SOLICITATION NOTICE
R -- Financial Management Specialist - Financial Management Specialist
- Notice Date
- 5/17/2012
- Notice Type
- Combined Synopsis/Solicitation
- NAICS
- 541990
— All Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services
- Contracting Office
- Agency for International Development, Overseas Missions, Liberia USAID-Monrovia, USAID/Monrovia, Department of State, Washington, District of Columbia, 20521
- ZIP Code
- 20521
- Solicitation Number
- SOL-669-12-000012
- Point of Contact
- Sylvester s. Browne, Phone: 23177766402, Joseph Bundor, Phone: 23177845523
- E-Mail Address
-
sbrowne@usaid.gov, jbundor@usaid.gov
(sbrowne@usaid.gov, jbundor@usaid.gov)
- Small Business Set-Aside
- N/A
- Description
- Financial Management Specialist-USAID/Liberia 1. SOLICITATION NUMBER: SOL-669-12-000012 2. ISSUANCE DATE: May 16, 2012 3. CLOSING DATE AND TIME: May 30, 2012, 17:00 Local Time, Monrovia, Liberia 4. POSITION TITLE: Financial Management Specialist 5. MARKET VALUE OF POSITION: The position is the equivalent of a GS-13 ranging from $71,674 to $93,175 per annum. Final compensation will be based on the individual's salary and work history, experience and educational background, within the above salary range. 6. EVALUATION FACTORS: Evaluation will be based on a 100-point Scale: Experience (40 Points), Skills and Abilities (30 Points), Job Knowledge (20 Points), Education (10 Points). 7. PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE: Two (2) years, with the possibility of extension, depending on need, performance and availability of funding, not to exceed a total of three (3) years. 8. PLACE OF PERFORMANCE: Monrovia, Liberia 9. SECURITY ACCESS: Employment Authorization (USPSCs) Background Check (TCNPSCs) 10. AREA OF CONSIDERATION: U.S. Citizens or Third Country Nationals 11. SCOPE OF WORK A. Background: After decades of economic mismanagement and fourteen years of a brutal civil war, Liberia is at peace and is edging from recovery to development. Since the end of Liberia's civil war in the fall of 2003, USAID's programs have been instrumental in aiding the transition from relief and reconstruction. USAID/Liberia has shifted its emphasis to sustainable development, with programs that concentrate on establishing a stable democracy, changing the culture of impunity, systematic corruption and poor governance, closing severe gaps in access to quality education and health care, expanding economic opportunity through agricultural enterprise and natural resources management, and helping to rebuild essential infrastructure and sources of renewable energy. The first freely elected woman head of state in Africa, President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, was re‐elected for a second term in November 2011. USAID is the largest bilateral donor in the country and maintains close relationships with a range of Government of Liberia (GOL) counterparts. Its development program focuses resources in four technical areas: Democracy and Governance, Economic Growth, Health, and Education. The technical offices are supported by four support offices - Program, Acquisition & Assistance, Financial Management, and Executive Office. As a Performance Management Focus Country, USAID/Liberia spearheads several USAID initiatives: Feed-the-Future, the Global Health Initiative, and the President's Malaria Initiative. It also manages the Millennium Challenge Corporation threshold program. The Mission is at the forefront of USAID/Forward's Implementation and Procurement Reform initiative. Liberia is a priority country, and USAID/Liberia is increasing staff to meet the growing demands of USAID programs in the country. The Financial Management Specialist will assume responsibility for the accounting, financial analysis and payment operations for the USAID/Liberia Mission. Given the size and complexity of the Liberia portfolio, this challenging and demanding position requires a senior/experienced financial management professional who has prior extensive USAID financial operations experience and strong English language skills. The position is located in the Office of Financial Management and reports to the Mission Controller. B. Scope of Work: 1. Support OFM core functions (30%) Reporting to the Mission Controller, the Financial Management Specialist supports and manages the budget, accounting, financial management and payment functions in USAID/Liberia OFM. These include financial analysis, budgeting, project accounting, administrative expense accounting and voucher examination functions. The incumbent plays a key role in OFM efforts to improve service quality and customer satisfaction. As such, the Financial Management Specialist will administer a comprehensive accounting, reporting and budgeting system designed to provide high quality service to OFM customers while providing senior mission management and USAID/W with timely financial information for making