Risk and Compliance Officer

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. 

Background Information – Cambodia

UNOPS established its Cambodia Office (KHOC) in early 2013 which oversees a diverse set of projects/programs that includes a multi-donor funded project to support the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia (ECCC) known as the Khmer Rouge Tribunal, the Malaria Programs funded by the Global Fund to fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (GFATM), the Regional Ardemisinin Initiative (RAI), advisory services to the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Governance related projects funded by the EU as well as nutrition related initiatives.

UNOPS KHOC is also overseeing business activities and providing support and services to UNOPS operations in other countries, especially within the Mekong Region and the Philippines.

UNOPS KHOC is in the process of expanding its area of engagement in cooperation with its development partners, focusing mainly on a portfolio comprised of projects and programs in the infrastructure, governance, procurement, justice and agricultural sector and subsequently is looking for qualified and committed experts. 

Background Information - Job-specific

The Principle Recipient programme (PR) under the UNOPS Asia and Pacific Regional Office has been established to support, develop and oversee UNOPS’ programmes implemented with Global Fund financing in the Region to ensure that synergies between different programme components are effectively developed.

The PR’s Cambodia team works in close cooperation with all PR teams in the Region, managing all grants in a coordinated fashion, including country grants for the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria as well as Regional Principal Recipients of GFATM regional grants for Greater Mekong Subregion (Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam).

The personnel is responsible to provide programme support services and lead the programme support team towards implementing all grants in full competence, uphold UNOPS regulations and rules and abide by security policies, administrative instructions, plans and procedures of the UN Security Management System and that of UNOPS.

Under the direct supervision of the Program and Finance Support Officer and overall management of Programme Coordinator, the Risk and Compliance Officer will aim to:

a)       Ensure effective controls are in place on the use of Global Fund grant monies and that all payments are eligible, justified and represent value for money;

b)      Ensure that financial records for all transactions are maintained accurately and on a timely basis;

c)       Mitigate the risk of fraud or misuse of grant funds and reduce the ineligible expenditures reported by the Office of the Inspector General (OIG) and the Local Fund Agent (LFA);

d)      Ensure the continuity of the program implementation in high risk environments and that safeguards are in place with respect to Global Fund investments;

e)       Ensure that reporting to the PR is accurate, timely and in accordance with the PIP- and Grant Agreement and the applicable policies and regulations of the Global Fund.

The Risk and Compliance Officer will be embedded at the National Center for Parasitology, Entomology and Malaria Control CNM and closely working with the CNM finance team. S/he will be also working with three UNOPS Finance Associates-Compliance and Monitoring working at the National Center for Parasitology, Entomology and Malaria Control (CNM) to improve the overall financial management.  The Risk and Compliance Officer will ensure the quality and compliance of the financial implementation of the program and will perform the following specific duties and responsibilities at CNM:

Financial Management and procedures:

• Monitor CNM’s compliance with UNOPS Financial Rules and Regulations, Global Fund financial rules, policies and  Financial Manual and financial management, accounting rules and practices established in Cambodia to mitigate the risk of fraud or misuse of grant funds and reduce the ineligible expenditures.
• Ensure that there is clear adherence, application and understanding of the content of the Finance Manual, Programme Management Guidelines (PMG), Travel Related Cost Guideline (TRC)
• Review, update CNM internal finance management and administrative guidelines to align with GF guidelines/PMG.

Conduct regular meetings among relevant CNM departments to ensure standardization and coherence in the day-to-day functions related to internal financial management and controls within CNM and ensure timely implementation of corrective measures.

Internal Controls:

• Ensure that there is an effective system of internal controls in place in order to prevent and detect fraud, misappropriation and misapplications. In particular with regards to travel related costs (TRC),
• there is an effective tracking mechanism to follow staff movements and whether the amount of travel is justified and is in line with the budget and applicable laws,
• Ensure that travel is approved by authorized personnel,
• Travel claims are submitted correctly with all required supporting documents attached as per Travel Related Cost Guidelines.
• Recommend improvement for effective internal control mechanisms to ensure adherence to the Finance Manual, Program Management Guidelines (PMG)/Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).
• Carry out periodic risk assessment and test whether the controls in place respond to the risks identified.
• Ensure effective internal controls are in place for the preventive measures and quality actions are taken on the recommendations after verification exercises and actively follow-up of GF recommended management actions.

Capacity Building:

• Take initiative to identify weaknesses, challenges, legitimate solutions to simplify the process, design financial control tools, provide feedback, share best practice in accounting, financial management/reporting through on going capacity building  exercises to the national program.

