Country Finance Associate, PFM at International Fund for Agricultural Development

Key Functions and Results

• FINANCE ADMINISTRATION LEADERSHIP: The incumbent provides leadership in the provision of specialized activities in support of a financial operation, typically either at the global or regional level. Activities assigned at this level concern the most complex functions requiring in-depth analysis, drawing conclusions and formulating systemic recommendations or adapting procedures. Accountabilities/key results expected are identified below by occupation.
• FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT SERVICES: The incumbent supports IFAD staff in the efficient and effective delivery of IFAD-supported projects. This involves loan and grant adminsitration and other financial management tasks, including substantive support to mission-related activities, monitoring deliverables against established deadlines, data analysis, and support to oversight of project financial management, as required. The financial management tasks associated with loans and grants for regional and global portfolios as assigned. Activities performed typically include: 
• assisting in the preparation of Financing Agreements and letters to the Borrower for new projects or as amendments and revisions for existing projects, as required; 
• assisting in the initial review of audit reports and mission reports by identifying transactions or amounts that require examination or follow-up with Borrowers, following up on timely submission of financial and audit reports and reports indicating action taken on supervision mission recommendations; liaising with internal and external clients as required; 
• finalizing and dispatching audit compliance and other financial management correspondence to Borrowers; 
• performing a diligent review of selected Withdrawal Applications (WA) received from Borrowers/Recipients to confirm the Borrower's entitlement to requested funds, to validate these Applications against approved loans and grants, through the risk based disbursement techniques, and to record these transactions into the institutional systems;
• assisting in determination of disbursement risk ratings based on documented fiduciary risks and characteristics of WAs, based on departmental guidelines, providing inputs to risk based disbursement master table to record; and 
• researching and collecting data from internal and external sources for reports/queries, for monitoring closure status and ensuring appropriate follow-up;
• giving advice to internal and external clients and providing training to appropriate stakeholders where necessary; 
• assisting with the development of improved practices and procedures; may be tasked to provide technical leadership in the operationalization of major new initiatives;
• supporting officers with the contract management of Regional FM Officers, including monitoring missions and contract cycle;
• assisting in the preparation of financial management workshops or other capacity building events; and 
• ensuring that relevant financial documents are stored in FMDB and ARTS systems;
• performing analysis on programme-related financial data (e.g. annual work plans and budgets, disbursements, audits), including extracting and professional use of data from IFADs corporate systems; 
• as appropriate, supporting activities related to the oversight of project financial management in coordination with and under the overall guidance of the (senior) finance officers. .

Working Relationships

The incumbent is constantly involved in working closely with colleagues at a senior level on the finance team and with client departments and staff in the handling of specialized and complex processes. The position works seamlessly with other finance analysts, adopting a pooled approach across all regions and portfolios to handle incoming requests from senior finance colleagues. These relationships are important to ensure that financial deadlines are met and that proposals and action adhere to financial policies and rules, including IFRS. The incumbent maintains a wide range of contacts with managers in client departments and staff throughout the organization as well as with colleagues at all levels. External work relationships normally require an exchange of information with a range of outside sources including staff from projects, governments, consultants. A positive outlook of IFAD as a credible/reliable development partner is emphasized in the maintenance of relationships with counterparts.

Job Profile Requirements

Organizational Competencies:

Level 1:

• Building relationships and partnerships - Builds and maintains effective working relationships
• Communicating and negotiating - Communicates effectively; creates understanding between self and others
• Demonstrating leadership - Personal leadership and attitude to change
• Focusing on clients - Focuses on clients
• Learning, sharing knowledge and innovating - Continuously seeks to learn, shares knowledge & innovates
• Managing performance and developing staff 
• Managing time, resources and information - Manages own time, information and resources effectively
• Problem-solving and decision-making - Demonstrates sound problem-solving and decision-making ability
• Strategic thinking and organizational development - Personal influence
• Team working - Contributes effectively to the team

Education:

• Level - High school diploma (Baccalaureate is preferred)
• Areas - accounting, finance, business administration or other job related field

Experience:

• At least 6 (six) years of progressively responsible experience in finance.
• 2 (two) years, preferably in the United Nations or an international financial institution, or another multi-cultural organization or institution or a national organization providing support on a global scope.
• Position-specific experience: Qualifying work experience in country programme analysis, finance operations management and/or loan/grant administration with International financial institutions, development cooperation agencies, etc., would be an asset.