Finance Officer

UNOPS was selected by the Regional Steering Committee and Global Fund to fight against AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (GFATM) as a regional Principal Recipient (PR) of the Regional Artemisinin-resistance Initiative grant (RAI).  The implementation of the grant commenced in January 2014 and in November 2016, GFATM approved new funding allocations to PR-GFATM in the Greater Mekong Sub-region (Cambodia, Lao PDR, Vietnam, Myanmar and Thailand) to extend RAI into 2017, bridging the gap until the next three years funding cycle begins in 2018.  This new grant under negotiation in 2017 is known as the Regional Artemisinin-resistance Initiative for Malaria Elimination (RAI2E) 2018 – 2020.  Substantial amounts of the funds will continue to be allocated to building resilient and sustainable health systems, particularly in Myanmar, Laos and Cambodia.

UNOP delivers PR services on behalf of the Global Fund by providing health services to the communities through a versatile landscape of partnerships, working closely with the Ministries of Health (MoH) and civil society organisations as well as UN partners, providing health system strengthening services in a sustainable fashion and often times in the form of an advisor on building systems and capacities in planning, budgeting, implementation management, monitoring and evaluation, reporting, financial management, as part of the advisory services built into the Programme.      

UNOPS is PR for the Regional Artemisinin-resistance Initiative 2 - Malaria Elimination (RAI2E) grant in Lao PDR.  In order to ensure prudent financial and programmatic mechanisms, UNOPS is looking for a Finance Officer with expertise in financial management to support the small PR-Program Management Unit (PMU) in Lao PDR MoH. 

UNOPS as Principal Recipient (PR) in Lao PDR is dedicated to building capacity.  The MOH functional teams and their programmes are used to one model of operation. PR aims to strengthen the functional teams of the Laos Principal Recipient Management Unit within the Ministry of Health.  The work of the PR with the Department of Planning and International Coordination (DPIC), Department of Finance (DOF) and Health Information Unit (HIU) will increasingly align with the Ministry of Health’s (MOH) structure, defining a mechanism to transfer capacity to line management functions of existing MoH staff.

Under the direct supervision of the Program Coordinator, the Finance Officer shall be responsible for planning, budgeting and financial reporting related to RAI2E grant in Lao PDR. S/he will work closely with the Program Management Unit-MOH (PSR – Principal Sub Recipient) and other Sub Recipients (SRs) in Laos PDR for the financial related support. S/ he will work in close liaison with the Budget and Reporting team in UNOPS Myanmar.

a) Budgeting

• Prepare annual budgeted work plans together with the Programme and M&E Specialist, Program Management Unit of MOH and other SRs related to grant planning
• In close collaboration of respective finance units from the RAI2E implementing partners, prepare periodic and ad hoc budget utilization reports, regularly provide on implementation progress and lead preparation of cash forecast.
• Ensure that budgets are prepared in the right format with clearly written assumptions, within the required timeframe and with a high level of accuracy.
• Reconcile Global Fund disbursement requests against funds received.
• Monitor any changes to the PR, PSR and SRs budgets, maintain tracking modalities for all modifications to the budget.

b) Reporting

• Ensure compliance with the Global Fund requirements and UNOPS Financial Regulations and Rules, Organizational Directive (ODs) and Administrative instructions financial procedures, systems, policies and the Global Fund specific donor’s requirements.
• Assist the Program and M&E Specialist in reviewing and consolidation of the quarterly expenditure reports of all the SRs including the National Programmes.
• Monitor the cash ledger and budget for PR-GFATM, correctly record disbursement to PSR and SRs, and ensure sufficient funding is available at all times.
• Prepare the financial exception reports for unusual activities, transactions and investigation of any anomalies and advice necessary adjustments to Program Coordinator.
• Provide responses to audit queries and ensure compliance and timely implementation of all audit recommendations related to financial report for PR, PSR and SRs.
• Ensure implementation of effective standard operation procedures, financial oversight mechanisms and internal control systems and necessary action.
• Ensure timely and proper financial and grant closure process of completed projects and draft donor report preparation. 
• Support capacity building of PSR staffs and sub-recipients (SR) staffs within the areas of financial management, accounting policies and practices, accounting systems and reporting.
• Contribute to knowledge networks and communities of practice.
• Archive the hard and soft copies of financial reporting documents in appropriate manner.
• Undertake field visits when required.
• Perform other relevant duties as assigned by the supervisor.

3. Monitoring and Progress Controls

The key results have an impact on the overall efficiency of Operations in financial resources management and success in introduction and implementation of operational strategies. Accurate, thoroughly researched and documented financial information, timely and appropriate delivery of services ensure client satisfaction and enhance UNOPS credibility in use of financial resources.

4.  Final Product

• Accurate records of project financial activities will be accessible, updated and well maintained, both in hard copy and in the computerized system.
• Delivery of quality financial reports & accurate statistics.
• Supervisor & clients receive regular briefings on project financial activities.
• Positive feedback from colleagues on support provided by the contractor, particularly in timely submission of data required for financial purposes, professional response to queries and demonstration of strong coordination.

• Master’s Degree in accounting, financial management, treasury management, business administration or other related field relevant to the above duties is required. A Bachelor's degree in combination with additional two years of relevant experience may be accepted in lieu of a Master’s Degree.

b. Work Experience

• Minimum 2 years of relevant experience in the area of planning, budgeting and financial reporting of health programmes in the public sector and/or development organizations is required.
• Ability to work with minimal supervision in a complex environment
• Previous successful involvement with, and good knowledge of Planning, Budgeting and Financial Reporting for a development project would be an asset.
• Strong communication and facilitation skills, and ability to establish good working relations with national program, partners, colleagues and stakeholders in a sensitive environment;
• Excellent writing and analytical skills, including high level proficiency in using Microsoft Excel and accounting software is required.

c. Language

• Fluency in written and oral English is required.
• Fluency in Lao language 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.
• 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.