Senior Manager, Portfolio Financial Management

Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance is a public-private partnership committed to saving children's lives and protecting people's health by increasing equitable use of vaccines in lower-income countries. The Vaccine Alliance brings together implementing country and donor governments, the World Health Organisation, UNICEF, the World Bank, the vaccine industry, technical agencies, civil society, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and other private sector partners. Gavi uses innovative finance mechanisms, including co-financing by recipient countries, to secure sustainable funding and adequate supply of quality vaccines. Since 2000, Gavi has contributed to the immunisation of more than 1 billion children and the prevention of more than 16.2 million future deaths.

THE ROLE

Please note this is a temporary role for 2 years.

The Portfolio Financial Management (PFM) team is part of the Finance & Operations Department and provides end-to-end financial expertise to the Country Programmes Department to ensure compliance with Gavi’s fiduciary policies, procedures and practices.

This position will primarily focus on supporting the PFM team in its engagement with Core and Middle-Income Countries. 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. In addition to maintain a country portfolio, one of the roles will also act as the key PFM team liaison for Gavi’s HPV vaccine working group.

Key functions and deliverables

Key activities of the team include:
• Developing portfolio financial management guidance, policies and tools, and delivering value-adding projects to support grant management;
• Conducting diagnostic processes to identify capacity gaps and risks that need to be addressed to assure sound management and oversight of the Gavi-supported programmes;
• Making recommendation(s) on optimal funding modality(ies) for use in channelling of Gavi direct financial support to countries;
• Following up with countries to address weaknesses in financial systems (including those identified in diagnostic assessments);
• Reviewing, analysing and approving budgets for Gavi’s direct financial support grants;
• Leading Gavi’s dialogue with countries and other external stakeholders on public financial management, including on initiatives to strengthen and use country systems for receipt and management of Gavi support;
• Reviewing Gavi grants implementer’s financial reports, audited financial statements and audit results, cash balances and grant forecasts, grant closure reports and other relevant financial documents;
• Maintaining accurate and up-to-date information on financial management arrangements and reports from countries;
• Checking compliance with stipulated grant management requirements, terms and conditions, including as part of pre-disbursement controls;
• Providing ongoing grant monitoring support in line with country capacity needs and identified risks;
• Providing inputs and solutions on behalf of PFM team in the HPV working group. Disseminating key decisions, information and training within the PFM team and relevant stakeholders (internal and external).

Key results expected:
• The scope and frequency of country engagement is appropriate to nature of each country’s Gavi-supported programmes and seeks to ensure compliance with Gavi’s Risk Policy, Transparency and Accountability Policy, and other relevant policies;
• Fiduciary risks in Gavi’s grants for the allocated countries are effectively managed, in line with specific countries’ complexity, political risks, and/or capacity;
• Fiduciary arrangements and reporting by allocated countries are effectively assessed and monitored;
• Disbursements to countries are informed by cash absorption rates, reasonable financial forecasts and compliance with grant financial requirements;
• Financial monitoring missions are carried out and action taken as needed;
• Countries’ financial performance is regularly analysed;
• Most cost-effective means to achieve programme objectives have been adopted in programme design;
• Gavi grant management processes are sufficiently supported, particularly related to financial management arrangements;
• Tools and processes to ensure appropriate management of financial risk and relevant trainings to Country Programmes staff and relevant country stakeholders have been developed and implemented;
• Contributions to cross-functional initiatives where Portfolio Financial Management team’s input is required are delivered in a timely manner;
• Periodic analysis, presentations and trainings to, and on behalf of, PFM team pertaining to the HPV vaccine support.

MAIN DUTIES/RESPONSIBILITIES

• Provide strategic advice to the Head and Director, Portfolio Financial Management on measures to ensure compliance with Gavi’s fiduciary policies, procedures and practices and on financial risk mitigation within the grant cycle;
• 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;
• Engage and oversee external expertise and capacity to help achieve successful execution of financial management and risk assurance services;
• Contribute to the development of Gavi policies and operational policies, procedures and tools; provide policy advice and analysis;
• Co-develop and ensure uptake of sound practices for financial risk management, strategic information gathering, risk assessment, sharing of knowledge and lessons, etc.; design and provide training to Country Programmes Department on fiduciary risk management; instil a culture of continuous improvement.

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

QUALIFICATIONS

ACADEMIC

Essential
• University Degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration and Management, Auditing.
Desirable
• Master’s Degree in Accounting, Finance or Auditing;
• A professional certification/qualification in Audit, Accounting or Financial Analysis.

WORK EXPERIENCE

Essential
• Minimum 10 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;
• Experience in financial, regulatory, and grant-making or contracting processes;
• 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;
• Familiarity with financial management in Gavi-implementing countries - and a first-hand knowledge of assessment and capacity building approaches and techniques in developing countries.
Desirable
• Experience of working with bilateral and multilateral development agencies, including an aptitude for, and knowledge of, current issues in development with a focus to health and immunisation;
• 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

• Results-focused - being driven by the results and highly focused on the end product and objectives;
• Flexible mindset - being able to ‘think on your feet’ and adaptable to fast changing circumstances;
• High level analytical and policy / procedures development skills;
• Negotiation and conflict management experience;
• 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 quality engagement at high level to ensure that initiatives move forward;
• Understanding diverse Country-focus requirements with a key focus on countries and client relationships;
• Resilience - showing patience and strength of character in dealing with difficult situations and setbacks;
• High standards of personal conduct and integrity.

LANGUAGES

• Written and spoken fluency in English & French.

CONTACTS

Internal contacts:
• Senior Country Managers, Programme Managers, Regional Heads and Directors within the Country Programmes Department;
• Collaboration with other teams in Secretariat.

External contacts:
• Gavi-eligible countries’ officials / staff;
• Peers in partner or other development partners’ offices and agencies.