Country Finance Analyst (Local recruitments *Dakar, Senegal; Hanoi, Vietnam; Istanbul, Turkey)
Vacancy Announcement Number: 1646
Date of Issue: 09/07/2018
Deadline for Applications: 20/08/2018
Organizational Unit: Financial Management Services
Duty Station:
Duration of Assignment: 2 Years fixed-term (Renewable)
Organizational context
*This is a Generic Vacancy Announcement for three Country Finance Analyst positions in Dakar, Senegal; Hanoi, Vietnam and Istanbul, Turkey at the NO-B level. These positions are open only to nationals of Senegal, Vietnam and Turkey respectively.
The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) is an international financial institution and a specialized United Nations agency dedicated to eradicating rural poverty and hunger. It does so by investing in rural people. IFAD finances programmes and projects that increase agricultural productivity and raise rural incomes, and advocates at the local, national and international level for policies that contribute to rural transformation.
The Financial Operations Department (FOD) is a dynamic financial, strategic and responsive business partner and service provider fully supporting IFAD in developing its financial strategy and managing its financial, investments and material resources. FOD ensures that these resources are efficiently, economically and effectively used to achieve IFAD’s objectives in the long-term and deliver on its development commitments. The Financial Management Services Division (FMD) develops and oversees financial policies and project financial management practices in IFAD-funded operations, including financial reporting, audit, project liquidity management, fiduciary compliance and support. The division is responsible for IFAD’s financial management workforce including consultants.
Post's organizational accountability
The Country Finance Analyst is responsible for ensuring the highest efficiency in financial resources management and the provision of accurate, thoroughly researched and documented financial information, effective delivery of financial services, transparent utilization of financial resources. The accountabilities/key results include:
- Finance Business Partner
- Financial Management
- Agent of Change
- Managerial functions
Country Finance Analysts work under the overall strategic, policy and management guidance of the Director FMD and direct supervision of the Finance Team Leader. They have dual reporting to the Regional Director responsible for the country to which s/he is assigned for activities not linked to financial management compliance, with day-to-day reporting to the relevant Country Director/Head of the IFAD Sub-Regional Hub. S/he works in close collaboration with the Country Directors.(CD)/Country Programme Managers (CPM), and other programme management and technical staff to ensure consistency, cohesion and synergy in the application of technical support and provision of programme development support.
Country Finance Analysts may be required, but not extensively, to travel outside of their own country to perform the work of the Organization.
Key results expected / Major functional activities
1. FINANCE BUSINESS PARTNER: The Country Finance Analyst is a reliable partner to the Department/Division/Unit where assigned to. S/He supports the Fund’s finance strategy and plans as well as models a commitment to financial integrity by acting as a responsive and constructive associate with a focus on results. The Analyst provides verbal and written advice and guidance to supervisors and staff on finance regulations, rules and procedures, facilitating a mutual understanding of roles and fiduciary accountabilities in support of the integrity in the management of the Fund’s financial resources. The Country Finance Analyst’s focus is on building his/her knowledge base of the Fund’s governing structure, mandate, long-term business strategy, organizational dynamics and culture.
2. FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT: The Country Finance Analyst is assigned a portion of a financial operation and activities including:
- Overseeing non-complex loans and grants portfolio(s) ensuring reliable and sound results of the financial management of IFAD projects and programmes;
- Participating directly in the project activities including the preparation of financial management assessments and review of Project design documents in relation to financial management (e.g. flow of funds, financial reporting and audit);
- Contributing to legal documents and proposed covenants required to reflect sound FM arrangements and representing IFAD in financing agreement negotiations;
- Contributing to monitoring financial management (FM) in-country as part of supervision or implementation support missions and financial progress monitoring of ongoing projects and providing proactive financial management support and training as required and carrying out regular capacity building activities as required;
- Participating in contracting of financial management consultants to ensure full coverage of FM activities throughout the project cycle;
- Ensuring effective and accountable maintenance of data in the corporate FM systems.
3. AGENT OF CHANGE: The Country Finance Analyst maintains an awareness of and gets acquainted with the principles of change management and proactively undertakes the commitment of serving as a role model for transformation and capacity for acceptance of change. S/He uses a knowledge of results based management and budgeting, enterprise resource planning (ERP) and other information technology to analyze and promote acceptance of new methods of work and automated work flows. At this level the Analyst manages change through consultations with finance colleagues and peers to ensure open and regular communications pertaining to current and planned changes in the Fund’s financial administration.
