Mongolia received a credit from the International Development Association (IDA) for the Strengthening Fiscal and Financial Stability Project (SFFSP). The objective of the SFFSP is to contribute to the Government of Mongolia’s efforts to strengthen fiscal and financial stability and improve the quality of expenditure management. The project is designed with five components: (i) Strengthening Macroeconomic and Fiscal Management; (ii) Improving the Efficiency of Public Financial Management; (iii) Enhancing Financial Sector Stability; (iv) Strengthening the Social Protection System; (v) Project Management and Monitoring. The objectives are to strengthen fiscal responsibility and implement the relevant policy measures; improve fiscal discipline; strengthen the resiliency of the banking system; improve public expenditure quality in social protection; and provide support for Project implementation, coordination, monitoring and evaluation, including, inter alia, audit arrangements, reporting requirements, procurement and financial management activities, respectively. For more details, please refer to the Project Appraisal Document Report No. PAD2269[1].

Subcomponent B2 of the project aims to increase budget comprehensiveness and transparency through better control, reporting and expansion of the government’s integrated financial management information capabilities.
Free Balance software, as the Government’s Financial Management Information System (GFMIS) i.e. the treasury system, was deployed in 2005 and it has been primarily focused on enabling quick settlement of payments and producing budget execution reports. The Ministry of Finance (MOF) has been upgrading the GFMIS to the latest web-based Free Balance Version 7 (FB v7) and this upgraded version provides the commitment control and obligation control functions. Going forward, there is an increasing need to use the system to perform reconciliation and consolidation of budget execution reports. In particular, there is a necessity to further develop the system as a source of integrated information for preparing the Government’s Consolidated Financial Statements (on the accrual basis) along with the consolidated budget execution reports (on the cash basis) and to operationalize the system’s commitment and financial obligation functions for improving the transparency and accountability of public spending.

A. OBJECTIVE OF THE ASSIGNMENT

The objective of the assignment is to assist the Treasury Department of the Ministry of Finance (TD, MOF) in implementing a commitment control system through the GFMIS FBv7 toward improving fiscal discipline and efficiency of government financial resources. During this assignment, the consultant will do research and analysis necessary for developing a commitment control system through the GFMIS FBv7, renew the related guidance and templates to implement the commitment control function and commence pilots of the commitment control function of the GFMIS FBv7 at selected aimags and line ministries.

B. SCOPE OF WORK
The consultant will perform tasks including, but not limited to, the following in close cooperation with a national consultant (team member) and an international expert:

Task 1. Conduct research and analysis to establish a commitment control system through the GFMIS FBv7 and develop the related implementation guidance:
      1.1  Review the previous attempts at setting up a commitment control system through the GFMIS and assess its compliance with internationally recommended practices;
      1.2  Examine the previous guidance that tried to establish a commitment control process within the GFMIS FB v6.5 and assess its feasibility within the FB v7;
      1.3  Review the legal framework to implement a commitment control system through the GFMIS;
      1.4  Develop the structure of a commitment control process through GFMIS FBv7;
      1.5  Develop an implementation and roll-out plan detailing the systematic roll-out of the solution in accordance with the recently approved PFM action plan (2018-2020);
      1.6  Prepare a draft of the required amendments to the Government resolution on the Treasury operations and the related regulations approved by the Minister of Finance:
            1.6.1 Develop and reflect the clauses relevant to the use of commitment and financial obligation control functions through the GFMIS into the regulations on the Treasury operations and financing approved by the Minister of Finance;
            1.6.2 Determine the criteria for the economic and functional classifications, for which to implement commitment/obligation controls to be included in the regulations;
            1.6.3 Incorporate the responsibilities to arise from non-fulfillment of commitments and obligations in the regulations.
      1.7  Review and analyze the existing reporting templates in the commitment control and obligation modules of the GFMIS FB v7 and modify the reporting templates to tailor to the needs;
      1.8  Develop a reporting template by the economic and functional classifications for generating the expected expenditures reports from the GFMIS FB v7;
      1.9  Develop a bridging table for generating commitment and obligation reports from the GFMIS/FB V7 in accordance with the cash management model;
      1.10 Finalize the user guide to be developed by the team member for the commitment control function of the GFMIS FBv7 for the end-users of all levels of treasury and budget entities;
      1.11 Prepare training materials (in video and printed forms) covering the commitment control system procedures for all levels of treasury units and budget entities; and
      1.12 Conduct training for local treasuries and budget entities.

