Job Vacancy at UN Women – Finance Associate (NPSA-6), Zanzibar (October 2026)

Organisation: UN Women

Job Title: Finance Associate

Job Identification: 37649

Location: Zanzibar, Tanzania

Job Grade: NPSA-6

Employment Type: Full-Time

Initial Contract Duration: 1 Year

Job Function: Ending Violence Against Women

Vacancy Category: Local Opportunities

Job Posting Date: 26 October 2026

Application Deadline: 6 November 2026, at 7:59 a.m. Tanzania time

About UN Women

UN Women is the United Nations entity dedicated to gender equality and the empowerment of women. It works to eliminate discrimination against women and girls and advance equality between women and men in development, human rights, humanitarian action, peace and security.

In Tanzania, UN Women collaborates with the Government of the United Republic of Tanzania, the Revolutionary Government of Zanzibar, United Nations agencies, development partners and civil society organisations to promote gender equality and women’s empowerment.

With support from the European Union, UN Women is implementing a project entitled Ending Violence against Women and Girls and Advancing Women’s Leadership in Public and Private Sectors in Zanzibar and Mainland. The project supports national commitments to gender equality and the implementation of the National Plan of Action to End Violence Against Women and Children (NPA-VAWC 2025–2030).

Job Purpose

Under the overall guidance of the Operations Manager of the UN Women Tanzania Country Office and the day-to-day supervision of the Programme Specialist, Ending Violence Against Women and Girls (EVAWG), who also heads the Zanzibar Office, the Finance Associate will provide financial and administrative services to the Zanzibar Office.

The successful candidate will ensure timely, efficient and transparent management of financial resources in accordance with UN Women’s financial regulations, policies, procedures and approved budgets. The role also involves supporting programme implementation, financial reporting, budget monitoring and coordination with implementing partners across Unguja and Pemba.

Key Duties and Responsibilities

1. Financial Management and Compliance

• Ensure compliance with UN Women’s financial regulations, rules, policies, standard operating procedures and internal controls.
• Review and verify financial transactions, activities and supporting documentation, taking corrective action where necessary.
• Oversee financial transactions for the Zanzibar Office and EVAWG portfolio, ensuring accounting fields, supporting documents and Chart of Accounts combinations are complete and accurate.
• Coordinate with programme and project teams, the Country Office Finance Team, Regional Office and Global Service Centre to resolve accounting issues.
• Review financial dashboards and compliance reports, identify deviations and recommend corrective action.
• Investigate unusual transactions and financial anomalies and report findings to the supervisor.
• Prepare reports on financial status, procedures, exchange rates, costs and expenditures.
• Follow up on audit recommendations and monitor implementation of corrective actions.
• Support financial resource planning, work plans, budgets and implementation arrangements.
• Assist with Annual Work Plan entries in the Results Management System (RMS).
• Provide advice on financial issues, monitor financial management systems and implement cost-saving strategies.

2. Budget Preparation and Administration

• Prepare budgets, control allotments, monitor expenditures and revise budgets according to office and programme requirements.
• Track the timely and appropriate use of financial resources.
• Prepare cost-recovery documents and bills for services provided to projects and other organisations.
• Coordinate the collection of service-cost data, ensure timely billing and follow up on outstanding payments.
• Support direct project costing arrangements, workload studies and the application of the universal price list.
• Create projects in Quantum, prepare budget revisions, revise project awards and determine unutilised funds.
• Maintain budgetary controls for development projects and monitor budget preparation, modifications and status.
• Maintain internal expenditure control systems.
• Resolve unposted vouchers, budget-check errors, matching exceptions and unapproved vouchers.
• Prepare VAT reimbursement claims with supporting documentation and follow up with relevant revenue authorities.
• Enter financial data into Quantum and communicate outstanding issues to stakeholders.
• Manage petty cash funds and cash imprest levels.

3. Finance Support to Programme and Operations Teams

• Review accounts receivable and follow up on contributions, deposits and outstanding items.
• Prepare purchase order (PO) and non-purchase-order (non-PO) vouchers for development projects.
• Record and post transactions in Quantum and process payroll, travel claims, monthly payments and other entitlements.
• Monitor project budgets to ensure they reflect donor-approved budgets and detailed activity levels.
• Monitor monthly budget overruns and follow up with budget owners.
• Verify that expenditures are charged to the correct budget categories and activities.
• Review implementing partner Funding Authorization and Certificate of Expenditure (FACE) forms, financial reports and supporting documents in line with the Harmonized Approach to Cash Transfers (HACT).
• Monitor partner advances and ensure timely liquidation.
• Support micro-assessments, spot checks and other assurance activities.
• Monitor aged receivables and payables, outstanding advances, open items and unliquidated obligations.
• Support month-end and year-end financial closures and ensure deadlines are met.
• Review general ledger accounts, correct accounting errors and resolve misposted entries.
• Provide financial information for reports to the Regional Office, Headquarters and other stakeholders.
• Support donor financial reporting, including reporting for the European Union-funded EVAW programme.
• Coordinate financial arrangements for meetings, training sessions, campaigns and field activities in Unguja and Pemba, including daily subsistence allowances (DSA), participant payments and travel claims.

