Vacancy Announcement From WWF Nepal

Finance & Compliance Officer, MaWRiN Project

Sindhuli, Bagmati Pradesh, Nepal
Full-time

Company Description

WWF Nepal, the global conservation organization leading international efforts for a living planet, seeks applications from qualified Nepali candidates for the following full-time position. If you think you are an achiever and willing to work within a diverse team in a multicultural environment with commitment and passion for what you believe in, you are highly encouraged to apply.

Our Mission:

At WWF Nepal, we firmly believe people and nature are inextricably linked. Our mission is to stop the degradation of our planet’s natural environment, and build a future Nepal in which people live in harmony with nature.

Our Vision:

From its origins as a small group of committed wildlife enthusiasts, WWF has grown into one of the world's largest and most respected independent conservation organizations, active in over 100 countries.

Over this time, WWF’s focus has evolved from localized efforts in favor of a single species and individual habitats to an ambitious strategy to preserve biodiversity and achieve sustainable development across the globe.

WWF-Nepal envisions a prosperous Nepal, with an active and socially responsible citizenry that a greater sense of stewardship towards the environment.

Our Core Values:

We celebrate and respect diversity in nature and among the people, partners, and communities with whom we work. Across the many cultures and individuals that represent WWF, we are unified by one mission, one brand, and one common set of values:

Courage: We demonstrate courage through our actions, we work for change where it’s needed, and we inspire people and institutions to tackle the greatest threats to nature and the future of the planet, which is our home.
Integrity: We live the principles we call on others to meet. We act with integrity, accountability, and transparency, and we rely on facts and science to guide us and to ensure we learn and evolve.
Respect: We honor the voices and knowledge of the people and communities that we serve, and we work to secure their rights to a sustainable future.
Collaboration: We deliver impact at the scale of the challenges we face through the power of collective action and innovation.

Job Description

The Managing Watersheds for Enhanced Resilience of Communities to Climate Change in Nepal (MaWRiN) Project is located in Marin watershed of Sindhuli district. The project is funded by Global Environment Facility (GEF) managed Least Developed Countries Fund (LDCF) to be implemented over a period of six years by WWF in close association with the federal Ministry of Forests and Environment (MoFE) as the National Executing Agency and Ministry of Forests and Environment of Bagmati Province as the Project Executing Partner. The project will enable the government and local stakeholders to invest in protecting the Marin watershed while bolstering the longer-term resilience of local and indigenous communities against climate emergencies.

The objective of the project is “to enhance climate resilience of Indigenous people and local communities in the Marin watershed (partly/fully covering area of Marin rural municipality, Kamalamai municipality, Ghyanglekh rural municipality, and Hariharpurgadhi rural municipality) through nature-based solutions and livelihood improvement.” The project’s objective will be achieved through the following three inter-connected components:

Component 1: Enabling environment for mainstreaming climate change through development of capacity of the municipalities and other key local agencies to assess and understand climate risks and vulnerabilities, and accordingly mainstream climate change adaptation strategies and actions in local policies and plans. Also, through the establishment of a multi-stakeholder platform for dialogue and coordinated actions on climate change adaptation at the watershed level.
Component 2: Enhanced Resilience of Local Communities to Climate Change through a) Community-based natural resource management such as community identification of adaptation interventions, support and demonstration of sustainable and climate-resilient agriculture and livestock practices, improved water management, strengthened management of community and leasehold forests, and b) Nature-based Solutions that reduce climate impacts and risks.
Component 3: Monitoring, evaluation and knowledge management, through tracking of project progress on a regular basis; garnering and analysis of lessons and good practices; and development and dissemination of knowledge that reinforces project results from components 1 and 2, providing sound basis for their replication, adaptation and sustainability.

A Project Management Unit (PMU) will be set up at field level. The Chief of the Soil and Watershed Management Office (SWMO), Ramechhap will serve as the Project Manager (PM). The main functions of the PMU are to (i) oversee fiduciary arrangements, (ii) ensure overall efficient management, coordination, timely implementation of the agreed project work plan/result framework including the Environment and Social Management Framework (ESMF) and Gender Action Plan, (iii) operational oversight of implementation activities, (iv) timely reporting, and for effective use of GEF/LDCF resources for the approved work plan and (v) monitoring of the project. The PMU will also serve as the secretariat to the project coordination committee and multi-stakeholder dialogue and action platform.

Under the direct supervision of the Technical Team Leader (TTL) and guidance from the Project Manager, the Finance & Compliance Officer will be responsible for all financial and compliance matters of the Project including financial management and tracking the project's financial progress and ensuring timely delivery of inputs. S/he will be based in PMU office.