operating decisions. He / She will review all transactions, in electronic and manual formats prior to the controller's review and approval; coordinate with State FMO on the operation of Post ICASS function (including the accumulation, analysis and equitable distribution of ICASS costs to participating agencies); Participate in the planning, installation and maintenance of an adequate system of internal control for the processing, accounting and reporting of all USAID obligation/liquidation actions; Supervise the analysis and reconciliation of all program and administrative accounts with State, DOD and USAID/W, including 1221, management and timely liquidation of program and travel advances, etc. The incumbent will research, identify, recommend and lead the implementation of agency best practices in many areas of OFM operations, including distribution of shared administrative costs, accrual and pipeline management, Financial reporting, including year-end requirements such as 1311 reviews, reconciliations, annual budget preparation, monthly and quarterly closing, etc. Other responsibilities in this regard include, but are not limited to the following: Evaluate payment processing systems to identify strengths and potential areas of weakness; develop and implement strengthened and improved payment management and processing systems; including a reliable voucher tracking system to ensure OFM complies with Prompt Pay Act. Review OFM tracking and clearance processes to identify strengths and weaknesses, including bottlenecks. To the extent required, modify processes to streamline workflow and maximize efficiency. 2. Participate in the assessment of Partner Country Public Financial Management Systems (30%) The incumbent participates in the performance of various types of assessments of partner country public financial management (PFM) and procurement systems; audits, risk assessments, financial and compliance reviews, host country contracting and/or financial management capability assessments. A key responsibility of the incumbent will be to support USAID/Liberia's technical teams to design, implement, scale up and manage their respective portfolios of ongoing and planned direct assistance activities with GoL and Liberia's local NGOs to meet USAID/Liberia targets on the Implementation and Procurement Reform Initiative. As such, he/she will work closely with senior officials from various GoL ministries, bilateral and multilateral donors working in the PFM area, and consultants. He/she coordinates the capacity building activities identified, endorsed and/or determined from assessments conducted on the national and sub-national Partner Country Systems and participates in the conduct of relevant financial management training and technical assistance aimed at strengthening PFM, Procurement, and internal control for Partner Country agencies. 3. Manage USAID/Liberia internal and external audits and reviews (30%) The incumbent manages the administrative, operational, and programmatic activities involved in ensuring that USAID/Liberia OFM, technical teams, implementing partners, local NGOs and host country counterparts comply with USAID requirements pertaining to audits, financial reviews internal control and compliance with relevant laws, regulations, policies and procedures. As part of his/her responsibilities, the incumbent manages all pre-award assessments, audits, control environment and risk assessments, cost effectiveness assessments, disbursement reviews, indirect cost rate reviews, pre-closeout and closeout reviews of USAID/Liberia-funded organizations. He/she will support the establishment and implementation of annual plans for performing financial management reviews of the Mission's implementing partners, lead efforts aimed at building the capacity of local NGOs, and will assist USAID/Liberia technical offices and partners in implementing appropriate corrective actions to strengthen internal financial, administrative and management control. The incumbent is the OFM lead on GMRA audits, OMB A-123 assessments, and Federal Manager's Financial Integrity Act reviews, and other internal and external audits and assessments. 4. Provide training to OFM LES cadre (10%) The incumbent provides supervision and training to FSN Accountants, Financial Analysts and Voucher Examiners in their daily activities. This requires developing, implementing and monitoring short- and long-term work plans to meet the needs of OFM and the Mission; determining staff work priorities; assigning responsibilities as appropriate and assuring that all activities are carried out in a technically sound and cost-effective manner, in accordance with applicable Mission and Agency directives and requirements; identifying and resolving related Financial issues; training, mentoring and coaching OFM staff. To complement work plans, the Financial Management Specialist will develop and implement individual training