UNDP Jobs - 48802- Finance Assistant

Finance Assistant

Location :

BEE Office – New Delhi, INDIA

Type of Contract :

Service Contract

Starting Date :

Application Deadline :

24-Aug-14 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

SB-2

Duration of Initial Contract :

One Year initially

Languages Required :

English

Expected Duration of Assignment :

One Year initially

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 Energy and Environment Unit (EEU) supports the Government of India in meeting their commitments under the Country Programme Action Plan (CPAP). The programmes in the Unit are organized around the thematic areas of Climate Change, Biodiversity Conservation, Land Degradation, Ozone Depleting Substances and Persistent Organic Pollutants. Projects in the respective thematic areas are implemented through UNDP’s core funds, bilateral and Government co financing and financing from Trust Funds like the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and Montreal

Protocol. UNDP has developed a project titled “Supporting national development objectives with co-benefits of mitigating climate change”.

Bureau of Energy Efficiency is implementing a project titled “Energy Efficiency Improvements in Commercial Buildings” supported by GEF-UNDP-Bureau of Energy Efficiency (Ministry of Power, Government of India).

Brief description of the project: The Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) is the statutory body to facilitate and coordinate energy efficiency initiatives at the central level. To promote energy efficiency technologies and measures in new buildings under the Energy Conservation Act (EC ACT) 2001, the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) has developed the Energy Conservation Building Code (ECBC). The ECBC is currently voluntary and India is still in the early stages of implementing the new building energy code. In practice, few (public and commercial) buildings in India currently meet the code and none of the states have adopted it yet. The expected addition of commercial building floor area in India is growing at about 8% per year and hence achieving energy efficiency in this sector is important. The project aims to address the barriers identified informational, capacity, institutional and financial that will help bring ECBC under mandatory regime.

GEF-UNDP’s intervention aims to address the above barriers and assist the Government to implement and operationalize the ECBC, through a comprehensive and integrated approach that will focus on (a) Strengthening of institutional capacities at various levels to implement ECBC and other energy efficiency programs for commercial buildings, (b) Developing technical expertise and awareness raising of key partners; (c) Compliance with ECBC demonstrated in 8 model buildings (with a total floor area of 1.47 million m2) in five climatic zones, (d) Formulating fiscal and regulatory incentives for investors and (e) Monitoring, evaluation; knowledge sharing and learning. Eight pilot commercial buildings planned are in the cities (in 5 different climatic zones) namely; Hyderabad, Jaipur - Hot & Dry, Kolkata, Mumbai - Hot Humid, Bengaluru - Moderate, Shimla - Cold and Ludhiana, New Delhi –Composite climate .Estimated annual direct carbon dioxide emission reduction resulting from these investments is 90.7 ktCO2 per year or 181.4 ktCO2 during the project duration assuming the buildings are operational for two years and 2.27 million tonne CO2 cumulatively over 25 years of their lifetime. Indirect emission reduction as a result of the project capacity and institutional strengthening activities is estimated on a conservative basis as per “Manual for Calculating GHG Benefits of GEF Projects” (a) bottom up approach results in 2,720,682 tCO2 and (b) top-down approach results in 48,969,467 tCO2.

Duties and Responsibilities

Functions and Scope of work:-

The main function is to facilitate the accounts and administration of UNDP-GEF-BEE EE in Com bldg project at BEE. In carrying out this function the Finance Assistant should be in close consultation with Finance Manager at BEE. S/He is responsible to provide all the adequate support to the project implementation team at BEE and the UNDPs requirement to implement the project. S/he would negotiate with suppliers on be-half of the project team. The specific scope of work is given below;-

Key Results expected:

Supervision and Collaboration:

Prepare quarterly annual and financial plan in line with project document and Annual Work Plan (AWP) using the appropriate accounting code as outlined in Project document and AWP;
Prepare monthly expenditure statement for in-house monitoring and inform the project implementation team on the status;
Prepare quarterly expenditure reports and advance request and their timely submission to UNDP;
Keep cash book, etc. as per accounting procedures of UNDP/BEE;
Prepare assets list and submit the same as and when required;
Facilitate Combined Delivery Report (CDR) submission to UNDP;
Facilitate annual financial audit of the project, produce the required statements as needed, keeps checks and balances in place to ensure proper use of finances under various heads and report the financial progress.
Facilitate management response, follow up and report Follow Up Action Plan;
Responsible for administrative and secretarial matters;
Arrangement of logistics, including travel and organization of meetings/workshops;

Assist processing and reporting project incomes and expenditures.

Responsible to prepare Funding Authorization & Certificate of Expenditures (FACE) (quarterly, 5th of the month following the quarter);
Provide finance related inputs to Annual Progress Review (yearly, by July 15);
Provide project assets information to UNDP (yearly);
Provide inputs to finance related matters in agenda preparation and minutes preparation for Project Steering Committee meetings (twice a year);
Facilitate UNDP audit, provide management response, facilitate follow up action and provide follow up action plan as per UNDP timelines (once in a year);
Other inputs as requested by UNDP/PM/NPM.
S/he will work under the supervision of National Project Manager, UNDP-GEF-BEE Project and Head/Programme Analyst, Energy and Environment, UNDP;
S/he would work in association with UNDP accounts section;
S/he will work in collaboration with colleagues in Bureau of Energy Efficiency and EEU, UNDP;
The person will collaborate closely and support the agencies as outlined in Project Document of the ‘Energy Efficiency Improvements in Commercial Buildings’ across the country.

Competencies

Client Orientation:

Ensuring overall provision of timely quality services to clients.

Job knowledge and technical expertise:

Demonstrating and applying professional and/or technical expertise/knowledge required of the post;

Promoting Accountability and Results based Management:

Monitoring and promoting practices, procedures and systems that support accountability and results-based management;
Prepare appropriate Plans and contingency plans:
Should have the ability to planning well in advance on budget, expenditure.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Essential: Bachelor’s Degree in Commerce and Accounting.
Desirable: Master’s degree in Commerce and Accounting from a recognized University or institute.

Experience:-

Minimum experience in accounting of at least 5 years with adequate computer skills in operating MS Word, Excel, Access etc.;
Persons having experience in computerized accounting system (Tally) would be given preference.

Language Requirements:-

Fluency in spoken English. Knowledge of Hindi is desirable;
Excellent written English skills, able to produce high-quality reports, advisories, etc., within tight deadlines.

Remuneration package is Rs. 34,340/- per month (taxable). UNDP also offers additional benefits which includes medical insurance coverage and limited pension reimbursement for the contract holder and encourages work life balance.

Please apply online by visiting www.in.undp.org (Quick link, Careers).