4. MANAGERIAL FUNCTIONS: The Country Finance Analyst is accountable for integrity, transparency, and equity in the personal use of assigned IFAD resources, including equipment, supplies and, if applicable, general service/consultants supervised.
Impact of Key results / Key performance indicators
The key results have an impact on the overall efficiency in financial resources management and success in introduction and implementation of operational strategies. Accurate, thoroughly researched and documented financial information, timely and appropriate delivery of services ensure client satisfaction and enhance IFAD credibility in use of financial resources. The Country Finance Analyst independently performs the full range of work for a complete, homogenous financial operation or components of financial operations in support of a geographic or other organizational area. The supervisor may be consulted in the analysis of complex and/or precedent setting cases to ensure consistency in the interpretation and application of regulations and rules and to document such decisions. The key performance indicators for Country Financial Analysts at this level include accurate performance of assigned finance operations, technical quality in terms of both depth and adaptive relevance to client needs and customer service approach to problem resolution.
Representation / Work relationships
Country Finance Analyst may represent the unit to which assigned on related matters at internal meetings. If requested by supervisor for specific tasks, they may also represent the unit at external meetings and conferences. Internally, Country Finance Analyst is required to explain and clarify financial plans and decisions taken or procedural changes planned to ensure accuracy, completeness and integrity of financial data and reporting. Contacts are mainly with programme management staff in the country of assignment, but may also include contacts with finance, treasury, audit and programme management staff in other country offices and Headquarters. External work relationships for Country Finance Analyst at this level may require an exchange of information with outside sources including staff from governments, specialized agencies acting as CO host agencies, Borrowers and Cooperating institutions.
In work relationships with counterparts s/he establishes and maintains relationships and projects the image of IFAD as a credible/reliable partner striving for harmonization of financial development activities.
Competencies
Organizational:
- Strategic thinking and organizational development: Personal influence
- Demonstrating Leadership: Leads by example; initiates and supports change
- Learning, sharing knowledge and innovating: Challenges, innovates and contributes to a learning culture
- Focusing on clients: Contributes to a client-focused culture
- Problem solving and decision making: Solves complex problems and makes decisions that have wider corporate impact
- Managing time, resources and information: Coordinates wider use of time, information and/or resources
- Team Work: Fosters a cohesive team environment
- Communicating and negotiating: Acquires and uses a wide range of communication styles and skills
- Building relationships and partnerships: Builds and maintains strategic partnerships internally and externally
- Managing performance and developing staff: Manages staff and teams effectively
Technical/Functional
- Sound knowledge of the principles and concepts of financial management including international auditing and accounting standards and project financial management.
- Ability to identify issues, formulate opinions and make conclusions and recommendations.
- Analytical and organizational skills.
- Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively in a diverse organization tailoring language, tone, style and format to match audience.
- Excellent knowledge of information technology systems and tools.
- Ability to empathize with managers, supervisors and peer staff while maintaining the integrity of financial resources, implementing internal controls and ensuring consistent and accountable application of promulgated financial regulations and rules.
Minimum recruitment qualifications
Education:
- Advanced university degree from an accredited institution in accounting, finance, business administration or other job related field. In lieu of an advanced degree, a first level degree in combination with an additional four years of qualifying experience, over and above the minimum requirement may be accepted (i.e. a total of six (6) years)
- CPA qualification or equivalent preferred.
Experience:
- At least two (2) years of professional experience in accounting, financial management, budget analysis or management analysis in a multi-cultural organization or national organization providing support on a global scope. Experience with an international financial institution would be an asset.
Language requirements:
- For Vietnam: Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English, and the prominent regional language.
- For Senegal: Excellent written and verbal communication skills in French, with a very good working knowledge of English, and the prominent regional language.
- For Turkey: Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English and Turkish. Knowledge of other IFAD official languages (Arabic or French) would be an asset.
Other information
Applicants should note that IFAD staff members are international civil servants subject to the authority of the President of IFAD, and they may be assigned by him/her to any of the activities of IFAD, including field assignments and/or rotation within IFAD.
In the interest of making most cost effective use of funds and resources, we are only able to respond to applicants who are short-listed for interview. Candidates who do not receive any feedback within three months should consider their application unsuccessful
Candidates may be required to take a written test and to deliver a presentation as well as participate in interviews.
IFAD is committed to achieving gender diversity. Women are particularly encouraged to apply.
These positions are open only to nationals of Senegal, Vietnam and Turkey respectively.
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