Programme Management Office Specialist (Finance)

UNOPS is an operational arm of the United Nations, supporting the successful implementation of its partners’ peacebuilding, humanitarian and development projects around the world. Our mission is to help people build better lives and countries achieve sustainable development.

UNOPS areas of expertise cover infrastructure, procurement, project management, financial management and human resources.

Working with us
UNOPS offers short- and long-term work opportunities in diverse and challenging environments across the globe. We are looking for creative, results-focused professionals with skills in a range of disciplines.

Diversity
With over 4,000 UNOPS personnel and approximately 7,000 personnel recruited on behalf of UNOPS partners spread across 80 countries, our workforce represents a wide range of nationalities and cultures. We promote a balanced, diverse workforce — a strength that helps us better understand and address our partners’ needs, and continually strive to improve our gender balance through initiatives and policies that encourage recruitment of qualified female candidates.

Work life harmonization
UNOPS values its people and recognizes the importance of balancing professional and personal demands. We have a progressive policy on work-life harmonization and offer several flexible working options. This policy applies to UNOPS personnel on all contract types.

Background Information – Asia Regional Health Cluster

The Asia Regional Health Cluster (ARHC) was established in 2018 for efficient delivery of grants and funds management, and the provision of quality pharmaceuticals and medical equipment.  The ARHC aims to significantly impact the targets of UN Sustainable Development Goal #3 on good health and well being by expanding the population benefitting from UNOPS-managed health-related engagements across the Asia Region. The ARHC portfolio manages the Principal Recipient (PR) Programme of the Global Fund in Asia. The Global Fund, which has been providing financial support to the Greater Mekong Sub-Region for malaria programs since 2003, has selected UNOPS as a PR, responsible for delivering the targets set out in the grant agreements, in collaboration with selected Sub-Recipients (SRs) from the National Programmes, international and local non-governmental organizations and United Nations agencies.  

Background Information – Job Specific

UNOPS is the Principal Recipient managing the RAI grant (RAI2E 2018-2020, RAI3E 2021-2023), established by Global Fund in 2018, providing USD242million and USD231million, respectively, for malaria elimination activities in the Greater Mekong Sub region.

Under the direct supervision of the Program Coordinator, the Programme Management Office Specialist (Finance) will oversee all the aspects of financial management and oversight for the PR, in compliance with the GF policies, PR UNOPS procedures, and Lao PDR laws, by leading the planning, budgeting, financial reporting, financial compliance and capacity building  related to the RAI3E grant in Lao PDR. 

S/he will work closely with the Sub Recipients (SRs) in Laos PDR for the financial related support and supervision. S/ he will work in close liaison and be guided by the technical standards of the UNOPS PR Programme Support Unit team (Head of PSU as Secondary Supervisor).

1. Compliance and Capacity Building
2. Budgeting
3. Financial Reporting
4. Team Management

1. Compliance and Capacity Building:

• Ensure compliance with donor requirements, UNOPS Financial Rules and Regulations, Government of Laos directives, and SRs policies.

• In coordination with the UNOPS PR PSU team, prepare and implement the annual compliance and capacity building work plan, taking into account the most effective use of resources.

• Provide feedback, support and capacity development to the Sub- recipients and to the subnational level implementers on financial performance and management of grant programs, identifying, if appropriate areas for improvement and attention.

• Deliver training and learning initiatives for the SRs on financial management related topics.

• Work with the SRs in Lao PDR to establish and implement effective standard operating procedures, financial oversight mechanisms and internal control systems 

• Facilitate the preparation for the financial audits and LFA assessments, coordinate the responses to audit findings. Ensure that actions are taken to implement the recommendations agreed by the management with the auditors and the management actions required by the GF through the issued management letters.

2. Budgeting:

• Work closely with the Programme team and the UNOPS PR PSU team on budget preparation, ensuring budgets and budget amendments are timely, accurate and compliant with donor requirements.

• Ensure accurate budget utilization reports are produced and collaborate with the Programme team to ensure the review of budget vs expenditures reports, including variance analysis and forecast.

3. Financial Reporting: 

• Lead the timely preparation and submission of accurate bi-annual progress updates, quarterly disbursement requests and other reports to the Global Fund, the CCM and other stakeholders. The reports will be developed in close coordination with and submitted for consolidation to theUNOPS PR PSU team  in Myanmar.

• Liaise closely with the programme and procurement teams on timely reporting of budget variance explanations and  on timely cash forecasting according to the workplans.

• Provide advice and inputs on monthly financial packages submitted by the sub-recipients, with a focus in the National Malaria Programme.

4. 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.

• Assist team’s collection of feedback, ideas, and internal knowledge about financial management processes and best practices and utilize productively.

• Provide oversight, advise and ensure compliance with existing policies and best practices of the finance teams at the SRs, including the provincial public-sector staff.

• The incumbent is responsible to abide by security policies, administrative instructions, plans and procedures of the UN security Management System and that of UNOPS.

Impact of Results 

The achievement of the results by the Programme Management Office Specialist (Finance) have a direct impact on the overall efficiency of the financial resources management and on the successful introduction and implementation of the operational strategies. Accurate, compliant and documented financial information and timely delivery of services ensure client satisfaction and enhance UNOPS credibility in use of the donor financial resources.

• At least Five (5) years of professional-level experience, preferably in the role of a Finance Director, Controller or Manager or other similar positions, in accounting, budgeting, financial management and reporting.
• Working experience with international donors or development agencies and government is desirable, 
•  Experience in grants management, contract management and procurement oversight is desirable.
• Experience with MS Office 2010 or newer versions is an asset.
• Experience with G Suite is an asset.
• Knowledge of Global Fund  financial rules and regulations is preferred. 
• Working knowledge of ERP and using financial management electronic systems is desirable.

For more details about the ICA contractual modality, please follow this link:
https://www.unops.org/english/Opportunities/job-opportunities/what-we-offer/Pages/Individual-Contractor-Agreements.aspx 

• 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.
• UNOPS seeks to reasonably accommodate candidates with special needs, upon request.
• Work life harmonization - UNOPS values its people and recognizes the importance of balancing professional and personal demands. We have a progressive policy on work-life harmonization and offer several flexible working options. This policy applies to UNOPS personnel on all contract types
• The incumbent is responsible to abide by security policies, administrative instructions, plans and procedures of the UN Security Management System and that of UNOPS.