Senior Finance and Systems Officer

The Water Supply and Sanitation Collaborative Council (WSSCC) is a global, multi-stakeholder membership and partnership organization that works with low-income households, their organizations, small businesses, governments, and development partners to improve the sanitation, health and livelihoods of tens of millions of people. Founded in 1990, the Council maintains a membership of over 5,000 water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) professionals from over 80 countries. The United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) is the legal and administrative host of WSSCC. The mission of the Council is to ensure sustainable sanitation, better hygiene and safe drinking water for all people, with focus on the poorest and most marginalized members of society in developing countries. To achieve its mission, WSSCC facilitates sector coordination at national, regional and global levels. It supports national sanitation and hygiene improvement programmes through its Global Sanitation Fund (GSF). WSSCC also facilitates inter-ministerial dialogues on sanitation that enable governments develop policies, design programmes and establish monitoring systems inclusive of women, girls and vulnerable groups. Drawing upon the networks of policy makers and practitioners driving these efforts, WSSCC advocates on behalf of the 2.4 billion people without a clean and safe toilet to use. More information on WSSCC can be found at: www.wsscc.org.

As the world’s leading finance facility dedicated solely to improving sanitation and hygiene, the Global Sanitation Fund (GSF) currently provides funding to national programmes in 13 countries to assist member States achieve sanitation targets in line with Sustainable Development Goals.  Preparations are underway for expansion into other countries in Africa and Asia. Since 2010, national programmes supported by GSF have empowered 16 million people to end the practice of open defecation, invest in improved sanitation, and adopt good hygiene behaviours. GSF disburses approximately $25-$30 million in grant financing per year. For each country, WSSCC facilitates the development of country programme proposals through a consultative process involving a variety of stakeholders within the WASH sector and beyond, including government and various non-State actors. It then appoints an Executing Agency (EA) to administer grant funding and execute the country programmes. Each EA makes sub-grants to NGOs, private sector and local government entities to implement the country programmes using methods of behaviour change, including community-led total sanitation, in addition to supply-side activities.  The programmes are designed to serve as a catalyst for attracting more support and resources to achieve universal access.

In addition to furnishing sanitation programmes with grants through the GSF, WSSCC also provides support at the country level to non-governmental organizations (NGOs), governments, local authorities, and entrepreneurs working in sanitation. This takes the form of networking, policy advocacy, knowledge sharing and learning, and targeted communications and media outreach. Much of this support is directed to coalition building and sector coordination to bring about policy reforms and large-scale improvements in sanitation and hygiene. Working in this way, WSSCC elevates equity and inclusion in the guidelines of national WASH policies and monitoring systems. And it leverages the precedents set by GSF-funded programs, mobilizing external support agencies, government and NGOs to develop strategic partnerships that enable countries achieve national sanitation targets.  For this, WSSCC appoints National Coordinators to facilitate country engagement.

The purpose of the position is to design, implement, and oversee financial management practices and systems for WSSCC and its funded programmes, increasing transparency, efficiency and cost-effectiveness. The incumbent will be based in the Directorate (Office of the Executive Director), at the WSSCC Secretariat (Geneva). She/he will report to the Chief of Staff, working closely with the members of the Senior Management Team and the UNOPS Geneva Office, particularly the Finance Officer and Portfolio Manager. 

Financial Management

• Liaise with Finance Officer, UNOPS, Geneva Office to ensure compliance and application of the UNOPS financial regulations, rules and guidelines for all financial operations and verify that financial information is entered accurately in the financial systems;

• Contribute to the coordination of WSSCC audit activities, prepare Terms of Reference for the Audit of the WSSCC programme, provide comments to draft audit reports, and implement the audit recommendations; and ensure audit reports from GSF EAs are submitted on time, review the audit recommendations, and advise on course actions and follow-up;

• Prepare quarterly financial progress reports, consolidating individual financial and progress reports from implementing entities for all WSSCC operations, and develop budget variance analyses;

• Ensure financial reports are submitted in a timely manner by the implementing entities, review the reports, provide clearance, comments and recommendations;

• Facilitate consultations with Senior Managers as to appropriate programmatic and financial decisions that will lead to the achievement of objectives set out in the respective department work plans and budgets.

Procurement and Grants Management

• Propose, monitor and support strengthening of financial guidelines implemented by the Senior Managers and officers responsible for the 17 programmes of the Biennium Work Plan, including fund disbursements, procurement, budgets, work plans and financial management aspects;

• Advise Senior Managers in the review of financial and operational information to support grant processes and implementation (accounting systems, internal control mechanisms, audit arrangements, etc.);

• Coordinate with Senior Managers on fiduciary and financial management aspects of implementing entities, including at country level the GSF activities, policy advocacy work, and initiatives led by National Coordinators;

• Follow up on timely performance of audits by the implementing entities as provided in the agreements; review audit reports received from implementing partners and provide comments to Senior Managers and UNOPS as needed;

• Review and provide clear administrative and financial guidelines for project implementation contracts and agreements with implementing entities prior to finalization and signature;

• Support the review of GSF Country Programme Proposals (CPP), National Coordinator Grant Proposals, and joint programme partnerships (UN and private sector) as a member of the review and selection team, focusing on financial and fiduciary aspects;

• Participate in the evaluation panel of the procurement of GSF executing agencies, country programme monitors, public relations companies, management consulting firms, and evaluation institutes, and other technical services providers, mainly focusing on the financial issues;

• Support the Senior Managers and Senior Programme Officers in the supervision and evaluation of the above mentioned contracted entities and grant recipients, providing comments and recommendations on financial matters.

