Job ID: 34291

Practice Area - Job Family: HIV and Health - HIV AND HEALTH

Vacancy End Date: (Midnight New York, USA) 06/04/2021

Duty Station: Bujumbura, Burundi

Education & Work Experience: I-Master's Level Degree - 7 year(s) experience

Languages: French

Grade: P4

Vacancy Type: FTA International

Posting Type: External

Bureau: Africa

Contract Duration: 1 Year with possibility for extension

Background

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is the UN’s global development network, advocating for change and connecting countries to knowledge, experience and resources to help people build a better life. We are on the ground in 170 countries and territories, working with governments and people on their own solutions to global and national development challenges to help empower lives and build resilient nations.

The Bureau for Policy and Programme Support (BPPS) has the responsibility for developing all relevant policy and guidance and supports the results of UNDP’s 2018-2021 Strategic Plan, focusing on seven outcomes including, strengthening institutions to progressively deliver universal access to basic services (Outcome 3). The HIV, Health and Development Group (HHD Group), within BPPS, is helping to contribute towards this outcome. The HIV, Health and Development Strategy 2016-2021: ‘Connecting the Dots’ elaborates UNDP's work on HIV and health in the context of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. UNDP’s partnership with The Global Fund, makes a vital contribution to UNDP’s Strategic Plan, the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the SDGs and the pledge to leave no one behind.

UNDP has an important role in supporting health outcomes by supporting countries to address the social, cultural and economic determinants of HIV and health, in partnership with UN entities and other organizations. This is done through UNDP’s core work in reducing inequalities and social exclusion that drive HIV and poor health, promoting effective and inclusive governance for health, and building resilient and sustainable systems for health. UNDP also contributes through its coordinating and convening role in bringing together multiple partners and resources at national and local levels.

As a trusted, long-term partner of The Global Fund (GF), UNDP’s value proposition lies in providing an integrated package of development solutions to strengthen institutions to deliver health services. Through its contributions as interim Principal Recipient (PR) and provider of technical assistance in over 53 countries since 2003, UNDP’s provision of integrated policy, implementation and capacity development support to countries has yielded significant health and development results in challenging operating environments. Proactive risk management and investing in sustainability are the cornerstones of UNDP’s portfolio management approach and providing technical assistance to national counterparts during all phases of implementation, strengthening legislation, policies and regulatory frameworks, and building capacities across key functional areas, including financial management, health information systems, procurement and supply chain management. Within the HHD Group the Global Fund – Health Implementation Support Team (GF/HIST) is a dedicated team providing support to UNDP Country Offices implementing health and development programmes.

UNDP has been identified as the interim PR for the Burundi GF programmes to be implemented from 1 January 2021 to 31 December 2023, UNDP will implement the programmes in close coordination with the national partners, including the disease programmes, the central Medical store CAMEBU, NGOs, technical partners and UN entities.

In order to provide strategic planning, programmatic and operational management and oversight to the GF portfolio to achieve the defined programme goals, targets and effective delivery, a dedicated Project Management Unit (PMU) has been established.

Under the direct supervision and overall guidance of the Programme Coordinator, the Finance Specialist is responsible for ensuring the highest efficiency in financial resources management and the provision of accurate, thoroughly researched and documented financial information, effective delivery of financial services, and transparent utilization of financial resources and management of the finances for the Global Fund grants. The Finance Specialist supervises and leads support staff of the Finance Unit and ensures strong coordination with programme and procurement staff of the PMU for effective management of programme budgets.

The Finance Specialist works in close collaboration with the Sub-recipients (SRs) and sub-sub recipients (SSRs) of the Global Fund project, the Country Office Operations unit, and project teams in the Country Office in ensuring successful implementation and oversight of GF programme resources and Country Office performance in finance. In addition, the Finance Specialist will play the lead role capacity development of the financial management systems of the national counterparts for the transition of the programmes.

