Finance Specialist

Context

Following the widespread devastations caused by Cyclones Idai and Kenneth, the Government and its international partners began the long and challenging emergency response and recovery efforts. The severity of the damage and loss, estimated at 3.2 billion, plus the underlying vulnerability and limited apacity in the affected areas have made the recovery effort much more difficult. UNDP has been upporting the government of Mozambique from the inception including providing policy and technical support for the international Pledging Conference that took place on 31st May and 1st June 2019 in the city of Beira. The International Pledging Conference yielded $1.3 billion in pledges from development partners. Both government and development partners underscored the importance of building resilience and fast-tracking implementation. Drawing from the PDNA and the DRF, UNDP’s vision of the cyclone recovery programme in Mozambique arises from key considerations related to development, governance, and resilience. To realize this vision, UNDP has established a Recovery Facility funded through a UNDP-led multi-donor Basket Fund as an agile tool to implement short-to-long term recovery activities that will contribute to addressing the root causes of vulnerability and build resilience to future disaster. It has three important pillars: (1) help the communities recover from the impact of cyclone and floods and rebuild their assets and livelihoods with a focus on women and persons with disabilities; (2) rebuilding public and community infrastructure to bounce back from the disaster; and (3) develop national capacities and systems to plan and implement the recovery and resilience programme. The Recovery Facility is being funded with the support of resources from the European Union, Canada, Finland, Netherlands, and Norway along with UNDP. The programme’s total budget is $72.2 million. Given the mandate of the programme, size of resources and the imperative of fast-tracking implementation, UNDP has decided to establish a dedicated Programme Management Unit based in Beira. In order to fulfill this mandate, under the guidance and supervision of the Programme Manager of the Programme Management Unit, the Finance Analyst works in close collaboration with the operations, programme and project teams in the CO and Government officials to successfully deliver finance services including financial reporting with particular emphasis for the European Union consistent with their rules and procedures.

Task description

Ensures implementation of operational and financial management strategies, financial reporting and adapts processes and procedures, focusing on the 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.
• Project Finance business processes mapping and elaboration/establishment of internal Standard Operating Procedures in Finance, control of the workflows in the Finance Unit.
• Continuous analysis and monitoring of the financial situation, presentation of forecasts for development and management projects.
• Elaboration of the framework and conditions of contributions within the Project resources mobilization efforts.
• Elaboration and implementation of cost saving and reduction strategies.
• Routinely monitors financial exception reports for unusual activities, transactions, and investigates anomalies or unusual transactions. Informs supervisors and other UNDP staff at Headquarters of the results of the investigation when satisfactory answers are not obtained.
• Prepares financial reports to meet the requirements of donor funding with their rules, procedures, and requirements.

Project monitoring and reporting:

• Financial resources management through planning, guiding, controlling of the resources in accordance with UNDP rules and regulations.
• Support Programme Office in Maputo in budget planning and monitoring of ongoing activities against the project’s Results and Resources Framework
• Monitor and analyse project delivery for corporate and donor reporting.
• Support Programme Office in using Atlas and the Corporate Reporting Platform to update project progress, achievement of targets, risk logs, etc. on a quarterly basis.
• Monitor financial resources and accounting to ensure accuracy and reliability of financial reports and oversees the overall financial processes for the project in collaboration with the Programme Officer.
• Coordinate assist Project Steering Committee meetings, including logistics and document management.
• Support the Programme Officer in managing and monitoring project risks as initially identified; support the submission of new risks to the PMSU for consideration and decision on possible actions if required; and update the status of these risks by maintaining the Project Risk Log
• Monitor financial resources for effective and transparent utilization of available resources, in collaboration with the Programme officer.
• Support preparation of quarterly and annual progress reports and other stipulated reports for submission to UNDP, the GEF and the PSC as relevant, including the annual Project Implementation Report (PIR); identify risks, challenges and causes of potential bottlenecks to implementation and action mitigation measures, including modification to activities where appropriate.
• Participate in periodic project evaluations and audits, including developing, implementing, and updating management responses and key actions.
• Support the monitoring of previously identified/emerging social and environmental risks.

Ensures proper Project Financial Management focusing on achievement of the following results:

• Ensure that the project complies with the policies of the United Nations, in terms of regulations, procedures, reporting requirements and ethical standards.
• Ensure the efficient and transparent management of physical and financial resources in accordance with UNDP requirements.
• Be responsible for managing the finances of the project following the regulations of UNDP and approve the administrative and financial reports, external communications and monitor the travel authorization procedures, staffing, equipment purchases, goods and services of all partners and members participating in the project.
• Control costs, the budget balance and ensure compliance with the commitments made in the project budget.
• Assume overall responsibility for financial resources, deliver the objectives set out in annual work plans, reporting on project funds and related record keeping

Ensures proper Project implementation focusing on achievement of the following results:

• Support the Programme officer in Maputo to ensure timely preparation and endorsement of Annual Work Plans
• Assist in the financial management tasks under the responsibility of the Project Coordinator, including preparation of timely requests for financial advances and direct payments, processing approved payments with all supporting documentation.
• Provide coordination support to consultations and capacity building activities in-country, including logistics and travel.
• Facilitate the activities of consultants e.g. identifying and coordinating with relevant stakeholders.
• Coordinate and provide logistics support for field visits and project-related missions.
• Maintain comprehensive project records, assets, and inventory in line with Government and UNDP processes, as relevant.
• Support the development and operationalization of a sustainability plan for the project

Ensures facilitation of knowledge building and knowledge sharing in the Project and guidance to all stakeholders on financial matters focusing on achievement of the following results:

• Organization/conduct of training for the operations/programme/projects staff on financial management and RBM.
• Synthesis of lessons learnt and best practices in Finance with reference to reporting to development partners with particular emphasis on the European Union.
• Sound contributions to knowledge networks and communities of practice.

Source: https://app.unv.org/opportunities/1774929233167616