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Senior Manager, Portfolio Financial Management - COVAX (Temporary)

Inseriert am: 30.04.2021





























































Vacancy No VN1309
Job Title Senior Manager, Portfolio Financial Management – COVAX (Temporary)
Location Geneva
Purpose of Position Part of a team of financial management specialists responsible for end-to-end financial management processes on Gavi support to countries through the COVAX facility. The team provides financial expertise to the COVAX facility through the Operational Co-ordination Team and capacity building to countries to ensure compliance with Gavi’s fiduciary policies, procedures and practices and for ensuring that financial risks identified within the grant portfolios are effectively mitigated and managed in accordance with sound financial management practices. Specifically, the position will enhance the team’s capacity to handle COVAX-related workload.
Team Portfolio Financial Management
Reporting to Head, Portfolio Financial Management
Career Step Level 4
Job Description




We are committed to fostering a just, equitable and diverse culture free from racism and discrimination in which all staff, partners and stakeholders feel empowered, safe and heard.

BACKGROUND

Gavi’s mission is: To save children’s lives and protect people’s health by increasing access to immunisation in poor countries. 
Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance is a public-private partnership that helps vaccinate half the world’s children against some of the world’s deadliest diseases. The Vaccine Alliance brings together developing country and donor governments, the World Health Organization, UNICEF, the World Bank, the vaccine industry, technical agencies, civil society, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and other private sector partners. Since its inception in 2000, Gavi has helped immunise a whole generation – over 822 million children – and prevented more than 14 million deaths, helping to halve child mortality in 73 developing countries. Gavi also plays a key role in improving global health security by supporting health systems as well as funding global stockpiles for Ebola, cholera, meningitis and yellow fever vaccines. After two decades of progress, Gavi is now focused on protecting the next generation and reaching the unvaccinated children still being left behind, employing innovative finance and the latest technology – from drones to biometrics – to save millions more lives, prevent outbreaks before they can spread and help countries on the road to self-sufficiency. Learn more at www.gavi.org .

COVAX FACILITY
The COVAX Facility (“COVAX”) provides a global solution to the equitable distribution of vaccines to the 190 participating countries and economies. The COVAX Advance Market Commitment (AMC) is an innovative financing instrument that supports the participation of the 92 low and lower-middle income economies in COVAX. Self-financing participants (SFPs) have entered COVAX either as Optional (having the possibility to opt-out of a particular vaccine) or Committed Purchasers. Guided by the WHO fair allocation framework, COVAX will equitably distribute doses to help protect the most at-risk groups. Gavi is working with Alliance partners UNICEF and WHO to ensure that the infrastructure is in place, and the technical support available, for COVID-19 vaccines to be safely delivered to all those who need them. 
The Portfolio Financial Management (PFM) team is part of the Finance & Operations Department and provides end-to-end financial expertise to the Country Support Team to ensure compliance with Gavi’s fiduciary policies, procedures and practices. It also ensures that financial risks identified within the grant portfolios are effectively mitigated and managed in accordance with sound financial management practices, reflected in the grant agreement.  Where necessary, and in consultation with other relevant teams, the team develops feasible plans to address the risks. The team oversees the provision of financial support to countries with different levels of complexity and adapts approaches as appropriate. Further, it leads in the provision of Financial Management capacity building support to countries with a view to strengthening and using country public financial management systems. The PFM team also ensures that the most cost-effective means to achieve programme objectives have been considered in grant design.  

The operational rollout of COVAX has necessitated a whole new management structure to oversee this important mandate. The structure is headed by a Delivery Leadership Team (DLT) comprised of senior management, supported by a cross-functional Operational Co-ordination Team (OCT). The two teams provide oversight, support and guidance to the Country Support team to deliver on the operational roll out of COVAX at a country level. The Senior Manager will act as a technical support bridge (on PFM-related matters) between PFM and the OCT as well as engaging with Country Support at a country level.  

