UN Women is recruiting a Finance Analyst (P2) for its Europe and Central Asia (ECA) Regional Office in Istanbul, Türkiye. This is an international fixed-term appointment with an initial contract of 1 year, supporting financial management, reporting, audit coordination and finance training across the ECA region. At Youth Works Hub, we reviewed the vacancy (Job ID 37881): applications close on 18 November 2026.
Vacancy Details
📍 Location: Istanbul, Türkiye
🔖 Job Identification: 37881
🏷️ Grade: P2
📄 Vacancy type: Fixed Term (FTA International)
⚙️ Job function: Operations
⏱️ Initial contract duration: 1 year
🗣️ Required language: English
🔤 Desired languages: knowledge of another official UN language
🌐 Vacancy category: International opportunities
⏳ Vacancy timeline: 2 weeks
About UN Women
UN Women, grounded in the vision of equality enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations, works for the elimination of discrimination against women and girls, the empowerment of women, and the achievement of equality between women and men as partners and beneficiaries of development, human rights, humanitarian action and peace and security.
In July 2010, the United Nations General Assembly created UN Women, the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women, as part of the UN reform agenda. It merges and builds on the work of four previously distinct parts of the UN system (DAW, OSAGI, INSTRAW and UNIFEM), which focused exclusively on gender equality and women's empowerment.
The Finance Analyst's Place in the Regional Office
The Finance Analyst works under the overall guidance of the Deputy Director for Financial Management at Headquarters (HQ) and the daily supervision of the Regional Operations Manager. The role is responsible for:
🏢 Providing assistance to offices in the ECA Region to ensure capacity and support
🛠️ Assisting with development projects for UN Women finance users, aiming at better business practices, controls and automation
📘 Ensuring all finance users are compliant with and trained in accounting standards, financial regulations and rules, policies and procedures
🎯 Assisting Finance Section HQ with dedicated support, training and advice for Regional Offices, Multi-Country Offices and Country Offices (ROs/MCOs/COs)
🔍 Acting as the Audit focal point for the Region, in coordination with Finance Section HQ and finance users in ROs and COs
The Finance Analyst supervises and leads support staff of the Finance Sub-Unit (including the Finance Associate at the ECA Regional Office) and works closely with Finance Section HQ, Programme and Operations colleagues, country-level teams and UN Women staff.
1. Financial Planning, Analysis and Services
💡 Recommend and/or implement cost saving and reduction strategies
🧾 Review and/or verify financial transactions, recording/reporting systems and audit reports, coordinating with Finance Section HQ on suggested amendments
🔄 Review financial business processes and use of the Quantum system to ensure accurate and complete reporting in line with the Internal Control Framework and Delegation of Authority
📈 Analyse and oversee all financial resources managed by the RO and provide high-quality professional advice to RO management
💵 Coordinate cash management, including liquidity management, recommending the imprest level, risk assessment and security for cash assets on site
⚠️ Assist with financial risk assessment reviews for the RO, identifying risks and recommending action plans
2. Monitoring and Oversight of Financial Systems
🕵️ Monitor financial systems and reports for unusual activities and transactions, and investigate anomalies
✅ Coordinate timely completion of the Month-end Instructions Checklist and Year-end Instructions Closure Checklist
📚 Draft all financial reports in accordance with IPSAS and monitor RO and ECA Offices for compliance, resulting in IPSAS-compliant general ledger and financial statements
🤝 Review Implementing Partner advance procedures against UN Women policies and follow up on anomalies
📑 Review all contractual arrangements with suppliers to ensure financial terms and conditions are adhered to
📣 Report any case of non-adherence to the Regional Operations Manager for timely action
❓ Respond to questions and provide analysis as requested by Finance Section HQ
3. Financial Reporting
🗒️ Draft timely and accurate automated interim financial reports to governments and donors under donor agreements and cost-sharing arrangements, for submission to Virtual Global Service Centre Finance Specialists
📊 Track and report contributions within resource mobilisation efforts, including pipeline, contracted, overdue and future milestones, and review contributions receivables
✍️ Write ad hoc financial donor reports and other reports as requested
🔁 Follow up and take prompt action on audit and other findings on financial management
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4. Audit Coordination
📋 Coordinate pre-audit preparations so the RO and ECA Offices are audit ready, and complete the pre-audit checklist
✈️ Travel to ECA Offices as necessary to assist during audits
🎤 Contribute technically to training in the RO and ECA Offices as part of the training plan or pre-audit preparations
📝 Write responses to internal and external audit inquiries for review by the Regional Operations Manager and Deputy Director for Financial Management, and incorporate recommendations into policies and practices
🧮 Plan and track expenditures and performance audit of financial resources, including extra-budgetary income
5. Programme and Project Budgets
🗂️ Coordinate all financial resources of programmes/projects through planning, guiding, monitoring and controlling
💼 Prepare and monitor budgets of management projects
📉 Analyse and report on budget approvals and delivery of management projects
🔧 Contribute to mechanisms that eliminate deficiencies in budget management
📤 Submit financial information for timely donor reports
💳 Prepare advance payments and direct payments for programme implementation and record them in Quantum
🏁 Assist offices in the region with project closure and provide regular training with Virtual Global Service Centre Finance Specialists
6. Financial Training and Communication
📡 Monitor the effectiveness of the finance team's services to keep a close relationship between Finance Section and finance users, taking corrective measures as needed
🧰 Coordinate development projects so effective finance and communication tools are in place
🆘 Perform the Finance Helpdesk function for RO and ECA Offices with the HQ Finance Field Support Unit
🏫 Support the Training plans (specifically QUANTUM and IPSAS) to ensure competency across all finance users
🧭 Provide oversight and guidance for finance staff of the RO and ECA Offices
7. Knowledge Management and Capacity Building
🧩 Identify and recommend improvements to Quantum financial modules for better business practices and controls
📖 Capture, synthesise and codify lessons learned and best practices, and share them with Finance Section HQ
🎨 Contribute to the design of learning tools, best practices and innovations in financial business operations, promoting transparency and easier communication
8. Financial Tasks, Approving and Certifying Function
🧷 Oversee that vouchers are matched and completed, transactions are correctly recorded in Quantum, payrolls are duly prepared, and travel claims and entitlements are processed
🛑 Implement timely corrective actions on unposted vouchers, including budget check errors, matching exceptions and unapproved vouchers
⚡ Respond promptly to HQ requests to resolve financial data issues
🖊️ Perform the delegated approval function in Quantum
🔏 Review and provide financial clearance of donor agreements as delegated
🔑 Act as RO IDAM Approver for the RO and the Region's user roles in UNALL and the OneApp ICF/DOA system
The incumbent also performs other duties within their functional profile as needed for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization.
