Finance Officer

UNDP operates in more than 170 countries and territories around the world. UNDP offers global perspective and local insight to help empower lives and build resilient nations that can withstand crisis, and that drive and sustain growth that improves the quality of life for everyone.  Since, 1951 UNDP has been collaborating with the Government, civil society and people of India to help them find their own solutions to meet global and national development challenges. UNDP’s approach in India has been to develop and sustain strategic partnerships that find innovative solutions to address gaps on both the demand and supply side of development processes.

 

This initiative is designed to minimize negative impacts and risks to environment and to human health in India, by enhancing sustainable Plastic Waste Management practices, through a socio-technical model (segregation/collection/ recycling) while ensuring compliance with regulations, to improve use of resources  and in line with Swacch Bharat Mission in India; in this project the waste pickers (Safaii Mitras)  will be institutionalized with respective governance mechanisms and attain improved social conditions. Project’s targets at the end of period are, to better manage an amount more than 85,000 MT/year of plastic waste and to improve socio-economic conditions of 30,000 plus Safaii Mitras. To achieve the project objective and outcomes, the project is structured in 4 components: Component 1: Aims to develop support and implement an economically sustainable model (ESM) for packaging plastic waste management. This component focuses on developing and implementing the model at 50 selected cities in different States. It also entails support and active involvement of key stakeholders relevant to plastic waste management in urban areas in India for a holistic approach in convergence with the existing mechanisms and resources. This will also include an analysis of present regulatory mechanisms and practices followed, subject to relevance to ‘plastic waste’ in specific and current resources and technologies available as well as for creating an enabling environment, and covering under their umbrella the various kinds of plastic waste, including plastic bottles; Component 2: focuses on design and implementation of Pilots in City Units (Swacchta Kendras) for improved plastic waste management,  in the administrative wards of selected 50 cities. Socio-technical approach is to be applied to combine improved technological development in handling, with the social aspects of waste collection and segregation. This component represents the core development of the project, from its results; projections will be developed towards implementation in the entire country. Component 3 is directed mainly to design, sustain and provide elements to institutionalize Swacchta Kendra in governance bodies and to obtain improved socio-economic conditions for waste pickers. This is to be achieved by incorporation of the plastic waste management model, and its main stakeholders presence and importance, into urban local bodies at city, state and national levels; by obtaining Safaii Mitras’ activities recognition as a service to society, with the corresponding starting up of their mainstreaming; and by fostering and strengthening self-help groups for Safaii Mitra living improvements of their way of life; Component 4 is aimed to developed  a knowledge management, monitoring and communication mechanisms, which will be based in a in-built adoptive feedback system from project results at various stages along the entire duration. Adequate governance mechanisms will be established in order to assure the right development of project and targets fulfilment. 

 

Under the overall supervision and guidance of the Head, Circular Economy the Finance Officer; will be responsible for managing the Accounts, Finance & administration of the project and conduct following activities/ duties/ responsibilities: 

 

(1)Support with Financial Management:
 

i.Lead the planning, budgeting and management of project activities including the preparation of the procurement plans.

ii.Work in close coordination with the Operation Manager and the country office procurement team to support preparation of submissions to the Contracts, Asset and Procurement Committee (CAP) and Regional Advisory Committee on Procurement (RACP); Oversee the work of project staff/ consultants/vendors and ensure timely submission of required outputs; 

iii.Support the Operations Manager/ Project Analyst in preparing Annual Work Plans (with Budgets);

iv.Maintain supporting documents of funds and activities and information for the audits with support from Account assistant; 

v.Maintenance of the internal expenditures control system with support from Operation manageger to ensure that requisitions are supported by proper approvals and payments are processed upon receipt of final invoices and deliverables;

vi.Liaise with Donor on a regular basis for exchange of information and document; 

 

Support with Internal controls:

i.Maintenance of the accounts receivables for UNDP projects and recording of deposits in UNDP’s Financial Accounting System and reporting financial progress as per the Annual Work Plan

ii.Preparation of payment vouchers for the project, settling of travel claims with relevant supporting documents, check their accuracy and processing in UNDP financial system, creation of requisitions in the system, making budget checks and receipting in the system;

iii.Coordinate and process payments of vendors and travel claims in a time bound manner upon receipt of relevant documents;

iv.Donor reports - Prepare donor financial analysis and reports in consultation with UNDP finance team.

v.Provide quarterly updates on financial progress of the project in consultation with the state project team.

 

(2)Provide Administrative support:

i.Support project team in ensuring full compliance of administrative activities with UN/UNDP rules, regulations and policies with admin assistant;

ii.Maintenance of the filing system ensuring safekeeping of confidential materials and maintain data base of all stakeholders through Admin assistant;

iii.Administrative support and financial management support to State teams (travel arrangements, office maintenance among others) with support through Admin. Assistant;

iv.Carry out any other work assigned by the Head- Circular Economy related to the project.

 

Corporate Competencies
 

•Demonstrates commitment to UNDP’s mission, vision and values.

•Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability

 

Functional Competencies
 

Data Analysis

Understands concepts and techniques for either numerical or contextual analysis. Shows a tendency towards stronger capability in analysis techniques.

OR 

Knowledgeable and competent in the application of a range of analysis techniques, whether numerical, contextual, empirical or subjective. Recognizes and adapts information presentation style to reflect the target audience.  May provide guidance to other staff.

Development and Operational Effectiveness

•Understands audit and compliance needs and acts accordingly to ensure processes are used and adapted accordingly.

•Clearly understands the importance of financial processes and transactions and has the ability to execute such transactions effortlessly.

•Ability to extract, interpret, analyze data and resolve problems

•Ability to perform work of confidential nature and handle a large volume of work  

•Sound knowledge of financial rules and regulations, accounting

•Strong IT skills

•Understands audit and compliance needs and acts accordingly to ensure processes are used and adapted accordingly.

Knowledge Management and Learning

•Shares knowledge and experience with colleagues and other stakeholders

•Actively works towards continuing personal learning and development in one or more Practice Areas, acts on learning plan and applies newly acquired skills

Leadership and Self-Management
 

•Focuses on result for the client - can be trusted to deal with most client interactions and takes ownership for most day to day issues. 

•Understands how and when to organise own workload and plans in line with the individual and specific business needs.

•Understands the need to update skills through learning and development.  Will get involved as much as possible.  Knows when and where to seek advice.

•Understands the concept of business conduct and its impact on stakeholders and the organisation.  

•Ability to work with tight timelines, competing priorities and work pressure. 

•Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude

•Demonstrates openness to change and responds positively to feedback and differing points of view.

•Minimum 7 years of professional experience in administration and/or finance, 

•Experience of working in the Government or other international development organization will be an asset

•Additional experience in the procurement of goods & services is desirable

•Experience in supporting information technology driven projects

•Should have computer knowledge in MS Office and other applications

•Knowledge ERP software will be an asset.