Financial Management & Systems Specialits, LFA

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.

A flexible structure and global reach means that we can quickly respond to our partners' needs, while offering the benefits of economies of scale. 

The Local Fund Agent (LFA) is a crucial part of the Global Fund's system of oversight and risk management. Its principal role is to provide informed and independent professional advice about the capacity of Principal Recipients (PR) to manage the implementation of activities funded under grants (including a PR’s capacity to oversee implementation of activities by Sub-recipients), to make recommendations concerning periodic disbursement of grant funds, to reviewg rant performance when a grant is being considered for renewal, and to provide the Global Fund Secretariat on an ongoing basis with relevant information on issues or risks which might affect grant performance.

The LFA is expected to have an up-to-date and comprehensive understanding of the diseases (HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria), how they are prevented, transmitted and treated and their impact on the country. The LFA assesses the PR’s institutional and health/programmatic capacities and arrangements to ensure adequate health expertise (HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and/or malaria) in the implementation of the Global Fund grants. The LFA also determines whether the PR has adequate infrastructure and information systems to support grant implementation, including the monitoring of performance of Sub-recipients and outsourced entities in a timely and accountable manner.

Under the direct supervision of the UNOPS LFA Team Leader, the Financial Management & Systems Specialist will be based in Dhaka, Bangladesh, and is co-responsible for financial deliverables forthe Bangladesh LFA Team and for helping ensure that all LFA work is of high quality and completed within the timeframe set by the GFATM.

1.       Purpose and Scope of Assignment

 Under the overall supervision of LFA Team Leader (TL), the incumbent is required to perform the function of financial management specialist for the UNOPS LFA activities in Bangladesh by carrying out the following activities:

 •        Review Disbursement Request/Financial Progress Updates and complete the LFA Progress Review and Recommendation for Ongoing Disbursement forms;

 •       Timely and relevant review and comments to the Global Fund on the PR’s completed Enhanced Financial Reporting format;

 •         Review various documents submitted by Principal Recipient and provide independent opinion/analysis of financial adequacy for GFATM grants including budgets, their revisions, Concept Notes, etc;

 •        Follow data verification procedures and formats, conduct field visits and using the format given by GFATM, provide independent opinion and analysis on the financial management by the PR;

 •         To conduct any other analysis requested by the LFA Team Leader from time to time;

 •         Identify financial weaknesses and make recommendations with timeframes for necessary follow up by the PR;

 •         Discuss with the Country Team Leader any other institutional and financial aspects to be reviewed and take action;

 •         Prepare mission reports on the format required by Global Fund and submit it to the Country TL;

 •         Mission travel may be required to support LFA team as and when needed;

 •         Other activities as per The LFA Manual and/or as assigned;

 •         Attend field visits with/ without the finance team members and debrief the SRs/SSRs on the filed visit outcomes.

 •        Suggest remedial measures on the potential weaknesses of the SR Management in the optimum utilization of GFATM grant money and safeguarding the GF grants against any fraud;

 •        Red-flagging for the Global Fund of any potential risk of misuse of the GFATM Grants.     

 •        Perform other related duties as required. 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:

•  Reports submitted by the LFA will comply with the deadlines and timescales agreed upon;
• Ad hoc queries by GFATM are promptly responded to;
• LFA clearly demonstrates an understanding of the terms of reference for each activity and GFATM requirements;
• Appropriate reporting template and tools are used by LFA;
• Analysis of data presented in LFA reports is of high quality;
• The conclusions reached in LFA reports are supported by accurate evidence gathered;
• LFA is pro-active in identifying and flagging to the GFATM Fund Portfolio Manager any major risks to effective management of program implementation and funds;
• LFA provides innovative analysis, information, advice, and suggestions for enhancing the quality of GFATM decisions, work processes, templates, tools etc.

Competencies

Extensive experience in: grants management, funds management, budget / budgeting, account reconciliation, cash management, financial management / financial analysis / financial reporting.

Extensive experience with: IPSAS, Asset Management, Planning and reviewing and Project Financial Control.

Experience with forensic auditing and fraud examination; with the ability to review and analyse accounting transactions;

Reviewing budgets; Ability to critical review and evaluate financial management systems, with the ability to review and assess internal controls and financial  processes and procedures and provide recommendations for improvement;

Ability to review and analyse financial statements (including income and expenditure statements, balance sheets and cash reconciliation statements); 

Ability to review audit reports; Audit experience mandatory.

Previous LFA experience is an asset.

Skills
Professionalism, integrity and commitment to project demands;

Strong audit / financial and compliance auditing / analytical Skills

Budget reviewing and analysis

Accountability;

Planning and Organizing;

Excellent communication and interpersonal skills;

Aptitude for political sensitivities; and

Team player

 A minimum of  Five (5)  years’ experience with a Master’s degree or Seven (7) years’ experience  with a Bachelor’s degree in Financial Accounting is required.

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• Please note that the closing date is midnight Copenhagen time (CET)
• 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.