Practice Area – Job Family: Poverty Reduction – RESILIENCE
Vacancy End Date: (Midnight New York, USA)
01/10/2018
Duty Station: Harare, Zimbabwe
Education & Work Experience: I-Master’s Level Degree – 5 year(s) experience
Languages
Required:
Desired:
English
Grade: SB4
Vacancy Type: Service Contract (SC)
Posting Type: External
Bureau: Africa
Contract Duration: One year with a possibility of renewal
OPEN TO NATIONALS OF ZIMBABWE ONLY
Background
As a key partner in the Resilience debate in Zimbabwe, UNDP has in partnership with a number of donors taken the lead in setting up the Zimbabwe Resilience Building Fund (ZRBF). The overall objective of the fund is to contribute to increased capacities of communities to protect development gains and achieve improved well-being outcomes in the face of shocks and stresses enabling them to contribute to economic growth of Zimbabwe. This will be achieved through a combination of 3 sets of results which will focus on a) creating a body of evidence for increased application of evidence in policy making and application for resilience; b) setting up a multi donor trust for Resilience Building in Zimbabwe to allow for partners to come together around the Resilience Framework and principles to improve the absorptive, adaptive and transformative capacities of at-risk communities; and c) setting up a risk financing mechanism which will provide appropriate, predictable, coordinated and timely response to risk and shocks from a resilience perspective;
Operating on the principles of joint programming the Zimbabwe Resilience Building Fund aims to provide flexible, coordinated and predictable funding of approximately 70 million USD to support the achievement of increased national resilience to shocks – aligning to nationally owned and determined priorities. By improving coordination among all stakeholders, ZRBF can also provide a forum for policy dialogue, and programmatic coordination and harmonization as well as building up a body of evidence for improved joint targeting and programme design;
Under the guidance and supervision of the Project Manager, the Finance Analyst is responsible for the effective delivery of programme finance services ensuring effective and transparent utilization of financial resources and integrity of financial services of the ZRBF. He/she analyzes and interprets the financial rules and regulations and provides solutions to a wide spectrum of complex financial issues. The Finance Analyst promotes a collaborative, client-oriented approach including support to external partners, consistent with UNDP rules and regulations;
The Finance Analyst supervises the ZRBF PMU finance staff and provides advice and strategic support to ZRBF programme and M&E units as well as to the head of PMU. The Finance Analyst provides advice and strategic support to grant recipients and IPs. The Finance Analyst works in close collaboration with the Programmes Finance Unit Development and Operations teams in the CO and UNDP HQ for resolving complex programme and operations-related issues, ensuring successful ZRBF and CO performance in Finance.
Duties and Responsibilities
Ensure the direction of Program Finance management focusing on achievement of the following results:
- Full compliance of financial activities, financial recording/reporting system and audit follow up with UN/UNDP rules, regulations, policies and strategies; Implementation of the effective internal control, proper design and functioning of the financial resources management system and monitoring utilization of resources;
- Provision of advice on strategies, policies and plans affecting ZRBF program finance managements, delivery of practice advisory, knowledge and learning services in relation to how to best meet the requirements of all contributing donors within the UNDP rules and regulations;
- Operationalise business processes mapping and establishment of internal Standard Operating Procedures in Finance for ZRBF in close coordination and alignment with UNDP CO;
- Provide analysis and recommendation for capacity development of partners based on HACT Micro Assessments, spot checks and audits;
- Continuous performance analysis, monitoring and capacity development of projects funded under the ZRBF;
Ensure effective and accurate financial resources management and oversight, focusing on achievement of the following results:
- Financial analysis and oversight for all resources managed by the ZRBF and provision of high-quality professional advice to the Head of PMU, Programme Specialist and Senior Management;
- Financial resource management through planning, guiding, controlling of the resources in accordance with UNDP rules and regulations;
- Responsible for ZRBF quarterly financial reports to donors including quarterly and biannual forecasting and value for money analysis;
- Ensure all transactions are correctly recorded and posted in Atlas,
- Regularly monitor programme delivery through ATLAS, run relevant reports, and prepare financial spreadsheets, reports, statements and/or other supporting documentation;
- Identify and report on budgetary shortfalls/surpluses as well as results based indicators to ensure effective and efficient control and delivery of the ZRBF;
Manage the budgets of the ZRBF focusing on achievement of the following results:
- Supervise and guide project staff on the creation of Project budget in ATLAS as well as financial closure of projects contributing to ZRBF;
- Establishment of system to prepare/modify, monitor and control budgetary status versus spending limits and project delivery rates;
