UNDP Jobs - 54387- Project Finance Assistant

Project Finance Assistant - (Open to citizens of Turkmenistan only)

Location :

Ashgabat, TURKMENISTAN

Type of Contract :

Service Contract

Starting Date :

20-Apr-2015

Application Deadline :

13-Mar-15 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

SB-3

Duration of Initial Contract :

1 year with possible extension

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

The area of environment and climate change takes an important part in the cooperation framework between the Government of Turkmenistan and UNDP CO. The current UNDP programme in place within the 2010-2015 UN Development Assistance Framewor (2010-2015) aims to achieve two key outcomes on environment:

Outcome 3.2 Environmentally sustainable use of natural resources contributes to effectiveness of economic processes and increased quality of life.

Outcome 3.3 National development planners integrate adaptation and preparedness of economic development sectors to climate change into development plans and management.

Provided the global importance of climate resilience and low emissions as the overarching principle for environmental protection and the high level of trust that the Government of Turkmenistan reposes in UNDP, the following vision statement is proposed to reflect UNDP interventions in Turkmenistan on environment & energy: “UNDP Turkmenistan aims to position itself as the partner of choice to the government in supporting the transition to low emission and climate resilient development”

Thus, the UNDP projects under implementation and preparation in the environmental field in Turkmenistan contribute to two objectives:

Capacity development for low emission (carbon) economies – covering climate change mitigation projects; and
Capacity development for climate resilient communities, economies and ecosystems – covering ecosystem, natural resources and climate change adaptation projects.

The cross-cutting interventions such as the Capacity development for Better Environmental Governance and other envisaged activities of similar nature are supporting both objectives.

Thus, the assistance provided by UNDP to the Government of Turkmenistan in the area of environment and energy covering policy advice, project development and implementation services, knowledge management and advocacy services is more focused and aligned with: (i) Turkmenistan’s obligations to the UNFCCC, UNCCD and UNCBD; (ii) UNDP’s corporate priorities on climate change; (iii) RBEC rolling strategy and Regional Programme Document; and (iv) the wider Regional Environment and Energy Community of Practice of UNDP (which means, amongst others, that it could tap into existing regional expertise for support). The programme will be further supported by UNDP’s environmental finance platform such as: MDG Carbon Facility, Climate Risk Insurance and Territorial Approach to Climate Change.

The Environment and Energy Portfolio as well the area of disaster risk reduction and has started a policy dialogue with the Government on formulation a national DRR programme with priority focus on strengthening the enabling environment, institutional capacity building, international experience and knowledge sharing, and integrating climatic risks at the national and community level.

The Portfolio consists of a number of projects that is overseen by a Programme Analyst in the UNDP country office. The individual projects are implemented jointly with the counterparts with support of project teams. The project manager is the key focal point and responsible for the delivery of the project work plans. The manager and the technical expert teams are supported by project assistants. One of the key areas of their work is finance. This terms of reference therefore seeks to engage a project finance assistant as part of the above.

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the overall guidance of the Programme Specialist on Environment and Energy and direct supervision of the Head of Project Implementation Unit, the Finance Assistant is responsible for delivery of accurate financial services to the projects, support in proper budget management, and provision of administrative services.

Direct supervisor will feed inputs from Project Managers into SC Performance Evaluation.

Summary of key functions:

Provide effective financial services;
Assist in project budget management;
Provide administrative services.

Specific Responsibilities

Ensure provision of effective financial services to projects in Environment & Energy Portfolio, focusing on achievement of the following results:

Create non-PO vouchers;
Check that vouchers processed, matched and completed, transactions are correctly recorded and posted in Atlas;
Ensure timely corrective actions on un-posted vouchers, including the vouchers with budget check errors, match exceptions, unapproved vouchers;
Assist Project Managers in preparation Requests for Payments ensuring provision of required supporting documentation;
Ensure timely submission of correctly completed travel claims;

Assist in project budget management, focusing on achieving of the following results:

Undertake cost estimates for different activities according to the needs of projects;
Contribute to preparation of budget revisions for the projects including in Atlas;
Assist Project Managers to ensure availability of funds in the budgets, proper use of accounts and adherence of the project activities to the approved annual work plans;
Assist other PIU member in use of correct chart of accounts as per approved AWPs;
Provide detailed information on finance issues during project audit exercise;

Provide administrative services, focusing on achievement of the following results:

Provide administrative support by collecting necessary documentation for timely payments of communication expenses – internet and cell phones; monitoring cell communication expenses ensuring that set monthly ceiling are not exceeded;
Serve as a custodian for PIU stationary supplies, distribution stationary among PIU members and project personnel keeping a log of distribution;
Provide support to quarterly inventory exercise; create matrix for project inventories, such as publication materials, visibility items and monitor in/out flow;
Maintain financial documents filling system;
Perform other related duties, backstopping other project assistant as necessary.

Post Title: Project Finance Assistant

Project: Environment & Energy Portfolio

Type of contract: Service Contract (SB3, step 4 – USD 893 monthly)

Duration: 12 months with possibility of further extension based on the results of performance evaluation

Duty Station: Ashgabat, Turkmenistan.

Competencies

Effective listening, verbal and writing communication skills;
Ability to work in and with diverse team;
Attention to detail and high level of accuracy;
Ability to work under time constraints;
Time management skills.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Secondary Education;
University Degree in management and other related field is an asset;
Specialized training in finance is desirable.

Experience:

At least 5 years of substantial administrative implementation experience preferably with development projects;
Good knowledge of Microsoft Office;
Knowledge and practical experience in Internet based platform is a strong asset.

Language:

Good knowledge of English and Russian;
Knowledge of Turkmen language is an asset.