BACKGROUND

UNDP is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence.

UNDP does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.

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 2030 Agenda for SDGs and the pledge to leave no one behind reflect the interconnectedness of health and sustainable development, including widening economic and social inequalities, the climate crisis, rapid urbanization, the continuing burden of HIV and other infectious diseases (e.g., malaria, tuberculosis), the growing burden of non-communicable diseases and the emergence of health threats. The scope and scale of delivering health and well-being for all demands innovative partnerships and financing. As affirmed in the Political Declaration of the 2019 High-Level Meeting on Universal Health Coverage (UHC), the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (Global Fund), Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance (Gavi) and others are critical partners for delivering on the health-related goals of the 2030 Agenda. Stronger Collaboration, Better Health: Global Action Plan for Healthy Lives and Well-being for All outlines how a dozen multilateral health, development and humanitarian agencies, including UNDP, the Global Fund, Gavi and others will collaborate to be more efficient and effective in supporting countries to deliver UHC and achieve the health-related SDG targets.

UNDP’s partnership with the Global Fund to fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (Global Fund), in line with UNDP’s HIV, Health and Development Strategy 2022-2025: Connecting the Dots, makes a vital contribution to UNDP’s Strategic Plan 2022-2025, the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the SDGs and the pledge to leave no one behind.

As a long-standing partner of the Global Fund, 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 to Global Fund grants in 53 countries since 2003, UNDP’s provision of the 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 in supporting countries with significant national capacity constraints to manage large-scale health programmes. By 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, UNDP is able to deliver results whilst sustainably transitioning to national entities. UNDP’s track record as interim PR over the last 20 years and capacity to deliver in challenging operating environments has been critical for strengthening its positioning as a health implementation support partner.

As a trusted, long-term partner of GF, UNDP’s value proposition lies in providing an integrated package of development solutions to strengthen institutions to deliver health services. 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 Partnership and Health Systems Team (GFPHST) is a dedicated team providing support to UNDP Country Offices implementing health and development programmes.

UNDP has been appointed as the non-governmental Principal Recipient (PR) by the CCM (Instance de Coordination Nationale) to implement the GF GC7 HIV-TB grant, with the main objective of contributing to the strengthening of the national response to HIV/AIDS and Tuberculosis, while strengthening the health system in DRC.

To provide strategic planning, programmatic and operational management and oversight to the GF portfolio to achieve the defined programme goals, targets and effective delivery, a dedicated Project Management Unit (PMU) has been established.

DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

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 grants. 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 project, the Country Office Operations unit, and project teams in the Country Office in ensuring successful implementation and oversight of GF programme resources and Country Office performance in finance. In addition, the Finance Specialist will play the lead role in capacity development of the financial management systems of the national counterparts for the transition of the programmes.

To allow for the national authorities to manage GF resources during the next allocation cycle, and to successfully pass the donor’s assessment, UNDP Country Office will actively engage in a capacity development and transition plan.  The Finance Specialist will support the design, implementation and monitoring of this plan, defining clear milestones, dedicating finance staff time to the implementation of the plan, and proactively identifying the strategies to be implemented to maximize the chances of success of the transition process, as well as available resources inside and outside the organization. Leading on the coordination with other technical assistance providers engaged in the transition process is also a key success factor.

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, the GFPHST.

Key duties and accountabilities include:

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

• Leads on financial analysis and oversight for all resources managed by the Global Fund programmes and provision of high-quality technical financial advice to the Programme Manager and other PMU staff members and Country Office senior management.
• Leads on the proper planning, expenditure tracking of financial resources in accordance with UNDP rules and regulations, policies and procedures, grant agreements and corporate agreements with the Fund and Global Fund financial management rules;
• Leads on maintaining robust internal financial management controls over all financial processes.
• Ensures an efficient financial flow process is developed and implemented and amended to reflect the programme financial management requirements which are guided by risk assessments.
• Establishes and maintains a reporting system for internal and Global Fund needs, including Sub-recipients, contractors, service providers, and technical assistance providers.
• Ensures an effective information flow between finance and non-finance actors (Country Co-ordinating Mechanism (CCM), Global Fund, Local Fund Agent and Sub-recipients) in order to effectively link the programmatic results to expenditures, as required by Global Fund.
• Leads on, develops and maintains an organizational structure for the Finance Unit, and leads on the recruitment staff, fostering diversity, equity and inclusion and builds the technical, management and leadership capacity of staff for promotion of organizational excellence.
• Monitors with the PSM Specialist the financial performance of supply management systems/ procurement.
• Prepares cost estimates for different activities according to the needs of programme management.
• Leads on developing, tracking and reporting to management key financial performance indicators; and
• Leads on the development and maintenance of a document management system for UNDP, including Sub-recipients, contractors, service providers, and technical assistance providers records.

