Finance Specialist

Contract

This is a UNV International Specialist contract. This kind of contract is known as International UN Volunteer. It is normally internationally recruited only. More about UNV International Specialist contracts.

Eligibility criteria

Minimum age: 25 years old. Nationals of the country of assignment are not eligible, except the assignments in Headquarters duty stations.

Description of task

Within the delegated authority and under the supervision of the UNDP UXO (Unexploded Ordnance) Team Leader/Unit Head, or his/her designated representative, the UN Volunteer Finance Specialist will over-all be responsible for provide technical guidance and support to the UNDP UXO implementing partner organizations, particularly the NRA and UXO Lao, in the effective and efficient management of their financial resources, including strengthening their financial management, internal control and risk management system, and building the staff capacity in financial and grants management.

The following are the detailed duties and responsibilities of the UN Volunteer Finance Specialist:

1. Provide technical assistance in financial and grants management

2. Budget preparation

• Review annual/quarterly work plan/budget of implementing partners and provide feedback and inputs, as needed;
• Provide support in the preparation of budget proposals for submission to donors;
• Provide support in budget review and provide advice on necessary budget revision/s and/or reallocations;
• Review procurement plans based on the approved work plan/budget;

1. Budget monitoring and control

• Provide support in the preparation of financial reports, including budget analytical review (or budget monitoring reports) for management and donors, as necessary;
• Assist in the regular monitoring of budget delivery of implementing partners;
• Provide feedback and/or advice on significant budget overspends/underspends and how to improve budget monitoring and control;
• Provide support on monitoring fund utilization and available fund balances to ensure proper and optimum utilization of funds based on approved budget;

1. Grant Management and Compliance

• Review provisions of grant agreements with donor agencies or development partners and monitor compliance by the implementing partners;
• Provide feedback on the status of the budget delivery and any recommendations on how to ensure the effective and efficient management of the grant funds.

1. Audits and Assurance

• Provide support to the implementing partners in attending to internal and external audits;
• Provide support in ensuring the implementation of adequate internal controls by the implementing partners, including those as recommended by the auditors.

1. Strengthen financial management, internal control and risk management system

2. Support the full implementation of the National Implementation Modality (NIM) Standard Operating Policies (SOPs)

• Provides technical guidance and support in ensuring the implementation of the existing NIM SOPs and provides feedback on identified areas for compliance.

1. Draft and document internal finance policies and procedures of the implementing partners

• Initiate and/or coordinate the drafting of the implementing partner organizations’ finance and accounting manual, which provides detailed documentation of their finance and accounting policies and procedures, taking into consideration the NIM SOPs.

1. Monitor the implementation of action plan for system strengthening

• Provide recommendations/advice on the strengthening of the implementing partner organizations’ financial management, internal control system and risk management;
• Monitor the implementation of action plan for the financial management, internal control and risk management system strengthening, including those recommendations from micro-assessment, spot checks and audits.

1. Build staff capacity on financial and grants management

2. Review staff capacity on financial and grants management

• Facilitate the identification of staff capacity needs/gaps related to financial and grants management;

1. Prepare and implement staff capacity building plan

• Draft plan for on-the-job coaching and/or training of Finance personnel and key management team of the implementing partners to enhance their knowledge and skills on financial and grants management as well as update them on enhanced internal policies and procedures for their implementation.

The UN Volunteer Finance Specialist will be part at the UNDP UXO Unit. He/she will be based at the project office, particularly at the NRA (National Regulatory Outhority) and UXO Lao offices and primarily work closely with the implementing partners’ Finance Unit and management team. He/she will also collaborate with the UXO colleagues at the UNDP country office.

Qualifications/Requirements

Required degree level:

Bachelor degree or equivalent

Education - Additional Comments:

Bachelor’s degree in one of the following preferred: Finance, Accounting, Business Administration or related area. Chartered Accountant, Certified Public Accountant, Certified Management Accountant or equivalent certification is desirable.

Required experience:

36 Months

Experience remark:

• At least 3 years of work experience at the national or international level in accounting, financial and program management, including preparation, monitoring and controlling of budgets, preparation of financial reports and budget analytical review (or budget monitoring reports);
• Experience in managing grants for development programmes/projects that are funded by multiple fund sources and donors.
• Experience in institutional strengthening and staff capacity building is preferable, particularly the provision of training and/or on-the-job coaching, finance technical support or advisory services (e.g. financial management and internal control system review and strengthening);
• Experience in handling audits (external and internal) and managing risks of grant-funded programmes/projects;
• Experience with computerized financial/accounting systems or enterprise resource planning (ERP) software;
• Solid overall computer literacy, including proficiency in various MS office applications, including MS Excel;
• Excellent oral and written English communication skills;
• Excellent interpersonal skills;
• Ability to work effectively in a multi-cultural team of international and national personnel;
• Ability to work inclusively and collaboratively with a range or partners and organizations, and with personnel under various positions and levels;
• Ability to work and adapt professionally and effectively in a challenging environment and with tight deadlines;
• Self-motivated, ability to work with minimum supervision;
• Sound security awareness;
• Knowledge of UN system is an advantage, or other relevant programmes; experience with Mine Action is an asset, as is experience working in the UN or other international development organization;
• Have interest in International Development, Mine Action, volunteerism as a mechanism for durable development.

Language skills:

• English(Mandatory), Level - Fluent
• Laotian(Optional), Level - Working Knowledge

Area of expertise:

Development programme management, Monitoring and evaluation, Finance, accounting and audit

Driving license:

Yes

Competencies values:

Accountability, Commitment to Continuous Learning, Communication, Integrity, Planning and Organizing, Working in Teams

Application procedure:

* Not yet registered in the UNV Talent Pool?

First register your profile at https://vmam.unv.org/candidate/signup.

Important: After creating your account, complete all sections of your profile and submit it. Then go to ‘My Page’ at https://vmam.unv.org/candidate/mypage and click on the ‘Special Calls’ hyperlink. Lastly, select the special call to which you would like to apply.

* Already registered in the UNV Talent Pool?

First update your profile at https://vmam.unv.org/candidate/profile.

Then go to ‘My Page’ at https://vmam.unv.org/candidate/mypage and click on the ‘Special Calls’ hyperlink to select the special call to which you would like to apply.

Application deadline: 05 April 2021