Finance and Admin Officer, RMI ACWA Project

The project “Addressing Climate Vulnerability in the Water Sector (ACWA) in the Marshall Islands)” implemented by the Government of the Republic of Marshall Islands (GoRMI) in collaboration with UNDP became operational in January 2020 with the objective to address expected impacts of climate change on water security on Republic of Marshall Islands (RMI).

RMI is a small island developing state in the Pacific.  The nation is a large-ocean state, with a total land area of only 182 km2, spread across over 2 million km2 of ocean.  There are 24 inhabited atolls and islands, which are mostly remote and lie merely 2 m above sea level on average.  There are no rivers, streams or lakes in RMI and the number of small surface ponds is very limited.

GoRMI, with the assistance of UNDP, has developed a project on adaptation to climate change impacts to water supply in RMI.  The project is co-financed by GoRMI and Green Climate Fund (GCF).  The project will build resilience to the impacts of climate change on water supply, particularly in 24 atolls and islands that are highly vulnerable to drought. The project will invest in improving water security, water resilience and water governance through:

Water Security - Improving household and community rainwater harvesting and storage structures to increase resilience of water supply in 77 rural communities in the outer islands and atolls accounting for approximately 28% of RMI’s population, including 7,630 (49%) women, currently at risk.

• Water Resilience - Securing groundwater resources from contamination due to inundation caused by wave overtopping of seawater.
• Water Governance - Strengthening the technical capacities of national and subnational institutions and key stakeholders to integrated climate change risks into water governance processes so that management of climate change risks are coordinated, effective, participatory, equitable, and sustained over the long-term when risks are expected to worsen.

The project aligns with GoRMI’s key climate change policies and strategies and has been developed through extensive consultation with government, Non-Government Organisations (NGOs), Community-Based Organisations (CBOs) and beneficiary communities. The proposed project is aligned with RMI’s NDC and country work programme to the GCF.  The NDA has issued a letter of no-objection and the proposed project is aligned with the work programme of the AE (UNDP) selected by the NDA.

This GCF project will be executed by UNDP, in close partnership with the GoRMI, given UNDP’s extensive experience in implementing climate change adaptation projects globally. The project implementation will be led by a team based in Majuro, RMI and Suva, Fiji.

Under the guidance and direct supervision of the Project Manager, the Finance and Admin Officer is responsible for, jointly with the Finance and Admin Associate, the financial management of the project along with the including the overall budget expenditures according to the Project Document, advising the Government, PMU and UNDP on the need for budget revision and/or off - track activities, and presenting financial analysis at Project Board meetings.

Summary of Key Functions:

• Administration and implementation of operational and financial services for the project
• Administrative support to the PMU
• Facilitation of knowledge building and knowledge sharing

Administration and implementation of operational and financial services for the project

• Assist the PM with planning, formulating, tracking of the project budget;
• Ensure full compliance of the project with UNDP and GCF rules and regulations on financial processes, financial records, reports and audit as well as effective and the internal controls frameworks;
• Track project delivery through ATLAS and other tools;
• Maintain an Activity-based expenditure table to monitor expenditure on a real-time basis; ensure that the expenditures are in line with the approved Annual Work Plan;
• Carry out an analysis, as needed, on the expenditure projection based on the deviation of the actual expenditures from the AWP and keep the members of the PMU, Government and UNDP informed of the risk of under-delivery;
• Provide the information/reports on the financial/accounting situation of the project and propose solutions to improve the situation;
• Oversee that the financial/accounting data is accurate in Atlas and take timely corrective actions on erroneous data;
• Accuracy verification of Combined Delivery Reports;
• Provision of necessary financial reports and analyses for donor reporting;
• Verification and reconciliation of various expenditures reports from the Responsible Party(ies);
• Preparing payment requests and processes vouchers in Atlas at request of the PM and DPM.

