Background Information – Job-specific

 

RBM Partnership to End Malaria

The RBM Partnership to End Malaria is the largest global platform for coordinated action towards a world free from malaria. It is comprised of over 500 partners – from community health worker groups and researchers developing new tools, to malaria-affected and donor countries, businesses and international organisations.

Since its inception in 1998, the RBM Partnership has played a critical role in global efforts that reduced malaria deaths by half and saved 10.6 million lives. The Partnership is now committed to building on these significant gains and ending malaria for good.

Expansions in financing, strong political commitments, novel diagnostic and preventative measures, and multi-sectoral coordination have facilitated this progress. The RBM Partnership is central to the global fight against malaria and has played an essential role in mobilising political will and financial resources, as well as scaling up innovative interventions to put the world on a path to eliminating malaria.

Despite these gains, malaria still poses a significant threat to public health and sustainable development. Malaria continues to affect the poorest and most marginalised disproportionately and restricts human development and poverty alleviation. The African continent accounts for over 90% of the global malaria burden and therefore stands to gain the most from malaria elimination.

Malaria is a smart investment that contributes to achieving Sustainable Development Goals, including ending poverty and ensuring quality education.

RBM’s Vision is a world free from the burden of malaria.

The RBM Partnership is a global health initiative created to implement coordinated action against malaria. It mobilizes for action and resources and forges consensus among partners. The Partnership is composed of a multitude of partners, including malaria endemic countries, their bilateral and multilateral development partners, the private sector, nongovernmental and community-based organizations, foundations, and research and academic institutions. The partners join the RBM Partnership on a voluntary basis through their commitment to a malaria-free world.

Under the direct supervision of the CEO of the RBM Partnership to End Malaria, the Finance and Administration Manager acts as an advisor to RBM Senior Management on all aspects of financial management and administration. This includes strategic financial resources management, within UNOPs rules and regulations and assisting the CEO in the day-to-day operational management of the partnership. S/he leads the financial management and administrative practices ensuring financial integrity of the RBM Partnership’s operations, supports in the designs, implements, and oversees financial management practices within RBM, and improves practices and services of RBM.S/he is operationally and strategically responsible for Finance, Human Resource, Logistics and Procurement for the RBM partnership In coordination with UNOPS undertakes or oversees the administrative tasks necessary for the functioning of information systems and operations. Leads and supervises the finance and administration/operations team.

 

Functional Responsibilities

Systems and processes

• Actively participate in the development of a financial and administrative accounting and reporting system to facilitate and improve financial and administrative management, enhanced financial oversight and transparency, and allow for systematic analysis of administrative processes and expenditure against results.
• In coordination with UNOPS and relevant Secretariat colleagues, undertake or oversee the administrative tasks necessary for the functioning of information systems and operations.
• Coordinate financial systems and tools development in such a way that the information can be integrated with UNOPS financial management systems if needed.
• Develop necessary reporting formats in such a way that the information is readily available to all stakeholders and can be analyzed for presentation to different audiences.
• Support the RBM Secretariat in the review of relevant financial information relating to contract and grants management. Lead the team in providing procurement, grants, human resources and administration services for RBM.
• Assist the CEO with the oversight of the day-to-day operations of the RBM Management Team, including administrative tasks necessary for the functioning of Information Systems, equipment, and operations working with UNOPS personnel as required.
• Carry out financial monitoring and oversight for implementing partners in the field.
• Conduct and supervise compliance reviews of grant disbursements, in particular liaising with RBM colleagues to ensure quality of disbursement documentation.
• Work with RBM colleagues, RBM Board Leadership, UNOPS auditors or other external bodies in the conduct of special assignments including RBM audit management.

Financial Management and Reporting

• Coordinate the development of the RBM workplan and budget and review all procurement, travel and grants plans ensuring that they are in line with the RBM Board approved plan and as per donor agreement.
• Act as the focal point on finance and administrative matters in RBM cross-cutting activities.
• Lead the team in the preparation and presenting monthly financial reports to the CEO, including budget variance analysis and analysis of commitments against income using data from UNOPS systems.
• Provide financial and administrative analysis to support the CEO to make appropriate programmatic and financial decisions that will lead to the attainment of objectives set out in the RBM workplan and budget.
• Proper management and accounting for contributions to ensure that funds due to UNOPS are properly identified, consistently and uniformly classified, recorded on a timely basis and received.

Financial Reporting

• Prepare quarterly financial reports for the RBM Board and Finance Committee including budget variance analysis, as well as preparation of any administrative reports as required for decision making.
• Work with UNOPS and RBM team to prepare all relevant donor reports as required including quarterly accrual reports for donors, as well as prepare monthly and quarterly cashflow forecasts as required by UNOPS.
• Provide support to the CEO, RBM Board, Finance Committee in finance, risk, and audit matters.
• Ensure financial activities, reporting and audit follow up comply with UN/UNOPS policies. Act as focal point for internal and external audits including for implementing partners.
• Coordinates the implementation and closure of audit findings and recommendations with the Office of the CEO, senior management, UNOPS Geneva and implementing partners.

