Financial Management & Systems Specialist, Local Fund Agent

The Local Fund Agent (LFA) is a crucial part of the system of oversight and risk management of the Global Fund to Fight Aids, Tuberculosis and Malaria (the Global Fund). 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 review grant 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), 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) 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 the performance of Sub-recipients and outsourced entities in a timely and accountable manner.

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 Azerbaijan 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 Global Fund grants including budgets, their revisions, Concept Notes, etc;

•             Follow data verification procedures and formats, conduct field visits and using the format given by the Global Fund, 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 Global Fund grant money and safeguarding the grants against any fraud;

•             Red-flagging for the Global Fund of any potential risk of misuse of the Global Fund 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 Global Fund are promptly responded to;
• LFA clearly demonstrates an understanding of the terms of reference for each activity and Global Fund 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 Global Fund 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 Global Fund’s decisions, work processes, templates, tools etc.

With master's degree Five (5) years relevant experience in financial management, audit and/or accounting is required.

• 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.
• 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.  

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.

THIS IS A LOCAL POSITION FOR WHICH ONLY THOSE APPLICANTS WITH THE RIGHT TO LIVE AND WORK IN AZERBAIJAN WILL BE CONSIDERED.

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.