WFP wants Budgeting Accounting Consultant

 WFP wants Budgeting Accounting Consultant

JOB PURPOSE

Budget & Programming Officers (BPOs) at this level typically lead budget planning and management, complex resource analysis work, budget and programming activities. They support the collation, maintenance, analysis and reporting of information to support effective resource management in partnership with relevant stakeholders and managers to apply best practices and approaches.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES (not all-inclusive)

Budget Planning and Management

1. Lead the development and revision of budget plans under the various IRM structures i.e. Country Strategic Plans (CSPs), by coordinating the budgeting processes, ensuring compliance with WFP standards, budget and programming policies and procedures.
2. Lead/manage the preparation and review of various corporate budgets such as the Management Plan and the Country Operations Management plan (COMP), coordinating inputs from various units as required.
3. Guide the development and implementation of policies and procedures for budget and programming activities, ensuring that objectives are achieved in compliance with corporate and functional strategies.
4. Monitor ongoing performance against budget for WFP operations, through various financial analyses and provide expert advice on budgetary adjustments as necessary to budget owners for optimal resource utilisation and in adherence to available guidance and policies.
5. Actively engage in the preparation of funding proposals, advocating for prioritization of resources by activity and modality as necessary, against operational shortfalls and in close collaboration with Activity/SO managers.
6. Coordinate project closure activities including CSPs, ensuring that follow-on operations are available in a timely manner to receive potential resource transfers for their timely start, and actively propose solutions to identified issues that risk timely closures.

Pipeline Management

1. Coordinate the matching of commodity pipeline requirements with sourcing options in collaboration with Supply Chain and Programme teams, building and maintaining productive partnerships at the operational level to ensure timely shortfalls coverage.
2. Guide the CO team in monitoring the resource pipeline across all transfer modalities (Food, Cash Based Transfers, Capacity Strengthening and Service Delivery) to maximize operational effectiveness, following standards and processes, and providing advice on resource allocations based on severity of pipeline shortfalls using relevant pipeline management tools.
3. Convene and lead a monthly, cross-functional, pipeline working group, (across Field Offices as needed), that proactively discusses resource availability and upcoming shortfalls, recommending timely mitigation measures.
4. Review and manage Advance Financing requests as a way of meeting pipeline needs and maximize the utilization of the contributions with shorter validity, in close collaboration with the Programme and Partnerships teams and RB/HQ.
5. Participate in meetings with internal and external stakeholders to discuss the utilization of incoming contributions, as well as support the process of developing funding proposals, ensuring appeals are made against critically underfunded activities, in line with donor interest, and CO priorities.

Funds, Performance Management & Reporting

1. Manage the programming of received funds in a timely manner, according to prioritized operational needs, submitted funding proposals, donor conditions and restrictions, and in close collaboration with the Partnerships teams.
2. Monitor the use of fund sub allotments as per available procedures and guidelines, to avail funds to spending units for timely commitment.
3. Convene and lead the CO Resource Management Committee (RMC) as per agreed timelines, presenting resource analyses and delivering recommendations on how to prioritize available and incoming resources against the Country Portfolio Budget (CPB) implementation plans, flagging potential surpluses, deficit and unspent balances and recommending corrective action.
4. Monitor and advise on the utilisation of funds (unprogrammed, unallocated, unobligated, unspent amounts, surpluses/deficits), advance financing repayment, loan and borrowing/repayment, approaching grant validity issues, and alert fund managers appropriately, providing timely recommendations on possible corrective actions.
5. Guide and advise spending units on the use of specific contributions to the CPB, e.g. grant relevant contributions to ensure timely and correct use of availed resources in line with approved proposals to enable further reporting against original budgets.
6. Coordinate the preparation of interim, progress and final reports as stipulated in various contribution agreements between WFP and specific donors, particularly for those locally negotiated contributions in close collaboration with RB and HQ counterparts as required.

Global Commodity Management Facility Management (GCMF)

1. Contribute to the setup of a GCMF supply-line in the CO as required.
2. Guide the management of the facility, contributing to knowledge transfer about the facility, demand and/or replenishment analysis and facilitate decision making when multiple CSPs, and/or Activities compete for the same stocks.

Other

1. Lead data analysis efforts and innovatively develop varying reports, to meet varying requirements and audiences and enable informed decision-making, ensuring consistency of information presented to senior management and external stakeholders.
2. Guide and support the development and improvement of systems, techniques, tools, processes and procedures to better monitor, manage and report on WFP budgets and resources.
3. Develop the capacity of WFP staff in budgeting, fund management, operational planning and performance reporting, through coaching around the regular day-to-day transactions as well as developing, updating and delivering training using available materials, manuals and guidelines.
4. Document internal business processes, develop Standard Office Procedures (SOPs), and training packages on resource management matters, and provide on boarding briefs to newcomers in the CO team.
5. Lead a medium-sized team, guiding, supervising and coaching them to provide the expected level of operational support, act as a point of referral on complex analysis and queries, and ensuring their appropriate development to enable consistent high performance.
6. Represent the unit at internal meetings/committees/working groups as required, in order to obtain and provide information from a budget and resource programming perspective.
7. Contribute to standard emergency preparedness practices, providing technical recommendations and guidance and monitoring the management of financial risks.
8. Perform other relevant duties as required.

STANDARD MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Education: Advanced University degree in Business Administration, Finance, Economics or other relevant field, or First University degree with additional years of related work experience and/or training/courses.

Language: Fluency (level C) in English and French languages.

DESIRED EXPERIENCES FOR ENTRY INTO THE ROLE

At least 5 years progressive work experience in the following areas:

• Translating operational requirements into financial information.
• Preparing budgets and reports for management.
• Reviewing plans and budgets, monitoring financial progress of the projects, reviewing donor reports and facilitating donor and internal audits.
• Previous experience of managing grant cycle.

Knowledge & Skills: Comprehensive analytical skills and advanced level of knowledge in application such as Excel, PowerPoint and SAP.