plans which include on-the-job and formal training lessons in Liberia, Ghana and other locations. The Financial Management Specialist will also provide in-depth on-the-job training to new OFM FSN staff; mentor and train on-board OFM to assume expanded duties and responsibilities, leading to the potential to become Chief Financial Analyst or Chief Accountant in USAID/Liberia; improve staff skills in performing reconciliations, including training in CART, 1221, 224 reconciliations; Identify opportunities for cross-training of staff to ensure that there are back-ups for all critical roles and responsibilities required by OFM staff; Mentor DLI staff (assigned to OFM or rotating) on the roles and responsibilities of an FMO and ensure they develop a critical understanding of the linkages between FMO and their programmatic/technical roles; Review position descriptions for all OFM staff to ensure descriptions are current and reflect all duties and responsibilities of the incumbents; Ensure timely work objectives are defined and responsibilities assigned to each staff member are consistent with their training and position. The incumbent will be the subject matter expert and mission in-house trainer on current and new financial and related systems and tools, including Phoenix, GLAAS, E2, BFEM, ICASS, OPS Master, ABM/ABT, ASIST/Documentum, WebTA, MAPRS, etc. She/he will train personnel to utilize the ADS, FAM, and FAH as well as other associated policies, rules and regulations governing the administration and implementation of foreign assistance; and perform other duties as assigned by the controller.. Five Core Values The incumbent incorporates the following five core values into his/her work: i. Customer Focus: Identifies and communicates with USAID customers regularly (ideally, in their preferred language); surveys their interests, needs and recommendations; follows up on communications and information received from and about the customers. Ensures that customers' needs and thinking are included in all activities undertaken and that, where possible, customers are involved in key decisions. Surveys customer satisfaction periodically and serves as a knowledgeable advocate for customer service with other USAID employees and partners. ii. Results Oriented: Reviews baseline information against which to plan actions and identify targets and milestones. Defines specific operational and program results needed for his/her area of responsibility. Puts strategic plan in place and uses it as a framework for decisions. Reviews progress against targets and milestones regularly; takes needed action to modify plans when necessary and to maintain actions to accomplish the desired results within the time frame planned when possible. Serves as a knowledgeable advocate for the results orientation with other USAID employees and partners. iii. Empowerment and Accountability: Emphasizes results rather than oversight, and service outreach rather than internal control, in carrying out his/her responsibilities. Is clear about his/her own performance standards. Participates in defining objectives, reviewing performance, and upholding accountability for the accomplishment of the objectives. iv. Teamwork and Participation: Contributes to strategic planning, performance monitoring, and major program decisions of the SO team. Demonstrates ownership of the teams' plans, performance, and decisions. Proactively participates in team processes and activities. Includes other team members, customers and partners and assists in their understanding and participation in teamwork and the team's goals, performance, and decisions. Assumes responsibility for specific results assigned by the team. v. Valuing Diversity: Understands and respects the various work groups and team members without stereotyping. Understands and respects the role of customers and partners. Realizes the synergy and benefits of differing backgrounds and skills to accomplish our strategic goals. Uses the synergy of core and extended teams to plan and works together to achieve results while accepting accountability for his/her own actions. 12. QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED FOR EFFECTIVE PERFORMANCE In order to be considered for this position, a candidate must meet the Required Minimum Qualifications listed below. Consideration and selection will be based on panel evaluation of Required Minimum Qualifications, Desired Qualifications and Evaluation Factors. Additionally, interviews and writing samples may be requested. Applicants are encouraged to write a brief appendix to a resume, OF-612 to demonstrate how prior experience and/or training addresses the Minimum Qualifications and Evaluation Factors listed below: a. Education: A baccalaureate degree in Accounting is required. In addition, a Professional Certification, (e.g. ACCA or CPA) is required. A master's degree in accounting, finance, business administration