Overview
The Project Associate (Finance-Reporting & Field Monitoring) will support the AVCBIII project in financial monitoring of programme activities, sub-recipients, and field-level activities. The role ensures efficient and proper financial oversight, compliance with financial procedures, and transparent utilization of project resources.
Key Responsibilities
- Develop strategy to ensure compliance with UNDP and GoB financial rules, regulations and policies and implement corporate financial strategies.
- Implement strategic approach to monitor cash management process, reconcile all transactions, risk management of cash resources etc.
- Provide guidance and capacity building of partners and sub-recipients (SRs)/Responsible Parties (RPs) on finance issues.
- Work with project staff to develop strategy and ensure budgetary control for project implementation.
- Ensure standard procedures in maintaining accounts, resources management and program organization.
- Coordinate with project staff to produce financial management, financial monitoring and audit of the project.
- Collaborate with Project Monitoring & Evaluation team in verifying financial expenditure against output progress.
- Conduct field visits and meet with project staff to report on financial issues and problems observed.
- Oversee the monitoring of quarterly financial expenditures and develop a strategy for smooth implementation of the work plan.
- Routinely monitor financial exception reports for unusual activities and transactions, and investigate anomalies.
- Provide advice on troubleshooting and corrective measures and arrange orientation to improve situations.
- Undertake financial monitoring and analysis on activities supported by UNDP and GoB fund.
- Assist to prepare budget revisions based on RP requirements and assist in the preparation of the AWP.
- Ensure uploading the annual Budget and Multiyear budget into ERP system.
- Assist the finance team with the preparation of monthly, quarterly and annual progress reports.
- Financial analysis and oversight for all resources managed by the Project and provision of professional advice to Management.
- Proper planning, and expenditure tracking of financial resources following full compliance with UNDP policies and procedures.
- Monitor disbursement of funds periodically to inform management and implementation of activities.
- Provide technical assistance to project and PNGO staff in maintaining financial documents and records.
- Provide technical assistance to field-level project staff to ensure project expenditure, record-keeping policies, and procedures are in line with Government and UNDP rules and procedures.
- Review Financial Report, FACE, quarterly fund requests of PNGOs/sub-recipient and process for advance/reimbursement.
- Reconcile FACE/FR with Combined Delivery Report (CDR) and ensure accuracy verification of CDR.
- Review quarterly financial expenditures and provide managerial information to management.
- Collection, review and verification of bills/vouchers from the field against the advance.
- Strictly follow the Govt. Tax & VAT rules, regulation and ensure proper deduction & deposit to Govt. treasury.
- Monitoring and reviewing financial reports against agreed project budgets to ensure the validity of expenditure.
- Work as a focal person to facilitate GoB and UNDP audits and accounts examinations.
- Frequently visit PNGOs for review and checking of PNGOs bills/vouchers/invoices and other relevant documents.
- Assess financial management capacities of sub-recipients/RPs and develop an action plan to close identified gaps.
- Timely preparation of monthly cash flow forecast.
- Harmonize reporting and accounting practices of sub-recipients/RPs.
- Monitor sub-recipients/RPs as to the accuracy of financial information and safeguards to eliminate fraud; ensure annual audits of sub-recipients.
- Ensure continuous support for the financial personnel of sub-recipient/RP organizations.
- Facilitate financial HACT Audit, Spot check and external audit of the sub-recipients/RPs.
- Develop training plan/curriculum for sub-recipients/RPs' financial and accounting staff and conduct training.
- Organize and conduct financial training on relevant areas for field-level staff.
- Provide sound mentoring to the Finance personnel of the Project sub-recipients/RP’s.
- Contribute to implementing the Knowledge Management and Learning Strategy of the project.
- Demonstrate good knowledge of information technology and applies it in assigned work.
- Compilation of lessons learned, and best practices identified in the field of the Project.
- Identify new and better approaches to improving working processes and incorporates the same in own work.
- Accomplish the work assigned by the supervisor and NPC/NPD as and when required.
Required Experience
- Minimum 7 years (with Secondary Education) or 4 years (with bachelor’s degree) of relevant experience in the field of finance and accounting is required.
- At least 2 years of professional experience in handling and managing financial Operations, budgetary control, financial monitoring and reporting of the implementing partner (NGO/CSO, GoB institutions).
- At least one year of experience in an international organization or large-scale donor-funded projects as a Finance and Accounts professional.
- Professional experience and expertise to facilitate the audit efficiently (internal/external) and financial monitoring & audit of the NGOs/CSOs under donor funded programmes/projects will be treated as an advantage.
- Knowledge on strategic planning, results-based management, and reporting: well acquainted about project cycle and, project planning skills, have experience & expertise about GoB procedures Govt. Tax & VAT rules etc. and INGOS’ programme modalities/National Implementation/Direct Implementation and GoB execution etc.
Qualifications
- Secondary Education with specialized certification in accounting and/or Finance.
- University degree in Finance or Accounting or Business Administration is desirable.
- Part-qualified accountants from an internationally accredited institute of accountancy will have a distinct advantage.
- Fully Qualified Accountant, from an internationally accredited institute of accountancy or Full Completion of the UNDP Finance Training and Certification Programme (FTCP).
- Candidates with no professional accountancy qualifications, but with degrees that major in accountancy and/or finance must complete UNDP Finance Training and Certification Programme (FTCP), if recruited.
- Candidate with no professional accountancy qualifications but with relevant experience must successfully undertake UNDP Accountancy and Finance Test (AFT) before shortlisting and must complete the UNDP Finance and Certification Programme (FTCP), if recruited.