- Regular analysis and reporting on the delivery status of project including trends analysis in support of improved forecasting ;
- Elaboration of proper mechanisms to eliminate deficiencies in budget management internally as well as by grant recipients (monitoring, analysis, capacity support etc);
- Advice on procurement and programmatic processes to ensure maximum value for money;
Ensure facilitation of knowledge building and knowledge sharing, guidance to programme staff on financial matters focusing on the achievement of the following results:
- Advice ZRBF staff on UNDP administrative and budgetary reporting issues;
- Organize/conduct training for ZRBF PMU Staff on (ATLAS) Financial management and RBM;
- Organize and conduct training on financial compliance and reporting to UNDP for Grant Recipients under the ZRBF;
- Develop and agree specific SOPs for most common processes between ZRBF PMU and IPs/RRs;
- Provide synthesis of lessons learned and best practices in Program and Program finance;
- Sound contributions to knowledge networks and communities of practice;
- Perform any other duty as assigned by the Project Manager and the CD;
Competencies
Core Competencies
- Leadership – ability to persuade others to follow;
- Innovation – ability to make new and useful ideas work;
- People management – ability to improve performance and satisfaction;
- Communication – ability to listen, adapt, persuade and transform;
- Delivery – ability to get things done;
- Demonstrate corporate knowledge and sound judgment;
- Self-development, initiative-taking;
- Acting as a team player and facilitating team work;
- Facilitating and encouraging open communication in the team, communicating effectively;
- Creating synergies through self-control;
- Managing conflict;
- Learning and sharing knowledge and encourage the learning of others;
- Promoting learning and knowledge management/sharing is the responsibility of each staff member;
Functional Competencies:
Building Partnerships
Identifying and building partnerships
- Effectively networks with partners seizing opportunities to build alliances
- Identifies needs and interventions for capacity building of counterparts, clients and potential partners;
- Displays initiative, sets challenging outputs for him/herself and willingly accepts new work assignments;
Promoting Organizational Learning and Knowledge Sharing
Developing tools and mechanisms
- Makes the case for innovative ideas documenting successes and building them into the design of new approaches;
- Participates in the development of mechanisms, including identifying new approaches to promote individual and organizational learning and knowledge sharing using formal and informal methodologies;
Job Knowledge/Technical Expertise
In-depth knowledge of own discipline
- Understands advanced aspects of primary area of specialization as well as the fundamental concepts of related disciplines (financial resources management);
- Continues to seek new and improved methods and systems for accomplishing the work of the unit;
- Keeps abreast of new developments in area of professional discipline and job knowledge and seeks to develop him/herself professionally;
- Demonstrates comprehensive knowledge of information technology and applies it in work assignments;
- Continually looking for ways to enhance financial performance in the office;
Promoting Organizational Change and Development
Assisting the individuals to cope with change
- Performs appropriate work analysis and assists in redesign to establish clear standards for implementation;
Design And Implementation of Management Systems
- Designing and implementing management system;
- Makes recommendations regarding operation of systems within organizational units;
- Identifies and recommends remedial measures to address problems in systems design or implementation;.
Client Orientation
- Contributing to positive outcomes for the client;
- Anticipates client needs;
- Demonstrates understanding of client’s perspective;
- Solicits feedback on service provision and quality;
Promoting Accountability and Results-Based Management
- Input to the development of standards and policies;
- Provides inputs to the development of organizational standards for accountability;
Required Skills and Experience
Education:
- Advanced (Masters) University Degree in Finance/Accounting, Business, or Public Administration or A professional accounting qualification from an internationally recognized institute of accountancy,(Otherwise, candidates will be required to take the UNDP Advanced Accounting and Finance Test);
- Professionally qualified accountants from an internationally recognized institute of accountancy will have a distinct advantage;
Experience:
- At least 5 years of relevant experience in providing financial management advisory services;
- Solid financial Management skills in ATLAS or similar ERP;
- Experience of IPSAS and/or IFRS is required;
- Experience with Multi donor funding mechanisms required;
- Experience in the usage of computers and office software packages (MS Word, Excel, etc) and advance knowledge of spread sheet and database packages;
Language Requirements:
- Fluency in English (both oral and written).
Disclaimer
Important applicant information
All posts in the SC categories are subject to local recruitment.
Applicant information about UNDP rosters
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More Information
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