UNDP Jobs - 65464- Finance Associate (Open to Thai Nationals Only)

Finance Associate (Open to Thai Nationals Only)

Location :

Bangkok, Thailand, THAILAND

Type of Contract :

Individual Contract

Starting Date :

16-May-2016

Application Deadline :

10-May-16 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

National Consultant

Duration of Initial Contract :

131 days

Languages Required :

English

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 a key partner to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (Global Fund) and serves as Principal Recipient (PR) of last resort. In December 2012, the Country Coordinating Mechanism/Steering Committee requested that UNDP Asia Pacific Regional Centre (APRC) assume the PR role for the Phase 2 of the Multi-Country South Asia Regional HIV Grant (MSA grant/programme). The overall goal of the grant is to reduce the impact of HIV on men who have sex with men (MSM) and transgender people. In its role as the PR, UNDP is responsible for the financial and programmatic management of the Global Fund MSA grant as well as for the procurement of pharmaceuticals, health and non-health products. The grant will support regional advocacy initiatives and country-level advocacy and capacity building activities with civil society partners in Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. Afghanistan and Pakistan also have HIV service delivery components. Country sub-recipients (SRs) include Youth Health and Development Organization (Afghanistan), Bandhu Social Welfare Society (Bangladesh), National AIDS Control Programme (Bhutan), Blue Diamond Society (Nepal) and Naz Male Health Alliance (Pakistan); with SRs to be selected for India and Sri Lanka. In addition, UNDP will also implement important regional initiatives with regional agencies like UNAIDS, WHO and two regional community SRs - Asia Pacific Coalition on Male Sexual Health and Asia Pacific Network of People Living with HIV/AIDS that can be further rolled-out in the countries and would contribute to improving access to stigma-free health services for MSM and transgender people.

UNDP‘s management role consists in ensuring successful implementation of grant activities by SRs ensuring programmatic and financial accountability and capacity building of national and international counterparts on programme, monitoring and evaluation (M&E) and financial management.

Under the overall guidance and supervision of the Finance Analyst and MSA Programme Manager, the Finance Associate is responsible for transparent utilization of financial resources and integrity of financial services. The Finance Associate analyzes and interprets the financial rules and regulations and provides solutions to a wide spectrum of complex financial issues. S/he promotes a collaborative, client-oriented approach consistent with UNDP rules and regulations. The Finance Associate works in close collaboration with the Programme and Operations teams in UNDP Regional Hub and the UNDP Country Offices (COs) ensuring successful implementation of financial policies related to the Programme.

Duties and Responsibilities

Duties and Responsibilities:

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

Full compliance with UNDP rules, regulations, and policies of financial activities, financial recording/reporting system; implementation of effective internal controls, proper functioning of a client-oriented financial resources management system;
MSA grant finance business processes mapping and elaboration of the content of internal Standard Operating Procedures in Finance under the supervision of the Finance Analyst;
Continuously review financial situation and support the MSA Programme in preparation of budgets and forecasts, based on programmatic inputs and detailed budget with the SRs from MSA Programme Manager and Programme Analyst, and periodical Disbursement Requests for submission to the Global Fund;
Quarterly review Face Form and Financial report submitted from the SRs, and verify the expense against the supporting document submitted by the SR before liquidating the advance. Inform supervisor of the results or any unusual transactions from the document verificationfor the SRs;
Coordinate for completion of annual audits of SRs as required by UNDP and Global Fund in a timely manner, and implementation of audit recommendations;
Regularly review the findings and recommendation report from local audit company and follow up the corrective action from SRs.Inform supervisor of the results of the investigation when satisfactory answers are not obtained.

Ensures administration of MSA Programme’ budgets and functioning of the optimal cost-recovery system focusing on achievement of the following results:

Preparation of the consolidated Programme’s PU/DR which includes incorporating variance analysis done by the MSA Programme team. Preparation of quarterly and bi-annual Cash Flow and annual Cash Flow Forecasts, and statement of sources and uses of funds in compliance with the Global Fund requirements for submission to the Global Fund;
Preparation of annual Enhanced Financial Report and other ad-hoc financial reports as required by the Global Fund and the Local Fund Agent (LFA);
Periodical preparation of MSA programme fund balance, taking into consideration the data provided by the Finance Assistants and SRs fund balance to help the Programme team better plan on the programme forecast and ensure sufficient fund for effective programme implementation;
Based on inputs from MSA Programme Manager and Programme Analyst, timely preparation of the MSA programme budget in the Peoplesoft ERP system (Atlas) and arranging for budget reallocation/reprogramme requests (if any) for submission to the Global Fund;
Monitoring of budgets and reporting on the budget approvals and the delivery situation;
Monitoring and ensuring that contributions from the Global Fund are properly transferred to UNDP on a timely basis.

