SSA - DFC Management and Compliance Officer

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Background The position will be embedded within the Ministry of Health (MoH) finance units working closely with the MOH accounts team and health programme managers, with technical oversight from WHO. The MoH currently faces challenges in timely management, use and reporting of DFCs, including weak record keeping and insufficient supporting documentation identified through spot checks. The SSA role is established to strengthen financial oversight, improve operational efficiency and enhance accountability across DFC implementation.

Job Description

The local SSA will carry out the following tasks:

1. DFC Management and Tracking:
   1. Maintain DFC tracking tools from PO to FACE reporting
   2. Monitor DFC implementation and reporting timelines
   3. Follow up fund utilization and reporting at national and provincial levels
2. Financial Compliance and Quality Assurance:
   1. Review supporting documentation for completeness and accuracy
   2. Weekly scanning and systematic e-filing for expenditure supporting documents
   3. Ensure compliance of DSA and payments with WHO rules
   4. Conduct three-way matching (PO, Invoice, GRN)
   5. Validate FACE submissions before reporting
3. Financial Monitoring and Spot Checks:
   1. Conduct periodic on-site and desk-based spot checks
   2. Identify compliance gaps and recommend corrective actions
4. Payment Processing Support:
   1. Monitor DI payments and supplier payments
   2. Verify documentation for payment processing
5. Reporting and Coordination:
   1. Ensure DFC closure reports are completed on time
   2. Ensure refunds of remaining non-utilised funds are done on time
   3. Follow up on the above with MOH and Ministry of Finance
   4. Provide regular reporting on DFC performance and bottlenecks
   5. Support coordination between MoH, WHO and provinces

Educational and experience requirements:

Education

Essential: Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, Business Administration, or a related field.
Desirable: Postgraduate qualification (master’s degree) in Finance, Accounting, Business Administration or related field.

Experience

Essential:

• At least five years of relevant professional experience in Finance, Administration, or Programme support.
• Demonstrated experience working in finance or accounting functions within a government agency or a non-governmental organization.
  Desirable:
• Experience in public sector financial management, particularly within Ministries of Health or similar institutions.
• Experience in donor-funded project management (e.g. WHO or UN systems).
• Experience in financial compliance and audit processes.
• Experience in DFC (Direct Financial Cooperation) or grant management systems.

Technical skills and knowledge

• Financial and Technical Skills:
  • Financial tracking and monitoring
  • Compliance review and quality assurance
  • Ability to conduct documentation verification
  • Reviewing and validating financial reports (e.g. FACE forms)
  • Payment verification and processing support
• Analytical Skills:
  • Ability to identify compliance gaps
  • Analyse financial data and reporting timelines
  • Recommend corrective actions
• Organisational Skills:
  • Strong attention to detail
  • Ability to manage multiple DFCs, deadlines and reporting timelines
  • Follow-up and tracking of actions across stakeholders
• Knowledge of:
  • Financial workflow processes (PO → Invoice → GRN → Payment → Reporting)
  • Financial management principles
  • Public sector accounting processes
  • Compliance and audit requirements
  • Supporting documentation standards for expenditures

Competencies

• Teamwork and collaboration
• Respecting and promoting individual and cultural differences
• Communicating in a credible and effective way.
• Producing results

Languages

Essential: Fluency in the English and Bislama language.

Details of the proposed position:

• Salary for this role will start from VT 2,510000 to VT 3,102,000 per year. (equivalent to the Vanuatu Govt. Band F, T3.1 - T3.5), subject to qualifications and experience.
• Duration of contract: 12 months initially, with potential extension.
• This role is subject to local recruitment and will be filled by Vanuatu nationals recruited in the local commuting area of the duty station.
• Alternatively, applicants who face technical issues accessing the portal can submit a cover letter and a detailed CV, with the subject line “2602450: SSA – DFC Management and Compliance Officer” via email to DPSRecruitment@who.int, addressed to: The WHO Country Liaison Officer WHO Country Liaison Office Port Vila Vanuatu

Additional Information

• Only candidates under serious consideration will be contacted.
• A written test/interview may be used as a form of screening.
• If your candidature is retained for interview, you will be required to provide, in advance, a scanned copy of the degree(s)/ diploma(s)/certificate(s) required for this position. WHO only considers higher educational qualifications obtained from an institution accredited/recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED), a list updated by the International Association of Universities (IAU)/United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The list can be accessed through the link: http://www.whed.net/. Some professional certificates may not appear in the WHED and will require individual review.
• For information on WHO's operations please visit: http://www.who.int.
• The WHO is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment of mutual respect. The WHO recruits workforce regardless of disability status, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, language, race, marital status, religious, cultural, ethnic and socio-economic backgrounds, or any other personal characteristics. The WHO is committed to achieving gender parity and geographical diversity in its workforce. Women, persons with disabilities, and nationals of unrepresented and underrepresented Member States (https://www.who.int/careers/diversity-equity-and-inclusion) are strongly encouraged to apply for WHO jobs. Persons with disabilities can request reasonable accommodations to enable participation in the recruitment process. Requests for reasonable accommodation should be sent through an email to reasonableaccommodation@who.int
• An impeccable record for integrity and professional ethical standards is essential. WHO prides itself on a workforce that adheres to the highest ethical and professional standards and that is committed to put the WHO Values Charter (https:// www.who.int/about/who-we-are/our-values) into practice. · WHO has zero tolerance towards sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA), sexual harassment and other types of abusive conduct (i.e., discrimination, abuse of authority and harassment). All members of the WHO workforce have a role to play in promoting a safe and respectful workplace and should report to WHO any actual or suspected cases of SEA, sexual harassment and other types of abusive conduct. To ensure that individuals with a substantiated history of SEA, sexual harassment or other types of abusive conduct are not hired by the Organization, WHO will conduct a background verification of short-listed candidates.
• WHO has a smoke-free environment and does not recruit smokers or users of any form of tobacco.
• SSAs shall perform the work as independent contractors in a personal capacity, and not as a representative of any entity or authority.
• WHO shall have no responsibility for any taxes, duties, social security contributions or other contributions payable by the SSA. The SSA shall be solely responsible for withholding and paying any taxes, duties, social security contributions and any other contributions which are applicable to the SSA in each location/jurisdiction in which the work hereunder is performed, and the SSA shall not be entitled to any reimbursement thereof by WHO.
• Please note that WHO’s contracts are conditional on members of the workforce confirming that they are vaccinated as required by WHO before undertaking a WHO assignment, except where a medical condition does not allow such vaccination, as certified by the WHO Staff Health and Wellbeing Services (SHW). The successful candidate will be asked to provide relevant evidence related to this condition. A copy of the updated vaccination card must be shared with WHO medical service in the medical clearance process. Please note that certain countries require proof of specific vaccinations for entry or exit. For example, official proof /certification of yellow fever vaccination is required to enter many countries. Country-specific vaccine recommendations can be found on the WHO international travel and Staff Health and Wellbeing website. For vaccination-related queries please directly contact SHW directly at shws@who.int.
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