National PSA - Finance Associate

UNDP’s Support to COVID-19

COVID-19 is a critical issue for UNDP. It is as much a health and development emergency as it is a human security crisis. In order to deliver on its mission eradicating poverty, reducing inequalities and building resilience to crisis and shocks, UNDP helps countries to urgently and effectively respond to COVID-19 in the context of the 2030 Agenda.

Urgently and effectively addressing COVID-19 is critical to safeguarding progress on the SDGs. Through its presence in 140 countries and its integrator role, UNDP together with UN and other partners can support countries to immediately scale up evidence- and rights-based multisectoral responses, i.e. whole-of-government/whole-of-society responses, needed to effectively tackle COVID-19. In so doing, the organization can rapidly leverage its extensive presence and networks at global, regional and country levels, its mandate to work broadly – to connect the dots – across humanitarian and development sectors.

The national and international health landscapes are rapidly changing. New health initiatives are emerging, particularly in relation to non-communicable diseases, which brings to light pressing challenges linked to health systems strengthening including, health product procurement and supply chain management. These opportunities go beyond UNDP’s partnership with the Global Fund and require a new modus operandi to optimize UNDP’s investments into global health. Increasingly, UNDP is supporting governments in thematic area of health product procurement and supply chain management with funding from national budgets. In addition, UNDP is expanding opportunities for partnerships with key stakeholders including the World Bank group (WBG).

UNDP and the World Bank:

In support of the UN-World Bank partnership framework since 2009, UNDP and the World Bank have had a long-standing cooperation in more than 100 countries, including on analysis and assessments, knowledge products and policy support, capacity development and project implementation to help advance the Sustainable Development Agenda.

Since 2020, UNDP and the World Bank have been collaborating on COVID-19 socio-economic assessments in 24 countries. Procurement of health supplies and strengthening health systems are the scope of WBG-UNDP engagement for COVID-19 response.

World Bank’s Loan Agreement to Turkmenistan

On 28 July 2021 the Ministry of Finance and Economy of Turkmenistan signed an agreement with the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development of the World Bank Group on allocation of a $20,0 mln loan to combat COVID-19. The loan allocated by the WB to Turkmenistan will support the efforts of the Government of Turkmenistan on the prevention, diagnosis and treatment in case of confirmed COVID-19 cases.

The Objective of the project is to prevent, detect, and respond to the threat posed by COVID-19 and strengthen national systems for public health preparedness in Turkmenistan. The Objective will be achieved through three components as follows:

Component 1 will aim to strengthen country-level coordination, risk communication and community outreach, early case detection, isolation and contact tracing, testing, and response capacities (activities which mostly fall within the responsibility of the MoHMI Division for Sanitary and Epidemiological Safety and Control).

Component 2 will focus on strengthening infection prevention and control and case management practices in health facilities (activities which mostly fall within the responsibility of the MoHMI Division for Patient Care).

Component 3 will support the project management, and monitoring and evaluation.

UNDP country office (CO) in Turkmenistan will be the implementer of the project, under overall coordination of the Ministry of Health and Medical Industry of Turkmenistan (MoHMI).

In order to manage all financial aspects of the implementation of the WB funded programme, UNDP Turkmenistan is seeking the services of the Finance Specialist to ensure the entire financial management of the programme, monitor the financial management of partners, ensure timely and accurate reporting to the donor and liaise with UNDP HQ, RBEC and HIST on programme related financial matters.

