Job Opportunity for Senior Finance Associate at World Food Programme in Lucknow

JOB PURPOSE

To support the roll out of the overall model for production of supplementary nutrition, WFP in close collaboration with UPSRLM will set up a Project Management Unit in UPSRLM to efficiently support the implementation of the project. Under the PMU, staff with different skill sets will be positioned at various levels, including the placement of a Senior Finance Associate (Finance Consultant) at the State level within UPSRLM. The role of the Senior Finance Associate (Finance Consultant) will be to ensure compliance to financial standard operating procedures, processes and policies established by UPSRLM for this project and support the women’s self-help groups in the overall financial management of their units.  To support planning and coordinate the delivery of finance, budget and administration support services, and supervise and provide guidance to a team of staff ensuring transparent and efficient utilization of financial resources.  

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES (not all-inclusive)

The Senior Finance Associate (Finance Consultant) under the direct guidance of the Programme Policy Officer (Team Lead) based at UPSRLM and the Programme Policy Officer (Nutrition) at WFP CO, also working in close coordination with the Programme Policy Officer (Nutrition) based at Lucknow and the overall guidance of the Programme Policy Officer (Head of Unit), Nutrition and School Feeding will be responsible for the following: 

•    Act as an escalation point in providing procedural and technical support within the areas of finance and budget, to ensure compliance with the UPSLRM financial policies, rules and regulations. 

•    Establish and review compliance to existing financial controls and standard operating procedures with regard to financial management of the THR production units. In case of lack of compliance, suggest and undertake corrective actions. 

•    Regular visits to the THR production units across the State for financial oversight of the THR production units, identify gaps in fund utilization at the Unit level and suggest mid-course correction to the unit staff as well as to the UPSRLM district staff. The incumbent is expected to travel around 4 – 5 days per month and visit 4-5 units per month.

•    Monitor and record all expenses, check for approvals and financial compliances, records for timely payments to vendors for the units visited each month. Ensure that all payments are properly supported with original receipts and invoices.

•    Develop a mechanism to compile data and review financial health and viability of all units on a monthly basis along with the Project Management team, and provide inputs to the Team Leader  

•    Track and collate data to support UPSRLM team and WFP to improve policies, systems and procedures in order to minimise financial risks, improve the efficiency and effectiveness of operations, and ensure services are aligned with business objectives.

•    Verify State level vendor claims, advances and other receivables to ensure that suppliers are paid in a timely manner and in conformance with the defined finance rules and regulations of UPSRLM.

•    Coordinate with government counterparts at both State and district level across DWCD and SRLM as need be to facilitate timely release of funds, payments including follow up for information regarding financial receipt submission/reimbursement.

•    As required, provide guidance and on-the-job training to the women’s self-help groups and other support staff in UPSRLM, to ensure services are delivered consistently and to the required standards

•    Perform other related duties as required.  

STANDARD MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE

Education: Completion of secondary school education. A university degree in Finance, Business Administration, Accounting or related fields is preferable.

Experience:

•    7 years of progressively responsible work experience preferably in the development sector. Previous experience of working in partnership with the government/UN agency/INGO is desirable.

Knowledge & Skills:

•    Excellent interpersonal skills required, including strong professionally communication ability;

•    Advocacy and networking skills with a broad range of stakeholders including government, private sector, civil society, academia, NGO and international cooperation 

•    Knowledge of research methods with familiarity in quantitative and qualitative methods;

•    Advanced computer skills with proficiency in Windows, Microsoft office;

•    Knowledge of UN system would be an asset

•    Knowledge of WFP programmes is an advantage

•    Ability to work collaboratively with a diverse team of nutrition and food security experts across fourteen countries

•    Tact and diplomacy 

Languages: Fluency in spoken and written English and Hindi is a key requirement. 

CRITICAL SUCCESS FACTORS

•    Ability to engage effectively with a wide range of actors from government, private sector and civil society.

•    Very strong communications skills, both in writing and speaking

•    Solid planning and problem-solving skills and action oriented

•    Ability to work under tight deadlines and simultaneously manage multiple tasks in an autonomous manner; 

•    Maturity, initiative, courtesy, tact and ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with people of different national and cultural backgrounds

•    Ability to handle any other additional tasks as requested by the supervisor.

•    Ability to undertake travel within the country. 

HOW TO APPLY

To be considered, interested candidates are invited to apply via (https://www.wfp.org/careers/job-openings).

Only short-listed candidates will be contacted.

We want to ensure the recruitment process is fully accessible. Please contact us at india.hr@wfp.org to advise us of any accessibility needs you may have. 

Note: Applicants are requested to Create an account in the system before applying. 

Curriculum and applications will be registered and system allows them to update their profile and apply for a job through wfp careers website. 
 
ABOUT WFP

The United Nations World Food Programme is the world’s largest humanitarian agency fighting hunger worldwide.  The mission of WFP is to help the world achieve Zero Hunger in our lifetimes.  Every day, WFP works worldwide to ensure that no child goes to bed hungry and that the poorest and most vulnerable, particularly women and children, can access the nutritious food they need.

ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT

The World Food Programme (WFP), operating in India since 1963, aims to provide technical support to strengthening the government’s food safety-nets programmes in order to improve access to nutritious food for millions of vulnerable households throughout the country. Through its Country Strategic Plan (2019-2023), WFP India aims to support India in achieving their targets under Sustainable Development Goals 2 which includes reducing all forms of malnutrition.  
WFP works with National and State governments to strengthen the efficiency and effectiveness of the three food-based safety nets, Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS), PM POSHAN scheme and the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) scheme by introducing viable solutions and best practices in existing systems to increase the intake, availability and knowledge of diverse, nutritious foods. Social behaviour change communications (SBCC) accompanies all activities to help target audiences to know more about the benefits of good nutrition, appropriate child feeding practices and appropriate health and hygiene practices. 
WFP Collaboration with the State Rural Livelihood Mission (SRLM) and the Department of Women & Child Development (DWCD) in Uttar Pradesh
Aligned to this overarching vision around improved nutrition, WFP has been supporting the State Rural Livelihood Mission and the Department of Women & Child Development in their mission to ensure the availability and demand of nutritious, quality assured and safe take home rations (THR) through the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) scheme through local production by women’s self groups (WSHG). Under this project, a total of 204 THR production units run by WSHGs are in process of being set up across the State to cater to ICDS requirements in 43 districts. Each unit will produce a variety of different food products for different ICDS beneficiary groups such as children between 6 months to 6 years of age, adolescent girls and pregnant/ lactating women. 
WFP support to the project involves a combination of technical assistance and direct support to set up the THR production units. The direct support has involved the setting up and operationalization of two block level THR production units in Bighapur, Unnao and Malwa, Fatehpur-these fully automated production plants function as Centres of Excellence and are used for training workers from other districts for the scale up of the production units in the remaining districts in the State. WFP technical assistance is focussed primarily on the processes around the production of the THR products, setting standard operating procedures, capacity building etc. Post set-up, WFP is providing technical assistance for monitoring the implementation and production across the units; identifying gaps/ areas for improvement and helping to fill the gaps through proven solutions. 
To support the roll out of this overall model for production of supplementary nutrition, WFP in close collaboration with UPSRLM will set up a Project Management Unit in UPSRLM to efficiently support the implementation of the project. Under the PMU, staff with different skill sets will be positioned at various levels, including the placement of a Senior Finance Associate (Finance Consultant) at the State level within UPSRLM. The role of the Senior Finance Associate (Finance Consultant) will be to ensure compliance to financial standard operating procedures, processes and policies established by UPSRLM for this project and support the women’s self-help groups in the overall financial management of their units.