4. Administrative Support to Resource Mobilisation

• Compile and process donor, Country Office and programme information for databases and reports.
• Prepare draft cost-sharing and other contribution agreements in line with standard agreements and organisational requirements.
• Follow up on contributions as part of Country Office resource mobilisation activities.

5. Knowledge Building and Sharing

• Conduct or support training activities, including orientation of implementing partners on financial reporting, documentation and HACT requirements.
• Compile and share lessons learned and good practices in financial management.
• Contribute to UN Women knowledge networks and finance communities of practice.
• Support improvements in financial operations and management practices.

6. Other Duties

Perform other duties within the functional profile as required for the efficient functioning of the office and organisation.

Key Performance Indicators

Performance will be assessed against the following indicators:

• Compliance of financial processes, transactions and records with UN Women regulations and internal controls.
• Timely and accurate transaction recording and resolution of unposted vouchers and budget-check errors.
• Timely payments to vendors, implementing partners, consultants, personnel and participants.
• Accurate budget monitoring and timely alerts on over-expenditure and under-expenditure.
• Timely clearance of aged items, outstanding advances and unliquidated obligations.
• Timely issuance and settlement of cost-recovery bills.
• Accurate month-end and year-end financial closure.
• Implementation of audit and spot-check recommendations within agreed timelines.
• Client satisfaction with the quality, accuracy and timeliness of financial services.

Supervisory Responsibilities

The position has no formal supervisory responsibilities. However, the Finance Associate may provide guidance and on-the-job training to Finance and Programme Assistants, UN Volunteers and interns supporting the Zanzibar Office.

Required Competencies

Core Values

• Integrity
• Professionalism
• Respect for Diversity

Core Competencies

• Awareness and Sensitivity Regarding Gender Issues
• Accountability
• Creative Problem Solving
• Effective Communication
• Inclusive Collaboration
• Stakeholder Engagement
• Leading by Example

Functional Competencies

• Strong knowledge of financial rules, regulations and accounting principles.
• Strong IT skills and understanding of management systems.
• Proficiency in spreadsheet and database applications.
• Ability to contribute to business process improvement and implementation of new systems.
• Ability to administer financial and accounting processes and transactions.
• Knowledge of implementing partner financial management and assurance procedures.
• Ability to interpret financial dashboards and compliance reports and recommend corrective action.
• Strong client orientation and ability to work accurately under tight deadlines.
• Integrity and discretion in handling confidential financial information.

Qualifications and Experience

Education and Certification

• Completion of secondary education is required.
• Specialised national or international certification in accounting and finance is an advantage.
• A first-level university degree (Bachelor’s degree) in Finance or Accounting is an advantage.
• A professional accountancy qualification, such as CPA(T), ACCA or CIMA, or registration with the National Board of Accountants and Auditors (NBAA), is an advantage.
• Successful completion of the UN Women Accounting and Finance Test is required as part of the selection process.
• A CIPS certificate is an advantage.

Work Experience

• At least six years of progressively responsible experience in finance is required.
• Experience using computers, office software such as Microsoft Word and Excel, spreadsheets, databases and web-based management systems is required.
• Experience using a modern web-based enterprise resource planning (ERP) system, preferably Oracle Cloud (Quantum) and PRISIM, is desirable.
• Experience in finance within the United Nations system, an international organisation or an international non-governmental organisation is desirable.
• Experience managing donor-funded projects, including reviewing implementing partner financial reports under HACT, is desirable.
• Experience in transaction oversight, quality assurance, cost recovery and month-end and year-end financial closure in a corporate ERP environment is desirable.
• Knowledge of Zanzibar’s operating environment, including local VAT and banking procedures, is an advantage.

Language Requirements

• Fluency in English and Kiswahili is required.
• Knowledge of another official UN language—French, Arabic, Chinese, Russian or Spanish—is desirable.

Diversity, Inclusion and Safeguarding

UN Women is committed to a diverse and inclusive working environment. Recruitment and employment decisions are based on qualifications, competence, integrity and organisational needs.

Applicants who require reasonable accommodation during the recruitment and selection process should include this information in their applications.

UN Women has a zero-tolerance policy towards conduct incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination. Selected candidates will undergo reference and background checks, including verification of academic qualifications and employment history.

Application Link: Apply through UN Women Careers (https://jobs.undp.org/)