Cash Management and Verification of Transactions:

• Oversight on expenditure of national program (CNM) to ensure that they are in accordance with the approved budget and work plan and in full compliance with the SOPs and Finance Manual.
• Ensure that all transactions are  supported by original Documentation.
• Quality review of the payment processed to minimize audit and LFA findings.
• Conduct periodically cash count and surprise cash count.
• Review and improve the existing process flow to ensure that approvals related to payments are processed in a timely manner in consultation with the line manager at UNOPS and relevant management units in CNM.
• Provide guidance to national program and sub national offices in developing budget plan, financial expenditure report on a timely manner and with quality.
• Provide effective support to the national program to ensure all financial transactions are correctly recorded (i.e. journal entry, reconciliation and adjustment, closing entry, reporting, etc.) and deliver quality, accuracy and timely financial report.

Ensure that there are controls in place to separate grants funds from other sources of funds.

Books and Records:

• Ensure that books of accounts are kept and reporting is done according to the Grant Agreement and generally accepted accounting principles in Cambodia.
• Ensure that all transactions are appropriately coded and recorded so that the required data for the Annual Financial Report (AFR) and for Progress Update and Disbursement Report (PUDR) is generated automatically with minimal manual intervention.
• Ensure that monthly bank  reconciliations and reviews of accounting entries are performed.
• Oversee the month-end close-out procedures performed in the accounting system and support CNM in conducting annual fixed asset verification.

Reporting:

• Ensure accurate and timely preparation and submission of periodic program and financial reports, including, Quarterly Financial Reports (QFR), Progress Update and Disbursement Request (PUDR, Annual Financial Report (AFR) and Annual Financial Statements.

Audit:

• Conduct monthly internal financial reviews, develop tools and methods, and facilitate/co-ordinate with annual external audit and follow-up on audit recommendations.
• Provide support to UNOPS' Internal Audit and Investigation Group on data or field visit requirements.

Procurement of Goods and Services:

• Ensure compliance with applicable procurement guidelines and policies prior to the transaction carried out.
• Develop and implement procedures necessary to ensure that there is no commercial, legal or familial link or other conflict of interest between the employees and owners of the preferred suppliers.

Taxes:

• Monitor and report on measures taken by the CNM to ensure that the Grant funds under the Grant Agreement are free from taxes, and duties imposed under the laws of Cambodia, as provided for in the Grant Agreement.

Support the CNM to ensure that a system to track tax exemptions and reimbursements is in place and shall ensure that the CNM takes all necessary steps to obtain reimbursement for taxes where direct exemption is not available

Other:

Perform other relevant duties as required by supervisor and by the Global Fund.

Submit periodic report (monthly) of the improvement in internal controls, financial management and identified issue and risk within CNM to the Programme Coordinator.

Skills

• Financial and compliance auditing (5 years)
• Financial Reporting (3 years)
• Development of Finance Tools (3 years)
• Financial Management (5 years)
• Facilitation in capacity-building workshops  (2 years)
• Project Management
• International Development Sector experience 

• Integrity
• Professionalism
• Respect for Diversity
• Commitment to continuous Learning
• Accountability
• Planning and Organizing
• Results orientation
• Communications skills:
• Teamwork skills
• Client orientation
• Creativity and innovation
• Technological awareness

Functional Competencies

Knowledge Management and Learning

• Shares knowledge and experience
• Actively works towards continuing personal learning and development in one or more practice areas, acts on learning plan and applies newly acquired skills

Development and Operational Effectiveness

• Ability to evaluate, assess and strengthen financial management and system
• Ability to administer and execute administrative processes and transactions

• Ability to extract, interpret, analyze data, identify and resolve operational problems
• Ability to perform work of confidential nature and handle a large volume of work
• Good knowledge of administrative rules and regulations
• Strong IT skills, knowledge of ERP Financial systems.
• Ability to provide input to business processes re-engineering, implementation of new systems
• Ability to provide on-the-job training to support staff and communicate technical financial matter in a simple, clear and patient manner

Leadership and Self-Management

• Focuses on result for the client and responds positively to feedback
• Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude
• Remains calm, and demonstrate ability to work under pressure
• High moral standards and ethical values

• An Advanced University degree in the area of  Finance, Audit, Accounting or any related field is prefferred;
• A Bachelor degree in the area of  Finance, Audit, Accounting or any related field is in combination with additional 2 years of experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

• Certification as a Certified Public Accountant (CPA), Chartered Accountant (CA), Certified Internal Auditor (CIA) or equivalent highly desirable.

• A minimum of 5 years of progressively responsible experience in financial compliance, audit, internal audit, accounting, and risk management is required at the national or international level with a Master degree or 7 years of experience with a Bachelor degree.
• Experience with audits of development aid programmes or the projects funded by international donors and institution is required.
• Experience in the use of accounting software packages preferably SUN accounting systems is desirable.

• Fluency in written and oral English is required.  Knowledge of Khmer is desirable.

• 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.