**ASEAN-IF AD**
**Measurable Action for Haze-Free Sustainable Land Management in Southeast Asia**
**(MAHF S A)**
**Terms of Reference**
**PROGRAMME ACCOUNTING OFFICER**
(Indonesian Citizens or ASEAN Nationals
Residing and Eligible to work in Indonesia)
**Background**
The Measurable Action for Haze-Free Sustainable Land Management in Southeast Asia (MAHFSA)
seeks to strengthen existing regional coordination mechanisms to facilitate a more harmonised response
to tackling the transboundary haze pollution problem and for promoting sustainable forest management
and peatland conservation.
The initiative will systematize data and information management and operationalise a flexible regional
coordination platform for building capacity, harmonising programmes and projects, coordinating activities
of stakeholders engaged in combating haze, and channelling multiple sources of finance to address the
haze challenge.
The regional coordination platform will promote the dissemination of best practice, improve fire and haze
prevention and support evidence-based policy dialogue, drawing on data collected through a harmonised
data management system that extends from local to regional.
This initiative will identify both geographic
and socio-economic hotspots related to peatland fires and haze in order to foster sustainable alternative
income generating activities.
MAHFSA will kick-start a process that will engender significant improvements within a 10-year period in
achieving the objectives of the ASEAN Agreement on Transboundary Haze Pollution and the targets of
the Roadmap on ASEAN Cooperation towards Transboundary Haze Pollution Control with Means of
Implementation and in implementing associated National Action Plans on Peatlands (NAPPs).
The ASEAN will be the recipient of the 5-year grant and will work with a consortium consisting of of the
Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR) and the Global Environment Centre (GEC).
The grant
will be managed, and overall work coordinated, by the ASEAN Secretariat.
MAHFSA Programme
Coordination Unit (PCU) supports the ASEAN Secretariat in facilitating the day-to-day coordination and
overall implementation, administration, and financial accountability and monitoring of the Programme.
**Main Responsibilities**
The Programme Accounting Officer (PAO) will work under the supervision of the Assistant Director / Head
of Finance and Budget Division of the ASEAN Secretariat to manage the grants.
The PAO will also be
required to liaise closely with the Programme Coordinator on the programme.
In order to ensure that the
financing proceeds are used for the intended purpose and as efficiently as possible, it is essential that
the Financial Accountant sets up and maintains adequate financial management arrangements in each
stage of the project cycle: i) preparation and planning, ii) implementation as well as iii) complet ion and
closing.
- Prepare, in close collaboration with the Programme Coordinator, the annual work plan and budget in
particular.
- Maintain an efficient accounting system and reliable internal control procedures and guidelines for
financial reporting and recordkeeping.
- Monitor the level of the Project's account and the level of advances/funds to sub-recipients /
implementing partners, to ensure both that there are sufficient funds to implement the program
activities and that the level of advances/fund are adequate and there are no idle funds.
- Prepare and provide financial reports and unaudited financial statements including statement of
expenditures (SoEs), invoices, the sources and uses of funds statement, incurred expenditures by
component, expenditure category and financier, designated account reconciliation statement, fixed
asset list and cash flow forecast etc.
for submission to the Programme Steering Committee and IFAD
on a semi and annual basis, and maintain all records in a form appropriate for audit.
- Ensure the timely consolidation, preparation and submission of required financial reports to IFAD
on a regular basis in compliance with the grant agreement.
- Lead the process of contracting an external audit firm to conduct an independent audit of the
annual project accounts, ensuring that annual audits are carried out within the specified timeframe.
- Develop and maintain a system of financial control over all expenditure incurred by implementing
partners.
- Amend the financial and administrative-related section of the Programme Implementation Manual
(PIM), if necessary.
- Responsible for the organization and supervision of the project assets, logistics, and all administrative
matters.
- Strong ability to work effectively in teams while coordinate with relevant ASEAN Secretariat desk
officers (e.g.
Programme Cooperation, and Administration) in all matters in relation to finance,
account, and procurement of the project.
- Develop Funds Flow Projections in collaboration with the team.
- Monitor and analyse project spending and comm