In order to allow for the national authorities to manage Global Fund resources during the next allocation cycle, and to successfully pass the donor’s assessment, UNDP Country Office will actively engage in a capacity development and transition plan. This will require from the Finance Specialist the design, implementation and monitoring of this plan, defining clear milestones, dedicating finance staff time to the implementation of the plan, and proactively identifying the strategies to be implemented to maximize the chances of success of the transition process, as well as available resources inside and outside the organization. Leading on the coordination with other technical assistance providers engaged in the transition process is also a key success factor.

This will be done in accordance with UNDP rules, policies and procedures, the grant agreements and corporate agreements with the GF, and working in partnership with national stakeholders, and close coordination with the GF (including Local Fund Agent), CCM (Instance de coordination nationale) technical partners and UN entities, the GF/HIST.

Duties and Responsibilities

  • 1. Ensures effective and accurate financial resources management and oversight, focusing on achievement of the following results:
  • Leads on financial analysis and oversight for all resources managed by the Global Fund programmes and provision of high-quality technical financial advice to the Programme Coordinator and other PMU staff members and Country Office senior management;
  • Leads on the proper planning, expenditure tracking of financial resources in accordance with UNDP rules and regulations, policies and procedures, grant agreements and corporate agreements with the Fund and Global Fund financial management rules;
  • Leads on maintaining robust internal financial management controls over all financial processes;
  • Maintains adequate financial management arrangements including reviews and reconciliations, to support the deployment of grant resources in an economic, efficient and effective manner to achieve the desired objectives, ensuring expenditures incurred are reasonable and allowable against budgetary allocations and that inappropriate payments and non-compliant expenditures are prevented;
  • Ensures an efficient financial flow process is developed and implemented and amended to reflect the programme financial management requirements which are guided by risk assessments;
  • Establishes and maintains a reporting system for internal and Global Fund needs, including Sub-recipients, contractors, service providers, and technical assistance providers;
  • Ensures an effective information flow between finance and non-finance actors (Country Co-ordinating Mechanism (CCM), Global Fund, Local Fund Agent and Sub-recipients) in order to effectively link the programmatic results to expenditures, as required by Global Fun
  • Leads on, Develops and maintains an organizational structure for the Finance Unit, and leads on the fostering diversity, equity and inclusion and builds the technical, management and leadership capacity of staff for promotion of organizational excellence;
  • Monitors with the PSM Specialist the financial performance of supply management systems/ procurement;
  • Prepares cost estimates for different activities according to the needs of programme management;
  • Leads on developing, tracking and reporting to management key financial performance indicators; and
  • Leads on the development and maintenance of a document management system for UNDP, including Sub-recipients, contractors, service providers, and technical assistance providers records.?

2. Ensures implementation of operational strategies and procedures, focusing on achievement of the following results:

  • Establishes and/or ensures robust financial procedures: e.g. receipts, payments, disbursements and bookkeeping, filing procedures for the GF projects of Sub-recipients;
  • Leads on ensuring that financial procedures in place comply with the financial/accounting and procurement requirement of the Global Fund and UNDP;
  • Preforms a continuous analysis and monitoring of the financial situation, presentation of forecasts for the Global Fund programmes;
  • Ensures the timely closure of programmes and compliance with Global Fund and UNDP rules, policies and procedures, including the transfer of assets;
  • Ensures oversight for the transparency of the financial processes and use of funds and compliance with Global Fund and UNDP financial guidelines;
  • Leads on the preparation of the donor reports, monthly Cash Flow and annual Cash Flow Forecasts, statement of sources and uses of funds in compliance with the Global Fund requirements;
  • Leads on the preparation of other financial reports to be submitted to the LFA/Global Fund, acting as the Focal Point for financial management information for the LFA/Global Fund;
  • Elaborates and implements cost savings and reduction strategies under the guidance of the Programme Coordinator;
  • Under the guidance of the Programme Coordinator facilitates audits and investigations by the Office of Audit and Investigations and audits of Sub-recipient(s)) and by the Office of Inspector General in line with corporate agreements with the Global Fund and UNDP rules and regulations and policies and procedures and leads on ensuring timely implementation of audit recommendations and findings as they relate to financial, asset and Sub-recipient management;
  • Routinely monitors financial exception reports for unusual activities, transactions, and investigates anomalies or unusual transaction and informs supervisors of the results of the investigation when satisfactory answers are not obtained; and
  • Leads on preparing timely and quality monthly cash flow forecasts for use by the Programme Coordinator in liaison with other Implementing Partners.