The Senior Manager will provide support in the rollout of the COVAX facility through applying their expertise to the specific risks and related needs which have been identified, such as:

  • Clear policies and procedures to be developed for the COVAX rollout;

  • Agility in ensuring that Gavi’s financial systems can adapt quickly to the fast-changing requirements of the COVAX rollout;

  • New templates and approaches for budgeting and reporting to support any delivery funding to be provided by Gavi;

  • Tools and templates to ensure proper monitoring of the use of COVAX funds;

  • Reasonable assurance over the management of risks by countries receiving COVAX-funded doses.
Main Duties/Responsibilities






  • Stakeholder coordination and management: Collaborate with relevant regional and country partners and manage key relationships; foster an enabling environment at all levels (global, regional, country); represent Gavi at regional/other fora as applicable;

  • Collaborative working with Operational Coordination Team and Finance colleagues to understand the implications of policy directives and new funding initiatives related to COVAX; 

  • Develop financial operational policies, procedures, tools and guidance which deliver on the policy directives;

  • In particular, ensure that budget tools/templates, application forms and associated guidance are adjusted to cater for new approaches;

  • Ensure financial reporting tools/templates are developed to keep a track on Gavi’s investments;

  • Set up and maintain COVAX budget and reporting financial tracking approaches;

  • Using an agreed risk assurance model for COVAX, engage in the contracting of Monitoring Agents or other assurance providers;

  • Assist country teams in risk assurance planning decisions, scoping and engagement of assurance providers;

  • Review applications for COVAX delivery cost, including budgets, value-for-money and delivery strategies;

  • Review risk assurance plans and propose changed arrangements.  Assist in the implementation of independent assurance providers and other fiduciary risk improvements;

  • Monitor progress of grants and assurance plans, supporting the country team in calls and meetings as required;

  • Support portfolio reporting and analysis;

  • Present financial progress and other PFM-related topics at OCT and PFM team meetings;

  • Develop data and presentations for stakeholder engagement;

  • Present COVAX progress and findings to external audiences;

  • Provide ad hoc advice across all teams involved in COVAX.

Key competencies expected:     

  • Teamwork – focus on collaborative working across several teams with different skills and competencies;

  • Flexible mindset – being able to ‘think on your feet’ and adaptable to fast changing circumstances;

  • Results-focused – being driven by the results and highly focused on the end product and objectives;

  • Resilience – showing patience and strength of character in dealing with difficult situations and setbacks;

  • Country-focus – understanding that everything, in the end, comes back to countries and the clients we serve;

  • Stakeholder engagement – high quality engagement at high level to ensure that initiatives move forward.

Note: The essential functions listed in this section are not exhaustive of the job responsibilities; other duties may be assigned consistent with the department needs.
Work Experience




Essential

  • Minimum 8 years of demonstrated progressive experience in the areas of public financial management, financial analysis and decision-making, obtained with an international accounting firm, bilateral or multilateral aid agency, government department, industry, or a commercial or development bank;

  • Financial management in developing countries, and a first-hand knowledge of due diligence, assessment and capacity building approaches and techniques;

  • Public and Global Health experience/exposure, including engagement with senior officials at Ministries of Health and Finance and enabling country structures such as Auditors General.

Desirable

  • An aptitude for, and knowledge of, current issues in global health and immunisation;  

  • Experience in public health policy regulatory, and grant-making or contract management;

  • Experience of managing external consultants, especially in the context of outsourced critical tasks;

  • Knowledge in fraud detection and a first-hand experience in investigation;

  • Sound knowledge of internal controls, International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSAS), internal audit, supreme audit institutions (SAIs) and good understanding of risk management.
Skills/Competencies






  • High level analytical and policy / procedures development skills;

  • Negotiation and conflict management experience; 

  • Excellent computer literacy specifically with Microsoft office products (word, excel, PowerPoint, access. etc.); 

  • Excellent oral and written communication skills; 

  • Excellent presentation skills

  • Ability to work successfully in an international environment and with extensive travel; 

  • Good knowledge of institutional or organisation policies, systems and procedures;

  • Ability to work in a multi-cultural environment with cross functional and multi-disciplinary teams in a collaborative style;

  • High standards of personal conduct and integrity.
Languages






  • Written and spoken fluency in English;

  • Working knowledge of French as an asset.
Academic Qualifications




Essential  

  • University degree or diploma in accounting & finance, business administration and management, auditing; 

  • A professional certification in audit, accounting or financial analysis. ACCA, CPA, CFA or equivalent.

Desirable  

  • Master’s degree in a related discipline.
Contacts




Internal contacts:

  • Senior Country Managers and Regional Heads within Country Support Team;

  • Operational Co-ordination team (OCT);

  • Collaboration with other teams in Secretariat.

External contacts:

  • Gavi-eligible countries’ officials / staff.

  • Peers in partner or other development partners’ offices and agencies.
Additional Information




If you wish to apply, please provide a cover letter and resume through our Careers webpage and apply by clicking on “Senior Manager, Portfolio Financial Management - COVAX”. Application deadline is 14 May 2021. 

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