Provides accounting and administrative support to ensures proper control of the MSA Programme accounts focusing on achievement of the following results:

Proper control andprovide finance administrative function for MSA programme such as ; preparation vouchers for payments and recording of expenses incurredfor PR and SRs , by ensuring correctness, completeness and compliance with applicable rules and regulations.
Analysis and elaboration of proposals for the internal expenditures’ control system which ensures that vouchers processed are matched and completed, transactions are correctly recorded and posted in Atlas; travel claims and other entitlements are duly processed and receipting of goods and services and establishment of accruals are properly done in compliance with IPSAS and UNDP policies and procedures.
Timely corrective actions on unposted vouchers, including the vouchers with budget check errors, match exceptions, unapproved vouchers. Timely response to HQ requests to resolve financial data issues.
Control of the Accounts Receivables for the MSA Programme and maintenance of the General Ledger.
Control of accounts/programme closure.

Ensures proper MSA Programme cash management focusing on achievement of the following results:

Timely review of cash advance position for the SRs and other Implementing partners to ensure sufficient funds for their implementation and appropriate disbursements;
Timely review commitment control in Atlas, namely budget spending (PAR) and cash control (AX1) in Atlas to monitor budget utilization, identification and recording of contributions;
Timely preparation of periodical cash flow forecast and delivery report for use by the programme management team.

Ensures facilitation of knowledge building and knowledge sharing among all SRs and concerned CO staff on financial matters focusing on achievement of the following results:

Conduction of training for concerned CO staff and SRs;
Synthesis of lessons learned and best practices in Finance;
Sound contributions to knowledge networks and communities of practice.

Competencies

Corporate Competencies:

Demonstrates commitment to UNDP’s mission, vision and values;
Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability

Functional Competencies:

Development and Operational Effectiveness

Ability to perform a variety of specialized activities related to financial resources management, including formulating budgets, maintaining Accounts Receivables and Accounts Payables, making transactions, reporting;
Sound knowledge of financial rules and regulations;
Strong IT skills;
Ability to provide input to business processes re-engineering, implementation of new system.

Leadership and Self-Management

Focuses on result for the client;
Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude;
Remains calm, in control and good humored even under pressure;
Demonstrates openness to change;
Responds positively to feedback and differing points of view.

Institutional Arrangements

The consultant will be under the overall supervision and guidance with reporting to the Programme Manager, Global Fund in Bangkok Regional Hub.

Duration of Assignment, Duty Station and Expected Places of Travel

Contract Duration: 6 months (131 working days). Duty station: Bangkok, Thailand with no travel expected.

Required Skills and Experience

Degree of Expertise and Qualifications:

Education:

University Degree in Accounting, Finance, Economics or related field.

Work Experience:

At least 4 years of progressively responsible finance and accounting experience is required at the national or international level;
Experience in auditing public or private sector organizations is an asset;
Full proficiency in MS Excel;
Experience in handling of web-based management systems is an asset;
Experience with the UNDP and/or UN agencies is desirable. Knowledge of UNDP corporate system Atlas is an asset.

Language Requirement:

Full proficiency in English is required

Remark: The position is for Thai national only

Required Documents

Interested individual consultants must submit the following documents/information to demonstrate their qualifications:

Personal CV or P11, indicating all past experience from similar projects, as well as the contact details (email and telephone number)
Brief description of why the individual considers him/herself as the most suitable for the assignment, and a methodology, if applicable, on how they will approach and complete the assignment.
Financial Proposal that indicates the all-inclusive fixed total contract price.

Financial Proposal

The method of payment shall be made based on Daily based payable upon submission of the monthly time-sheet, the monthly report and approval of the Programme Manager.

Contracts based on Daily with timesheet

Daily payable upon submission of the monthly time-sheet, the monthly report and approval of the Programme Manager

Criteria for Selection of the Best Offer

Combined Scoring method – where the qualifications and methodology will be weighted a max. of 70%, and combined with the price offer which will be weighted a max of 30%

When using this weighted scoring method, the award of the contract should be made to the individual consultant whose offer has been evaluated and determined as:

Responsive/compliant/acceptable; and
Having received the highest score out of a pre-determined set of weighted technical and financial criteria specific to the solicitation;
Technical Criteria weight; [70/100];
Financial Criteria weight; [30/100].

Only candidates obtaining a minimum of 350 point would be considered for the Financial

Individual consultants will be evaluated based on the following methodology Cumulative Analysis:

The award of the contract will be made to the individual consultant whose offer has been evaluated and determined as:

Responsive/complaint/acceptable; and
Having received the highest score out of a pre-determined set of weight technical (70%) and financial criteria (30%) specific to the solicitation.

Financial score shall be computed as a ratio of proposal being evaluated and the lowest priced proposal received by UNDP for the assignment. Only candidates obtaining a minimum of 350 technical points would be considered for the Financial Evaluation.

Payment Terms

Daily payable upon submission of the monthly time-sheet

Annexes:

Annex 1 – Terms of References (TOR);
Annex 2 – Individual Consultant General Terms and Conditions;
Annex 3 - Letter of Confirmation of Interest and Availability Template;
Annex 4 - Financial Proposal Template.

Link to upload all document: http://procurement-notices.undp.org/view_notice.cfm?notice_id=29071

This contract does not carry any expectation of any future engagement by UNDP.