Procurement and Finance Expert
Facilitate procurement and financial operations for a UNDP project.
Overview
Facilitate procurement and financial operations for a UNDP project.
You have:
- Minimum 5 years of experience in procurement and finance or related fields.
- Advanced knowledge of public procurement processes.
- Experience with international organizations or projects financed by international donors.
- Proficiency in using Quantum system and understanding UNDP rules and procedures.
- Strong analytical skills for financial analysis and budget management.
- Familiarity with relevant Ukrainian national laws and procedures.
- Ability to prepare accurate and timely reports.
- Experience in preparing project budgets and revisions based on gender-responsive budgeting principles.
Contract
This is a UNV National Expert contract. This kind of contract is known as National UN Volunteer. It is normally only for nationals. More about UNV National Expert contracts.
In 2018, the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) sector in Ukraine accounted for more than 81 percent of all employment creating 77.4 percent of jobs. The share of value added increased from 64.3 percent in 2018 to 70.2 percent in 2020 meaning that MSMEs must have a voice in shaping the business environment in Ukraine. Yet MSMEs are those that are mostly affected by incomplete reforms and fluid frameworks. In the context of the “Strengthening MSME Business Membership Organizations in Ukraine: Phase II (2019-2023)” Project, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is intervening for 48 months to design and deliver tailored capacity development support to selected BMOs (Business Membership Organizations) representing different macro regions and sectors of Ukraine to help strengthen their institutional/organizational/financial capacities to represent interests of the private sector and facilitate a more active, responsive, professional and policy-oriented dialogue between public and private sectors. The Project is also addressing important cross-cutting challenges for economic development in Ukraine such as women's economic empowerment and promoting sustainable practices among MSMEs.
The Procurement and Finance Expert will perform the following tasks: • Facilitate the process of procurement and delivery of project goods and services. • Ensure timely corrective actions on purchase orders with budget check errors and other problems. • Ensure proper receipt of goods and services. • Provide inputs to the annual project work plans and prepare related sub-plans (procurement plans, other as required) • Support preparation of project’s annual, semi-annual reports and other ad hoc reports; • Ensure that projects’ data is updated in the data management systems as required (Quantum, SharePoint and similar). • Participate in project activities (meetings, round tables, conferences and more) preparation, implementation and follow up. • Participate in data collection, analysis and maintenance of project-related databases and files. • Closely liaise with UNDP Ukraine Operations (finance, procurement) to ensure proper coordination of actions and activities related to project operations. • Prepare specifications, ToRs and other supportive documents to facilitate conducting procurement processes, ensure that procurement processes are done in a fair, transparent and competitive manner and as per UNDP rules and regulations. • Facilitate timely bid opening process and participate in it. • Participate in the evaluation process of the proposals, memos, and support the preparation of CAP submission forms and reports. • Provide day-to-day management of the project financial operations under UNDP rules and regulations and relevant SOP. • Prepare project budgets and accurate budget revisions based on gender-responsive budgeting principles. • Prepare accurate financial reports, including monthly and quarterly disbursement reports and financial reports to donors. • Undertake financial analysis to inform project planning. • Monitor project expenditures to ensure that those are in line with the approved budget, AWP and UNDP Programmed/Financial policies. • Prepare requests for direct payment to the UNDP CO Finance unit following the approved project budget. • Create requisitions in Quantum for the project. • Ensure timely payment requests and payments to consultants, subcontractors and service providers following the established payment schedules and within the limits of the project budget. • Ensure proper control of supporting documents for payments and financial reports. • Maintain a proper filing system for financial and procurement records ensuring safekeeping of confidential materials. Prepare information for audit, if required. • Prepare accurate financial reports and forecasts, including monthly and quarterly disbursement reports and financial reports for donors. • Ensure the proper closing of accounts at the end of each financial year and the preparation of all financial reports required following established financial rules and regulations.
