SAINT LUCIA
OECS SUSTAINABILITY PROJECTS:
OECS REGIONAL TOURISM COMPETITIVENESS (ORTC)
UNLEASHING THE BLUE ECONOMY OF THE CARIBBEAN (UBEC)
Assignment Title: Consulting Services – Finance Officer
Reference No. SLU-RTC-UBEC-CS-IC-FS-03-20
Background
Saint Lucia has received financing from the World Bank toward the cost of the OECS
Sustainability Projects, namely the Regional Tourism Competitiveness Project (ORTCP) and
Unleashing the Blue Economy of the Caribbean (UBEC) and intends to apply part of the
proceeds to hire an individual consultant to serve as a Finance Officer.
Under the coordinated directives of the Project Managers of the UBEC and ORTC, the Finance
Officer will be responsible for overseeing the financial management system and ensuring that
day to day financial management functions are carried out appropriately and effectively to
facilitate effective project management related to accounting and management of project funds
of the ORTCP and UBECP. The specific responsibilities of the Finance Officer will include
but not be limited to:
Project Financials Review and Updates
• Take over the management of Financial Reporting and Planning for the ORTCP from
the Project Coordination Unit, Department of Economic Development.
• Review the financial accounts under the ORTC and maintain updates during its final
implementation stage, specifically with respect to administration of contracts, as well
as with the payroll of project staff.
Project Establishment
• Support the establishment of the Project during its initial stages specifically with respect
to budget and financial matters
• Identify the most appropriate accounting package for the project to support efficient
and effective implementation of program activities.
• Develop the project chart of accounts to enable reporting by component and by activity.
Planning and Management
• Contribute to the development of each project’s annual planning processes.
• Lead the development of the budget and financial components of project plans.
Budget and Finance
• Ensure each project complies with the financial and accounting legislation and policy
requirements of both the Government, and the World Bank.
• Develop the projects’ annual budget.
• Effectively manage the projects’ cash flow and budget.
• Support the delivery of the annual independent audit of project finances and the drafting
of responses to the audit management letter.
• Ensure effective day to day administration of the project finances, including:
o Ensuring accurate recording of day-to-day financial transactions.
o Processing payments to contractors and service providers and ensuring they are
duly authorized and approved to facilitate prompt payments and fulfilment of
contract requirements.
o Maintaining records on a cash basis together with supporting documentation of
all project income and expenditure.
o Ensuring project financial files and records are established and maintained in
both electronic and paper form in accordance with industry best practice and
local regulations.
o Monitoring the designated bank account.
o Preparing withdrawal applications and other accompanying documentation as
required for the periodic replenishments of the designated account.
Financial Reporting
• Monthly report on the progress of each project’s budget utilization and expenditure
forecast to the respective Project Manager.
• Preparing of monthly reconciliation statements.
• Prepare timely and accurate quarterly interim financial reports to the World Bank
within 45 days of the end of each semester as agreed and stated in the disbursement
financial information letter.
• Prepare annual financial statements for each project and liaise with the auditor to ensure
timely completion of the annual audited financial statements.
• Provide financial information as requested for management and review purposes.
• Contribute to the delivery of quarterly monitoring and evaluation reports.
• Contribute to the preparation of the six-monthly Progress Reports, for submission to
the World Bank and the Project Steering Committee.
• Provide details on each project budget for the Ministry/Organization Annual Report.
• Preparing annual financial statement, providing them to the external auditor for audit;
and ensuring timely receipt of the audit report and its submission to the World Bank.
Leading and supporting
• Lead the management of each project budget and finance processes.
• Coordinate with each PIU in respect to the projects’ budgets.
• Represent the ORTCP and UBECP at inter-governmental budget meetings relevant to
the project, as required.
• Support the development of the projects’ risk management plans and ensure project
fiduciary risks are identified and mitigated.
• Lead periodic review of the quality of the internal control processes at the implementing
entity/PIU. Where appropriate, initiate corrective measures to improve the efficiency
and effectiveness of the internal controls.
Organizing
• Ensure each project’s staff receive appropriate training in financial procedures and
systems.
• Manage internal and external communications with respect to each project’s finances
and budget.
Advice
• Provide strategic, financial and operational advice.
Performance Appraisal and Staff Supervision
• Support the performance management of staff with respect to financial management.