Advisory Function

• Elaboration and implementation of cost saving and reduction strategies, including supporting the CEO in establishing and sustaining appropriate organizational structure.
• Support the CEO, Board Leadership, and Partner Committees with the development of budgets for funding proposals.
• Advice to CEO on strategic financial resources management.
• Implementation of the effective internal controls, proper design and functioning of the financial resources management system.
• Provide oversight and ensure compliance with existing policies and best practices.
• Organize, facilitate and/or deliver training and learning initiatives for personnel on finance procurement and any other topics as per identified gaps

Team Management:

• Facilitate the engagement and provision of high quality results and services of the team supervised through effective recruitment. work planning, performance management, coaching. and promotion of learning and development.

 

Competencies

 

Develops and implements sustainable business strategies, thinks long term and externally in order to positively shape the organization. Anticipates and perceives the impact and implications of future decisions and activities on other parts of the organization.

Treats all individuals with respect; responds sensitively to differences and encourages others to do the same. Upholds organizational and ethical norms. Maintains high standards of trustworthiness. Role model for diversity and inclusion.

Acts as a positive role model contributing to the team spirit. Collaborates and supports the development of others. For people managers only: Acts as positive leadership role model, motivates, directs and inspires others to succeed, utilizing appropriate leadership styles.

Demonstrates understanding of the impact of own role on all partners and always puts the end beneficiary first. Builds and maintains strong external relationships and is a competent partner for others (if relevant to the role).

Efficiently establishes an appropriate course of action for self and/or others to accomplish a goal. Actions lead to total task accomplishment through concern for quality in all areas. Sees opportunities and takes the initiative to act on them. Understands that responsible use of resources maximizes our impact on our beneficiaries.

Open to change and flexible in a fast paced environment. Effectively adapts own approach to suit changing circumstances or requirements. Reflects on experiences and modifies own behavior. Performance is consistent, even under pressure. Always pursues continuous improvements.

Evaluates data and courses of action to reach logical, pragmatic decisions. Takes an unbiased, rational approach with calculated risks. Applies innovation and creativity to problem-solving.

Expresses ideas or facts in a clear, concise and open manner. Communication indicates a consideration for the feelings and needs of others. Actively listens and proactively shares knowledge. Handles conflict effectively, by overcoming differences of opinion and finding common ground.

 

Education/Experience/Language requirements

Education:

• Advanced Degree or equivalent in Business Management, Business Administration or related fields is required.
• A first-level university degree, in combination with over nine years’ qualifying experience, may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree required.
• CPA is an asset.

Experience:

• Minimum of seven (7) years of professional-level experience in financial management services covering budget and accounting with responsibility for budget management, project accounting and preparation of financial statements in an international organization is required.
• At least 3 years of field experience – especially in Africa or Asia, is required.
• Knowledge of UN / UNOPS financial rules and regulations is an asset.
• Working knowledge of ERP is an asset.
• Experience with MS Office 2003/or newer versions, and financial management, using electronic systems, environment are desired.

 

Contract type, level and duration

 

Contract type: UN Staff / Fixed Term Appointment (FTA)
Contract level: P4
Contract duration: One year initially, renewable subject to satisfactory performance and funding availability

For more details about United Nations staff contracts, please follow this link:
https://www.unops.org/english/Opportunities/job-opportunities/what-we-offer/Pages/UN-Staff-Contracts.aspx

 

Additional Information

 

• Please note that UNOPS does not accept unsolicited resumes.
• Applications received after the closing date will not be considered.
• Please note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process, which involves various assessments.
• UNOPS embraces diversity and is committed to equal employment opportunity. Our workforce consists of many diverse nationalities, cultures, languages, races, gender identities, sexual orientations, and abilities. UNOPS seeks to sustain and strengthen this diversity to ensure equal opportunities as well as an inclusive working environment for its entire workforce.
• Qualified women and candidates from groups which are underrepresented in the UNOPS workforce are encouraged to apply. These include in particular candidates from racialized and/or indigenous groups, members of minority gender identities and sexual orientations, and people with disabilities.
• We would like to ensure all candidates perform at their best during the assessment process. If you are shortlisted and require additional assistance to complete any assessment, including reasonable accommodation, please inform our human resources team when you receive an invitation.
• Geneva, Switzerland is a family duty station.

Terms and Conditions

• For staff positions only, UNOPS reserves the right to appoint a candidate at a lower level than the advertised level of the post.
• For retainer contracts, you must complete a few Mandatory Courses (they take around 4 hours to complete) in your own time, before providing services to UNOPS. For more information on a retainer contract here.
• All UNOPS personnel are responsible for performing their duties in accordance with the UN Charter and UNOPS Policies and Instructions, as well as other relevant accountability frameworks. In addition, all personnel must demonstrate an understanding of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in a manner consistent with UN core values and the UN Common Agenda.
• It is the policy of UNOPS to conduct background checks on all potential personnel. Recruitment in UNOPS is contingent on the results of such checks.