Finance Specialist

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Application deadline 3 years ago: Friday 11 Dec 2020 at 23:59 UTC

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Contract

This is a LICA Specialist-10 contract. This kind of contract is known as Local Individual Contractor Agreements. It is normally only for nationals. It's an external contract. It usually requires 5 years of experience, depending on education. More about LICA Specialist-10 contracts.

Background Information - Myanmar

UNOPS Myanmar is one of UNOPS’ leading offices in Asia, acting as fund manager for three of the largest development programmes in the country, namely the Access to Health Fund, the Livelihood and Food Security Fund (LIFT) and the Joint Peace Fund (JPF). In addition, UNOPS is Principal Recipient for the Global Fund in Myanmar and for the Global Fund’s regional artemisinin-resistance initiative towards elimination of Malaria, which works to accelerate progress towards malaria elimination in the greater Mekong sub-region. UNOPS provides procurement, infrastructure and project management services to a wide range of organisations in the country, including the Government of Myanmar, international development partners, other UN agencies, NGOs and INGOs. UNOPS plays a critical role in ensuring that the quality of services provided to its partners meets stringent requirements of speed, efficiency and cost effectiveness.

Background Information - Job-specific

The Access to Health Fund aims to improve Health outcomes for vulnerable populations in conflict-affected areas of Myanmar. The Fund works with the Ministry of Health and Sports, Ethnic Health Organizations, national and international NGOs, the United Nations, and other partners to increase people’s access to health-services (maternal, newborn and child health, combating HIV and AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria) and to strengthen health systems.

The Access to Health Fund is currently supported by four donors - the United Kingdom, Sweden, the United States, and Switzerland. Its Board includes these four Donors and the Ministry of Health and Sports. The new engagement for a contribution from Takeda, Japanese private sector entity, is initiated and expected to be signed early 2021.

Functional Responsibilities

Under the overall guidance of the Head of Programme Management Office, and the direct supervision of the Finance Specialist - Performance Management and Reporting (PMO), the Finance Specialist is responsible for the management of Access to Health Fund on all aspects of financial management and operations. This includes strategic financial resources management, within UNOPs rules and regulations.

The Finance Specialist will broadly carry out the following tasks and maintains oversight over the financial management of projects and promotes a collaborative, client-oriented approach.

1. Implementation of operational and financial management strategies

  • Ensure changes in UNOPS operational strategies and systems are implemented at Fund level.
  • Ensure compliance with donor requirements, UNOPS Financial Rules and Regulations, Organizational Directives and Administrative Instructions.
  • Establish, review and implement effective standard operating procedures, financial oversight mechanisms and internal control systems.
  • Collaborate in the improvement of the UNOPS budget formulation system, by updating and proposing change to facilitate efficient financial management and enhance financial reporting through the system.

2. Budget management and oversight

  • Financial resources management through timely, accurate and compliant budget preparation, monitoring and budget amendments.
  • Work closely with respective internal and external stakeholders for budget preparation and budget management.
  • Ensure budgets are set-up, updated and managed in UNOPS ERP system;
  • Provide support to resolve recorded budget errors and take timely remedial actions;
  • Advise on UNOPS pricing and costing policies for financial proposals.
  • Oversee the review of actual expenditures and analysis of budget utilization reports.
  • Realistic forecasts of Programme delivery and engagement additions are timely submitted to senior management.
  • Recommend cost saving strategies in consultations with stakeholders.

3. Control of Project Cash Management

  • Ensure proper management of the contributions that funds due to UNOPS are properly identified, consistently and uniformly classified, recorded on a timely basis with sufficient supporting documentation.
  • Continuous analysis and monitoring of the financial situation, and advice to senior management on strategic financial resources management.
  • Ensure sufficient funds on hand for disbursements and adequate cash flow in the system to support successful implementation.
  • Liaise closely with the Programme, Procurement, and Contracts teams on cash forecasting of grant and non-grant payments.
  • Accurate and timely update of Access to Health Dashboard.

4. Assurance and Financial Reporting

  • Quality control of the account by performing ongoing review, analysis and reconciliation of accounts. Investigation of discrepancies and initiation of timely corrective actions.
  • Ensure timely and accurate submission of financial reports to donors in accordance with the established procedures.
  • Provide advice and inputs on financial reporting of partners.
  • Coordinate with Contracts and Programme teams to ensure cash and expenditure report reconciliation of grants on a bi-annual basis.
  • Prepare and provide required information for FMO internal and external audits.
  • Manage responses to internal and external audit queries and observations related to financial reports.
  • Ensure adequate coordination of the audit for implementing partners (IP), in close collaboration with PMO, Grants management and Programme.
  • Oversee review of the status of audit recommendations and addressed through close coordination between Contracts team, Programme team and the IPs.
  • Carry out Due Diligent Assessment of implementing partners,
  • Manage responses to the donor or fund agent related to financial reporting matters.
  • Work in close collaboration with IPAS to ensure the effectiveness of project implementation and closure policies and tools.

5. Team Management

  • Facilitate the engagement and provision of high quality results and services of the team supervised through effective recruitment, work planning, performance management, coaching, and promotion of learning and development.
  • Provide oversight, ensuring compliance of team members with existing policies and best practices.

6. Ensures Knowledge building and knowledge sharing

  • Organize, facilitate and/or deliver training and learning initiatives for personnel and partners on finance and audit related topics.
  • Proposing change to facilitate efficient financial management and enhance financial reporting through the system.
  • Oversee team’s contributions to Finance knowledge networks and communities of practice including collaborative synthesis of lessons learnt and dissemination of best practices in human resources management
  • Guide team’s collection of feedback, ideas, and internal knowledge about processes and best practices and utilize productively.

The incumbent is responsible to abide by security policies, administrative instructions, plans and procedures of the UN Security Management System and that of UNOPS.

Education/Experience/Language requirements

Education

  • Masters’ Degree in Accounting, Financial Management, Treasury Management, Business Management, Business Administration or related field is required.

  • Additional two years of similar experience with a Bachelor’s Degree is considered as equivalent.

  • Certified Public Accountant or equivalent professional qualification is an asset.

Experience

  • At least 5 years’ of professional-level experience in accounting or budgeting with responsibility for project accounting and preparation of financial statements, in an international organization providing financial management services is required.
  • Knowledge of UNOPS financial rules and regulations is an asset.
  • Experience with G Suite is an asset.
  • Working knowledge of ERP and using financial management electronic systems is desired.
  • Experience in managing team is an asset.

Language

  • Full knowledge of English and Myanmar language is essential.

Competencies

Treats all individuals with respect; responds sensitively to differences and encourages others to do the same. Upholds organizational and ethical norms. Maintains high standards of trustworthiness. Role model for diversity and inclusion.

Acts as a positive role model contributing to the team spirit. Collaborates and supports the development of others. For people managers only: Acts as positive leadership role model, motivates, directs and inspires others to succeed, utilizing appropriate leadership styles. Demonstrates understanding of the impact of own role on all partners and always puts the end beneficiary first. Builds and maintains strong external relationships and is a competent partner for others (if relevant to the role). Efficiently establishes an appropriate course of action for self and/or others to accomplish a goal. Actions lead to total task accomplishment through concern for quality in all areas. Sees opportunities and takes the initiative to act on them. Understands that responsible use of resources maximizes our impact on our beneficiaries. Open to change and flexible in a fast paced environment. Effectively adapts own approach to suit changing circumstances or requirements. Reflects on experiences and modifies own behavior. Performance is consistent, even under pressure. Always pursues continuous improvements. Evaluates data and courses of action to reach logical, pragmatic decisions. Takes an unbiased, rational approach with calculated risks. Applies innovation and creativity to problem-solving. Expresses ideas or facts in a clear, concise and open manner. Communication indicates a consideration for the feelings and needs of others. Actively listens and proactively shares knowledge. Handles conflict effectively, by overcoming differences of opinion and finding common ground.

Contract type, level and duration

Contract type: Local Individual Contractor Agreement (LICA) Contract level: LICA 10/ ICS 10 Contract duration: Ongoing

For more details about the ICA contractual modality, please follow this link:

https://www.unops.org/english/Opportunities/job-opportunities/what-we-offer/Pages/Individual-Contractor-Agreements.aspx

This is Local position and only Myanmar nationals are eligible to apply.

Additional Considerations

  • Please note that the closing date is midnight Copenhagen time
  • Applications received after the closing date will not be considered.
  • Only those candidates that are short-listed for interviews will be notified.
  • Qualified female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.
  • UNOPS seeks to reasonably accommodate candidates with special needs, upon request.
  • Work life harmonization - UNOPS values its people and recognizes the importance of balancing professional and personal demands. We have a progressive policy on work-life harmonization and offer several flexible working options. This policy applies to UNOPS personnel on all contract types
  • For staff positions only, UNOPS reserves the right to appoint a candidate at a lower level than the advertised level of the post
  • For retainer contracts, you must complete a few Mandatory Courses (around 4 hours) in your own time, before providing services to UNOPS.
  • The incumbent is responsible to abide by security policies, administrative instructions, plans and procedures of the UN Security Management System and that of UNOPS.

It is the policy of UNOPS to conduct background checks on all potential recruits/interns. Recruitment/internship in UNOPS is contingent on the results of such checks.

Background Information - UNOPS

UNOPS is an operational arm of the United Nations, supporting the successful implementation of its partners’ peacebuilding, humanitarian and development projects around the world. Our mission is to help people build better lives and countries achieve sustainable development.

UNOPS areas of expertise cover infrastructure, procurement, project management, financial management and human resources.

Working with us

UNOPS offers short- and long-term work opportunities in diverse and challenging environments across the globe. We are looking for creative, results-focused professionals with skills in a range of disciplines.

Diversity

With over 4,000 UNOPS personnel and approximately 7,000 personnel recruited on behalf of UNOPS partners spread across 80 countries, our workforce represents a wide range of nationalities and cultures. We promote a balanced, diverse workforce — a strength that helps us better understand and address our partners’ needs, and continually strive to improve our gender balance through initiatives and policies that encourage recruitment of qualified female candidates.

Work life harmonization

UNOPS values its people and recognizes the importance of balancing professional and personal demands.

Added 3 years ago - Updated 3 years ago - Source: jobs.unops.org