Introduction

The Fleming Fund is a UK Government programme managed by the Department of Health and Social Care which is playing a leading global role in addressing the problem of anti-microbial resistance (AMR) in low- and middle-income countries in Africa and Asia.

The Country, Regional and Fellowship grants portfolio of the Fleming Fund is managed by Mott MacDonald and aims to address critical gaps in surveillance of antibiotic resistant bacteria and use of antibiotics in low- and middle-income countries. It is designed to align with the Global Action Plan on AMR, and this is reflected in the objectives of the Fleming Fund which are to:

Improve laboratory infrastructure for the diagnosis of drug resistant bacterial infections and surveillance of bacterial AMR
Strengthen human resource capacity and work force reforms
Strengthen AMR surveillance systems
Align human and animal health surveillance systems using a One Health approach
Build foundations for AMR surveillance data use
Promote rational use of antimicrobial medicines in humans, animals and crops
Provide value for money in grant funding

A number of funding streams are being delivered across the portfolio of African and Asian countries to improve surveillance and use of data on antibiotic resistance.

The majority of funds are invested in Country Grants which support the implementation of individual country’s National Action Plans for Antimicrobial Resistance to ensure national ownership, alignment of approach with other stakeholders, and sustainability. The Fleming Fund adopts a One Health approach by promoting cross-sectoral approaches to surveillance of resistant organisms and the drivers of resistance development (e.g. use of antibiotics in agriculture, animal health, and in human medicine).

Funding is also available for the Fleming Fellowship Scheme, which provides professional development and improved awareness and advocacy to more than 150 individuals from within national surveillance systems. The fellowships provide medium term mentoring to cover skills in laboratory methods, epidemiology and surveillance, pharmacy, and in advocacy and policy.

Regional Grants and Strategic Alignment Grants are in place to improve quality assurance, surveillance and the use of data, training and online learning, and for strategic investments in collaboration with other donors.

Purpose of the Role

The Fleming Fund programme is a 5-year, large scale (£235 million) and complex fund management programme which aims to operate in over 20 LMIC countries. Reporting to the Regional Coordinator – South East Asia, and working closely with the UK Finance Manager, the Regional Finance Officer will be responsible for financial aspects of the Fleming Fund Grants Programme in the region including: conducting grant application financial reviews, oversight of financial monitoring and spot checks of grants, the provision of accurate financial forecasts and financial reports. This includes monitoring financial expenditure of grantees, providing oversight of the implementation of financial controls in the processing of grantee payments, and the substantiation of costs under grants.

The Regional Finance Officer is a member of the South East Asia regional hub team based in Bangkok. He/She will support the end-to-end process of grant management and will assist the Regional Project Manager and Regional Coordinator to manage, monitor, forecast and report on all aspects of the financial position of the Fleming Fund Grants Programme in the region. The role will help ensure a consistent approach and a high level of financial compliance is maintained across the region. In order to do so the Regional Financial Officer will work closely with the rest of the regional team and with the UK Finance Manager.

Key Responsibilities

Grant Management

Reviewing grant applications for quality and risks, making recommendations for funding based on Grantee's financial submissions.
Monitoring and reviewing Grantee's financial reports and reconciliations of Grantee's expenditure to substantiate appropriate costs are being claimed in line with grants, including regular travel (subject to COVID-19 restrictions) to carry out spot checks of hard copy receipts and grantee financial reports.
Assisting the SEA Regional Coordinator to monitor and review grant payments to ensure claims are valid and ready for approval
Assisting the UK Finance Manager to prepare reconciliations between the grant management software (MatsSoft) and the grant disbursements recorded in the Project financial systems.
Preparing Regional Grant forecasting figures, as required by the UK Finance Manager.

Programme Accounting

Ensuring that timely, accurate, and appropriate information is available to the programme management team and local financial returns are prepared in a timely fashion and with integrity.
Supporting the Regional Project Manager and the local Mott MacDonald Thailand finance team as required.
Responding to financial audits of the programme (internal and external).

Financial Management

Working closely with the Regional Coordinator and UK Finance Manager to enforce appropriate and sound internal controls to protect programme and company assets, and maintain sound financial systems and policies in line with GAAP, Mott MacDonald Group's policies (including fraud), local policies, client requirements, and local laws.
Providing oversight of timely completion of invoice and expense tracker for the Regional Hub.
If required, provide support to the assigned auditor for grantee audits.
Staying informed of the “best practices” around funds management and recommend improvements to programme systems and procedures in relation to applications and appraisals and fund management processes.

Candidate Specification

Experience in implementing grant/fund management programmes in low and middle-income countries
Experience in managing the finances of complex programmes
Experience of financial monitoring and reporting of grant expenditure, including sampling, validation, and compliance checking
Experience in implementing finance processes and policies and templates for internal controls and counter fraud measures
Experience of due diligence, financial assurance, and/or fiduciary risk assessments
Evidence of advanced Excel skills
Understanding of value for money, ethics, and transparency
Demonstrable ability to work accurately and to deadlines
A good communicator with strong relationship building skills, reliable and a team player
Pro-active to raise issues with management and resolve identified problems
Thai speaker with excellent written and spoken English
Able to undertake periodic travel to overseas offices and locations