Finance Officer

UNOPS’ mission is to expand the capacity of the UN system and its partners to implement peacebuilding, humanitarian and development operations that matter for people in need. Working in some of the world’s most challenging environments, UNOPS vision is to always satisfy partners with management services that meet world-class standards of quality, speed and cost effectiveness. By assisting UN organizations, international financial institutions, governments and other development partners, UNOPS makes significant, tangible contributions to results on the ground.

UNOPS Myanmar

UNOPS Myanmar is one of UNOPS’ leading offices in Asia, acting as fund manager for three of the largest development programmes in the country, namely the Access to Health Fund, the Livelihood and Food Security Fund (LIFT) and the Joint Peace Fund (JPF). In addition, UNOPS is Principal Recipient for the Global Fund in Myanmar and for the Global Fund’s regional artemisinin-resistance initiative towards elimination of Malaria, which works to accelerate progress towards malaria elimination in the greater Mekong sub-region. UNOPS provides procurement, infrastructure and project management services to a wide range of organisations in the country, including the Government of Myanmar, international development partners, other UN agencies, NGOs and INGOs. UNOPS plays a critical role in ensuring that the quality of services provided to its partners meets stringent requirements of speed, efficiency and cost effectiveness.

UNOPS Myanmar has been selected by International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Irrigation (MOALI) to provide “Project Management and Technical Assistance” for the implementation of Eastern States Agri-business Project (ESAP) which is financed by IFAD and implemented by IWUMD. The project’s goal is to improve the economic status of poor rural women and men in selected areas of Kayin and Shan states. Its objective is to increase the incomes of small holder and agroforestry households in these areas in an environmentally sustainable manner. It will promote commercial smallholder agriculture linked to agribusiness, improve living standards of the rural communities, and reverse the environmental degradation. Economic benefits will be generated for 62,400 households consisting of 315,000 people of Karen, Shan, Pa-oh, Inn and Mon ethnic groups.

The Project components are (1) Strategic Investment (2) Enabling Investment and (3) Project Management. Under the Strategic Investment Component, there are two sub components namely Land Development and Agro-forestry. Under the Enabling Investment Component, there are two sub components namely Investment in Knowledge and Micro Finance Services. The lead project implementing agency is the Irrigation and Water Utilization Management Department (IWUMD) of the Ministry of Agriculture Livestock and Irrigation (MOALI) Myanmar. The Project Implementation cooperating agencies are the Department of Agriculture (DOA), Department of Rural Development (DRD), Department of Agriculture Land Management and Statistic (DALMS), Department of Agricultural Mechanization (DAM), Department of the Agriculture Research (DAR) under the Ministry of Agriculture Livestock and Irrigation. ESAP Project Management Unit (PMU) is located in Naypyitaw while the Project Implementation Offices (PIOs) are located in Taunggyi (Shan State) and Pha-an (Kayin State). 

The total project cost is USD 65.2 million over a six-year implementation period.

The Finance Officer will be assigned to the Sub-Component 3 Project Management.  He/she will be working with the National Financial Manager of the Project Management Unit, the Financial and Procurement Section of the IWUMD.

The Finance Officer is accountable for the smooth operation of Financial Management of the Project which will contribute directly to the overall project performance.

The Finance Officer will guide the project National Finance Manager and Government Officials responsible for project Financial Management in complying with the Financial Management guidelines of the donor and enable them to perform the duties timely and efficiently.

The details of the duties and responsibilities are;

1. To provide analytical support in preparing the  Financial Management Manual for internal use based on the Project Financing Agreement, Letter to the Borrowers, Project Design document, IFAD Guidelines and manual. The Project Financial Management Manual for internal use will be the main part of the Project Implementation Manual. 

2. Provide input in the review of the operation of the project accounts (Designated Account, Other Accounts assigned to the project management unit, Project Participating States Kayin and Shan, Department of Agriculture (DOA), recommend the efficient fund flows by discussion with the financial authorities of IWUMD and MOALI. 

3. Conduct the capacity need assessment on financial management skill of the Government finance staffs and officials and produce the capacity building plan including the experience exchanges and study tours.

4. Provide input in the Preparation training material for Financial management Training, Accounting and Book keeping and Conduct the training for the government staff  at the center and state-level.

5. Assist in the review of the processing of the Budget plan and provide necessary advice for preparation and processing of Annual Work Plan and Budget, Semi-Annual Budget Revision, Budget Reallocation.

6. Provide support in the r preparation of financial reports, preparation of the Withdrawal Applications, Accounting and Bookkeeping in accordance with the Financing Agreement, Letter to the Borrower, IFAD Financial Guidelines and the International Public Sector Accounting Standard (IPSAS). 

7. Other duties assigned by the Project Management as required. 

• Provide analytical input  related to  the Project documents such as Financing Agreement, Letter to the Borrower, Project Design Report, IFAD Financial Management Guidelines/Hand book and Procurement Guidelines. 

• Meeting with the Project Officials responsible for the Financial Management.

• When required, meeting with the officials of the Ministry of Planning and Finance (MOPF) and the Office of the Auditor General of Myanmar (OAG).

• Meeting with the Finance managers of the OA accounts, Project Director and the Project Coordinators of the Project Implementation Office. 

• To conduct the workshop to test and finalize the templates, handbooks for internal use, fund flows and procurement flows proposed. 

• Actively interact with other Project personals and groups to share case studies, lessons learned and best practice on the Knowledge System.

• Provide feedback to Practice Leads on policy, supporting guidance with an aim towards continuous improvement of UNOPS policies

• Complete lessons learned as per reporting format

• Incorporate lessons learned from others as per planning format

• Understand and respect UNOPS sustainability principles

Look for ways to embed UNOPS sustainability principles.

Seek opportunities to champion gender equality at work place.

• Understand and Respect National ownership and capacity

Understand the principles of the Paris Declaration on aid effectiveness and mainstream them into the project plans

Look for ways to build capacity of local counterparts

• Partnerships and Coordination 

  1. Understand the UN Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF) and UNOPS, the project’s place in the UN system

  2. Strive to build strong partnerships and effective coordination among relevant project actors (e.g. United Nations, governments, and non-governmental organizations or other relevant partners) 

• Accountability for results and the use of resources

  1. Service agreements, contracting, procurement of the works are in line with the role and regulation of the donor and transparent. To report to the project management in case of any doubt arising. 

• Excellence

Contribute to innovation and the adaptation of best practice standards of sustainability and quality. 

• Financial Operation Handbook for internal use (including comprehensive fund flow, hierarchical approving procedure) has been produced (trial, testing, approving), 

• Training conducted for Financial Operation Handbook

• Financial Reports and WAs produced in accordance with the recommended templates and formats timely.  

• Master’s Degree in Financial Management, Accounting Business Administration  or other relevant discipline is required. 

• University Degree (Bachelor’s degree / first level) with a combination of two additional years of relevant professional experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

• Minimum 2 years of  Financial Management experience with the International Organization especially with the Loan Projects. 

• Working experience with the Governments of Southeast Asia is preferable.

• Experience in Financial Auditing is preferred.

c. Language Requirement

• Fluency in both written and spoken Language in English and Myanmar are 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.
• 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
• For staff positions only, UNOPS reserves the right to appoint a candidate at a lower level than the advertised level of the post
• For retainer contracts, you must complete a few Mandatory Courses (around 4 hours) in your own time, before providing services to UNOPS.
• 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 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.