or related field is highly desirable. b. Prior Work Experience: At least 10 (ten) years of progressively responsible experience in professional accounting, auditing, or financial management activity, at least 5(five) years of which must have been with USAID in an accounting or financial management capacity. c. Post Entry Training: A specific, tailored, recurring annual training plan including formal training and continuing education will be developed for the employee. d. Language Proficiency: Level IV English ability (fluent) is required. Excellent written and verbal communication skills, reflecting the ability to analyze and report clearly and concisely, to be demonstrated through sample reports or articles written by the applicant. e. Job Knowledge: A thorough knowledge and understanding of generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) and generally accepted auditing standards (GAAS), as well as governmental and not-for-profit accounting, budgeting and reporting are required. In depth working knowledge of general accounting, budgeting, reporting, and prevailing customs and practices as they apply to USAID accounting and auditing practices is required. A thorough knowledge of laws, regulations and procedures associated with USAID financial management is required. A thorough knowledge of USAID activity design, development, implementation and evaluation processes is essential. Knowledge of Public Financial Management systems, COSO Internal Control Framework, International auditing standards and related areas is highly desired. Demonstrated knowledge of pre-award requirements, post-award review and audit management of local grant and contract awards is required. f. Skills and Abilities: Excellent skills and abilities in performing audits (financial and programmatic), internal control assessments, financial reviews, compliance reviews, etc. are required. Ability to perform sophisticated analysis of management controls and capabilities of partner/beneficiary organizations is required. Ability to evaluate financial aspects of activities and programs, institutional capacities and capabilities is required. Ability to present results and recommendations to a broad audience, both orally and in writing, is also required. Must have excellent training skills to effectively transfer knowledge and skills to Liberia OFM staff in the full range of OFM operations. Excellent interpersonal skills are required, as incumbent will frequently be working with the officials and staff of the Host government, Contractors, Grantees, and others who may be unfamiliar with USAID's programming and financial management requirements. She/he must have demonstrated the ability to develop and implement procedures and internal controls to ensure the integrity of financial data, implement financial processes and procedures required by US law or regulation, and develop requisite internal controls for local, regional, and international organizations essential for safeguarding USG resources. She/he must have the demonstrated ability to understand, interpret and apply federal and USAID rules, regulations and requirements to complex situations, as well as the requisite skills to teach and mentor others to do same. 13. EVALUATION FACTORS The following factors are listed in descending order of importance and will be the basis for the evaluation of applications meeting the required minimum qualifications. All applications will be evaluated based on the documentation submitted with the application. USAID reserves the right to contact your previous employers for relevant information concerning your performance and may consider such information in its evaluation. The highest ranking applicants may be selected for an interview, but an interview is not always necessary. Section 12 provides details on these factors: A. Experience (40 points) B. Skills and Abilities (30 Points) C. Job Knowledge (20 Points) D. Education (10 points) 14. POSITION ELEMENTS a. Supervision Received: The Financial Management Specialist will report directly to the Controller and will be expected to work independently with limited supervision over day-to-day activities. b. Supervision Exercised: The incumbent has supervisory responsibility over all OFM FSN staff. c. Available Guidelines: OMB Circulars and Bulletins, GAO, GAAP, GAAS, RIG Guidelines, FAR, CFR, ADS, USAID Automated Directives (ADS), Mission Orders, Administrative Notices, and other written guidelines issued by relevant authorities. General and International accounting and auditing principles must be interpreted and applied to programs and projects. d. Exercise of Judgment: Incumbent will exercise a high degree of independent judgment in performance of assigned tasks, especially pertaining to management of audits, risk assessments, pre-award surveys, and financial reviews; and to tasks related to staff training and mentoring, supervision of OFM functions. Incumbent