Project Finance Analyst

The establishment of strong institutions and capacities at all levels to ensure the delivery and quality of public services has been at the focus of the government and political agenda of Timor-Leste since 2002. Since then, significant progress has been made towards enhancing the process of governance and public service delivery through improved efficiency, accountability, and transparency. At the same time, a lot of challenges and opportunities lie ahead. 

The Constitution of Timor-Leste envisages that the State will be territorially organized in a decentralized manner and the local units will have a status of corporate bodies vested with representative organs and their organization, competence, functioning and composition of the organs will be defined by law. In this line, since the independence of the country, administrative decentralization has been considered a useful tool to promote national identity, territorial cohesion, and socio-economic development. 

An initial policy towards administrative decentralization was laid out in early 2006. However, the process could not take momentum due to several political and administrative reasons. Nearly ten years ago, a new impulse to this process was given with the new administrative division of the country followed by the Implementation Strategy of the Administrative Decentralization and the Setting up of the Representative Bodies of the Local Power in Timor-Leste which envisages a gradual but progressive decentralization. Recently, the Government has reaffirmed its commitment to decentralization through Government Resolution n.º 45/2020 (Implementation of Administrative Decentralization Strategy and Installation of Representative Organs of Local Government) and aims at developing and approving the necessary legal framework for the implementation of the decentralization process and preparing for the municipal elections in 2022. 

In order to meet its commitment and build on past experiences, the Government of Timor-Leste has been working on revising the legal framework on decentralization. The Ministry of State Administration (MSA), as the nodal agency on decentralization, has been leading this exercise. To support the Government in general and the MSA in particular in their decentralization endeavor, UNDP Timor-Leste has been partnering with the Ministry. Earlier in 2020, UNDP Timor-Leste launched the project “Strengthening Integral Local Development by Building the Capacities of the Municipal Authorities in Timor-Leste”, in partnership with the European Union. 

Building on its long-standing experience in supporting decentralization in Timor-Leste and other countries, UNDP will support the Ministry to enhance its capacities to strengthen the legal, policy and institutional framework for administrative decentralization. In this regard, UNDP will support the MSA’s efforts to identify gaps, harmonize legal, policy and institutional framework, including amendment of the existing laws, and build capacities of the local authorities. UNDP is going to hire a team of national and international experts to provide the technical assistance to the MSA on this matter. This Terms of Reference (ToR) describes duties and responsibilities, competencies, qualifications etc. of Project Finance Analyst.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Under the overall guidance of the Cluster Lead and direct supervision of the Chief Technical Adviser, the Project Finance Analyst provides finance services ensuring high quality, accuracy, and consistency of work. The Project Finance Analyst promotes a client-oriented approach consistent with UNDP rules and regulations.
• Incumbent is expected to display initiative, a positive approach and a strong client orientation. As such, s/he is expected to be flexible in performing other emerging tasks and additional duties as required by direct supervisor or senior management.

The Project Finance Analyst will be responsible for:

• Ensure administration of budget and implementation of finance processes are in line with UNDP operational procedures and donor requirements.
• Executes and ensures that all financial and related activities of decentralization project are implemented in a timely manner in strict accordance with UNDP’s set rules, guidelines, and procedures.
• Ensures administration of budgets and implementation of finance processes are in line with UNDP operational procedures and donor requirements.
• Prepares and modifies budgets in the operational system as per orientation of the CTA and Monitor all expenditures through a shadow accounting tracking mechanism so the precise financial status of the project is maintained.
• Supports CTA initiate project annual budget, review and perform budget revision and reversal.
• Monitors budget delivery and implementation in order to alert the CTA for timely modifications.
• Prepares budget reports – quarterly and annual financial reports as per agreed work plan.
• Prepares financial ad-hoc reports upon request of CTA or by UNDP Management. Maintenances accounts receivables for the project and inform CTA on need to follow up on contributions.
• Establishes and promotes inside the office financial guidelines and procedures as per UNDP rules, regulations, and procedures.
• Advises the project team on the specific donor financial guidelines.
• Proactively monitors Finance Dashboard and takes corrective action.
• Provides financial input to prepare the Work Plan of the Programme.

Principle accounting, cash management and administrative support functions.

• Reviews and ensures all requests for payments, requisitions and required vouchers, all payments and receipts are compliance with the UNDP Rules and Regulations.
• Ensures control of supporting documents for payments Maintenance of internal expenditures control system, which ensures that vouchers and all transactions are properly documented, reviewed and approved in accordance with established policies and procedures
• Manage procurement processes, including preparing documentation review, preparation of draft reports and procurement plans, and requests for contact amendments as needed.
• Provide support in other administrative, organizational and logistical tasks as required.
• Support in HR Processes, including support to preparation of relevant documents and facilitation of hiring process, preparation of contracts/extension as needed.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

• A professional accounting qualification from an internationally accredited institute of accountancy, and/or Advanced (Masters) University Degree in Finance and/or Accounting is required.  Or a first-level university degree (bachelor’s degree) in combination with an additional two years of qualifying experience will be given due consideration in lieu of the advanced university degree.
• Candidates with professional accounting qualifications from an internationally accredited institute of accountancy will have a distinct advantage
• Candidates with no professional accountancy qualifications, but with degrees that major in accountancy and/or finance must complete the Finance Training and Certification Programme (FTCP), if recruited.
• Candidates satisfying the two above criteria are exempted from undertaking the UNDP Advanced Accountancy and Finance Test (AAFT).
• Candidates with MBA or master’s in finance with no accountancy qualification but with relevant experience  must successfully undertake the UNDP Advanced Accountancy and Finance Test (AAFT) to be eligible for  shortlisting

Experience:

• Up to 2 years (with a Master’s degree) or minimum of two (2) years (with a Bachelor’s degree) of relevant progressively job-related experience at national and/or international level in finance, accounting and procurement, or other relevant programmes.
• Demonstrated ability to conduct financial and budget analysis and to apply basic accounting principles and practices is required.
• Demonstrated experience and knowledge in handling web-based management systems, especially Quantum and ERP financials, preferably PeopleSoft is required.
• Experience working in the UN or other international development organization is an asset.
• Experience in resource management or related functions is required.
• Experience in procurement related functions will be an added advantage
• Must have excellent interpersonal skills, including demonstrable analytical communication, coordination, and teamwork skills; culturally and socially sensitive.
• Ability to work and adapt professionally and effectively in a challenging environment.
• Ability to work effectively in a multicultural team of international and national personnel.
• Solid overall computer literacy, including proficiency in various MS Office applications (Excel, Word, etc.); advanced knowledge of spreadsheet and database packages; and office technology equipment.
• International exposure is strongly desirable.
• Earlier experience of working in the South-East Asia Region and the Pacific countries, particularly in Timor-Leste, will be an additional advantage

Required Languages:

• Fluency in Portuguese or English is required.
• Knowledge of Tetum will be an asset

Source: https://estm.fa.em2.oraclecloud.com/hcmUI/CandidateExperience/en/sites/CX_1/requisitions/job/19831