Job: Resource Management Officer

Location: Yangon 
Deadline: Thursday, 03 October 2013 

Description

Background / General description:

EAP comprises of more than 20 countries, including China, several MICs, LICs, and fragile states (EAP has the second highest number of fragile states among the Bank regions). The Region is characterized by generally rapid growth, both sophisticated and low capacity borrowers, and some highly dynamic sectors. At the same time, EAP countries are faced with weak governance environments. The Bank's program in EAP is multi-faceted and has grown rapidly in recent years: lending in FY12 exceeded $6 billion; the portfolio consists of nearly 300 operations for about $30 billion; and the TF program is substantial (with a portfolio of about $4.3 billion). EAP consists of about 800 staff with 20% in Washington and 80% based in the field offices in the six CMUs.

In early 2012 the Bank re-engaged with the government in Myanmar, with the aim of supporting reforms that will benefit the people of Myanmar, especially the poor and vulnerable. Myanmar, a poor country, with a population of about 60 million is in a process of dramatic reforms and is emerging from several decades of isolation. An office was opened in Yangon and another office is scheduled to open in Nay Pyi Taw in FY13. For the first time in over two decades, the Bank developed an Interim Strategy Note along with its first operation in Myanmar with an IDA pre-arrears clearance grant for Community Driven Development ($80 million). The Myanmar Reengagement and Reform Support credit ($440 million) has also been made operational and will support the Government's reform agenda to facilitate the clearance of Myanmar's arrears to IDA, opening the path to a full country program. Staffing is expected to grow from a current 15 (including 4 IRS) to 30 positions by end of FY14 (including an additional 3 IRS) for the Bank side and from the current 6 positions (including 1 IRS) to 12 for IFC.

The World Bank is seeking a Resource Management Officer to take the lead responsibility for overseeing the resource management, administration, accounting, IT, and security management functions to support Myanmar's growing program and portfolio. The incumbent will work under the direct supervision of the Country Manager and the general direction the EAP Chief Administrative Officer (based in Washington DC), and ensure that the RM unit provides professional, efficient and effective services in business and resource planning, budgeting, works program planning, risk management and internal controls. The RM Officer will contribute to the integration of the country and regional strategies with unit work plans, in close collaboration with the country management team. The RM Officer will coach and mentor RM colleagues in the Yangon and Nay Pyi Taw country offices on institutional practices and policies and appropriate analytical methodologies and tools. The RM Officer will play a key role in the evaluation of cost effectiveness and impact of the resource allocation decisions and work programs including identification of cost drivers and alternative country business priorities. The incumbent will also lead the team in providing administrative and financial support to IFC and other entities of the World Bank Group.

Note: If the selected candidate is a current Bank Group staff member with a Regular or Open-Ended appointment, s/he will retain his/her Regular or Open-Ended appointment. All others will be offered a 3 year renewable term appointment.

Note: If the selected candidate is a current Bank Group staff member with a Regular or Open-Ended appointment, s/he will retain his/her Regular or Open-Ended appointment. All others will be offered a 3 year term appointment.

Duties and Accountabilities:

Financial Management of Country Office Expenses

• Under the supervision of the Country Manager and the general direction of the CAO, the incumbent is responsible for effective financial management of the country offices expenses: Oversees the Accounting function of the Country Offices; provides day-to-day guidance and supervision to Accounting Assistant in the country offices.
• Business Planning and Indicators: Assists Country Office management in the formulation of staffing strategy and its resource implication; Assists in planning of expenses for day to day running of the country offices; Contributes to the development of indicators for the country office; May provide assistance in the country work program planning; In case of country office relocation or renovation, plans for capital budget;
• Cost Analysis and Effectiveness: Compiles and analyzes performance measurement data at the country office level; Measures cost effectiveness performance and proposes solutions to issues identified.
• Monitoring: Independently monitors and reviews budgets, external funding (e.g. Trust Funds), chargeback, expenses, performance indicators etc., identifying/resolving issues, and discussing them with country office management, working groups and other RM staff; Ensures that unit has optimum cash balance to include funds management and cash flow projections; Reviews accounting transactions, reconciliation reports, open-item reports, monthly accounting reports, scorecard etc.