• Support the development of terms of reference for project staff, and ensure they are
kept up to date with respect to finance and budget matters.
Technical
• Maintain the necessary level of technical and operational skills to fulfil the duties
outlined.
The Finance Officer is a full-time position required for six (6) years, renewable annually based
on performance and availability of funds. The contract is subject to a probationary period of
six (6) months and may be subject to satisfactory achievement of key deliverables.
Performance will initially be reviewed after six (6) months, and thereafter subject to annual
reviews.
The Finance Officer will frequently and adequately coordinate with all PIU staff for each
project, as relevant and will report directly to the Project Manager of each project.
This is a full-time position based in Castries, Saint Lucia and the Finance Officer will work
primarily from the Ministry of Finance’s Project Implementation Unit (PIU) where he/she will
be assigned a workstation and will participate in face-to-face or virtual meetings, as is the case.
The Officer will also be assigned a work station at the Ministry of Tourism’s PIU for his/her
first year to facilitate access to documents and information that is relevant to the ORTCP.
The detailed Terms of Reference (TOR) for the assignment can be found at the following
website: www.finance.gov.lc
The Ministry of Tourism, Investment, Creative Industries, Culture and Information now invites
eligible individual consultants (“Consultants”) to indicate their interest in providing the
Services. Interested Consultants should provide information demonstrating that they have the
required qualifications and relevant experience to perform the Services. (Curriculum Vitae,
description of similar assignments, etc).
Interested Consultants should have the following requisite minimum qualifications and
professional experiences listed below for undertaking the assignment.
Qualifications
• At least a Bachelor’s Degree in accountancy, finance, or similar qualification plus a
minimum of five (5) years’ experience as a project finance specialist, or in financial
and budget management in a similar role. Relevant post graduate accounting or
professional qualifications (e.g. CPA) is preferred.
Experience
• Experience with donor-funded projects, especially involving international financial
institutions such as the World Bank.
• Demonstrated ability to develop, implement, and monitor, comprehensive project
procurement plans, and to undertake complex procurements.
• Demonstrated high level experience and competency in computer database and
software use including browser (cloud) based procurement software and systems.
• Extensive experience with accounting and financial management software packages
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities Requirements:
• Strong integrity, ethics, personal organizational skills, and ability to manage own
workload.
• Good communication and interpersonal skills with the ability to make presentations to
a broad range of audiences.
• Good writing skills with the ability to prepare accurate reports; fluency (oral and
written) in English is essential.
• Ability to prepare detailed financial reports.
• Demonstrated ability to deliver training and capacity building to project staff.
• Knowledge of the Public Finance Management Act and its Regulations.
• Knowledge of the Public Procurement Act
• Oral and written English language skills.
• Membership of a relevant professional organization.
The attention of interested Consultants is drawn to paragraph 1.9 of the World Bank’s
Guidelines: Selection and Employment of Consultants under IBRD Loans and IDA Credits &
Grants by World Bank Borrowers January 2011 Revised July 2014 (“Guidelines”), setting forth
the World Bank’s policy on conflict of interest.
A Consultant will be selected in accordance with the Individual Consultants (IC) method set
out in the World Bank’s Guidelines: Selection and Employment of Consultants under IBRD
Loans and IDA Credits & Grants by World Bank Borrowers (“Consultant Guidelines”).
Further information can be obtained at the address below during office hours 8:00 a.m. - 4:00
p.m. (0800 to 1600 hours). Expressions of interest must be delivered in a written form to the
address below (in person, or by mail, or by e-mail) by 25th October 2022.
Applying for this post
Applications for the post should be made to:
Permanent Secretary
Ministry of Tourism, Investment, Creative Industries, Culture and Information
3rd Floor, Sir Stanislaus James Building
Waterfront
Castries
Saint Lucia
Tel: 1 (758) 468- 4615
Email: abigail.lewis@govt.lc
Applications must include the following format and content:
1. A brief covering letter introducing yourself, and explaining why you are interested in
this post (maximum 1 page).
2. A resume (CV) showing personal details, work experience, and education, along with
the names of three work related references (maximum 3 pages).
Note: Only suitable candidates will be acknowledged. Applicants whose minimum
qualifications and experience conform to the Terms of Reference will be short-listed and
invited to attend an interview for further consideration.