Management Specialist (Oversight and compliance)

The Oversight and Compliance Specialist acts as an advisor to Senior Management on all aspects of CO programme and operations, regarding oversight, quality assurance, risk assurance, monitoring and evaluation, in according with UNDP rules and regulations.

Position Purpose

The Oversight and Compliance Specialist is also responsible for the oversight of program resource management. The Oversight and Compliance Specialist leads and guides the PMSU and M&E Teams (approximately 6 staff) and fosters collaboration within the team and with other UN Agencies consistent with rules and a client-oriented approach. The incumbent will work closely with programme, projects, operations, and resources mobilization staff, UNDP HQ staff, bilateral donors, and staff in other UN agencies on issues related to financial programme resource management. 
 

• Prepare the CO Non-Governmental Organization /National Implementation (NGO/NIM) audit plans. Coordinate the entire audit exercise with the Office of Audit and Investigations (OAI), including the participation in the selection process of external auditors for the audits of NIM and Directly Implemented Project (DIM) projects
• Act as the focal point and facilitator during the internal or external audit exercises conducted by OAI (internal audit) or by the Board of Auditors (BoA) (external audit)
• Act as the focal point for the DIM audits. This includes preparing in consultation with OAI the Requests for Proposals (RFP) for the DIM projects. 
• Ensure continuous update of the status of implementation of the audit recommendations, contained in the Comprehensive Audit and Recommendation Database System (CARDS), in liaison with OAI and the Regional Audit Center for Ouest Africa
• Develop action plans for addressing weaknesses identified in projects implementation control systems and those identified in audit reports. 
• Develop a follow up system which provides reasonable assurance that all audit recommendations, and the outcomes of performance and management review recommendations are complied with

Strengthen transparency and accountability, focusing on the achievement of the following results:

• Contribute to the achievement of project objectives and outcomes by carrying out regular oversight review of projects, assess reliability and integrity of information provided in project reports, and the completeness of supporting documents.
• Assess the effective and efficient use of project resources as per the agreed annual workplan. 
• Ensure proper implementation of internal control systems and in the maintenance of compliance standards 
• Advise UNDP management, project staff and implementing agencies regarding control systems, assess their effectiveness and general operational compliance with UNDP Rules and Regulations, Policies and Procedures
• Assess work processes and office structure to ensure that tasks are carried out with maximum integrity.
• Review performance/progress of implementing UNDP supported projects (NIM/ DIM) by determining their conformity with UNDP Financial rules and regulations, and the requirement of the Programme and Operations Policies and Procedures (POPP).
• Strengthen transparency and accountability in project implementation, programme management and carry out performance reviews to ensure targets are met; and make appropriate recommendations for improvement. 
• Review the CO risk logs and ensure that risks are adequately assessed and escalated if need be.  S/He should ensure that adequate processes are in place to mitigate those risks.
• Focal point for Harmonized Approach on Cash Transfer (HACT).

• In consultation with the management team, provides assessment of risk areas and work with project staff to minimize risk exposure levels.
• Alert the CO management about any suspected misconduct in projects or CO. 
• Participate in indicator and target setting to establish reliable performance assessment criteria
• Consults with clients on a regular basis to improve performance
• Support the refinement and development of performance assessment tools to enhance the performance assessment process

Provide enhanced systems and analytic tools of Monitoring and Evaluation, focusing on the achievement of the following results:

• Ensures effective management of the monitoring and evaluation process with the aim of measuring the impact of the CO programme. 
• Establish a quality and accountable reporting system.
• Ensure the implementation of evaluation policies and strategies, coordinate implementation of the evaluation plan, regular updates of the Evaluation Resource Centre.
• Support the utilization of evaluation findings and recommendations in improving programme quality. 
• Review and quality assurance of development Projects’ work plans and budgets
• Ensure Programme Board and Outcome Boards are in place to provide oversight over the course of implementing the Country Programme Document
• Identify capacity gaps among the Implementing Partners and Project Staff and conduct trainings as part of the capacity development

Facilitate knowledge building and sharing:

• Contributes to the ongoing development of professional practices within the Country Office
• Participates in the implementation of his/her personal learning and training development plan
• Performs other assignments or tasks as determined by the Resident Representative.

Supervisory/Managerial Responsibilities: The- incumbent will supervise 6 persons, members of the Compliance & Oversight Unit.
 

Ability to leverage learning from a variety of sources to anticipate and respond to future trends; to demonstrate foresight in order to model what future developments and possible ways forward look like for UNDP. 

Business Direction & Strategy - Effective Decision Making: Ability to take decisions in a timely and efficient manner in line with one’s authority, area of expertise and resources. 

Business Management - Risk Management: Ability to identify and organize action around mitigating and proactively managing risks.

Business Management - Communication: Ability to communicate in a clear, concise and unambiguous manner both through written and verbal communication; to tailor messages and choose communication methods depending on the audience.

Ability to manage communications internally and externally, through media, social media and other appropriate channels. 

Finance - Audik risk Management: Ability to address audit issues raised in the course of an audit and propose solutions in order to ensure a true and fair audit opinion is achieved. 

2030 Agenda: Engagement & Effectiveness - Effectiveness: RBM standards and practices for program Performance and data analysis and sharing lessons Programmatic Risk Management and Analysis

Understands the key stages of audit work, including planning, documentation, testing and reporting.

Ability to examine and verify accounts and records.

Understands wider mechanisms for assurance and scrutiny.

Understands the law and best practice relating to anti-bribery and corruption controls and the fraud risks faced by public bodies.