REQUEST FOR EXPRESSION OF INTEREST

Mongolia has 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 .
Good accounting and financial reporting practices, which meet the international standards, can serve as the basis for good governance and for provision of high-quality financial information to users of financial statements (government, citizens, development partners, international investors, etc.). Mongolia has been working for 20 years with the support from international donor organizations to achieve compliance with the international accounting and auditing standards since the requirements were legalized in 1993. The most recent amendments to the Accounting Law in 2015 as well as the approval of the Integrated Budget Law in 2011 reinforced the requirement to comply with the international standards, particularly the International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSAS) for the public sector.
The IPSASs were translated from English to Mongolian in 2011 and the translated standards are applied in public sector accounting practices. Since the initial translation of the standards, there are ongoing efforts to update the translation given that there have been significant changes to them and many additional standards were newly issued. Upon updating the translation of the ISPAS standards, there is also the need to organize the relevant training (including training of trainers) on IPSAS within the framework of improvements envisioned in public sector accounting and the related efforts under the SFFSP.     

OBJECTIVE OF THE ASSIGNMENT
The objective of the assignment is to provide functional support to the Accounting Policy Department of the Ministry of Finance (APD, MOF) on organization of training activities under the SFFSP towards strengthening the public sector accounting and auditing capacity.  The assignment will include tasks to organize the training, workshops and discussions for the public sector accounting personnel planned under the SFFSP in 2019 and analyze the current accounting curriculums of universities and institutes that grant professional accounting degrees.

SCOPE OF WORK
Key responsibilities under this assignment will include, but not be limited to, the following tasks:
Task 1: Organize the training, workshops and discussions for the public sector accounting personnel planned for 2019:
-    Prepare for and organize logistics for the training events in accordance with the approved training plan by:
     o    Contracting with relevant officials responsible for management of the training halls where the envisioned training and workshops are to be held;
     o    Contacting partner organizations and their representatives who are involved in those training the workshops;
     o    Revising, editing, translating (as deemed appropriate) and printing the training and workshop materials; and
     o    Archiving hard and soft copies of all training and workshop materials for MOF’s future reference and use;
-    Assist in organizing discussions and consultations on the draft documents produced by consultants under the SFFSP amongst specialists in the field and relevant stakeholders towards obtaining comments and inputs for finalizations;
-    Manage the training logistics on the ground;
-    Prepare and translate training reports as required by the Project Implementation Unit;
-    Facilitate organization of a study tour for the APD, MOF to help the relevant officials gain knowledge and information on good practices on developing and running successful training programs on the international standards; and
-    Provide written translation support to the international consultant, as a trainer of trainers in submitting his/her deliverables.
Task 2: Analyze the current accounting curriculums of universities and institutes that grant professional accounting degrees:
1.    Conduct an analysis on the current accounting curriculums of institutes and universities, assess how well the curriculums meet or support the intended outcomes and provide recommendations for revising the existing accounting programs;
2.    Complete curriculum mapping and analysis to allow the APD identify gaps where outcomes are currently not being achieved, and curricular redundancies where topics are taught in multiple courses without a clear rationale for the overlap;
3.    Collaborate with the APD colleagues in formulating revisions to the curriculum design, training delivery and evaluation; and
4.    Respond to the tasks related to ad hoc consultations carried out by the APD, and perform any other tasks as reasonably assigned by the Director-General of the APD.
 
DELIVERABLES
Based on the contracted assignment and detailed contract implementation plan approved by the client, the consultant’s deliverables will be as follows (an implementation plan shall be submitted within 3 working days after commencement of the assignment):
1.    Preparation work carried out and establishment of a contract for the training for trainers (including for the enrollment of selected university professors in the certified online training organized by CIPFA) in accordance with the long-term plan to fully implement the IPSAS;
2.    Preparation work carried out and report on the workshops on current issues within the context of the mid-term strategy for public sector accounting and audit development with the main stakeholders including accountancy experts, university professors, financial department heads of general budget governors;
3.    Preparation work carried out and reports on the training for trainers organized in connection with the revised translation of the IPSAS for universities, professional non-government organizations, selected members of the Accounting and Auditing Standard Board and chief accountants of general budget governors;
4.    Preparation work carried out for the workshop on the results and final draft of the pilot study related to preparing public sector consolidated financial statements involving chief accountants, accounting specialists of general budget governors and auditors;
5.    Preparation work carried out and training materials prepared to introduce the newly translated IPSAS for the purpose of improving the financial reporting quality of budget entities, state-owned enterprises and enterprises with less than 90% state-ownership for accountants, accounting specialists and auditors in 10 aimags and Ulaanbaatar;
6.    Preparation work and training contract of overseas training to help build capacity for the APD staff;
7.    Preparation work and training materials of training for the APD, SRC, MNAO and the AASB, who conduct audit quality control review;
8.    Preparation work and final report on the results of the Audit Quality Control Review involving auditors comprising directors, partners, managers and auditors of local and international audit firms. Collaborate with the international expert in carrying out the work;
9.    An analysis report on the current accounting curriculums of institutes and universities including assessment on how well the curriculums meet or support those outcomes and recommendations for revising the existing accounting programs;
10.    Reports of all training and workshops organized including registrations of participants, comments given by participants and consultants;
11.    Written translation of the international consultant’s deliverables; and
12.    Input to the Monthly Progress Report of the project as it relates to this assignment.
The Consultant will receive formal feedback and comments on each deliverable within a week after submission.

CONSULTANT’S QUALIFICATIONS/SELECTION CRITERIA

Education and Knowledge:
1.    A suitable candidate must have a bachelor’s degree in a relevant field e.g. business administration, accounting and/or finance; and
2.    Professional qualifications such as ACCA/CPA or similar will be considered as an advantage.

Language skills:
3.    Good skills of writing and comprehending in Mongolian and English.
Experience and other skills:
4.    Incumbent should have at least 3 years of direct experience in the accounting and finance fields;
5.    Previous experience in project management and/or teaching/lecturing is preferred;
6.    Former Teaching Assistants and/or Assistant Professors who have helped design training content, developed tests and prepared relevant training materials will be preferred.
7.    Excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to function effectively and collaboratively in a team environment and high integrity and accountability;
8.    Strong organizational skills with the proven ability to manage multiple tasks at once;
9.    Be proficient in PC-based applications such as Word, Excel and data management, and have excellent web research and navigation skills;

INSTITUTIONAL ARRANGEMENTS
MOF will provide an office space and equipment for the consultant. The Consultant will have access to all the necessary data/information. The Consultant will work in close cooperation with the other national consultants.

The Client will appoint officials to monitor the contract implementation. Appointed MOF officials will be responsible for the coordination of activities under the Contract, for reviewing and accepting Deliverables to be submitted by the Consultant.

SUPERVISION AND REPORTING
The Consultant will report directly to the Director-General of the APD of MOF and will work on a daily basis with officials appointed by the APD on technical matters relevant to the assignment.  

CONTRACT DURATION
The consultant’s assignment is expected to commence in April 2019. The duration of the assignment is for 10.5 months. 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, March 29, 2019.

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