Provide administrative support for the PMU

• Maintain PMU documentation in electronic and/or hard copy format (including financial records such as supporting documents for vouchers and POs), according to UNDP policies and guidelines;
• Maintains and regularly updates project counterpart contacts database;
• Review and compile necessary documentations during procurement process, in support of the Procurement Associate;
• Review and verifies invoices and common services expenses charged to the PMU budget (rent, utilities, phone, miscellaneous);
• Organize project-related meetings outside of RMI;
• Provide communication support (electronic and hard copy correspondence, etc.) to all PMU staff.

Facilitation of knowledge building and knowledge sharing

• Advice to Project staff on UNDP administrative and reporting, in particular, on budgetary issues;
• Organize trainings for the Government of RMI on financial management;
• Synthesize lessons learned and best practices in programme and project finance;
• Sound contributions to knowledge networks and communities of practice.

Functional Competencies:

Organizational Learning and Knowledge Sharing

• Researches best practices and poses new, more effective ways of doing things.
• Identifies and communicates opportunities to promote learning and knowledge sharing

Job Knowledge/Technical Expertise

• Understands the main processes and methods of work regarding to the position
• Possesses knowledge of organizational policies and procedures relating to the position and applies them consistently in work tasks (broad range of specialized knowledge related to financial resources management, including formulating budgets, maintaining Accounts Receivables and Accounts Payables, reporting).
• Analyzes general information and selects materials in support of partnership building initiatives
• Identifies new and better approaches to work processes and incorporates same in own work
• Strives to keep job knowledge up-to-date through self-directed study and other means of learning Demonstrates good knowledge of information technology and applies it in work assignments

Promoting Organizational Change and Development

• Documents ‘best practices’ in organizational change and development within and outside the UN system
• Demonstrates ability to identify problems and proposes solutions

Design and Implementation of Management Systems

• Uses information/databases/other management systems
• Makes recommendations related to work procedures and implementation of management systems

Client Orientation

• Reports to internal and external clients in a timely and appropriate fashion
• Organizes and prioritizes work schedule to meet client needs and deadlines
• Establishes, builds and sustains effective relationships within the work unit and with internal and external clients
• Responds to client needs promptly

Promoting Accountability and Results-Based Management

• Gathers and disseminates information on best practice in accountability and results-based management systems
• Maintains databases

Core Competencies:

• Demonstrate corporate knowledge and sound judgment
• Self-development, initiative-taking
• Acting as a team player and facilitating team work
• Facilitating and encouraging open communication in the team, communicating effectively
• Creating synergies through self-control
• Managing conflict
• Learning and sharing knowledge and encourage the learning of others.
• Promoting learning and knowledge management/sharing is the responsibility of each staff member.

Education:

• Secondary Education, with specialized certification in Accounting and Finance. University Degree in Finance, Business or Public Administration desirable, but it is not a requirement.
• Part-qualified accountants from an internationally recognized institute of accountancy will have a distinct advantage.

Experience:

• 5 years of progressively responsible financial management or accounting experience is required, with knowledge of programme or project finance desirable. Experience in the usage of computers and office software packages (MS Word, Excel, etc.) and advanced knowledge of spreadsheet and database packages, experience in handling of web-based management systems.
• Knowledge of IPSAS and/or IFRS is a distinct advantage.

Language Requirements:

• Fluency in English (oral and written) is a requirement whilst proficiency in the Marshallese language is desirable.

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.

Workforce diversity

UNDP is committed to achieving diversity within its workforce, and encourages all qualified applicants, irrespective of gender, nationality, disabilities, sexual orientation, culture, religious and ethnic backgrounds to apply. All applications will be treated in the strictest confidence.

Scam warning

The United Nations does not charge any application, processing, training, interviewing, testing or other fee in connection with the application or recruitment process. Should you receive a solicitation for the payment of a fee, please disregard it. Furthermore, please note that emblems, logos, names and addresses are easily copied and reproduced. Therefore, you are advised to apply particular care when submitting personal information on the web.