Financial Accounting Controls and Fiduciary Responsibilities

• Supports internal controls framework of country offices financial transactions and business operations, including review of effectiveness of the internal control systems and monitoring;
• Within the SAP framework establishes and coordinates specification for and implements new or enhanced country office specific reporting systems to meet management and Institutional requirements;
• Works with Country Manager to ensure a strong control environment in the office, providing advice on control issues.
• Ensures that audit, quality assurance review and COSO recommendations are implemented.
• Coordinates year-end letter of representation exercise for the country office.

Reporting, Communications and Liaison

• Proactively establishes and maintains interface with the client, internal and external. Participates in team meetings. Ensures effective back-up arrangement and timely submissions of tasks/outputs;
• Advises/liaises with staff in the country offices in order to improve knowledge and awareness with respect to budget methodologies, policies, internal control policies and procedures;
• Administers country office RM policies and procedures including guidance, advice and interpretation, and recommends solutions to managers in the country office;
• Ensures compliance with specific institutional and regional guidelines through ongoing dissemination of information to the administrative team and the staff of country offices
• Provides information and first level analysis to managers and RM Officers with respect to the management of resources (e.g., budget, expenses, unit costs/performance measures, staffing, space, etc. ;
• Provides support to managers and staff in choosing, accessing and interpreting management reports available in SAP and other information systems;
• Maintains consistency in the application of accounting rules and procedures, including safeguarding of cash and checks;
• Prepares various analyses, highlighting trends, issues, contributions to various reports;
• Ensures compliance with specific institutional and regional guidelines.

Team Lead Role

• Guides and supervises other RM and Administration staff on agreed processes, and coordinates the integration and consolidation of country office inputs during planning and allocation exercises;
• Exercises significant Team leadership, encourages and promotes team spirit within the RM team and coaches junior RM staff.

General Administration

• Ensures smooth operation of office facilities on a daily basis;
• Ensures that Bank's assets and inventories are appropriately recorded and safeguarded;
• Oversees the local procurement of supplies, goods and services.
• Acts as Security Champion, keeps the Crisis Action plan and Business Continuity Plan up - to- date, implements recommendations of the security assessment report and responds promptly to security issues.
• Helps in development of administrative policies and practices (in consultation with other units, e.g., GSD) for the efficient and effective operation of the country office.

Selection Criteria:

• Minimum Education: A relevant Advanced Degree, preferably MA/MBA (e.g., Finance, Accounting, Business, Economics, etc.) OR a relevant Bachelor's Degree plus an internationally recognized professional accounting qualification (e.g., CPA, CA, ACCA) OR completion of the RM Board-sponsored Supplementary Education Criteria Program (SEC).
• Minimum Years of Relevant Experience: 5 years experience either in Administration, Finance or Operations at the World Bank, or in an international private or public sector setting

RM Competencies

• Statutory and other Stakeholder Reporting - Good understanding of financial statements and stakeholder reports and can explain trends, drivers and variances to others.
• Internal controls and corporate procedures - Can evaluate specific policies and procedures against the entity's stated mission, strategies and practices, and identify deficiencies.
• Planning and Budgeting - Can coordinate budget planning, formulation and allocation processes at the dept level, and monitor funding position.
• Performance Evaluation and Reporting - Able to analyze and interpret reports and draw meaningful conclusions with respect to performance against strategic and operational priorities.
• Integrity and Independence - Interprets information in an objective manner, and disseminates information with due attention to potential issues of confidentiality and disclosure.
• Client Orientation - Takes personal responsibility and accountability for timely response to client queries, requests or needs, working to remove obstacles that may impede execution or overall success.
• Drive for Results - Takes personal ownership and accountability to meet deadlines and achieve agreed-upon results, and has the personal organization to do so.
• Teamwork (Collaboration) and Inclusion - Collaborates with other team members and contributes productively to the team's work and output, demonstrating respect for different points of view.
• Knowledge, Learning and Communication - Actively seeks knowledge needed to complete assignments and shares knowledge with others, communicating and presenting information in a clear and organized manner.
• Business Judgment and Analytical Decision Making - Analyzes facts and data to support sound, logical decisions regarding own and others' work.

Competence Skill - A skill is the learned capacity to carry out pre-determined results often with the minimum outlay of time, energy, or both. →

More Info and Application