Financial Analysis

• Conduct structured analyses of the costs associated with various operations, assessing the unit costs of achieving results, and making comparisons among countries, programme partnerships and grants;

• Conduct ad hoc analyses (e.g. cost/benefit analyses) to inform management decision making;

• Participate in country visits, providing financial inputs, guidance, and other support (written and verbal) to the Senior Managers and in-country actors;

• Perform ongoing review, analysis and reconciliation of accounts, investigating discrepancies and initiating timely corrective actions including implementing effective financial risk management practices as needed;

• Take a lead role on continuing efforts to ensure Value for Money across all WSSCC operations.

Financial Systems Support

• Lead in the development and implementation of a financial accounting and reporting system across all WSSCC programmes that will enhance financial oversight and transparency and allow for systematic analysis of expenditure against results;

• Collaborate with the WSSCC M&E Officer to ensure that the systems developed are an integral part of the WSSCC monitoring and evaluation system;

• Work closely with WSSCC staff involved in evidence and learning, to identify and disseminate best practices;

• Develop reporting systems in such a way that the information is readily accessible to all stakeholders;

• Contribute to the selection, development and implementation of an MIS system that captures data generated by the GSF financial system and M&E processes;

• Participate and contribute to the design and construction of tools, mainly focusing on the fiduciary and financial management aspects;

• Contribute to capacity building and knowledge sharing with implementing entities focused on financial management aspects to facilitate the application of tools and template;

• Contribute to the enhancement of internal standard operating procedures and control of the financial workflows in the respective WSSCC programmes;

• Take a central role in assessment and strengthening of assurance systems, procedures, tools and protocols, including a review of functions and roles, along with the functions and roles of actors such as the GSF Country Programme Monitors.

General Support to WSSCC

• Undertake special time-bound assignments at the request of the Executive Director or Senior Managers, such as taking part in or leading working groups or acting as internal resource person to support cross-departmental activities;

• Participate actively in the preparation of WSSCC semi-annual financial reports, liaising with Finance Sub-Committee, Senior Managers, and UNOPS Geneva Office.

• Contribute to the development of WSSCC Work Plans and Budgets, Operational Plans, and Medium Term Strategic Plans;

• Coordinate and approve all procurement plans/requests and contract management issues within WSSCC

• Represent WSSCC at various international and regional conferences and contribute to efforts to mobilize resources and maintain donor relations.

• Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in finance, business administration, public administration, public policy, or related fields.
• Finance or accounting certification such as a Chartered Accountant, Certified Public Accountant, Chartered Financial Analyst an asset/advantage.

• Minimum 7 (seven) years of progressively responsible experience in financial or finance-related areas, with an international professional financial firm, multinational private company, multilateral development institution, or international non-governmental organization;
• Minimum 2 (two) years of experience in grants and/or programme management in Africa and/or Asia, especially related to government and/or non-governmental organizations.
• Experience with financial review, and reporting for development programmes, preferably in the water and sanitation, health, education, or social sectors;
• Demonstrated experience designing or improving financial reporting systems;
• Good knowledge of project implementation in the development sector and solid understanding and use of financial management systems;
• Proven experience in conducting financial analysis and/or financial due diligence in support of financial recommendations;
• Ability to conduct risk analyses to inform programmatic and financial decision making and to understand the flow of funds and associated risks in developing countries would be an advantage.
• At least three year’s field experience in Asia or Africa

• Strong grasp of financial and fiduciary concepts related to developing countries contexts and international development organisation;
• Ability to analyze quickly and disseminate financial information received in many different forms and of varying quality;
• Understanding of management accounting, including activity-based costing;
• Ability to analyze and interpret financial statements and reports;
• Ability to summarize information, make sound judgments and provide appropriate advice;
• Ability to present information persuasively;
• Ability to work to tight deadlines in fast-moving work environment.

• Please note that the closing date is midnight Copenhagen time
• Applications received after the closing date will not be considered.
• Only those candidates that are short-listed for interviews will be notified.
• Qualified female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.
• For staff positions only, UNOPS reserves the right to appoint a candidate at a lower level than the advertised level of the post
• The incumbent is responsible to abide by security policies, administrative instructions, plans and procedures of the UN Security Management System and that of UNOPS.  

It is the policy of UNOPS to conduct background checks on all potential recruits/interns.
Recruitment/internship in UNOPS is contingent on the results of such checks.

UNOPS supports the successful implementation of its partners’ peacebuilding, humanitarian and development projects around the world. Our mission is to serve people in need by expanding the ability of the United Nations, governments and other partners to manage projects, infrastructure and procurement in a sustainable and efficient manner.

Working in some of the world’s most challenging environments, our vision is to advance sustainable implementation practices, always satisfying or surpassing our partners’ expectations.

With over 7,000 personnel spread across 80 countries, UNOPS offers its partners the logistical, technical and management knowledge they need, wherever they need it.

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