Consultancy Services for Financial Assistant

Lebanon Health Resilience Project Terms of Reference Financial Assistant
PROC REF: LB-MOPH-ICS-002

I- BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

The Government of Lebanon (GoL) has received financing from the World Bank toward the cost of Lebanon Health Resilience Project (LHRP). The LHRP is a five-year project that aims to increase access to quality healthcare services to poor Lebanese and displaced Syrians in Lebanon and to strengthen the Government’s capacity to respond to COVID-19. This project will: (i) provide subsidized packages of essential healthcare services to 250,000 poor Lebanese identified by the National Poverty Targeting Program; (ii) strengthen the technical and organizational capacities of the Ministry of Public Health (MoPH), Primary Healthcare Centers (PHCCs), and public hospitals; and (iii) strengthen the capacity of the GoL to respond to the COVID-19 outbreak.

II- RESPONSIBILITIES

The MoPH is seeking to recruit a Financial Assistant. The Financial Assistant will carry out all financial management (FM) activities of the project in accordance with Lebanese law and regulations, and the World Bank Guidelines for FM. The tasks of the Financial Assistant will include:

-  Prepareallpaymentsrelatedtotheproject,including:(i)Paymentbychecksfromthe Designated Account; (ii) Direct Payments; (iii) Replenishment Application;

-  AssistthefinancialofficerinthemonitoringoftheProjectDesignatedAccountby verifying all payments made from/ to the Designated Account against the payment requests prepared by the Project Management Unit (PMU);

-  Prepare the draft bank reconciliation for the replenishment of the Designated Account;

-  FollowupontheclearanceofPettyCashpaymentandensurethatallsupporting documents are available;

-  Ensure proper record is in place for audit purposes;

-  Assist in coordinating with the external and internal auditor as needed;

-  Provide data and inputs for the quarterly project financial statements;

-  Assist in forecasting projected disbursements of the project;

-  Assist in resolving financial queries or other related work as and when required;

-  Followuponallfinancialanddisbursementsprocedureswithrelevantconcerned

governmental institutions: of Ministry of Finance, Central Bank, Court of Accounts

etc;

-  Maintain a fixed Asset Register.

-  Verify the Financial Transactions and enter these transactions in the accounting

system;

-  Regularly update the disbursement plan;

-  Assist in preparing the project budget; and

-  Assistindraftingandupdatingfinancialinputsforproject’srelateddocumentation

(progress report, Project Operations Manual, among others);

III- DURATION

The contract period is for one year, extendable upon satisfactory performance and mutual agreement. The first three (3) months will be considered as probationary period, based on which

the consultant’s performance will be evaluated. The contract may be terminated with no remedy if the performance was evaluated as not satisfactory.

IV- REPORTING REQUIREMENTS

The Financial Assistant will report to the Financial Officer and the Project Manager of the Project Management Unit (PMU) and will be expected to work closely with the PMU and coordinate with MoPH departments and other stakeholders as needed.

V- QUALIFICATIONS

Education:

-  Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Finance, Accounting, Economics or any

related field;

-  Master’s degree or professional accountancy qualification (CPA, CMA, etc.) is a distinct

advantage.

Knowledge and Experience:

-  Aminimumof3yearsofexperienceinthefieldorresponsibilitieswithasubstantialcontent

in the financing and accounting area;

-  Knowledge of all concepts, principles and approaches of financial management;

-  Experience in working on projects financed by international organizations is a plus;

-  KnowledgeofthepublicsectorinLebanonanditsoverallstructureandpolicyobjectivesis

preferable; and

-  Knowledge of World Bank financial management procedures is advantageous.

Skills

-  Strong communication skills, both written and verbal, in both English and Arabic;

-  Excellent knowledge using computer software (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Microsoft

Project) and project planning software;

-  Ability to work under pressure and ensure availability upon emergency;

-  Demonstrated analytical, problem-solving and negotiation skills with ability to balance

project objectives and financial management requirements with client needs;

-  Availability, dependability, and willingness to be flexible; and

-  Maintain an enthusiastic and positive attitude toward helping others.