UNDP Jobs - 59292- Programme Finance Specialist

Programme Finance Specialist

Location :

Tunis, Until Security Conditions in Libya Improve Sufficiently to Allow Working in Libya. At which point the location of the post will become Tripoli, Libya, TUNISIA

Type of Contract :

FTA International

Starting Date :

Application Deadline :

30-Aug-15 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

P-3

Duration of Initial Contract :

Languages Required :

English

Expected Duration of Assignment :

More than a year

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

Following the security evacuation of all UN international staff from Libya in July 2014, UNDP Libya has been operating out of two locations; Tripoli for national staff and Tunis for international staff. Given the fact that UNDP Libya will not be in a position to fully function from Tripoli for an indefinite period of time a ‘Back Office’ has been established in Tunis.

Given the need to demonstrate rapid and clearly defined results to partners and to meet donor reporting requirements, the PSU function needs to be strengthened at a professional level within UNDP Libya. This is a critical area for the Country Office not only during the transition period, but also in the post-crisis NCC context, in order to position UNDP as a key counterpart of the Government, with strong programme planning and reporting capacities.

Under the overall guidance and supervision of UNDP Libya Country Director; the Programme Finance Specialist supports the project implementation of the high priority project in the area of rule of law, police and local governance and the country office for program finance issues, as appropriate.

The incumbent is part of the PSU section of the Country Office and works in close collaboration with the operations and program section of the Country Office as required for optimal project implementation. The Programme Finance Specialist will also support the country office in specific Atlas trainings for new staff, either in projects or at program level.

Duties and Responsibilities

Resource and Budget Management for effective project implementation in support of high priority projects:

Prepare and review resources availability and budget management through timely budget revisions and proper planning of financial resources;
Implementation of the control mechanism for development projects through monitoring budgets preparation and modifications, budgetary status versus ASL, maintenance of the general ledger;
Preparation and modification of budget for UNDPs development projects, follow up with HQs on authorized spending limit (ASL) for development projects;
Review of contribution agreements and monitoring of the receipt of contributions within the CO resource mobilization efforts;

Oversight of cost sharing, trust fund agreements and basket funding;

Preparation of cost recovery bills in Atlas for the services provided by UNDP to UN-Agencies, elaboration and implementation of the income tracking system and follow up on cost recovery;
Resolving issues related to budget exceptions and deficits, prepare periodic financial analysis reports;
Ensure systematic analysis of financial implementation of the projects;
Ensures the integrity of financial and administrative operations as well as the consistent application of UNDP rules and procedures for programme and operations issues.

Capacity building of project and program staff and counterparts:

Provide training to new staff on Atlas and UNDP project implementation, including SOP’s for program and finance related matters;
Provide training on project implementation to UNDP counter parts, in preparation of the switch from DIM to NIM;
Prepare manuals for NIM/DIM implementation for project and counterparts;
Advises projects and programs on UNDP project implementation from PSU perspective, including alternative delivery mechanisms to speed up delivery;
Synthesis of lessons learnt and best practices in Programme Finance;
Recognized contributions to knowledge networks and communities of practice.

Effective Results Based Management and financial reporting:

Review RBM requirements for selected priority projects, in particular requirements for Atlas entries;
Prepare regular financial reporting on project implementation and budgets against resources available;
Full compliance with UN/UNDP rules and regulations of financial processes, financial records and reports.

Audit preparation and support to implementation of the recommendations:

Advise and recommendation on effective internal control framework;
Support the preparations for the country office and specific project audits;
Support the high priority projects in the implementation of the audit recommendations;
Any other tasks as assigned by the Country Director.

Competencies

Core:

Innovation

Ability to make new and useful ideas work.

Leadership

Ability to persuade others to follow.

Pepole Management

Ability to improve performance and satisfaction.

Communication

Ability to listen, adapt, persuade and transform.

Delivery

Ability to get things done.

Technical/Functional:

Primary:

Building Strategic Partnerships

Identifying and building partnerships

Identifies needs and interventions for capacity building of counterparts, clients and potential partners;
Takes responsibility for achieving agreed outputs within set deadlines and strives until successful outputs are achieved.

Promoting Organizational Learning and Knowledge Sharing

Developing tools and mechanisms

Develops and/or participates in the development of tools and mechanisms, including identifying new approaches to promote individual and organizational learning and knowledge sharing using formal and informal methodologies.

Financial Management

Independently utilizes expertise gained from experience

Ability to support budgetary aspects of work planning process, drawing and management of team budgets;
Ability to receive, record, report and manage contributions;
Ability to examine and verify accounts and records;
Ability to create a process to achieve financial goals;
Ability to manage programmes and projects with a strategy aimed at improved performance and demonstrable results.

Strategic Alignment of Management Practice

Adapting best practice and building capacity

Knows the objectives and outputs of organizational units and their human resource, financial and technological capacities and links them to appropriate management policies and services;
Adapts best management practices to the requirements of the organization and/or organizational units to facilitate the achievement of strategic objectives.

Promoting Accountability and Results-Based Management

Input to the development of standards and policies

Provides inputs to the development of organizational standards for accountability and results-based management.

Secondray:

Promoting Organizational Change and Development

Assisting the individuals to cope with change

Develops communications and programmes to assist business units in their adaptation to changing environment;
Performs appropriate work analysis and assists in redesign to establish clear standards for implementation.

Client Orientation

Contributing to positive outcomes for thet: client

Anticipates client needs;
Works towards creating an enabling environmentfor a smooth relationship between the clients and service provider;
Demonstrates understanding of client’s perspective;
Keeps the client informed of problems or delays in the provision of services;

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Master’s Degree in Finance, Business Administration, Public Administration, Economics or related field.

Experience:

5 years of relevant experience in program or project support or finance with demonstrated ability to administer budgets/resources. Some experience in design, monitoring and evaluation of development projects is required;
Experience with UNDP financial management system Atlas;
Experience in the usage of computers and office software packages (MS Word, Excel, etc.) and advance knowledge of spreadsheet and database packages, as well as experience in the handling of web based management systems;
Experience working in a crisis country setting is required;
Experience working in a multi-cultural and/or international work environment;
Knowledge of Results Based Management methodologies would be an asset.

Language Requirments:

Fluency in written and spoken English is essential;
Fluency in Arabic is highly desirable.

Application:

Interested and qualified candidates should apply on-line through the UNDP Job site at http://www.ly.undp.org/content/libya/en/home/operations/jobs/ and please ensure to fill in and upload Personal History Form - P.11 which is available at http://www.ly.undp.org/content/libya/en/home/operations/jobs/ in the relevant field of the on-line application;
Incomplete applications or applications received after the closing date will not be given consideration. Please note that only applications that are short-listed will be contacted;
Please combine all your documents into one (1) single PDF document as the system only allows to upload maximum one document.