivery rates.
• Prepare financial summaries, dashboards and management reports as required.

Compliance and Risk Management

• Support implementation of risk-based financial monitoring of implementing partners.
• Monitor compliance with audit recommendations and financial management action plans.
• Assist in reviewing implementing partner financial capacities and internal control arrangements.
• Contribute to strengthening financial oversight mechanisms and financial due diligence processes.

Audit and Evaluation Support

• Support preparation and coordination of project audits.
• Facilitate responses to audit findings and recommendations.
• Maintain organized financial records and documentation for audit and evaluation purposes.
• Assist in the review of audit reports and management letters received from implementing partners.

Knowledge Management and Coordination

• Maintain appropriate financial tracking systems and filing structures.
• Develop financial monitoring tools, templates and guidance materials.
• Provide financial guidance to implementing partners on reporting requirements and financial procedures.
• Participate in meetings with project teams and implementing partners as required.
• Contribute to continuous improvement of financial management practices across the project portfolio.

Expected Deliverables

• Financial review reports and recommendations for implementing partner submissions.
• Financial clearance memoranda for fund disbursements.
• Budget monitoring and expenditure analysis reports.
• Financial risk assessments and compliance reviews.
• Tracking of advances and liquidations.
• Consolidated financial information for progress reporting, audits and evaluations.
• Financial monitoring dashboards and management reports.

MINIMUM ORGANIZATIONAL REQUIREMENTS

Education

• Advanced university degree (master’s or equivalent) in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, Economics, Public Financial Management or other relevant discipline with qualifying professional experience is required.
• Professional accounting certification (e.g., ACCA, CPA, CIMA, CA or equivalent) is desirable.

Technical and Functional Experience

• Minimum of three (3) years of progressively responsible professional experience in financial management, accounting, project finance, grant management or audit is required.
• Experience with international development projects funded by Global Environment Facility, Green Climate Fund, European Union, World Bank, UN agencies or other multilateral donors is highly desirable.
• Experience in reviewing financial reports from government institutions and implementing partners is desirable.
• Experience with implementing partner agreements, grants management or pass-through funding arrangements is desirable.
• Experience with Enterprise Resource Planning systems such as SAP is desirable.
• Experience in evaluating the needs, conditions and problems in developing countries, is desirable.

Languages

• Fluency in written and spoken English is required.
• Fluency and/or working knowledge of another official UN language is desirable.

CORE VALUES AND BEHAVIORS

Core Values

• EXCELLENCE – Deliver high-quality results; continuously improve performance.
• INTEGRITY – Uphold ethical standards; act transparently and responsibly.
• INCLUSION – Promote respect, diversity, and fairness.
• HUMILITY – Show self-awareness; value others’ contributions.
• HUMANITY – Act with compassion; align work with sustainable development.

Core Behaviors

• CONNECT & COLLABORATE – Build trust through effective communication and teamwork; share knowledge and embrace diversity.
• ANALYSE & PLAN – Use data and evidence to inform decision-making; plan proactively and prioritize effectively.
• DELIVER RESULTS WITH POSITIVE IMPACT – Take ownership and deliver high-quality outputs; align work with UNIDO’s mission and objectives.
• LEARN AND DEVELOP – Continuously develop skills and capabilities; seek feedback and share knowledge with others.
• ADAPT AND INNOVATE – Respond flexibly to change; embrace innovation and new approaches.

This appointment is limited to the specified project(s) only and does not carry any expectation of renewal.

Employees of UNIDO are expected at all times to uphold the highest standards of integrity, professionalism and respect for diversity, both at work and outside. Only persons who fully and unconditionally commit to these values should consider applying for jobs at UNIDO.

Integrity, Respect and Inclusion

UNIDO is committed to maintaining the highest standards of integrity, professionalism, diversity, inclusion and mutual respect. Employees of UNIDO are required at all times to uphold the highest standards of integrity, professionalism and respect for diversity. UNIDO prohibits all forms of sexual misconduct, abuse of authority, and discrimination.

Through people-centred policies, UNIDO supports its personnel in balancing professional and personal responsibilities through flexible working arrangements while maintaining the efficiency and effectiveness of its operations worldwide.

NOTE: The Director General retains the discretion to make an appointment to this post at a lower level.