Specialist, High Impact and Core Countries, Pool, Grant Financial Management

Specialist, High Impact and Core Countries, Pool, Grant Financial Management - GL D - Temporary until December 2025Formally Reporting to the Grant Finance Manager with a matrix reporting to Senior Specialist on thematic areas, the Specialist is a professional with proven ability in financial management to lead the financial aspect of portfolio delivery throughout the grant lifecycle for maximum impact.

They are part of a country team (1) (s) and as such drive strategic outcomes for impact and provides value-added professional financial services to the country team (s);

•implement, support and ensure compliance with the Global Fund’s fiduciary policies, procedures and practices including the Comprehensive Funding Policy (i.e. Allocation Utilization) and the key financial guidelines (2) and operational procedures for the management of Global Fund grants;
•ensure that funds allocated and disbursed for program delivery are utilized for the intended purpose;
•consolidate grant finance data at corporate level;
•enhance operational efficiency by focusing on principles that drive a risk-based approach in budgeting (“80/20”) and operational oversight and places reliance on the work of other assurance providers to reinforce a complementarity operating model;
•implement mechanisms to improve and monitor implementers internal control mechanisms including oversight of external auditors, fiscal agents and Local Fund Agent (LFA) finance deliverables throughout the implementation period;
•review and validate the finance related documents throughout grant life cycle

They will also be responsible for following thematic areas in close collaboration with Senior Specialist, Thematic Lead:
•innovative financing initiative, leveraging different operating models and proactively monitoring domestic and innovative financing commitments to ensure sustainability of the investments and the achieved health outcomes;
•ensure appropriate execution of the agreed financial risk and assurance actions to enable effective monitoring and oversight of financial assurance providers (e.g. fiscal agents, external auditors etc.…);
•proactively drive financial management capacity building actions by leverage joint financial assessments with internal and external stakeholders to drive improvement in the financial management capacity of grant implementers and reinforce harmonization and alignment efforts with other Donors on the use of Public Financial Management Systems (PFM);
•ensure there is a robust mechanism to monitor grant implementation that enables “portfolio optimization” and “proactive reprogramming” and reduce operational bottlenecks.
•ensure value for money i.e. economy, efficiency, effectiveness, equity and sustainability throughout the Global Fund grant life cycle
•optimize financial absorption by supporting efficient implementation, and proactive problem identification and action planning around key bottlenecks.

(1) the Specialist will generally oversee 2 countries with a maximum of nine grants and may be supported by an Associate Specialists where required.
(2) The Global Fund Guidelines for Grant Budgeting, Financial Risk and Assurance Guidelines, Financial component of the Assurance Handbook.

Key Responsibilities

Grant Finance Management:

Working in the country team (s), the Finance Specialist is responsible for the financial aspect of funds allocated for an assigned country or multi-country portfolio. They bring the finance perspective to the country team decisions.

They ensure that the implementation arrangements proposed for grants are appropriate with respect to the expected flow of funds and that appropriate safeguards are in place to ensure that grant implementers have the required capacity to implement within an acceptable level of financial risk.

They review and, in some cases, approve grant investment decisions (3), financial forecasts, financial risk and assurance mechanisms and must ensure that cost-effectiveness, value-for-money and absorptive capacity principles are key drivers in the decision-making processes of the country team (s).

The Specialist strives to implement financial management best practices throughout the grant life cycle in their portfolio and enhance operational efficiency by focusing on principles that drive a risk-based approach in budgeting (“80/20”) and operational oversight.

They are also responsible for the accuracy and completeness of grant financial reports and the timely recovery of amounts arising from non-compliance with Global Fund guidelines grants regulations in their portfolio.

They foster innovation and support efficient implementation, including better absorption by monitoring internal controls, and rapid problem identification and action planning around key bottlenecks.

In close collaboration with senior specialist, thematic lead, they lead the financial aspects of any innovating financing and/or other financing modalities in their portfolio to drive optimized and efficient management of Global Fund grant programs in a sustainable manner for maximum impact.

In close collaboration with Senior Specialist, they lead the monitoring and validation of co-financing commitment in their portfolio in line with appropriate Operational Policy Note.

(3) Including funding request/grant-making budgets, budget revisions, funding decisions, disbursements and co-financing compliance.

Financial Risk, Assurance and Capacity Building:

The Specialist is responsible for Financial Risk Management, Assurance Planning and Financial Capacity Building activities within their portfolio.

They execute the financial risk and assurance actions to enable effective monitoring of fiduciary risks. This includes:

Documenting timely and with quality the financial risks, including appropriately identifying root causes, the risk mitigating measures and their related timelines as well as the assurance mechanism in the IRM for each grant of their portfolio;

Monitoring the completion of the mitigating measures and updating the Integrated Risk Module (IRM) as and when necessary;

Leading the financial assurance discussions during the Portfolio Performance Committee (PPC) meetings, ensuring proper review of in-country effectiveness of internal controls and appropriate financial fraud management in agreed countries;

Developing mechanisms to improve and monitor implementers’ internal control mechanisms/environment to ensure effectiveness of financial risk management and assurance processes by planning the work of assurance providers (external auditors, internal auditors and LFA finance deliverables) throughout the implementation period;

Driving the identification, implementation and monitoring of financial capacity building priorities for countries of their portfolio in collaboration with the Financial Management Specialists (Co-link) in selected countries.