3. Manages the programme budgets and ensures proper control of programme accounts focusing on achievement of the following results:

  • Leads on managing financial resources through planning, guiding, monitoring and controlling of the resources in accordance with UNDP rules and regulations;
  • Prepares and monitors programme budgets in Atlas and ensures that the budget in Hyperion Planning and Budgeting Cloud system is in line with the approved detailed budget;
  • Elaborates proper mechanisms to eliminate deficiencies in budget management;
  • Leads on ensuring that contributions from the Global Fund are properly transferred to UNDP on a timely basis;
  • Leads on ensuring compliance with the internal expenditures control system, which ensures that vouchers processed are matched and completed, transactions are correctly recorded and posted in Atlas;
  • Leads on arranging quarterly financial management review meetings with Sub-recipients in coordination with other PMU staff across functional areas (programme, PSM, M&E);
  • Performs Manager Level 1 functions for transactions approval in Atlas; and
  • Ensures timely corrective actions on unposted vouchers, including the vouchers with budget check errors, match exceptions, unapproved vouchers and ensures timely responses to HQ requests to resolve financial data issues.

4. Ensures close monitoring of the Sub-recipients and other implementing partners focusing on achievement of the following results:

  • Leads on assessing financial management capacities of Sub-recipients and develops an action plan to close identified gaps;
  • Provides guidance and capacity building of Ministry of Health, partners and Sub-recipients on issues of financial and asset management – from contracting and banking issues to budgeting, accounting and reporting;
  • Ensures advance payments and direct payments for Sub-recipients and SSR’s vendors are properly; reviewed, processed and retired, as well as ensuring that payment information is properly recorded into the Atlas system on a timely basis;
  • Harmonizes reporting and accounting practices of Sub-recipients, including budgeting and key financial performance indicators;
  • Plans and ensures the Finance Unit team undertakes verifications of Sub-recipients’ expenditures, and promptly follows up on non-compliant expenditures;
  • Ensures coordination with the Sub-recipients’ auditors to finalize the reports to ensure the final audit reports comply with the approved Sub-recipients Terms of Reference, and follows up in a timely manner to ensure finance related audit recommendations are properly addressed; and
  • Ensure continuous support for the financial managers of SR organizations.

5. Ensures facilitation of knowledge building and sharing focusing on achievement of the following results:

  • Leads on the development of training plan/curriculums for the Sub-recipients financial and accounting staff and conducts regular trainings on GF performance-based funding and financial reporting requirements management system;
  • Leads on organizing training for the PMU on financial management and oversight;
  • Actively participates in UNDP and other relevant external networks to promote the programmes and represents UNDP in relevant technical meetings, working groups at country, regional and global level and gathers lessons learnt to apply to the programmes in the area of financial management;
  • Identifies and supports development of communications (print, video) highlighting key financial management achievements, best practices, and lessons learnt and contributes to information sharing with the Ministry of Health, Sub-recipients, UN entities, financial and technical partners, the GF and the CCM.
  • Represent UNDP and leads on the development and implementation of a capacity development and transition plan for finance activities, training a team of national finance officers so they can take informed decisions, anticipate bottlenecks, understand the possible existing solutions, understand the Global Fund rules and regulations related to finance activities and audit requirements; and
  • Ability to represent UNDP and the project when required, and to act as officer in charge of the project if required.

Any other duty assigned by the Programme Coordinator.

