Team Leader, Financial Management & Systems Specialist

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 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 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, including financial systems, to support grant implementation, including the monitoring of performance of Sub-recipients and outsourced entities in a timely and accountable manner.

The Team Leader and Financial Management & Systems Specialist will be based in Kabul, Afghanistan, and will report to the Porfolio Manager based in Geneva. The Team Leader is responsible for the management of the UNOPS LFA team in Afghanistan and for the quality of all deliverables submitted to the Global Fund.

The Team Leader and Financial Management & Systems Specialist will ensure the success of the LFA teams by carrying out the following activities:

Leadership and Management

• Supervise and closely monitor the work of UNOPS LFA team;
• Ensure the allocation of tasks within the teams and the involvement of the appropriate expertise;
• Ensure that all teamwork, including inputs of all technical experts, is of high quality and completed within the timeframe, and as per guidelines set by the donor;
• Lead and guide, troubleshoot and advise the team on remedial actions to be taken;
• Ensure completion of the performance management process for the team;
• Provide development opportunities for the team members;
• Ensure that an adequate working environment is maintained for the UNOPS teams, including the provision of logistical and administrative support;
• Develop the annual scope of work, cost proposal and the consequent annual work plan of team activities;
• Maintain updated schedule of time worked by all team members in each technical area;
• Hold regular LFA team meetings and promote teamwork and enthusiasm among team members for the provision of services to the donor;Foster an atmosphere of team spirit, mutual respect and professional independence within the teams.

• A Master’s degree  in Finance/Accounting; Public Administration, Business Administration, or other relevant discipline  is required.
• An internationally recognized professional accounting qualification (CA/CMA/CPA/ICMA/ACCA, etc.) is highly desirable. 
• Additional qualifications related to management are an asset.

• 7 years of management experience is required.
• Strong project management and team management skills, ability to prioritize tasks and meet multiple deadlines in complex environment are required.
• Strong interpersonal skills, diplomacy and tact to effectively communicate with senior-level officials, multiple  stakeholders and professionals from diverse cultural and professional backgrounds are required.
• Strong professional oral communication and writing skills, including the development of reports, oral presentations, and technical/persuasive documents are mandatory.
• An in-depth knowledge of issues relating to project management in developing countries and/or fragile States is required.
• A minimum of 5 years of experience in a financial role is required. Audit experience is highly desirable.
• Experience in: grants management, funds management, budget / budgeting, account reconciliation, cash management, financial management / financial analysis / financial reporting is required.
• Ability to review and analyse financial statements (including income and expenditure statements, balance sheets and cash reconciliation statements) and critically assessing budgets and financial management systems is required.
• Experience with: IPSAS, Asset Management, Planning and reviewing and Financial control is desirable.

• Fluency in English is required. 
• Working knowledge of Dari/Pashto is desirable and is an advantage.

• 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.