UNDP Jobs - 42330- Project Manager, Assistance in Establishing Tax Ad

Project Manager, Assistance in Establishing Tax Advisory Services in Belarus

Location :

Minsk, BELARUS

Type of Contract :

Service Contract

Starting Date :

13-Feb-2014

Application Deadline :

25-Jan-14 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

SB-5

Duration of Initial Contract :

one year, extendable

Languages Required :

English Russian

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

Please read carefully the below information!

Before you apply on-line, please download and fill in the P11 form (UNDP personal history form), that should be attached to your on-line application.

UNDP will use a transparent and competitive screening process, though will only contact those applicants in whom there is further interest. No telephone inquires will be entertained. Only short-listed candidates will be contacted.

The UNDP PERSONAL HISTORY FORM (P11) will be considered for screening of applications. It can be downloaded at the following link:UNDP Personal History Form

Organizational setting and background:
Tax advising is a part of a standard business services package for legal entities and individuals, and constitutes a viable industry in most countries worldwide. Tax advisory services range from legal advice to tax optimization and comprehensive tax-related assistance. The absence of an institutionalized corps of tax advisers in Belarus has a negative effect on Belarus' attractiveness to investments, and acts as a constraint to private initiative and enterprise competitiveness. It also results in missed opportunities for improving Belarus' overall doing business rank and building more productive and more constructive relationships between corporate taxpayers and the tax authorities.
The overall project goal is to improve the business environment and investment climate in Belarus by establishing tax advisory services.

The immediate objectives to be addressed by the project are as follows:

To create a favorable legal environment for establishing tax advisory services;
To facilitate training for tax advisers, including through development of qualification requirements, training curricula and guidelines for training and accreditation;
To promote institutionalized tax advisory services by raising professional and public awareness and testing a new model of tax servicing.

The national executing entity for this project will be the Ministry of Taxes and Duties. The project is financed by SIDA.

Expected key project outputs: at least 300 individuals participated in the project's educational and training events;
- a pool of 15 national tax advisers created;
- consultative workshops and roundtables on a new model and benefits of tax outsourcing conducted in all administrative regions/Oblasts;
- a policy paper on implementation of tax advisory services in foreign countries developed, and the relevant options for Belarus proposed;
- recommendation provided on creating favorable conditions for institutionalizing tax advisory services, and on including the relevant provisions in the national legislation (a policy note for the government);
- a model document package on liability insurance for tax advisers developed;
- qualification requirements and certification procedures elaborated for national tax advisers;
- a training manual for tax advisory courses introduced; a booklet on becoming a tax adviser prepared, published and distributed among members of the professional community;

Tax outsourcing tested in five enterprises from different sectors; cost benefit analysis of tax outsourcing performed and presented the results of the pilot to the business.

Duties and Responsibilities

Purpose of employment: To ensure effective monitoring, implementation and delivery of project funds in accordance with the Project Document.

Responsibilities:

Ensure performance of the project work plan, and make timely adjustments subject to agreement with all the parties to the project;
Prepare terms of reference for the project consultants; monitor performance of consultants recruited by the project;
Review the outputs of the local consultants, and seek feedback on such outputs from the national implementing entity;
Prepare progress reports for UNDP, Ministry of Economy and the donor organization; other reports can be requested by competent authorities/organizations;
Monitor project expenditures for compliance with the approved budget, work plan and the project document;
Monitor the risks and outcomes against the agreed performance indicators, as prescribed in the Project Results and Resources Framework, maintain the logs of project risks, issues, and lessons learned, conduct day-to-day monitoring of the project in accordance with UNDP procedures;
Exercise responsibility for the delivery of the financial performance targets set by the agreed annual work plans;
Facilitate adequate communication and information exchange among the relevant stakeholders;
Prepare a report on the project's outcomes for the final conference;
Lease with UNDP, the implementing and cooperating agencies (if any) on project-related matters;
Explore cost-sharing opportunities by engaging in partnership negotiations with government agencies, and potential donors;
Prepare and distribute background material for meetings of the Project Steering Board;
Ensure project implementation in a gender-sensitive manner, including, but not limited to, incorporated gender dimension into the key project outputs as well as into the areas of visibility, reporting and evaluation as in line with the UNDP corporate strategy on gender equality;
Perform other duties related to the project upon request from UNDP.

Competencies

Good analytical and problem solving skills and ability to adaptive management with prompt action on the conclusion and recommendations coming out from the project’s regular monitoring and self-assessment activities as well as from external evaluations;
Proven networking, team-building, organizational and communication skills and ability to work effectively with international organizations, donors, NGOs and private sector;
Ability to build strong relationships with stakeholders, focusing on impacts and results for the stakeholder and responding positively to feedback;
Strong presentation skills;
Ability to stay calm and in control under pressure;
Proven ability to manage financial, human and material resources in project environment is a strong asset.
Ability to communicate with staff and constituencies from multiple organizations, and to provide strategic guidance in a collaborative, consultative, and positive manner;
Ability to perform well under pressure, be result- oriented, adapt to change, and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment;
Strong interpersonal skills, excellent communication, coordination and management skills;
Ability to use various office computer software, including web-based information management systems.

Required Skills and Experience

Master’s Degree (University Degree) or equivalent in Economics, Finance, Law, International relations, Management or other related areas;
3 years of relevant working experience or research/analytical experience in economic development;
Experience in management of international technical assistance projects would be an asset;
Good command in written and spoken English.