Planning and Budget Associate, Yangon

Closing date: Sunday, 5 April 2015

Vacancy code: VA/2015/B5506/6987

Position title: Planning and Budget Associate

Department/office: AEMO, MMOH, Myanmar

Duty station: Yangon, Myanmar

Contract type: Local ICA Support

Contract level: LICA-6

Duration: 1 year (possible extension subject to satisfactory performance and fund availability)

Application period: 23-Mar-2015 to 06-Apr-2015

United Nations Core Values: Integrity, Professionalism, Respect for Diversity

Background Information - UNOPS

UNOPS mission is to serve people in need by expanding the ability of the United Nations, governments and other partners to manage projects, infrastructure and procurement in a sustainable and efficient manner.

Within these three core areas of expertise, UNOPS provides its partners with advisory, implementation and transactional services, with projects ranging from building schools and hospitals, to procuring goods and services and training local personnel. UNOPS works closely with governments and communities to ensure increased economic, social and environmental sustainability for the projects we support, with a focus on developing national capacity.

Working in some of the world's most challenging environments, our vision is to advance sustainable implementation practices in development, humanitarian and peacebuilding contexts, always satisfying or surpassing partner expectations.

We employ more than 6,000 personnel and on behalf of our partners create thousands more work opportunities in local communities. Through our headquarters in Copenhagen, Denmark and a network of offices, we oversee activities in more than 80 countries.

Background Information - Myanmar

UNOPS Myanmar is under the UNOPS Asia, Europe and Middle East Regional Office and was established to support, develop and oversee UNOPS' portfolio of programmes and projects in Myanmar which focus on health programmes and livelihoods and rural development. UNOPS Myanmar ensures that synergies between programmes and projects are effectively developed.

The UNOPS Myanmar portfolio currently includes fund management of the multi-donor Three Millennium Development Goals Fund (3MDG) and the Livelihoods and Food Security Trust Fund (LIFT). In addition, UNOPS is the Principal Recipient of The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria grants to Myanmar (PR-GFATM), as well as the Regional Artemisinin Resistance Containment Initiative (RAI). UNOPS is also expanding its infrastructure and procurement services in Myanmar, including advisory services in these areas. UNOPS is also expanding its infrastructure and procurement services in Myanmar.

UNOPS Myanmar plays a critical role in ensuring quality services to UNOPS' partners that meet stringent requirements of speed, efficiency and cost effectiveness. It is also responsible for liaison with Government counterparts, Donors, NGOs and UN Agencies.

Background Information - Job-specific

UNOPS Myanmar is under the UNOPS Asia, Europe and Middle East Regional Office and was established to support, develop and oversee UNOPS' portfolio of programmes and projects in Myanmar which focus on health programmes and livelihoods and rural development. UNOPS Myanmar ensures that synergies between programmes and projects are effectively developed.

The UNOPS Myanmar portfolio currently includes fund management of the multi-donor Three Millennium Development Goals Fund (3MDG) and the Livelihoods and Food Security Trust Fund (LIFT). In addition, UNOPS is the Principal Recipient of The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria grants to Myanmar (PR-GFATM), as well as the Regional Artemisinin Resistance Containment Initiative (RAI). UNOPS is also expanding its infrastructure and procurement services in Myanmar, including advisory services in these areas.

UNOPS Myanmar plays a critical role in ensuring quality services to UNOPS' partners that meet stringent requirements of speed, efficiency and cost effectiveness. It is also responsible for liaison with Government counterparts, Donors, NGOs and UN Agencies.

In February 2009, the UNOPS Myanmar was selected by the Myanmar Country Coordination Mechanism for the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria as one of two Principal Recipients of GFATM grants for Myanmar. The implementation of the grants has commenced in January 2011.

In August 2013, the UNOPS Myanmar was selected by the Regional Steering Committee for the Regional Artemisinin Resistance Containment Initiative for the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria as Regional Principal Recipients of GFATM regional grant for Greater Mekong Sub-region (Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam). The implementation of the grant has commenced since January 2014.

