National Consultant - Finance and Accounts

FAO Bangladesh assists the Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh (GoB) to formulate policies, programmes and projects to address the root causes of hunger and malnutrition, develop the agricultural, fisheries and forestry sectors, and utilize environmental and natural resources in a sustainable way. It contributes to the development of FAO’s field programme projects in the country and implements them in the sectors of food security, agriculture and rural development.

The Department of Fisheries (DoF) and the FAO Bangladesh is going to implement a Global Environmental Facility’s (GEFs) least developed countries fund (LDCF) project entitled, Community-based Climate Resilient Fisheries and Aquaculture Development in Bangladesh (GCP/BGD/055/LDF). The Project will attempt to remove key barriers to effective adaptation to climate change in the fishery and aquaculture sector by integrating climate resilience in its policy reform and enhance resiliency of the fishery sector through capacity development of the fishery officials and the communities depending on fisheries.

The poor and smallholders in the project areas will benefit from project interventions both socially and financially, including capacity development to adapt to the adverse impacts of climate change and variability. The coastal and inland aquatic ecosystems of this project (covering an area of about 4,790 km2) will be under climate resilient plans and management practices. The long-term sustainability of the project will be promoted by adoption of strategy that promotes up scaling and replication of climate resilient adaptations across Bangladesh, and capacity strengthening of DoFs, partner organizations and local communities on climate change implications and resilient adaptation options.

Reporting Lines

Under the overall managerial, administrative leadership of the FAO Representative in Bangladesh and Budget Holder of the project, technical supervision of LTO and direct supervision of the Assistant FAO Representative (Programme), National Operations Officer and coordination of the NPC the incumbent will be responsible for the maintenance of overall aspects of the project accounts, books of accounts, budgeting, budget-tracking, financial operations and reporting, auditing, payroll, tours, transports and assist in setting up internal control systems through operating manuals, guidelines, formats as per UNDP/ERD DEX manuals; providing assistance in developing financial data based MIS and perform any other duties assigned by PMTSU, FAO.

The Project will address contradictions and gaps in the policy framework with the view to harmonize aquaculture and fisheries related issues, and enhance resilience of the sub-sector through national capacity development and incorporation of adaptation priorities to cope with climate change. It will strengthen awareness and knowledge of local fishers and fish farmer’s communities, and enhance local adaptive capacity through transfer and adoption of appropriate site-specific climate resilient fisheries and aquaculture intervention technologies and approaches, which will be underpinned by effective knowledge management (e.g. use of ICT-based climate and disaster information services) ensuring wider dissemination of best practices and lessons learned.

• Assist PMTSU in overall administrative and financial matters of the project.
• Be responsible for all administrative (contractual, organizational and logistical) and accounting (disbursements, record keeping, cash management) matters of the project.
• Prepare periodic financial statements and compile the annual project activities and achievement of planned project outputs.
• Provide general administrative, financial, and accounting support to the project, especially to the Budget holder to ensure smooth running of the PMTSU
• Provide logistical support to the project staff and consultants in conducting/achieving different project activities/achievements.
• Organize, and coordinate procurement of services and goods under the project.
• Be responsible for maintenance of overall aspects of the project accounts, books of accounts, budgeting, budget-tracking, financial operations and reporting, auditing, payroll, tours, transports and assist in setting up internal control systems through operating manuals, guidelines, and formats as per UNDP/ERD DEX manuals.
• Monitor the budget expenditures by preparing payment documents, and compiling financial reports; maintain the project’s disbursement ledger and journal; keep files with project documents, expert reports; control the usage of non-expendable equipment (record keeping, drawing up regular inventories).
• Monitor the expenditure, commitments and balance of funds under the project budget lines, and draft project budget revisions; assume overall responsibility for meeting financial delivery targets set out in the agreed AWP, reporting on project funds and related record keeping.
• Draft and finalize correspondence of administrative nature; arrange duty travel; fax, post and e-mail transmissions, and co-ordinate appointments.
• Perform any other administrative/financial duties as assigned by the PMTSU/ FAOR.

• University degree, preferably Post-graduate degree, in Accounting/ Commerce/ Account Keeping/ Economics/ Business Administration or related discipline or any closely related discipline from any recognized university.
• 05 years of relevant practical experience with any foreign aided project or international development organization or reputed multinational organization.
• Word processing in English and Bangla is essential with minimum accurate typing speed of 60 wpm in English and 40 wpm in Bangla.
• National of Bangladesh.

• Results Focus
• Teamwork
• Communication
• Building Effective Relationships
• Knowledge Sharing and Continuous Improvement

Technical/Functional Skills

• Knowledge of general administration, personnel matters, procurement, taxes, VAT and budgeting is essential.
• Excellent analytical and communication skills (written and spoken) in English and Bangla.
• Skilled in procurement, store recording, petty cash handling, logistics supports, developing filing systems and reference materials.
• Ability to produce high quality work under pressure and in stressful situations including interruptions and setbacks having outstanding time-management, organizational and inter-personal skills.
• Adaptable to multicultural and multidisciplinary team of experts and ability to produce high quality work under pressure and in stressful situations.
• Excellent computer literacy in MS Office (Word, Excel, Access, PowerPoint etc.) and computerized accounting to produce several financial/ technical reports and to maintain financial correspondence independently.
• Experience in UNDP and GoB accounting, auditing, financial management and reporting systems will get priority.