Other: • Identify and disseminate good practices, lessons learned, and knowledge, as identified through project implementation. • Participate in the training for the operations/programme staff. • Accelerate gender equality and women’s empowerment within all implementations and promote UNDP’s mandate as a gender-responsive organization with zero tolerance to any kind of discriminatory and abusive behaviour, including sexual harassment, sexual exploitation and abuse.
- Accountability
- Adaptability and flexibility
- Creativity
- Judgement and decision-making
- Planning and organising
- Professionalism
- Self-management
procurement and contracting, finance, accounting or in other related fields.
Other desired/mandatory required technical knowledge: - Experience in the field of public procurement and/or audit procedures will be an asset; - Experience performing procurement/administrative and/or financial functions in international organisations/projects will be considered as an advantage. - Experience in budget management and financial analytics will be a strong asset. - Prior experience with the UN Agency, International Organization or in projects financed by international donors in the field of procurement and finance is desirable; - Knowledge of the Quantum system and/or UNDP Rules and Procedures will be an advantage. - Sufficient usage of computers and office software packages (MS Words, Excel, Outlook, etc.) and knowledge of spreadsheet and database packages; - Familiarity with the relevant Ukrainian national laws and procedures.
The contract lasts for the period indicated in the vacancy with the possibility of extensions subject to availability of funding, operational necessity, and satisfactory performance. However, there is no expectation of renewal of the assignment. This is a full-time contract.
Allowances: • Volunteer Living Allowance (VLA): A Volunteer Living Allowance (VLA) USD 2076 (equivalent in UAH) is provided monthly to cover housing, utilities, and normal cost of living expenses. This includes Well-Being Differentials for the period while the ICSC applies hardship classification to duty stations in Ukraine as “E”. • USD 400 entry lump sum, one-time payment.
Medical and life insurance: • Medical insurance: The UN Volunteer and eligible PFU dependents will receive UNV provided medical insurance coverage. Coverage for UN Volunteers begins from the Commencement of Service and normally ceases one month after the last day of the UN Volunteer Contract date. • Life Insurance: UN Volunteers are covered by life insurance for the duration of the UN Volunteer assignment. If a UN Volunteer dies during the UN Volunteer assignment, the eligible designated beneficiaries will be entitled to receive a life insurance lump sum.
Leave entitlements: • Annual leave: UN Volunteers accrue an entitlement to 2.5 days of Annual Leave per completed month of the UN Volunteer assignment. Unused accrued Annual Leave up to a maximum of 30 days is carried over in case of a contract extension within the same UN Volunteer assignment. Unused accrued Annual Leave may not be carried over in case of reassignment or a new assignment. • Learning leave: Subject to supervisor approval and exigencies of service, UN Volunteers may request up to ten working days of Learning Leave per consecutive 12 months of the UN Volunteer assignment, starting with the Commencement of Service date, provided the Learning Leave is used within the contract period. • Certified Sick Leave: UN Volunteers are entitled to up to 30 days of certified sick leave based on a 12-month cycle. This amount is reset every 12-month cycle. • Uncertified Sick Leave: UN Volunteers receive seven days of uncertified sick leave working days in a calendar year. This amount will be reset at the established interval period.
Potential interview questions
| Can you provide an example of a challenging procurement process you've managed? | This question assesses your experience and problem-solving abilities in procurement. | Discuss a specific instance focusing on your strategies and outcomes. |
| How do you ensure compliance with financial regulations in your work? | The interviewer wants to understand your approach to adhering to policies and regulations. | Pro members can see the explanation. |
| Describe a time when you had to collaborate with multiple stakeholders on a project. What was your role? | Pro members can see the explanation. | Pro members can see the explanation. |
| What strategies do you use to manage and monitor project budgets? | Pro members can see the explanation. | Pro members can see the explanation. |
| Can you discuss a time when you identified a financial risk within a project? What did you do? | Pro members can see the explanation. | Pro members can see the explanation. |