Competencies

Innovation

Ability to make new and useful ideas work

Level 5: Creates new and relevant ideas and leads others to implement them

Leadership

Ability to persuade others to follow

Level 5: Plans and acts transparently, actively works to remove barriers

People Management

Ability to improve performance and satisfaction

Level 5: Models high professional standards and motivates excellence in others

Communication

Ability to listen, adapt, persuade and transform

Level 5: Gains trust of peers, partners, clients by presenting complex concepts in practical terms to others

Delivery

Ability to get things done while exercising good judgement

Level 5: Critically assesses value and relevance of existing policy / practice and contributes to enhanced delivery of products, services, and innovative solutions

Technical and Functional

Primary

Accounting (General)

Knowledge of accounting concepts, principles, regulations, and policies and ability to apply to strategic and/or practical situations

Level 5: Originate: Catalyzes new ideas, methods, and applications to pave a path for innovation and continuous improvement in professional area of expertise

Financial Management

Ability to create a process to achieve financial goals

Level 6: Integrate & Empower: Leads integral work of teams utilizing expertise, vision, problem-solving capability, and collaborative energy in professional area of expertise

Financial Reporting and Analysis

Ability to evaluate financial data, derive relevant findings and present them in a meaningful manner

Level 5: Originate: Catalyzes new ideas, methods, and applications to pave a path for innovation and continuous improvement in professional area of expertise

Project Management

Ability to plan, organize, and control resources, procedures and protocols to achieve specific goals

Level 5: Originate: Catalyzes new ideas, methods, and applications to pave a path for innovation and continuous improvement in professional area of expertise

Risk Management

Ability to identify and prioritize risks, and organize action around mitigating them

Level 5: Originate: Catalyzes new ideas, methods, and applications to pave a path for innovation and continuous improvement in professional area of expertise

Knowledge Management

Ability to capture, develop, share and effectively use information and knowledge

Level 5: Originate: Catalyzes new ideas, methods, and applications to pave a path for innovation and continuous improvement in professional area of expertise

T

echnical/Functional

Secondary

Relationship Management

Ability to engage and foster strategic partnerships with other parties, sub-recipients and forge productive working relationships

Level 5: Originate: Catalyzes new ideas, methods, and applications to pave a path for innovation and continuous improvement in professional area of expertise.

Required Skills and Experience

Education

Master’s Degree in Business, Public Administration, or Finance/Accounting;

Professional accounting qualification certificate from an internationally recognized institute of accountancy.

Those with professional accounting qualification certificate from an internationally recognized institute of accountancy will have a distinct advantage, and those without will require the UNDP Advanced Accountancy and Finance Test.

Experience

Minimum 7 years of relevant and progressive professional experience in providing financial management advisory services.

Strong Knowledge of UNDP Financial Management, rules, regulations, policies and procedures is an asset.

Strong Knowledge and experience in working with Global Fund grants in financial management is an asset.

Experience working in developing country is an asset.

Knowledge of UN or UNDP procedures, managing and oversight of internal operations.

Familiar with dealing with client relationships with international organizations, national governments and civil society.

Experience in the use of the Atlas system.

Experience in training national entities in strengthening financial management systems is an asset.

Language requirements

fluency in French

Women Candidates are strongly encouraged

Working knowledge of English both written and oral is an asset

Disclaimer

Important information for US Permanent Residents ('Green Card' holders)

Under US immigration law, acceptance of a staff position with UNDP, an international organization, may have significant implications for US Permanent Residents. UNDP advises applicants for all professional level posts that they must relinquish their US Permanent Resident status and accept a G-4 visa, or have submitted a valid application for US citizenship prior to commencement of employment.

UNDP is not in a position to provide advice or assistance on applying for US citizenship and therefore applicants are advised to seek the advice of competent immigration lawyers regarding any applications.

Applicant information about UNDP rosters

Note: UNDP reserves the right to select one or more candidates from this vacancy announcement. We may also retain applications and consider candidates applying to this post for other similar positions with UNDP at the same grade level and with similar job description, experience and educational requirements.

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