Ensures implementation of operational strategies and procedures, focusing on achievement of the following results:

• Establishes and/or ensures robust financial procedures: e.g. receipts, payments, disbursements and bookkeeping, filing procedures for the GF projects of Sub-recipients.
• Leads on ensuring that financial procedures in place comply with the financial/accounting and procurement requirement of the Global Fund and UNDP.
• Preforms a continuous analysis and monitoring of the financial situation, presentation of forecasts for the Global Fund programmes.
• Ensures the timely closure of programmes and compliance with Global Fund and UNDP rules, policies and procedures, including the transfer of assets.
• Ensures oversight for the transparency of the financial processes and use of funds and compliance with Global Fund and UNDP financial guidelines.
• Leads on the preparation of the donor reports, monthly Cash Flow and annual Cash Flow Forecasts, statement of sources and uses of funds in compliance with the Global Fund requirements.
• Leads on the preparation of other financial reports to be submitted to the LFA/Global Fund, acting as the Focal Point for financial management information for the LFA/Global Fund.
• Elaborates and implements cost savings and reduction strategies under the guidance of the Programme Manager.
• Under the guidance of the Programme Manager facilitates audits and investigations by the Office of Audit and Investigations and audits of Sub-recipient(s)) and by the Office of Inspector General in line with corporate agreements with the Global Fund and UNDP rules and regulations and policies and procedures and leads on ensuring timely implementation of audit recommendations and findings as they relate to financial, asset and Sub-recipient management.
• Routinely monitors financial exception reports for unusual activities, transactions, and investigates anomalies or unusual transaction and informs supervisors of the results of the investigation when satisfactory answers are not obtained; and
• Leads on preparing timely and quality monthly cash flow forecasts for use by the Programme Manager in liaison with other Implementing Partners.

Manages the programme budgets and ensures proper control of programme accounts focusing on achievement of the following results:

• Leads on managing financial resources through planning, guiding, monitoring and controlling of the resources in accordance with UNDP rules and regulations.
• Prepares and monitors programme budgets in Quantum and ensures that the budget in Hyperion Planning and Budgeting Cloud system is in line with the approved detailed budget.
• Elaborates proper mechanisms to eliminate deficiencies in budget management.
• Leads on ensuring that contributions from the Global Fund are properly transferred to UNDP on a timely basis.
• Leads on ensuring compliance with the internal expenditures control system, which ensures that vouchers processed are matched and completed, transactions are correctly recorded and posted in Quantum.
• Leads on arranging quarterly financial management review meetings with Sub-recipients in coordination with other PMU staff across functional areas (programme, PSM, M&E);
• Performs Manager Level 1 functions for transactions approval in Quantum; and
• Ensures timely corrective actions on unposted vouchers, including the vouchers with budget check errors, match exceptions, unapproved vouchers and ensures timely responses to HQ requests to resolve financial data issues.

Ensures close monitoring of the Sub-recipients and other implementing partners focusing on achievement of the following results:

• Leads on assessing financial management capacities of Sub-recipients and develops an action plan to close identified gaps.
• Provides guidance and capacity building of Ministry of Health, partners and Sub-recipients on issues of financial and asset management – from contracting and banking issues to budgeting, accounting and reporting.
• Ensures advance payments and direct payments for Sub-recipients and SSR’s vendors are properly; reviewed, processed and retired, as well as ensuring that payment information is properly recorded into the Quantum system on a timely basis.
• Harmonizes reporting and accounting practices of Sub-recipients, including budgeting and key financial performance indicators.
• Plans and ensures the Finance Unit team undertakes verifications of Sub-recipients’ expenditures, and promptly follows up on non-compliant expenditures.
• Ensures coordination with the Sub-recipients’ auditors to finalize the reports to ensure the final audit reports comply with the approved Sub-recipients 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.

Ensures facilitation of knowledge building and sharing focusing on achievement of the following results: 

• Leads on the development of training plan/curriculums for the Sub-recipients financial and accounting staff and conducts regular trainings on GF performance-based funding and financial reporting requirements management system.
• Leads on organizing training for the PMU on financial management and oversight;
• 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 in the area of financial management.
• 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.
• Represent UNDP and leads on the development and implementation of a capacity development and transition plan for finance activities, training a team of national finance officers so they can take informed decisions, anticipate bottlenecks, understand the possible existing solutions, understand the Global Fund rules and regulations related to finance activities and audit requirements; and
• Ability to represent UNDP and the project when required, and to act as officer in charge of the project if required.
• Any other duty as assigned by the Programme Manager.