Functional Responsibilities

Under the direct supervision of the Planning and Budgeting Officer, and under the overall guidance of the Interim Programme Support Advisor, the Planning and Budget Associate shall be responsible for performing the following duties

Planning

• Participate in all budget preparations, discussions and meetings related to grant planning.
• Monitor and inform the budget status based on the Budget Versus Actual report from Finance Reporting session.
• Assists in the preparation of cash forecasts for the next implementation period.
• Assists the Public Health Officers in reprogramming exercise and any other budget revisions as and when needed.

Budgeting

• Ensure that budgets are prepared in the right format with clearly written assumptions, within the required timeframe and with a high level of accuracy;
• Prepare budgets in compliance with Global Fund requirements and UNOPS Financial regulations and rules, organizational Directives (ODs) and Administrative Instructions (AIs);
• Assist in providing response and feedback relating to the queries from LFA and donor queries for newly submitted or reprogrammed budget in coordination with Programme team and SRs;
• Set up and create the new Projects in Atlas;
• Create the relevant budget coding for the individual budget line for all SRs and PRs budget to enable to record properly in the Atlas system;
• Load and maintain the GFATM budgets are correctly in Atlas;
• Work closely with the PR PSM team to receive accurate information from the PSM team to keep track of PSM budget lines managed by SRs and PSM budget lines managed by PR and share the accurate information with SRs;
• Support all the PR units to resolve Atlas budget errors and take necessary remedial action;
• Assist in preparing the relevant budget annexes for Sub- Recipient Agreements. Ensure that all annexes are accurate and in the correct format;
• Review the PR expenditure report produced by Finance Reporting unit on a monthly or bi-monthly basis to ensure sufficient budget balance is available before providing COA to the respective budget user;
• Assist in monitoring any changes to the PR and SR budgets;
• Assist in maintaining tracking modalities for all modifications to the budget;
• Assist in responding to ad hoc requests of all UNOPS PR Units;
• Maintains the unit's filing system according to UNOPS procedures;
• Perform any other relevant duties as may be assigned by the supervisors.

The personnel is responsible to abide by security policies, administrative instructions, plans and procedures of the UN Security Management System and that of UNOPS.

Competencies

• Professionalism
• Planning and organizing
• Result-oriented
• Client orientation
• Communication
• Teamwork
• Analyzing Skills
• Self-reliant
• Technical awareness

Education/Experience/Language requirements

Education

• A Bachelor's Degree in financial management, economic, public Administration or other fields relevant to the above duties is required.

Work Experience

• At least 2 years relevant experience in financial management especially in budgeting function at an appropriate level, with sound understanding of working with an international organisation is required.
• Strong knowledge of general accounting principles and best practices is an asset.
• Prior experience with international organizations in financial management will be preferred.
• Previous successful involvement in a similar position with the UN system would be an asset.
• Previous working experience with PeopleSoft Financials (ATLAS) would be an asset.
• Good knowledge of international and/or UN/UNOPS financial regulations and rules and accounting practices is highly preferred.

Language

• Fluency in written and oral English and Myanmar language is required.

Additional Considerations

• Please note that the closing date is midnight Copenhagen time (CET)
• Applications received after the closing date will not be considered.
• Only those candidates that are short-listed for interviews will be notified.
• Qualified female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.
• For staff positions UNOPS reserves the right to appoint a candidate at a lower level than the advertised level of the post
• The incumbent is responsible to abide by security policies, administrative instructions, plans and procedures of the UN Security Management System and that of UNOPS.

It is the policy of UNOPS to conduct background checks on all potential recruits/interns.

Recruitment/internship in UNOPS is contingent on the results of such checks.

Contract type, level and duration

Contract type: Local Individual Contractor Agreement (LICA)

Contract level: LICA 6

Contract duration: 1 year (possible extension subject to satisfactory performance and fund availability)

This is a local position. ONLY MYANMAR NATIONALS are eligible to apply.

ALL OTHER APPLICANTS WILL BE REJECTED.