UNDP Jobs - 31784- Finance Specialist (Development Project Fund)

Finance Specialist (Development Project Fund)

Location :

Bamako, MALI

Type of Contract :

FTA International

Starting Date :

01-Oct-2012

Application Deadline :

17-Aug-12 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

P-3

Duration of Initial Contract :

Languages Required :

English French

Expected Duration of Assignment :

UNDP is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence. UNDP does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.

Background

UNDP is key partner to the Global Fund to fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (GFATM) and is the UN agency assuming the role of Principal Recipient of the Rounds 8 GFATM HIV&AIDS grant in Mali. In the role of Principal Recipient, UNDP is responsible for the financial and programme management of the GFATM grant as well as procurement of pharmaceutical, non-health items and required services. In all areas of implementation, UNDP provides capacity development services to relevant institutions, sub-recipients and implementing partners.

For the implementation of the Global Fund program, UNDP Mali is establishing a Program Management Unit (PMU) that will coordinate the implementation of the projects and provide general guidance of Global Fund rules and procedures to all Sub Recipients participating in the implementation of the projects.

Under the overall guidance of the GFATM Project Coordinator, the Finance Specialist is responsible for ensuring the highest efficiency in financial resources management and the provision of accurate, thoroughly researched and documented financial information, effective delivery of financial services, and transparent utilization of financial resources and management of the finances for the Global Fund Grant. He/she analyzes and interprets the financial rules and regulations and provides solutions to a wide spectrum of complex financial issues.

The Finance Specialist supervises and leads national and support staff of the Finance Unit. The Finance Specialist works in close collaboration with the sub-recipients on the project, the CO Operations unit, and project teams in the CO, in ensuring successful GFATM Project and CO performance in financial management.

Duties and Responsibilities

Summary of key functions:

Effective and accurate financial resources management and oversight
Implementation of operational strategies and procedures
Projects’ budgets management and organization of an optimal cost-recovery system
Proper control of project accounts
Close monitoring of the sub-recipients and other implementing partners
Facilitation of knowledge building and sharing in the GFATM team

Ensure effective and accurate financial resources management and oversight, focusing on achievement of the following results:

Financial analysis and oversight for all resources managed by the project and provision of high-quality professional advice to the Project Coordinator, the Programme Director and the DRR (O)
Proper planning, expenditure tracking of financial resources in accordance with UNDP rules and regulations.
Maintaining internal controls over all financial processes
Ensuring an efficient financial flow process
Establishment of a reporting system for internal and GFATM needs
Effective information flow between finance and non-finance actors (on Country Co-ordinating Mechanism (CCM), PR, LFA and sub-recipient level) in order to effectively link the programmatic results to expenditures, as required by GFATM
Facilitation of annual audits of PR as required by GFATM and ensuring that external auditors have all relevant information
Follow-up on audit reports to ensure that gaps in audit reports are closed
Monitoring of the financial performance of supply management systems/ procurement
Tracking and reporting to management of key financial performance indicators

Ensure implementation of operational strategies and procedures, focusing on achievement of the following results:

Establish or fine tune financial procedures: e.g. receipts, payments, disbursements and bookkeeping, filing procedures for the GFATM project;
Ensure that financial procedures in place comply with the financial/accounting and procurement requirement of the GFATM and UNDP;
Continuously analyze and monitor the financial situation, presentation of forecasts for the project;
Oversee the transparency of the financial processes and the use of funds and compliance with GFATM and UNDP financial guidelines;
Provide guidance and capacity building of Ministry of Health, partners and sub recipients (SRs) on issues of finance – from contracting and banking issues to budgeting, accounting and reporting;
Ensure timelyy preparation of quarterly financial reports, prepare monthly cash flow and annual cash flow forecasts, and statement of sources and uses of funds in compliance with the Global Fund requirements;
Ensure preparation of other financial reports to be submitted to the LFA and the Global Fund;
Draft and implement cost saving and reduction strategies;
Routinely monitor financial exception reports for unusual activities, transactions, and investigates anomalies or unusual transactions. Informs supervisors of the results of the investigation when satisfactory answers are not obtained.

Manage the Project budget and organize an optimal cost-recovery system, focusing on achievement of the following results:

Manage all financial resources through planning, guiding, monitoring and controlling of the resources in accordance with UNDP rules and regulations.
Prepare and monitor projects’ budgets in Atlas.
Develop proper mechanisms to eliminate deficiencies in budget management.
Ensure that advance payments and direct payments for SR’s and SSR’s vendors are properly reviewed and made on a timely basis.
Ensure that payment information is properly recorded into the Atlas system on a timely basis.
Ensure that contributions from the GFATM are properly transferred to UNDP on a timely basis.
Ensure timely submission of quality financial reports to Global Fund on a timely basis.

Ensure proper Project cash management, focusing on achievement of the following results:

Timely review of cash position for the projects to ensure sufficient funds on hand for disbursements.
Timely preparation of monthly cash flow forecast for use by the Operations Manager

Ensure close monitoring of the sub-recipients and other implementing partners:

Assess financial management capacities of sub recipients and develop an action plan to close identified gaps;
Monitor sub-recipients as to the accuracy of financial information and safeguards to eliminate fraud;
Ensure annual audits of sub-recipients;
Ensure continuous support for the financial managers of sub-recipient organizations.

Ensure facilitation of knowledge building and sharing in the GFATM team, focusing on achievement of the following results:

Develop training plan/curriculum for the sub-recipients' financial and accounting staff and conduct a training on GFATM performance based funding and financial reporting requirements management system;
Organize training for the project staff on finance;
Synthesize lessons learned and best practices in finance;
Make sound contributions to knowledge networks and communities of practice.

Impact of Results:

The key results have an impact on the overall GFATM efficiency in financial resources management and success in introduction and implementation of operational strategies. Accurate, thoroughly researched and documented financial information, timely and appropriate delivery of services ensure client satisfaction and enhance GFATM-UNDP credibility in use of financial resources.

Competencies

Corporate Competencies:

Demonstrates integrity by modeling the UN’s values and ethical standards
Promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of UNDP
Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability

Functional Competencies:

Knowledge Management and Learning
Promotes knowledge management in UNDP and a learning environment in the office through leadership and personal example
Actively works towards continuing personal learning and development in one or more Practice Areas, acts on learning plan and applies newly acquired skills

Development and Operational Effectiveness:

Ability to lead strategic planning, results-based management and reporting
Ability to formulate and manage budgets, manage contributions and investments, manage transactions, conduct financial analysis, reporting and cost-recovery
Good knowledge of accounting
Ability to successfully lead the finance team
Excellent IT skills, knowledge of a web-based management system
Ability to implement new systems and affect staff behavioral/ attitudinal change

Management and Leadership:

Builds strong relationships with clients, focuses on impact and result for the client and responds positively to feedback
Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude
Demonstrate good oral and written communication skills
Demonstrates openness to change and ability to manage complexities

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Advanced (Masters) University Degree in Finance/Accounting, Business, or Public Administration, or a professional accounting qualification from an internationally recognized institute of accountancy. Professionally qualified accountants from an internationally recognized institute of accountancy will have a distinct advantage.
UNDP Advanced Accountancy & Finance Test mandatory

Experience:

Minimum 5 years, including 3 yrs of relevant experience in providing financial management advisory services and/or managing staff and operational systems. Experience in the usage of computers and office software packages (MS Word, Excel, etc) and advance knowledge of spreadsheet and database packages. Experience in handling of web based management systems and ERP financials, preferably PeopleSoft.
Experience of IPSAS and/or IFRS is required for external candidates.

Language Requirements:

Fluency in the UN and national language of the duty station.