Back Finance Specialist (GF funded)

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 Haiti Malaria grant (the Programme) to be implemented from 1 January 2021 to 31 December 2023, UNDP will implement the grant in close coordination with the national partners, the World Food Programme (WFP) and International Organization for Migration (IOM), with the overall goal to reduce local malaria transmission to 0, by confirming 100% of all malaria cases by RDT or microscopy and correctly treating 100% of positive cases according to the national protocols.

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

Under the direct supervision and overall guidance of the Programme Manager, 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 Programme. 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 Programme,  the Country Office Operations unit, GF/HIST and project teams in the Country Office in ensuring successful implementation and oversight of GF programme resources. In addition, the Finance Specialist will play the lead role of capacity development of the financial management systems of the national counterparts for the transition of the Programme. 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, technical partners and UN entities, and GF/HIST. 

1. Ensure effective and accurate financial resources management and oversight, focusing on achievement of the following results:

• Lead on financial analysis and oversight for all resources managed by the GF Programme  and provision of high-quality financial management  advice to the Programme Manager and other PMU staff members and Country Office;
• Proper planning, expenditure tracking of financial resources in accordance with UNDP rules and regulations, policies and procedures and corporate agreements with the Fund and GF financial management rules;
• Maintain robust internal financial management controls over all financial processes;
• Ensure an efficient financial flow process for the Programme;
• Put in place a reporting system for internal and GF requirements;
• Ensure an effective information flows between finance and non-finance actors (on Country Co-ordinating Mechanism (CCM), PR, LFA and Sub-recipient) in order to effectively link the programmatic results to expenditures, as required by the GF;
• Facilitate audits by the Office of Audit and Investigations and audits of SRs in line with corporate agreements with the GF and UNDP rules,  regulations, policies and procedures and ensure timely implementation of audit recommendations and findings as they relate to financial, asset and SR management;
• Monitor the financial performance of supply management systems/ procurement;
• Prepare cost estimates for different activities according to the needs of programme management;
• Develop, track and report to management key financial performance indicators; and
• Develop and maintain a document management system for PR and SR records.

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

• Establish and/or ensure robust financial procedures: e.g. receipts, payments, disbursements and bookkeeping, filing procedures for the GF projects of SRs;
• Ensure that financial procedures in place comply with the financial/accounting and procurement requirement of the GF and UNDP;
• Continuous analysis and monitoring of the financial situation, presentation of forecasts for the Programme;
• Oversight for the transparency of the financial processes and use of funds and compliance with GF and UNDP financial guidelines;
• Ensure preparation of the  Quarterly Report, monthly Cash Flow and annual Cash Flow Forecasts, statement of sources and uses of funds in compliance with the GF requirements;
• Ensure preparation of quality and timely financial reports to be submitted to the LFA/GF and act as a Focal Point for finance information for the LFA/GF, CCM and GF/HIST;
• Elaboration and implementation of cost saving and reduction strategies;
• Routinely monitor financial exception reports for unusual activities, transactions, and investigates anomalies or unusual transactions and informs Programme Manager  of the results of the investigation when satisfactory answers are not obtained; and
• Timely preparation of monthly cash flow forecast for use by the Programme Manager in Liaison with other Implementing partners.

3. Manage the Project budget and ensure proper control of Project accounts focusing on achievement of the following results:

• Manage financial resources through planning, guiding, monitoring and controlling of the resources in accordance with UNDP rules and regulations;
• Prepare and monitor projects’ budgets in Atlas and ensure that the budget in Hyperion Planning and Budgeting Cloud System is in line with the approved detailed budget;
• Elaboration of proper mechanisms to eliminate deficiencies in budget management;
• Ensure that contributions from the GF are properly transferred to UNDP on a timely basis;
• Complying with the internal expenditures control system, which ensures that vouchers processed are matched and completed, transactions are correctly recorded and posted in Atlas;
• Perform Manager level 1 function for transactions approval in Atlas; and
• Ensure timely corrective actions on unposted vouchers, including the vouchers with budget check errors, match exceptions, unapproved vouchers and timely response to HQ requests to resolve financial data issues.

4. Ensure close monitoring of the sub-recipients and other implementing partners

• Assess financial and asset management capacities of SRs and develop an action plan to close identified gaps;
• Provide guidance and capacity building of Ministry of Health, partners and SRs on issues of finance – from contracting and banking issues to budgeting, accounting and reporting;
• Ensure advance payments and direct payments for SR’s 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;
• Harmonize reporting and accounting practices of SR including budgeting and key financial performance indicators;
• Plan and ensure finance team undertakes verifications of SR expenditures;
• Ensures coordination with the SR auditors to finalize the audit reports to ensure the final audit reports comply with the approved SR Audit 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. Ensure facilitation of knowledge building and sharing focusing on achievement of the following results:

• Develop training plan/curriculum for the SRs financial and accounting staff and conduct  trainings on GF performance-based funding, asset management and financial reporting requirements management system.
• Develop tools, standard operating procedures, guidance materials for use by the PMU and SRs;
• Synthesis of lessons learned and best practices in financial management;
• 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;
• 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; and
• Ability to represent UNDP and the project when required, and to act as officer in charge of the project if required.

Any other activity assigned by the Programme Manager.

Core

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/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 5: Originate: Catalyzes new ideas, methods, and applications to pave a path for innovation and continuous improvement 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

Capacity Development

Ability to strengthen and maintain the capabilities of individuals, societies, organizations and governments to set and achieve development objectives over time

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

Secondary 

Coordination

Ability to manage complex relationships through pathways of knowledge exchange, capacity development, funding relationships and strategic engagement  

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

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

Education:

• Advanced (Masters) University Degree in Business, or 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 five (5) years of relevant and progressive professional experience in providing financial management advisory services and/or managing staff and operational systems
• Experience in the usage of computers and office software packages (MS Word, Excel, etc.) and advance knowledge of spreadsheet and database packages, experience in handling of web-based management systems and ERP financials, preferably PeopleSoft.
• Experience in the use of the Atlas system.
• Experience in training national entities in strengthening financial management systems is an asset.
• Work experience in a challenging operating environment is an asset.
• Solid understanding of UN and or UNDP Finance Rules and Regulations, policies and procedures 
• Knowledge and experience in working with Global Fund grants in financial management is an asset. 

Language Requirements:

• Written and spoken fluency in French.
• Working knowledge of English both written and oral is an asset

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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Contract Duration: 1 Year with possibility for extension