• Ensures full compliance with UNDP rules and regulations of financial processes, financial records and reports including implementation of effective internal control framework;
• Administers budget and monitor financial transactions with project partners, and provides guidance and capacity building to partners on issues of finance – including contracting, budgeting, accounting and reporting;
• Prepares periodical financial reports, forecasts, statements on uses of sources and funds in compliance with UNDP and donor’s requirements
• Prepares and verifies periodical disbursement reconciliation and examines the variances and implements remedial actions;
• Advises the WB Project Manager on issue of finance and accounting
• Ensures the integrity and consistency of the project information in ATLAS
• Ensures correctness of information for the formulation of the project components in ATLAS
• Prepares cost estimates for annual work plans and the draft budget and its revisions when necessary in ATLAS;
• Based on the annual work plan the Finance Associate prepares updates and monitors disbursements and other financial processes of the project, in coordination with the project implementing unit;
• Advises the Project Manager and when appropriate other project staff in finance strategies for the procurement of goods, works and services to ensure best response to the objectives of the procurement and the work plans;
• Ensures the preparation and proper use of standard documentation in line with the particular finance and contracting processes in accordance with the approved finance plans and work plans;
• Ensures that all finance process files are complete and kept updated prior to the issuance of respective contracts. Elaborates or supervises the issuance of contract for goods, works or services in the corresponding formats by financing source
• Represents the finance section in negotiations, meetings and review of the finance and contracting processes
• Follows up on audit recommendations
• Being a primary point of contact on communication with the donor and implementing partners on financial information and provide responses to enquiries (if any) on financial related matters.

Institutional Arrangement

For the implementation of the WB funded programme, the UNDP will hire a dedicated project implementation team of 8 staff including Project Manager, finance, procurement, admin & logistics staff, monitoring and evaluation, social and environment specialist and customs clerk. The Finance Associate will work within the project implementation team and will report to the WB Project Manager. Under the direction and supervision of the WB Project Manager, the Finance Associate develops activities from the planning stages of the finance process to the processing of the respective payments, recording and reporting. The Finance Associate is responsible for processing certain cycles of financial transactions, ensure proper and the transparent use of funds under all contractual arrangements, and is involved in the capacity building of the national project partners.

Corporate Responsibility & teamwork: Serves and promotes the vision, mission, values, and strategic goals of UNDP. Plans, prioritizes, and delivers tasks on time. Participates effectively in a team-based environment, collaborating and cooperating with others. Seeks and applies knowledge, information, and best practices from within and outside UNDP. Recognizes and responds appropriately to the ideas, interests, and concerns of others.

Professionalism: Knowledge of finance and budget principles, procedures and standards. Ability to conduct research and analysis, identify issues, formulate options and make conclusions and recommendations. Is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results. Is motivated by professional rather than personal concerns. Shows persistence when faced with difficult problems or challenges.

Accountability: Takes ownership of all responsibilities and honours commitments; delivers outputs for which one has responsibility within prescribed cost and quality standards; provides oversight and takes responsibility for delegated assignments; takes personal responsibility for his/her own shortcomings and those of the work unit, where applicable.

Education:

• Bachelor’s Degree in Administration, Finance, Economics or equivalent disciplines.

Work Experience:

• A minimum of 5 years of progressively responsible finance experience at the national and international level;
• Knowledge of computers and Microsoft office software packages, especially calculus sheets, excel. Knowledge of International Public Sector Accounting Standards is an asset; experience in handling web based management systems, similar to Peoplesoft, Enterprise Resource Platform is desirable;

Language requirement:

• Fluency in English, Russian, and Turkmen.

Travel:

Travel to the regions of Turkmenistan maybe be associated with performing the functions.

The following documents shall be required from the applicants:

1. Personal CV or P11, indicating all past positions held and their main underlying functions, their durations (month/year), the qualifications, as well as the contact details (email and telephone number) of the Candidate, and at least three (3) the most recent professional references of previous supervisors. References may also include peers.
2. A cover letter (maximum length: 1 page) indicating why the candidate considers him-/herself to be suitable for the position.
3. Managers may ask (ad hoc) for any other materials relevant to pre-assessing the relevance of their experience, such as  reports, presentations, publications, campaigns or other materials.

Important applicant information

All posts in the SC categories are subject to local recruitment.

Applicant information about UNDP rosters

Note: UNDP reserves the right to select one or more candidates from this vacancy announcement.  We may also retain applications and consider candidates applying to this post for other similar positions with UNDP at the same grade level and with similar job description, experience and educational requirements.

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