Task 2. Supervise pilots on using the commitment and obligation control functions in selected aimags and line ministries:
      2.1  Develop a detailed work plan draft to carry out the pilots on implementing the commitment control system;
      2.2  Provide support to the daily operations of the pilot to the end-users at piloting entities;
      2.3  Act as a key point of contact on functional issues and interact with end-users of piloting entities;
      2.4  Provide assistance in preparing weekly expected expenditures reports using the records in the obligation module;
      2.5  Monitor the task of preparing monthly expected expenditures reports and monthly allotment schedules of the budget entities using the records in the commitment control module;
      2.6  Assist in importing data into the cash forecasting model, generate weekly and monthly projections, and analyze the data for cash forecasting;
      2.7  Provide technical support to analyzing the data for cash forecasting and related issues; and
      2.8  Report on a regular basis and as required on the status and issues emerging from the pilot to the Director-General of the TD.

Task 3. Provide support in the approval process of the draft documents and in conducting the pilots through carrying out the following activities in collaboration with the TD, MOF:
      3.1  Establish a working group comprising relevant stakeholders;
      3.2  Organize discussions and consultations on the draft documents among specialists in the field and relevant stakeholders;
      3.3  Assist the TD in organizing periodic meetings between piloting entities to coordinate the planned work;
      3.4  Provide support on technical issues as well as on translation/interpretation when needed to the TD and the international expert;
      3.5  Complete the assigned tasks in compliance with the approved Contract Implementation Plan (CIP) including being responsible for preparing and circulating the agenda and other communication and recording of the meetings; and
      3.6  Respond to the related ad hoc consultations carried out by TD, MOF and perform any other tasks as reasonably assigned by MOF.

C. CONSULTANT’S QUALIFICATIONS/SHORTLISTING CRITERIA
     · Education and Knowledge:
             a. A suitable candidate must have a master’s degree in finance or a master’s degree in business administration with a bachelor’s degree in accounting and/or finance;
             b. Professional qualifications such as ACCA/CPA/CIMA or similar will be an advantage;
             c. Knowledge of the Government Financial Statistics (GFS) will be considered a plus; and
            d. Technical skills as a lecturer and/or a researcher would be an advantage.
     · Experience:
            e. Incumbent should have at least 8 years of direct relevant experience in the accounting and finance field, preferably in the public sector;
             f. Previous experience in a similar capacity of working with the public financial management system is required; and
            g. Previous experience in a similar capacity of formulating policies to restructure a business process and developing the related guidance documents will be considered a plus.
     · Language skills: Fluent written and spoken in English and Mongolian.
     · Other skills:
           h. Excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to function effectively and collaboratively in a team environment and high integrity and accountability;
           i. Be proficient in PC-based applications such as Word, Excel and data management, and have excellent web research and navigation skills;
           j. Familiarity with IT systems particularly, with accounting/fiscal management information systems is essential; and
          k. Be able to work overtime if required.

D. SUPERVISION AND REPORTING
     ·  The consultant will work in close cooperation with other national consultants and supervise tasks and outputs of the team member.
     ·  The consultant will also work closely with the respective officials of line ministries and central and local budget entities.
     ·  The consultant will be required to carry out his/her tasks in line with the approved CIP which will serve as a basis for measuring progress on desired outcomes and goals for the entire consultancy service.
     ·  The consultant will prepare monthly progress reports detailing the achievements and impediments in executing the entire CIP effectively. These progress reports will be discussed with the Director-General of the TD.

E. CONTRACT DURATION
The consultancy is expected to commence in December 2018. The duration of the assignment is 12 months on a full-time basis.The consultant will be selected in accordance with the World Bank’s Procurement Regulations for IPF Borrowers (July 2016).

If you possess the above qualifications, please submit following documents:
    1. Cover letter indicating why she/he considers her/himself suitable for the position,
    2. Detailed CV highlighting relevant skills/experience,
    3. Copy of diplomas or certificates and,
    4. 2 reference letters from previous last two employers no later than 17:00, December 10, 2018.

The submitted documents will not be returned to the applicants. Please note that incomplete applications would not be considered for evaluation. Only selected candidates will be contacted. Candidates can be interviewed. Detailed terms of reference can be requested from procurement@sffs.mn. Contact address: Attn: Ms.Bayarmaa, Procurement Specialist, Strengthening Fiscal and Financial Stability Project
Room #204, Negdsen undestnii 8/2, 4th khoroo, Chingeltei District, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia; Tel: 70120582

70120582