Programme Specialist

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Description

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The Programme Specialist contributes to the planning, monitoring and reporting of GFCM financial operations, supporting the effective use of both budgetary and extra-budgetary resources entrusted to the GFCM by its Contracting Parties, Cooperating non-Contracting Parties and partners. The incumbent provides support across different phases of the project cycle, particularly by assisting in the formulation of advice to GFCM technical teams and managers on financial, operational and project implementation related matters, towards the effective management of the GFCM project portfolio.

Responsibilities:

• Support planning, monitoring and reporting exercises conducted for core and ad-hoc activities of the GFCM project portfolio to strengthen the overall financial management of GFCM budgetary and extra-budgetary resources;
• Support the development and review of multi-year project financial proposals and budgets, ensuring compliance with internal policies and external donor requirements;
• Support resource planning exercises ensuring the timely and accurate collection of financial and operational inputs from a variety of sources, in close coordination with technical backstopping teams and managers;
• Follow up internal clearance processes with relevant FAO units/divisions (inter alia, CSFE, PSR) and collaborate in drafting background supporting documentation of various kinds;
• Assist in the preparation of financial monitoring tools and ad-hoc budgetary reports to track budget execution and expenditure trends (including forecasts), ensuring collection of timely and accurate data to support effective project-related decision-making. Ensure dissemination and readability of such tools to relevant staff members; 
• Regularly review and update project monitoring tools and other existing management documents, ensuring consistency of the financial information collected across all funding sources;
• Contribute to the identification of financial risks and proposal of corrective measures by analysing budget performance and supporting the development of advice on mitigation strategies;
• Collaborate in the drafting of project progress reports, management reports and/or reports to donors as well as specific reports for GFCM statutory bodies, in compliance with established FAO procedures and in line with the contractual obligations foreseen under existing funding agreements with selected donors;
• Support the maintenance of corporate ERP systems (e.g. iMIS, FPMIS). Perform regular financial reconciliations using ERP systems to ensure alignment between project records, expenditures, and corporate financial data including, among others, budget revisions, annual equalizations and transfers of budgets to FAO decentralized offices (i.e. field budget authorizations)
• Provide support in the execution of general ledger functions and cash-flow management activities. Assist in identifying errors and discrepancies and in reconciling transactions through accounting adjustments and other ancillary activities, also by liaising with relevant FAO offices, ensuring timely resolution of related service requests.
• Support the maintenance of up-to-date records for assigned project activities in compliance with FAO and donor-specific recordkeeping practices, also by developing dedicated internal repositories, datasets and checklists, including to support eventual audit campaigns;
• Perform any other related duties as required.

Minimum Requirements:

• Relevant technical degree or certificate (for Subscribers) or advanced degree (for Consultants) in business administration, project management, finance, accounting, economics or any other related field relevant to the Organization;
• At least one year of relevant experience in planning and budgeting, financial monitoring and reporting and/or support to programme and project management activities; 
• Working knowledge (level C) of English. 

Technical/Functional Skills:

• Demonstrated experience in financial monitoring and reporting for projects;
• Proficiency with the Microsoft Office suite, particularly Microsoft Excel;
• Knowledge of ERP systems and financial reporting tools;

Source: https://jobs.fao.org/careersection/fao_external/jobdetail.ftl?job=2501251

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