The position of Associate Financial Sector Officer is assigned to the Finance Sector Office (SD-FIN) within the Sectors Department 3 (SD3). SD3 aims to deliver impactful sector strategy, initiatives, and integrated solutions that advance ADB's strategic agenda in finance, human and social development, and public sector management and governance sectors the region and with ADB's clients. SD3, which is comprised of three sector offices, delivers or supports sovereign, nonsovereign, and advisory operations; delivers knowledge services; supports regional departments (RDs) and resident missions (RMs) in engaging with developing member countries (DMCs); and ensures ADB's technical leadership externally and internally.
SD-FIN leads policy dialogue, initiatives, and solutions in the financial sector. SD-FIN is responsible for (i) conceptualizing, processing, and administering lending, grant, and technical assistance (TA) operations; (ii) developing and delivering knowledge services and products to DMCs; and (iii) leading technical work on sector diagnostics and road maps and contributing to business development efforts.
You will be based at our Nepal Resident Mission (NRM) in Kathmandu.
You will have a primary reporting line to the designated Technical International staff or Director, SD-FIN on operational and policy-related matters and have a matrix reporting line to the Country Director, NRM on day-to-day administrative matters. You will oversee junior staff.
As an Associate Financial Sector Officer, you will provide technical and operational support and inputs in general administration, portfolio management, project administration, and project processing activities related to loans, grants, and technical assistance (TA) for the finance sector. This includes engaging sector dialogue with the government, development partners, and civil society.
Co-lead, and/or support the processing, implementation, and administration of investment projects, TA projects, and assist in portfolio management and sector work and activities, focusing on the finance sector.
Support portfolio management and project administration with tasks including, but not limited to: (i) monitoring the progress of assigned projects and preparing project performance reports; (ii) preparing annual forecasts of contract awards and disbursement, identifying factors responsible for shortfalls, and expediting achievements of target levels; (iii) identifying issues related to project implementation and taking action in close coordination with executing agencies (EAs), implementing agencies (IAs), contractors, consultants, and project beneficiaries; (iv) preparing measures and implementing them to address the issues; (v) preparing internal procurement papers, reviewing procurement documents including draft technical designs and cost estimates, and papers for extension of loan closing dates; and (vi) reallocating loan proceeds, changes in scope and implementation arrangements, and other project administration tasks, and (viii) conducting review missions with the government counterpart.
Analyze the team's finance sector portfolio performance, project administration workload, and provide guidance to other members of the team. Closely coordinate with the project administration teams across the sector office.
Contribute to the analysis and review of mission reports and aide memoires, progress reports, and other available project performance indexes on a regular basis and ensure quality through conducting special loan or TA review missions and prepare country portfolio review missions and tripartite portfolio review meetings. Contribute to addressing project administration red flags for timely corrective actions.
Support initiatives aimed at integrating digital financial technologies into development projects to enhance financial and social inclusion across ADB's developing member countries.
Contribute to the design, implementation, and monitoring of projects, programs, technical assistance, and pilot initiatives that incorporate digital financial technologies.
Monitor annual forecasts of contract awards and disbursement, identify factors responsible for shortfalls, and analyze issues related to project implementation through interaction with EAs, contractors, consultants, and project beneficiaries, and prepare measures to address the project administration issues
Review loan/grant/TA processing and administration documents to be endorsed and approval by the designated Technical International staff and Director, SD-FIN, following established quality assurance guidelines and relevant policies.
Support initiatives aimed at integrating other focus areas such as digital financial technologies into development projects to enhance financial and social inclusion across ADB's developing member countries.
Contribute to the design, implementation, and monitoring of projects, programs, technical assistance, and pilot initiatives to incorporate other focus areas of sustainable finance, digital finance, municipal finance, regional finance and housing finance.
Engage in sector dialogue with government officials and key stakeholders of the finance sector, including the private sector and civil society.
Maintain effective liaison and working relationship with SD-FIN, government agencies, development partners, and other stakeholders to facilitate formulation, processing, administration and monitoring of ADB-financed finance sector loans and TAs.
Organize, contribute, support, and participate in meetings, conferences, seminars, and workshops related to finance sector.
Maintain and update knowledge base of future government investment plans and approval processes, organizational structure, and policies relevant to the assigned sector.
Participate in and contribute to project inception, review, mid-term review, special loan administration missions, and project completion review missions, as required.
Contribute to sector assessments and provide appropriate advice on project procurement and sector policies and institutional reforms.
Provide guidance and support in project processing missions in designing project implementation arrangements, including procurement/disbursement procedures and project management set up, and review of financing plans.
Contribute to sector work in the field by assisting in conducting research, updating information on the finance sector, analyzing financial, institutional, or economic uses, and preparing reports on the subjects
Participate in and contribute to country programming and review missions to monitor performance of finance sector projects, including preparation of the related pre- and post-mission documentation. Facilitate timely processing and approval of assistance pipeline (loans, TAs and grants).
Liaise with national and local governments and ADB Headquarters to facilitate invitation and participation of government officials to ADB training and conferences in Nepal and abroad.
Mentor and support to junior staff.
Perform other duties as assigned and reflected in staff's workplan.
Qualifications:
You will need:
Bachelor's degree in economics, finance, management or related fields, preferably with advanced training.
At least 5 years work experience in finance and/or in development partner-financed project preparation and administration.
Extensive knowledge of government policies, reforms and programs in finance sector. Familiarity with government procedures, structure and institutions. Work experience within the Ministry of Finance would be an advantage.
Strong capacity to communicate with government agencies, development partners, civil society organizations and stakeholders.
Sound understanding of ADB or other multilateral development bank procedures and practices related to TA and loan and grant project processing and administration, including safeguards compliance.
Ability to work effectively, proactively and collaboratively in a team-oriented environment.
Proficient in computer applications, especially word processing, spreadsheets, e-mail, and SharePoint.
Excellent oral and written communication skills in English and Nepali.
