National Finance and Administrative Specialist

Organizational Setting

The Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission (GLSC) and FAO are implementing the project Mainstreaming Sustainable Land Development and Management in the Cooperative Republic of Guyana (SLDM). The project aims at establishing an enabling environment for promoting sustainable and climate-resilient land development, management, and reclamation in support of Guyana’s Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS) through activities working at (i) streamlining policy, regulation, and governance; (ii) developing institutional and human capacities; and (iii) strengthening local governance in three regions where the project is being implemented. The project is implemented at three levels – national, regional, and local – the SLDM Project is designed to create an enabling legal and policy framework informed by policy feedback loops nurtured with ground reality and inclusive participation.

Reporting Lines

The National Finance and Administrative Specialist will work under the direct general supervision of the FAO Representative in Guyana and the SLDM Project Chief Technical Advisor (CTA)/ Project Manager. The appointee will work in collaboration with GLSC and other SLDM and FAO team members and the concerned project task force members, as well as the PMU staff and GLSC Divisions.

Technical Focus

The National Finance and Administrative Specialist will be based on the premises of the GLSC in the Land Policy Planning and Projects Division during his/her work on the SLDM Project in Guyana and will be under the day-to-day supervision of the CTA/Project Manager.

Tasks and Responsibilities

The incumbent will undertake the following tasks:

•    Follow-up on timely disbursements by FAO to the Project Implementation Unit (PIU) account.
•    Assist in the preparation of payments requests for operational expenses, salaries, insurance, etc., against project budgets and work plans.
•    Support the preparation of project work-plans and operational and financial planning processes.
•    Monitor project activities, budget and financial expenditures and maintain a proper record of approved project budgets and their revisions.
•    Prepare proposals for budget revisions.
•    Undertake procurement for the project ensuring timelines are maintained to realize project activities.
•    Prepare and submit expenditure and programme budget status reports.
•    Prepare recurring reports as scheduled and special reports as required for budget preparations and audit.
•    Advise and assist international and national consultants on all aspects of allowances, travel claims and other financial matters, and calculate payments due for claims and services.
•    Undertake other financial and administrative tasks on an ad hoc basis.
•    Ensure that adequate financial controls are in place to maintain propriety and proper accountability of expenditures.
•    Ensure the financial transactions are properly authorized, recorded, have adequate supporting documentation, filed, maintained, and can be easily extracted for the purpose of preparing financial statements, and financial audits.
•    Monitor budgets and expenditures and contribute to preparation of budget revisions.
•    Liaise with FAO and GLSC to ensure compatibility of the project financial books with financial reports on the project.
•    Prepare and submit timely and reliable financial documents and financial reports and statements.
•    Prepare financial reports and statements on a monthly basis.
•    Prepare projections based on contracts existing and future.
•    Establish a computer-based monitoring system for expenditures and formulate strategic and long-term business plans.
•    Ensure that all procurement process and expenditures of the project are done in accordance with the UNDP procedures.
•    Analyze change and advise accordingly.
•    Liaise with auditors to ensure annual monitoring is carried out.
•    Be responsible for any financial tasks related to organization of conferences, workshops, retreats, and other events of the project.
•    Participate in capacity development/training activities when assigned.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING CRITERIA

Minimum Qualification Requirements

•    Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration, Management, Finance, ACCA/Accounting, Economics or any other field related to the work of the Organization.
•    At least two years of relevant experience in the public and/or private sectors, related to project planning, administration, finance, and budgeting.
•    Good working knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite.
•    Working knowledge of English is required.
•    National of Guyana.

FAO Core Competencies

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

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION