Local Expert – Public Financial Management

DCAF – Geneva Centre for Security Sector Governance is dedicated to improving the security of states and their people within a framework of democratic governance, the rule of law, and respect for human rights. DCAF contributes to making peace and development more sustainable by assisting partner states and international actors supporting these states to improve the governance of their security sector through inclusive and participatory reforms. It creates innovative knowledge products, promotes norms and good practices, provides legal and policy advice and supports capacity‐building of both state and non‐state security sector stakeholders.

DCAF's Foundation Council comprises 63 member states, the Canton of Geneva and six permanent observers. Active in over 70 countries, DCAF is internationally recognized as one of the world's leading centres of excellence for security sector governance (SSG) and security sector reform (SSR). DCAF is guided by the principles of neutrality, impartiality, local ownership, inclusive participation, and gender equality. For more information please visit www.dcaf.ch

DCAF is currently preparing for the implementation of the project under the DFID funded Capability, Accountability, Sustainability and Inclusivity Programme (CASIP) aimed at providing support to the Palestinian Security Sector. The CASIP will deliver improved financial and human resources management, policy-making capability, a more effective security sector complaints handling system, and increased internal accountability of Palestinian Authority Security Forces (PASF).

DCAF is designing a multi-year programme proposal to support the objective. In support of the outcome, the Technical Assistance programme will support interventions in four identified thematic areas:

1. Planning, research and Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E)
2. Public financial management 
3. Complaints 
4. Human resources 

It is expected that the project will run from July 2019 through 2021 contingent on funding. 

Work under the Public financial management (PFM) thematic area will focus on the following deliverables: 

1. Unified structures, roles and responsibilities for the financial units of PASF agencies;
2. Budget preparation processes for use in PASF agencies that align with national budget and planning process; 
3. Procedures that establish strong financial controls over expenditure in the PASF agencies;
4. Common operational procedures (main focus on accounting and evaluation system) for the PASF agencies that aligns with national PFM processes.

In order to support implementation of the PFM thematic area DCAF is looking for qualified candidates for the post of: 

Local Expert – Public Financial Management

Location:                                     Ramallah

Starting date:                               October 2019

Expected duration of assignment: Until 31st March 2020 (with possibility of extension contingent to funding availability).  As part of a pool of experts, the number of working days will be agreed upon once tasks are assigned.

The role

In close coordination with the Team Leader, the Deputy Head of Programme, the international experts on PFM and the local coordinator, the local experts on PFM are responsible for supporting the implementation of the PFM thematic area activities, based on the approved project documents, potentially including but not limited to:

1. Support in putting in place a PFM Senior Support Team and an Implementation Team to support institutional change within PASF agencies;
2. Build the capacity of the PFM Implementation Team members by providing them with the necessary knowledge and understanding of the content and processes related to carrying out the functional review;
3. Perform the functional review of the PASF agencies/Central Financial Administration (CFA) and make recommendations on their organisational structure, roles and responsibilities;

• Draft a methodology and a workplan for the functional review process in consultation with the Senior Support Team;
• Collect and review legal documents on the financial organisation of the PASF agencies/CFA;
• Gather information from PASF agencies through questionnaires;
• Carry out interviews with finance managers at all PASF agencies and other relevant institutions to define their actual roles and responsibilities;
• Prepare recommendations on a functional change and change management plan to improve their effectiveness.

1. Hold workshops with PASF agencies/CFA to discuss proposed organisational structures and validate recommendations together with change management plan; 
2. Accompany the process of implementing the recommendations through coaching of relevant decision makers and staff;
3. Review the organisation, process and structure of PASF agencies/CFA for budget preparation and for cash management;
4. Develop working tools on budget preparation and cash management in collaboration with the Ministry of Finance and Planning;
5. Organize a series of trainings and coaching sessions for the staff members of the CFA and the financial units at the PASF agencies on budget preparation and cash management;
6. Assess existing systems of financial controls over expenditures in PASF agencies;
7. Develop guidelines on international control based on best practice;
8. Train staff members of the CFA and the financial units at the PASF agencies on the above-mentioned guidelines;
9. Identify, map and document operational procedures (main focus on accounting and evaluation system) in PASF agencies to detect bottlenecks, reduce the time frame of the financial information processing and computerise the processes when possible;
10. Develop guidelines on existing operational procedures (main focus on accounting and evaluation system) based on best international practices;
11. Provide capacity building trainings on the above-mentioned guidelines to the internal oversight units at PASF agencies and the PFM Team. 

جميع الحقوق محفوظة لموقع جوبس.

YOUR EXPERIENCE 

Education, knowledge and experience

• Master’s degree, preferably in accounting, finance or related fields;
• A minimum of 10 years of relevant work experience related to public financial management;
• Previous work in/with public institutions as well as with senior management of governmental institutions;
• Experience in delivering trainings and facilitation of workshops/meetings/conferences;
• Experience in working in multicultural and interdisciplinary teams;
• Experience in drafting documents/reports;
• Previous successful experience of working with DCAF will be considered an asset;
• Fluency in Arabic and English.

Skills

• Excellent communication and drafting skills;
• Proven problem-solving skills;
• Strong planning and analytical skills;
• Ability to work under pressure and to tight deadlines;
• Cultural sensitivity;
• Excellent team work;
• IT skills, particularly in Word and Excel.

We offer:

• a rewarding, dynamic and challenging work experience
• the chance to be part of a multicultural team of supportive, hardworking and values-driven people
• the chance to contribute to improving security of states and their people within a framework of democratic governance, the rule of law, and respect for human rights

The honorarium will be proposed based on DCAF standards for daily rate for local experts. Individual Terms of Reference for the delivery of each of the work packages (up to ten) will be agreed with the selected expert, together with delivery dates and an agreement for the number of working days that will be required to deliver each work package.

If you think you are a good match for DCAF and the position advertised, please send your application to [email protected]  by 28 September 2019 with the subject heading “Local Expert – Public Financial Management”, enclosing:

• a one-page motivational statement in English describing your relevant experience and what you can bring to DCAF
• a concise CV (maximum two pages)

Please use the following format to name the attached files (LastName_CV). If any of the application guidelines are not followed the application won’t be considered by the reviewing team. 

DCAF is committed to equality of opportunity and encourages applications from all qualified candidates regardless of sex, age, disability, gender identity, religion, or ethnicity.

DCAF reserves the right to request additional information deemed appropriate from the applicant. 

DCAF will treat all information received in the context of the application confidentially. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. DCAF is not in a position to respond to emails or to telephone enquiries. 

The vacancy is open to the Palestinian nationals only.

This vacancy is contingent on the availability of project funding.