Antecedentes

Post Title:                               Project Finance Assistant

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

UNDP’s current programme 2010-2015, part of the UN Development Assistance Framework 2010-2015, focuses on; a) strengthening national capacities to promote democratic governance including human rights and access to data, b) supporting  government and communities  to be more resilient to climate change  and effectively  manage their  natural resources, c)  supporting the government and households to introduce measures  to promote energy efficiency, d)  the provision of quality services  to vulnerable groups such as those with  tuberculosis and with disabilities, e) helping the government to conduct more effecting strategic planning.

The largest ongoing UNDP projects in Turkmenistan from 2010-2015 include:

• Improving Energy Efficiency in the Residential Buildings Sector of Turkmenistan;
• Climate change strategy development;
• Addressing climate change risks to farming systems in Turkmenistan at national and community level;
• Global Fund financed Prevention and Control of Tuberculosis in Turkmenistan;
• Prevention of HIV/AIDS;
• Support to the Mejlis (Parliament) and local governance capacities;
• Promotion and Protection of Human Rights;
• Social and economic inclusion of women with disabilities;
• National Biodiversity Planning;
• Institutional Reform of the National State Statistics Commission.

The new UNDP strategy (Country Programme for 2016-2020) focuses on Low emission development, Climate Change Adaptation, Data revolution, and Rule of Law and Economic Diversification. It will be contributing to the Government and United Nations Partnership for Development 2016-2020, in particular to its intended results:

1. Outcome “The  national policy, legislative and institutional frameworks are aligned to reduce greenhouse gas emissions through promoting sustainable practices on energy efficiency, the use of renewables, urban development and waste management";
2. Outcome “The national policy, legislative and institutional frameworks is responsive to climate change issues by promoting climate resilience, adaptation, climate risk management and disaster risk reduction measures at sector and community level”;
3. Outcome, “State institutions implement and monitor laws, national programmes, and strategies in a participatory manner and in line with the country’s human rights commitments” and to the PFD outcome “Strategies and simplified regulations are in place to promote high quality inclusive employment through sustainable economic diversification”;
4. Outcome “Quality data, aligned with international standards, are available to policy makers, legislators, and the interested public to monitor the major goals of National Programmes, the post-2015 SDGs, and PFD and to formulate new national strategies and programmes”.

To achieve these results UNDP will support the implementation of a number of projects that will aim to attain outputs envisaged under the country programme document and its action plan (www.tm.undp.org). Ongoing projects will continue and new projects will be formulated and implemented throughout the proposed period of 2016-2020.

The UNDP office established a structure, Project implementation unit, which is providing finance, procurement, and other administrative services to the project management in order to reach project objectives and implement project work plans. The project implementation unit consists of a team of individuals, who perform a set of specific duties in accordance with UNDP Programme and Operations Policies and Procedures (POPP) related to project management support. These duties include but are not limited to project financial and budget management, actions aimed at procuring goods and services, organization of project events, maintenance of project records, inventory, other administrative support required by the project management.

The present position focuses on the finance-related activities of the NIM/DIM projects.

Deberes y responsabilidades

Under the overall guidance and direct supervision of the Head of Finance Unit, the Project Assistant is responsible for provision of finance-related services.  

The direct supervisor will feed inputs from project managers in 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 both portfolios: Environment & Energy Portfolio and Governance 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.

Competencias

• 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.

Habilidades y experiencia requeridas

Education:

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

Experience:

• 5 years of substantial finance or 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.