Major Duties and Responsibilities:

1. Project Planning, Budgeting, and Implementation

Coordinates with PMU to prepare, administer and maintain the project budget, ensuring financial data is accurate and current. Provides support to prepare detailed annual work-plan; facilitates endorsement and provides support in updating the government budgeting system (Line Ministry Budget Information System-LMBIS) in close coordination with the Project Implementing Partners.
Ensures implementing government agencies and sub-recipients partners spending levels are appropriate and are aligned with Annual Workplan; expenses are made in compliance with WWF GEF Agency’s standard procedures and the terms and conditions outlined in the Project Implementing Agreement and the Project Operation Manual, are backed up with proper documentation and booked with correct accounting codes.
Conduct orientations to implementing government agencies and sub-recipients partners/service providers on funding provisions and the conditions to ensure the financial compliance, reporting and auditing requirement of GEF and the Government. Periodically reviews progress, identifies problems, and recommends corrective actions, and communicates issues to the TTL.
Reviews and monitors status of the budget against the approved annual project workplan and budget and assists in the revision of budgets and approval facilitation.
Facilitates disbursing funds to the Project Implementing Partners based on the fund disbursement request Executing Agency in line with the standard policies and procedures of Government (Ko Le Ni Ka and Mahalekha) and the WWF GEF Agency.
Ensures GEF Requirements are met including the budget structure contained in the ProDoc Budget/Annual Workplan, and that all expenses are associated with the incremental costs.
Prepares and submits project financial report in a timely manner provides other financial information and explanation to GEF Agency as and when required.
Identifies needs and priorities to augment project’s financial effectiveness.

2. Grant and Agreement Administration

Reviews all documentation received from proposed implementing government agencies and sub-recipients’ partners per the pre-award process; performs subrecipient risk analysis and develops a risk mitigation plan for the project.
Supports, prepares, and monitors grant and consultant agreements ensuring compliance with agreement’s terms.
Ensures agreements are updated timely in SmartSimple (sub-grant management system) and payments are processed timely and in accordance with WWF policy and procedures.
Prepares proper documentation for approval, secures signatures, and distributes documents to appropriate parties.

3. Financial Reports

Coordinates and prepares financial reports for submission to the WWF GEF Agency, ensuring GEF requirements are met.
Reviews and analyzes sub-recipient’s financial reports to ensure compliance by the grantee partners/sub-recipients with the WWF GEF Agency reporting requirements including project partner co-financing.
Notifies grantee partners of any problems or discrepancies and provides technical assistance to grantees in resolving problematic issues.
Supports WWF GEF Agency Annual supervision missions by providing requested documentation and other assistance as needed.

4. Financial Monitoring

Ensures periodic financial/compliance monitoring of the grantee partners.
Assists independent mid-term and final evaluations by providing all requested financial information.
Provides feedback where relevant on evaluation reports and ensures that corrective actions based on the mid-term evaluation recommendations are taken when related to financial issues.
Monitors project activities and ensures findings/recommendations are implemented in a timely manner.

5. HR Management and Documentation

Provides HR Management support to the project. Includes field level project staff hiring/termination, time-sheet management, conducting annual appraisal, handling staff safety, securities issues and other HR related support as needed. Ensures personal files, leave records, pay-roll information and annual appraisal are updated timely and documented confidentially.
Maintains information and files pertaining to all financial and administrative aspects of the project including agreements.
Regularly monitors on-going compliance with WWF reporting requirements and project deadlines. Ensures all project reports are acknowledged and routed to appropriate individuals for review

6. Coordination/Communications

Provides support to day-to-day project operation and addresses any management issues and challenges.
Coordinates with government implementing agencies, sub-recipient partners and WWF GEF Agency in consultation with the supervisor for financial management and operations.
Identifies, coordinates and expedites communication of information and issues both interdepartmentally and intra departmentally, as well as externally with project implementing agencies and the subrecipients, the Project Advisory Committee, the WWF GEF Agency and independent evaluators as necessary.

7. Audit Preparation and follow up on Recommendation

Coordinates with WWF GEF Agency, and the project implementing agencies to carryout project’s ensuring auditing standards of the Government of Nepal and the GEF Agency.
Disseminates the audit reports to partners and appropriate recipients on a timely basis and takes follow-up actions to implement the recommendation of the audit, GEF Agency’s Mission and periodic monitoring.

8. Other Duties

This job description covers the main tasks and conveys the spirit of the tasks that are anticipated proactively. Other tasks may be assigned as necessary related to project finance and compliance according to the project needs.

Supervisory Responsibility: Administration Associate

Working Relationships:

Internal: Works closely with PMU staff

External: Coordinate and engage with implementing partners, governmental and non-governmental representatives, as well as consultants.

Qualifications

Knowledge: Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, Business Administration, or related field with thorough knowledge of computerized accounting systems.

Experience: At least 7 years of relevant working experience is mandatory including demonstrated engagement in donor reporting and proven experience of working closely with government in managing bi-lateral/multilateral projects implemented under government budgetary/financing system (LMBIS). Experience of working in National GEF Projects will be an added advantage.

Skills and Abilities:

This position requires attention to detail, the ability to keep accurate financial records and the ability to effectively prioritize and work accurately under time constraints.
Knowledge of public financial management is desirable.
Good coordination and English language skills and should be a self-starter.
Strong interpersonal and team-player skills are essential.
Skilled in Microsoft Office Package.
Sound knowledge of computerized accounting systems and financial reporting tools.

Additional Information

Interested applicants are requested to apply for the position by 17:00 hours on October 25, 2024. Only shortlisted candidates will be informed.

Please do not click on "Apply with Indeed" button once you start the application process.

All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.

WWF is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Please join us in our mission to save life on Earth.

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