also independently communicates, interacts and coordinates with host country officials, implementers, NGOs, CPA firms and other consultants working for OFM, USAID technical staff and senior mission management. A high degree of judgment will be required to provide guidance and assistance to a wide variety of high-level professionals in the Mission. S/he will work independently, take initiative, and manage a multi-cultural team. As a recognized expert and highly qualified professional, substantial reliance will be placed on the incumbent to independently plan, prioritize, and carry out the specific activities entailed in fulfilling major duties and responsibilities. The incumbent will be expected to rely on independent judgment to resolve problems that arise by determining the approaches to be taken and methodologies to be used. e. Authority to Make Commitments: None: Because the position will be procured through a personal services contract, the incumbent cannot make financial commitments on behalf of the U.S. Government. However, because of the incumbent's expertise and standing as a highly qualified professional in his/her field, great weight will be given to his/her conclusions and recommendations when commitments are made by those with the authority to do so. f. Nature, Level and Purpose of Contacts: Incumbent has frequent direct contact with mid to high-level officials in Government of Liberia, CPA firms and Mission senior leadership and DO teams for the purpose of resolving significant issues that may arise from assessment of host country systems, USAID G2G activities, financial management aspects of program/project implementation, and the resolution and implementation of audit recommendations. In addition, incumbent maintains regular contact with USAID/Washington, USDO/Charleston and USAID/Accra to discuss material differences arising from application of appropriations law, reconciliations, deob-reob requests, and funds control issues; and with Embassy Financial Management Officer to settle ICASS billing and expenses issues which may be contentious. g. Time Requirement to Perform Full Range of Duties: None: The Financial Management Specialist is expected to be an accomplished professional with the requisite skills to "hit the ground running". ATTACHMENT: PSC Contractor Benefits (As allowable under applicable regulations) AS A MATTER OF POLICY, AND AS APPROPRIATE, AN INDIVIDUAL MEETING THE REQUIREMENTS OF OFFSHORE HIRE USPSC IS NORMALLY AUTHORIZED THE FOLLOWING BENEFITS: 1. Benefits a. Employee's FICA Contribution b. Contribution toward Health & Life Insurance i. --72% of Health Insurance Annual Premium (not to exceed $20,339.00 for a family and $7,266.00 for employees without dependents) ii. --50% of Life Insurance Annual Premium (not to exceed $500) c. Vacation & Sick Leave 2. Allowances* (If Applicable): As a matter of policy, and as appropriate, an offshore/ USPSC is normally authorized the following allowances: a. Post Differential (Section 500) b. Living Quarters Allowance (Section 130) c. Temporary Lodging Allowance (Section 120) d. Post Allowance (COLA)(Section 220) e. Supplemental Post Allowance (Section 230) f. Payments During Evacuation (Section 600) g. Education Allowance (Section 270) h. Separate Maintenance Allowance (Section 260) i. Danger Pay (Section 650) j. Educational Travel (Section 280) * Dept. of State Standardized Regulations (DSSR) (Government Civilians Foreign Areas). 3. Federal Taxes: USPSCs are not exempt from payment of Federal Income taxes. 4. List of REQUIRED Forms for USPSCs a. Optional Form 612. (U.S. Government Optional Form 612 is available at the USAID web site, http://www.usaid.gov/procurement_bus_opp/procurement/forms or internet http://fillform.gsa.gov, or at USG offices.) Forms (b) through (e) shall be completed only upon the advice of the Contracting Officer that an applicant is the successful candidate for the position. b. Medical History and Examination (DS-1843). c. Questionnaire for Sensitive Positions (for National Security) (SF-86), or d. Questionnaire for Non-Sensitive Positions (SF-85). e. Finger Print Card (FD-258). (NOTE: Form is available from the requirements office.) 5. Contract Information Bulletins (CIBs.) and Acquisition and Assistance Policy Directives (AAPDs) Pertaining to PSCs CIBs and AAPDs contain changes to USAID policy and General Provisions in USAID regulations and contracts. Please refer to this website http://www.usaid.gov/business/business_opportunities/psc_solicitations.html to determine which CIBS and AAPDs apply to this contract. Drafted by: S. Browne, HR Specialist Cleared by: C. Egu, OFM Approved by: R. Hicks, EXO
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- Place of Performance
- Address: USAID/Liberia, Monrovia, Liberia
- Record
- SN02751412-W 20120519/120518001006-73fec29d491f66dc239e629247e5e8ff (fbodaily.com)
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