BACKGROUND INFORMATION - 

UNOPS Myanmar is one of UNOPS’ leading offices in Asia, acting as fund manager for three of the largest development programmes in the country, namely the Access to Health Fund, the Livelihood and Food Security Fund (LIFT) and the Joint Peace Fund (JPF). In addition, UNOPS is Principal Recipient for the Global Fund in Myanmar and for the Global Fund’s regional artemisinin-resistance initiative towards elimination of Malaria, which works to accelerate progress towards malaria elimination in the greater Mekong sub-region. UNOPS provides procurement, infrastructure and project management services to a wide range of organisations in the country, including the Government of Myanmar, international development partners, other UN agencies, NGOs and INGOs. UNOPS plays a critical role in ensuring that the quality of services provided to its partners meets stringent requirements of speed, efficiency and cost effectiveness.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION -

JOB-SPECIFIC

• The Access to Health Fund aims to improve Health outcomes for vulnerable populations in conflict-affected areas of Myanmar. The Fund works with the Ministry of Health and Sports, Ethnic Health Organizations, national and international NGOs, the United Nations, and other partners to increase people’s access to health-services (maternal, newborn and child health, combating HIV and AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria) and to strengthen health systems.
• The Access to Health Fund is currently supported by four donors - the United Kingdom, Sweden, the United States, and Switzerland. Its Board includes these four Donors and the Ministry of Health and Sports. The new engagement for a contribution from Takeda, Japanese private sector entity, is initiated and expected to be signed early 2021.

FUNCTIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES

• Under the overall guidance of the Head of Programme Management Office, and the direct supervision of the Finance Specialist - Performance Management and Reporting (PMO), the Finance Specialist is responsible for the management of Access to Health Fund on all aspects of financial management and operations. This includes strategic financial resources management, within UNOPs rules and regulations.
• The Finance Specialist will broadly carry out the following tasks and maintains oversight over the financial management of projects and promotes a collaborative, client-oriented approach.

Implementation of operational and financial management strategies

• Ensure changes in UNOPS operational strategies and systems are implemented at Fund level.
• Ensure compliance with donor requirements, UNOPS Financial Rules and Regulations, Organizational Directives and Administrative Instructions.
• Establish, review and implement effective standard operating procedures, financial oversight mechanisms and internal control systems.
• Collaborate in the improvement of the UNOPS budget formulation system, by updating and proposing change to facilitate efficient financial management and enhance financial reporting through the system.

 Budget management  and oversight

• Financial resources management through  timely, accurate and compliant budget preparation, monitoring and budget amendments.
• Work closely with respective internal and external stakeholders for budget preparation and budget management.
• Ensure budgets are set-up, updated and managed in UNOPS ERP system;
• Provide support to resolve recorded budget errors and take timely remedial actions;
• Advise on  UNOPS pricing and costing policies for financial proposals.
• Oversee the review of actual expenditures and analysis of budget utilization reports.
• Realistic forecasts of Programme delivery and engagement additions are timely submitted to senior management.
• Recommend cost saving strategies in consultations with stakeholders.

Control of Project Cash Management

• Ensure proper management of the contributions that funds due to UNOPS are properly identified, consistently and uniformly classified, recorded on a timely basis with sufficient supporting documentation.
• Continuous analysis and monitoring of the financial situation, and advice to senior management on strategic financial resources management.
• Ensure sufficient funds on hand for disbursements and adequate cash flow in the system to support successful implementation.
• Liaise closely with the Programme, Procurement, and Contracts teams on cash forecasting of grant and non-grant payments.
• Accurate and timely update of Access to Health Dashboard.

Assurance and Financial Reporting

• Quality control of the account by performing ongoing review, analysis and reconciliation of accounts. Investigation of discrepancies and initiation of timely corrective actions.
• Ensure timely and accurate submission of financial reports to donors in accordance with the established procedures.
• Provide advice and inputs on financial reporting of partners.
• Coordinate with Contracts and Programme teams to ensure cash and expenditure report reconciliation of grants on a bi-annual basis.
• Prepare and provide required information for FMO internal and external audits.
• Manage responses to internal and external audit queries and observations related to financial reports.
• Ensure adequate coordination of the audit for implementing partners (IP), in close collaboration with PMO, Grants management and Programme.
• Oversee review of the status of audit recommendations and addressed through close coordination between Contracts team, Programme team and the IPs.
• Carry out Due Diligent Assessment of implementing partners,
• Manage responses to the donor or fund agent related to financial reporting matters.
• Work in close collaboration with IPAS to ensure the effectiveness of project implementation and closure policies and tools.

Team Management

• Facilitate the engagement and provision of high quality results and services of the team supervised through effective recruitment, work planning, performance management, coaching, and promotion of learning and development.
• Provide oversight, ensuring compliance of team members with existing policies and best practices.

Ensures Knowledge building and knowledge sharing

• Organize, facilitate and/or deliver training and learning initiatives for personnel and partners on finance and audit related topics.
• Proposing change to facilitate efficient financial management and enhance financial reporting through the system.
• Oversee team’s contributions to Finance knowledge networks and communities of practice including collaborative synthesis of lessons learnt and dissemination of best practices in human resources management
• Guide team’s collection of feedback, ideas, and internal knowledge about processes and best practices and utilize productively.
• The incumbent is responsible to abide by security policies, administrative instructions, plans and procedures of the UN Security Management System and that of UNOPS.

EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE/LANGUAGE REQUIREMENTS

Education

• Masters’ Degree in Accounting, Financial Management, Treasury Management, Business Management, Business Administration or related field is required.
• Additional two years of similar experience with a Bachelor’s Degree is considered as equivalent.
• Certified Public Accountant or equivalent professional qualification is an asset.

Experience

• At least 5 years’ of professional-level experience in accounting or budgeting with responsibility for project accounting and preparation of financial statements, in an international organization providing financial management services is required.
• Knowledge of UNOPS financial rules and regulations is an asset.
• Experience with G Suite is an asset.
• Working knowledge of ERP and using financial management electronic systems is desired.
• Experience in managing team is an asset.

Language

• Full knowledge of English and Myanmar language is essential.

Source:https://jobs.unops.org/Pages/ViewVacancy/VADetails.aspx?id=20747