Core Values and 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
📐 Good knowledge and expertise in financial planning and management
📜 Good knowledge of complex financial rules and regulations, preferably UN/UN Women Financial Rules and Regulations
🧠 Good conceptual/strategic skills; success in financial re-engineering, management systems development, policy design, innovation and knowledge product development is an asset
🖥️ Good knowledge and experience of complex financial systems and modules (such as Quantum)
📗 Good knowledge of spreadsheet and database packages
🗨️ Ability to provide advice and support
📙 Demonstrated knowledge of IPSAS/IFRS
🔬 Good analytical skills
Education and Certification
🎓 Master's degree (or equivalent) in Finance/Accounting, or a professional accounting qualification from an internationally recognised institute of accountancy, Chartered Accountant or Certified Public Accountant, is required.
🧪 Successful completion of UN Women's Accounting technical test as part of the selection process.
Experience Requirements
🏛️ At least 2 years' experience in an accounting-specific role within a large international organisation, preferably in the UN system, is required.
💻 Demonstrated financial experience using an ERP financial system is required.
🗃️ Demonstrated experience in providing financial and budget support to programmes/projects and developing detailed financial reports for senior management is required.
🔀 Experience supporting more than one office simultaneously is desirable.
🗺️ Financial experience in a regional or multi-country context is desirable.
⌨️ Experience with MS Word, Excel, spreadsheet and database packages and web-based management systems is required.
☁️ Experience with a modern web-based ERP system, preferably Oracle Cloud, is desirable.
Language Requirements
🇬🇧 Fluency in English is required.
🌏 Working knowledge of any other UN official language is an asset.
Diversity, Inclusion and Conduct
UN Women is committed to a diverse and inclusive environment of mutual respect, and recruits, employs, trains, compensates and promotes regardless of race, religion, colour, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, ability, national origin or any other basis covered by appropriate law. All employment is decided on the basis of qualifications, competence, integrity and organisational need.
🙋 If you need any reasonable accommodation during the recruitment and selection process, include this information in your application.
🚫 UN Women has a zero-tolerance policy on sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination.
🔎 Selected candidates undergo rigorous reference and background checks, including verification of academic credentials and employment history, and may be asked for additional information.
How to Apply
🖋️ Complete all sections of the online application form, including the sections on education and employment history. Incomplete applications may be disqualified from the recruitment and selection process.
♿ Mention any reasonable accommodation you need in your application.
Discover more jobs at international organisations on Youth Works Hub.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the UN Women Finance Analyst in Istanbul do?
The Finance Analyst supports financial planning, monitoring, reporting, audit coordination, budgets and finance training for the UN Women Regional Office and offices across Europe and Central Asia, and acts as the Audit focal point for the Region.
What grade and contract type is the position?
It is a P2 position with a Fixed Term (FTA International) appointment and an initial contract duration of 1 year, based in Istanbul, Türkiye.
What qualifications are required?
A Master's degree in Finance/Accounting or a professional accounting qualification (such as Chartered Accountant or CPA), plus at least 2 years in an accounting-specific role within a large international organisation, preferably in the UN system.
Is there a test in the selection process?
Yes. Candidates must successfully complete UN Women's Accounting technical test as part of the selection process.
Which systems should I know?
Experience with an ERP financial system is required; experience with Quantum and a modern web-based ERP such as Oracle Cloud is valued, along with spreadsheet and database packages.
Does the role involve supervision or travel?
Yes. The Finance Analyst supervises the Finance Associate at the ECA Regional Office and travels to ECA Offices as necessary to assist during audits.
Which languages are needed?
Fluency in English is required. Working knowledge of another official UN language is an asset.
Deadline
⏳ 18 November 2026
Link
Apply online: https://estm.fa.em2.oraclecloud.com/hcmUI/CandidateExperience/en/sites/CX_1001/job/37881
