Financial Management and Systems Specialist

Location: IslamabadEmployer: UNDeadline: Sunday, 21 July 2013

Description

UNOPS mission is to expand the capacity of the UN system and its partners to implement peacebuilding, humanitarian and development operations that matter for people in need. Working in some of the world’s most challenging environments, UNOPS vision is to always satisfy partners with management services that meet world-class standards of quality, speed and cost effectiveness. By assisting UN organizations, international financial institutions, governments and other development partners, UNOPS makes significant, tangible contributions to results on the ground. UNOPS employs more than 6000 personnel and on behalf of its partners creates thousands more work opportunities in local communities. With its headquarters in Copenhagen, Denmark, a network of five regional offices and a further 20 operations and project centres, UNOPS oversees activities in more than 80 countries. UNOPS is committed to achieving a truly diverse workforce.

The Local Fund Agent (LFA) is a crucial part of the Global Fund's system of oversight and risk management. Its principal role is to provide informed and independent professional advice about the capacity of Principal Recipients (PR) to manage the implementation of activities funded under grants (including a PR’s capacity to oversee implementation of activities by Sub-recipients), to make recommendations concerning periodic disbursement of grant funds, to reviewg rant performance when a grant is being considered for renewal, and to provide the Global Fund Secretariat on an ongoing basis with relevant information on issues or risks which might affect grant performance.

The LFA is expected to have an up-to-date and comprehensive understanding of the diseases (HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria), how they are prevented, transmitted and treated and their impact on the country. The LFA assesses the PR’s institutional and health/programmatic capacities and arrangements to ensure adequate health expertise (HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and/or malaria) in the implementation of the Global Fund grants. The LFA also determines whether the PR has adequate infrastructure and information systems to support grant implementation, including the monitoring of performance of Sub-recipients and outsourced entities in a timely and accountable manner.

Under the direct supervision of the UNOPS LFATeam Leader, the Financial Management & Systems Specialist will be based inIslamabad , Pakistan, and isresponsible for the financial coordination of the Pakistan LFA Team and forhelping ensure that all LFA work is of high quality and completed within thetimeframe set by the GFATM.

Functional Responsibilities

Under the overall supervision of LFA Team Leader (TL), the incumbent is required to perform the function of financial management specialist for the UNOPS LFA activities in Pakistan by carrying out the following activities:

• Review Disbursement Request/Financial Progress Updates and complete the LFA Progress Review and Recommendation for Ongoing Disbursement forms; • Timely and relevant review and comments to the Global Fund on the PR’s completed Enhanced Financial Reporting format; • Review various documents submitted by Principal Recipient and provide independent opinion/analysis of financial adequacy for GFATM grants; • Follow data verification procedures and formats, conduct field visits and using the format given by GFATM, provide independent opinion and analysis on the financial management by the PR; • To conduct any other analysis requested by the LFA Team Leader from time to time; • Identify financial weaknesses and make recommendations with timeframes for necessary follow up by the PR; • Discuss with the Country Team Leader any other institutional and financial aspects to be reviewed and take action; • Prepare mission reports on the format required by Global Fund and submit it to the Country TL; • Mission travel may be required to support LFA team as and when needed; • Other activities as per The LFA Manual and/or as assigned; • Plan, monitor and supervise the works of finance team for all work as per TORs; • Attend field visits with/ without the finance team members and debrief the SRs/SSRs on the filed visit outcomes. • Guide and assist the finance team in writing reports on the filed visits before submission to the Team Leader for scrutiny and onward submission to the Global Fund; • Suggest remedial measures on the potential weaknesses of the SR/SSR Management in the optimum utilization of GFATM grant money and safeguarding the GF grants against any fraud; and • Red-flagging for the Global Fund of any potential risk of misuse of the GFATM Grants. • Perform other related duties as required. The incumbent is responsible to abide by security policies, administrative instructions, plans and procedures of the UN Security Management System and that of UNOPS.

Impact of Results:

Reports submitted by the LFA will comply with the deadlines and timescales agreed upon;

Ad hoc queries by GFATM are promptly responded to;

LFA clearly demonstrates an understanding of the terms of reference for each activity and GFATM requirements;

Appropriate reporting template and tools are used by LFA;

Analysis of data presented in LFA reports is of high quality;

The conclusions reached in LFA reports are supported by accurate evidence gathered;

LFA is pro-active in identifying and flagging to the GFATM Fund Portfolio Manager any major risks to effective management of program implementation and funds;

LFA provides innovative analysis, information, advice, and suggestions for enhancing the quality of GFATM decisions, work processes, templates, tools etc.

Competencies

Extensive experience in: grants management, funds management, budget / budgeting, account reconciliation, cash management, financial management / financial analysis / financial reporting.

Extensive experience with: IPSAS, Asset Management, Planning and reviewing and Project Financial Control.

Experience with forensic auditing and fraud examination; with the ability to review and analyse accounting transactions;

Reviewing budgets; Ability to critical review and evaluate financial management systems, with the ability to review and assess internal controls and financial processes and procedures and provide recommendations for improvement;

Ability to review and analyse financial statements (including income and expenditure statements, balance sheets and cash reconciliation statements);

Ability to review of audit reports; Audit experience mandatory.

Previous LFA experience is an asset. Skills: Professionalism, integrity and commitment to project demands;

Strong audit / financial and compliance auditing / analytical Skills

Accountability;

Planning and Organizing;

Excellent communication and interpersonal skills;

Aptitude for political sensitivities; and

Team player.

Education

• Advanced University (master's) degree in Accounting, Finance or related field

OR University degree (bachelor) in Accounting, Finance or related fields plus additional 2 years of relevant experience may be considered in substitution for the master's degree. 2. Internationally recognized professional accounting qualification is required (CA/CMA/CPA/ACCA etc.)

Experience

Seven (7) years post-master degree qualification experience in financial accounting. Or nine (9) years post-bachelor degree qualification experience in financial accounting.

Languages

Fluency in English and Urdu is required.

Contract type, level and duration

Contract type: Local Individual Contractor Agreement Contract level: Local ICA-8 Contract duration: Up to 31 December 2013 – with possibility of extension For more details about the ICA contractual modality, please follow this link: http://www.unops.org/ENGLISH/WHOWENEED/CONTRACT-TYPES/Pages/Individual-Contractor-Agreements-ICAs.aspx 

Additional Considerations

• Please note that the closing date is midnight Copenhagen time (CET)
• 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.
• For staff positions UNOPS reserves the right to appoint a candidate at a lower level than the advertised level of the post
• The incumbent is responsible to abide by security policies, administrative instructions, plans and procedures of the UN Security Management System and that of UNOPS.