Other Duties:

• The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization.

Supervisory/Managerial Responsibilities: 

• The Finance Specialist will supervise Senior Finance Officer, Finance Officer – Budget and Reporting and Finance Assistants.

QUALIFICATIONS

Education:

• A professional accounting qualification from an internationally accredited institute of accountancy, and/or Advanced (master’s) University Degree in Finance and/or Accounting is required.
• A first-level university degree (bachelor’s degree) in Finance and/or Accounting in combination with an additional two years of qualifying experience will be given due consideration in lieu of the advanced university degree.
• Candidates with professional accounting qualifications from an internationally accredited institute of accountancy will have a distinct advantage.
• Candidates with no professional accountancy qualifications, but with degrees that major in accountancy and/or finance must complete the Finance Training and Certification Programme (FTCP), if recruited.
•  Candidates satisfying the two above criteria are exempted from undertaking the UNDP Advanced Accountancy   and Finance Test (AAFT).
• Candidates with MBA or master’s in finance with no accountancy qualification but with relevant experience must successfully undertake the UNDP Advanced Accountancy and Finance Test (AAFT) to be eligible for shortlisting.

Experience, Knowledge, and Skills: 

• Minimum 7 years (with master’s degree) or 9 years (with bachelor’s degree) of relevant and progressive professional experience in providing financial management advisory services is required.
• Proven track record of strong knowledge of UNDP Financial Management, rules, regulations, policies and procedures is an asset.
• Strong knowledge and experience in working with Global Fund grants in financial management is an asset.
• Candidate with Fraud Examiner Certificate is an asset.
• Experience working in a developing country is an asset.
• Knowledge of UN or UNDP procedures, managing and oversight of internal operations is an asset.
• Familiar with dealing with client relationships with international organizations, national governments and civil society is desired.
• Experience in the use of the Quantum system is an asset.
• Experience in training national entities in strengthening financial management systems is an asset.

Language Requirements:

• Fluency in oral and written French is required.
• Good working knowledge of English both written and oral is desired.

COMPETENCIES

Core Competencies:

• Achieve Results:  LEVEL 3: Set and align challenging, achievable objectives for multiple projects, have lasting impact.
• Think Innovatively:  LEVEL 3: Proactively mitigate potential risks, develop new ideas to solve complex problems.
• Learn Continuously:  LEVEL 3: Create and act on opportunities to expand horizons, diversify experiences.
• Adapt with Agility:  LEVEL 3: Proactively initiate and champion change, manage multiple competing demands. 
• Act with Determination: LEVEL 3: Think beyond immediate task/barriers and take action to achieve greater results
• Engage and Partner:  LEVEL 3: Political savvy, navigate complex landscape, champion inter-agency collaboration.
• Enable Diversity and Inclusion:  LEVEL 3: Appreciate benefits of diverse workforce and champion inclusivity.

People Management Competencies: 

• UNDP People Management Competencies can be found in the dedicated site.

Cross-Functional & Technical Competencies:   

Business Development: Portfolio Management

• Ability to select, prioritise and control the organization’s programmes and projects, in line with its strategic objectives and capacity; ability to balance the implementation of change initiatives and the maintenance of business-as-usual, while optimising return on investment.

Business Direction and Strategy: System Thinking

• Ability to use objective problem analysis and judgement to understand how interrelated elements coexist within an overall process or system, and to consider how altering one element can impact on other parts of the system.

Business Development: Risk Management

• Ability to identify and organize action around mitigating and proactively managing risks.

Finance: Accounting (General)

• Knowledge of accounting concepts, principles, frameworks, standards, regulations, policies and trends, and ability to apply this to strategic and/or practical situations.

Finance: Financial Planning and Budgeting

• Ability to create and manage processes to achieve UNDP’s long and short-term financial goals, including through planning, budgeting, forecasting, analyzing and reporting.

Finance: Financial Risk Management

• Ensures financial resilience through proactive assessment of risk, implementation of controls and taking mitigating action. Understands risk and reward in relation to collaborative and commercial projects.
• Ensures a culture of positive risk management.

2030 Agenda: People: Health

• Global Fund to Fight AIDs, Tuberculosis and Malaria (GFATM).

Please note that continuance of appointment beyond the initial 12 months is contingent upon the successful completion of a probationary period.

UNDP Disclaimer for FTA/TA International Posts

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.

Scam warning

The United Nations does not charge any application, processing, training, interviewing, testing or other fee in connection with the application or recruitment process. Should you receive a solicitation for the payment of a fee, please disregard it. Furthermore, please note that emblems, logos, names and addresses are easily copied and reproduced. Therefore, you are advised to apply particular care when submitting personal information on the web.