Financial Data Quality and Triangulation:

They ensure the accuracy and completeness of validated financial data (including grant budgets, in-country expenditure, cash balances, and the associated financial absorption indicators) for the assigned portfolio are duly documented in the relevant Global Fund Systems (GFS, HP, GOS and SharePoint) in a timely manner.

They ensure that identification of ineligible expenditure has been optimal, and all identified non-compliant expenditures were communicated in a timely manner to the Principal Recipient, 2nd line oversight functions, and recovery process initiated based on standard operating procedures.

They ensure that Pooled Procurement related disbursements are accurately reflected in the Principal Recipients financial reports and fully reconciled with the Procurement Services Agent’s (PSA) regular reporting.

They ensure that the linkage and progress between programmatic performance for greater impact and financial progress has been assessed within the Country Team and the gaps, challenges were escalated to the Regional Finance Manager in a timely manner.

They ensure that the effectiveness of controls and mitigating measures were tested and no red flags have been brought to their attention or identified during in-country supervisory visits in the execution, monitoring, and reporting of financial information by the Principal Recipient. All identified red flags were escalated accordingly.

They ensure that all exceptions to applicable Global fund Financial Policies, Guidelines and Procedures are duly documented, approved by the relevant approving authority or formally escalated to the Regional Finance Manager in cases where approval where not sought/accorded.

The above responsibilities are expected to be performed to the best of their professional judgment and in accordance with the Global Fund Comprehensive Funding Policies, Grant Regulations, Financial guidelines and other operational procedures and in accordance with the RACI Matrix of Grant Financial Management Team.

Subject to change by the Executive Director at any time at their sole discretion.

Qualifications

Essential :

Advanced Degree in Finance (Masters in Finance or MBA Finance) or accounting qualification (professional qualification such as a Chartered Accountant, Certified Public Accountant, Certified Financial Analyst, Fédération des Experts-Comptables Européens).

A first-level university degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration and Economics or related fields may be accepted in lieu of an advanced university degree if the applicant has three additional years in a related function with a Finance Department performing similar tasks in the last 1-3 years.

Experience

Essential :

Demonstrated extensive experience in financial analysis and decision-making, obtained within an international accounting firm, bilateral or multilateral aid agency, government department, and/or a commercial or investment bank;

The ability to bring stakeholders together and to facilitate discussions with measurable outcomes that lead to better understanding of opinions and improvements to effective, efficient and compliant grant making

Influencing skills; as the job would involve grant negotiation with governments and other beneficiaries (e.g. NGOs and UN Agencies);

Desirable:

Minimum 8 years of demonstrated professional experience in financial management (including auditing, accounting controlling etc..) and analysis

Grants and finance management experience, preferably in the health, social or financing sector would be an advantage as well as relevant experience in developing countries;

Experience of working within an international or regional sphere of activity.

Competencies

Languages:

An excellent knowledge of English and preferably a good working knowledge of French. Knowledge of other languages would be an asset.

Organizational Competencies:

Global Fund awareness and mind-set – Helicopter View

Service orientation – Problem Solving

Drive for results – Proactive Approach

Collaboration – Building Relationships

Interaction – Impactful Communication

Adaptability – Flexibility

Functional Competencies:

Analytical: Understanding of analytical techniques related to assessment of quantitative and qualitative information. Level 1

Audit & Investigation: Knowledge of and attentiveness to any signs of ineffectiveness, fraud, corruption or abuse of human rights in the Global Fund’s operation. Level 1

Country Context: Awareness of political, economic and geographical/infrastructure factors specific for each of the served countries, enabling advisory and true assistance (instead of “one-fits-all” approach). Level 1

Due Diligence: Ensuring an appropriate spend of money by means of making informed decisions and initiating actions only after investigating all facts, conditions, rules, laws, regulations, financial considerations, or any other such matters. Level 2

Finance: Knowledge/awareness of financial and accounting aspects related to the Global Fund’s services. Level 2

Geopolitical awareness: Knowledge/sensitivity regarding social, political, economic realities and dynamics in specific geographies in order to use appropriate influencing and dialogue strategies, respond to challenge and problem arising. Level 1

Multicultural understanding: Sensitivity to multicultural differences and general awareness of how they impact cooperation, ability to use it in cooperation with partners representing other cultures. Level 1

Operational policy: Knowledge of the Global Fund operational policies related to grant cycle. Level 2

Risk: Knowledge of the risk management process: identification, aggregation, mitigation, monitoring and reporting of the risks associated with a grant making organisation that operated in high risk & challenging operating environments. Level 2

Strengthening systems for health: Knowledge of how strengthening health systems helps to prevent, detect and respond to future health crises and reduces risks for individuals and communities. Level 1

Technical Competencies:

Ability to quickly and comprehensively identify financial risks

Strong skills in financial accounting and reporting;

Strong skills in audit and assurance techniques;

A good understanding of public financial management systems

Skills in risk identification, analysis and problem solving;

IT skills including proficiency in: ERP Systems, Microsoft Office Word, Excel and Power Point; and

Ability to multitask, coach and to delegate, as appropriate.

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Job Posting End Date

01 September 2024

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