Financial Manager

Cities Alliance, which is hosted by UNOPS, is a global partnership for the promotion of cities in poverty reduction and sustainable development. Headquartered in Brussels and supported by a Secretariat, it is a unique partnership with a diverse membership including – global organisations of local authorities, national governments, international non-governmental organisations, foundations, knowledge networks and multilateral organisations – which have come together to strengthen both impacts and coherence in urban development. Cities Alliance is a global leader, with a strong track record in grant making, that supports strategic city planning, slum upgrading strategies and national policies designed to make cities more inclusive and sustainable. Members promote longer-term and integrated work programmes, while actively promoting gender equality throughout all activities. Through UNOPS, the Cities Alliance operates a Multi-Donor Fund supported by an efficient, flexible grant-making mechanism with global reach.

Cities Alliance is implementing its 2018-2021 Strategic Plan, with a recalibrated business model combining a Global window for normative work and a Country/City window for operations across Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean, and the MENA region.

To support implementation of the Strategic Plan, the Cities Alliance Secretariat is being strengthened to drive organisational maturity and operational excellence, to ensure strong coordination, organisational alignment and coherence, and to foster and ensure financial sustainability.

All funds to the Cities Alliance are managed through a multi-donor fund, a flexible instrument to manage funds from diverse sources and award grants, with robust fiduciary standards, to different entities across the globe from international institutions to grassroots community organisations.

Cities Alliance is seeking a highly motivated, dynamic and technically skilled Financial Manager who will have the following key responsibilities:

1. Oversee the financial management and ensure robust fiduciary controls and compliance across all Cities Alliance operations, using UNOPS systems. 
2. Oversee all resource mobilisation efforts to ensure sound business decisions in relation to financial sustainability and business development opportunities and targets.
3. Lead all exercises related to financial planning and ensure all projects and programmes are fully costed and financial reporting conditions and requirements for donors are fulfilled.
4. Oversee, manage and motivate staff with financial roles and responsibilities.
5. Ensure effective and efficient management of all resources to drive organisational maturity and operational excellence.

1. Financial management and sustainability

• Oversee all aspects of financial management to ensure the financial sustainability of Cities Alliance annual and multi-year work plans and programmes. 
• Lead and implement all exercises related to financial planning, and ensure all projects and programmes are fully costed, feasible from a financial perspective and include risk mitigation mechanisms e.g. for currency fluctuations.
• Lead budgeting exercises for the preparation of the Annual Work Plan and Budget, in close consultation with the Management Team, and ensure alignment with the 4-year Strategic Plan, income scenarios and funding projections.
• Monitor expenditure against approved budgets and track execution against expected programme delivery.
• Report regularly to the Management Team on Cities Alliance finances, make recommendations on the most appropriate course of action and ensure timely decisions are taken and implemented.
• Oversee and ensure that all expected income is received according to agreed timeframes. Ensure all new contribution agreements align with the Strategic Plan, are consistent with Cities Alliance financial management of all funding types e.g. membership fee, unearmarked and earmarked contributions, and respect corporate templates for legal instruments.
• Establish robust plans to ensure cashflows align with multi-year programme delivery commitments and ensure mechanisms are in place to address deviations.
• Advise and support the Management Team and Regional/Country/Task Managers with business development based on multi-year income projections and targets. Review and assess feasibility of all new budget proposals to support sound business decisions.
• Develop standard unit costs (for the set up and running) of key elements in the Strategic Plan e.g. country/city programmes, thematic programmes to guide staff involved in business development and annual work plans.
• Oversee the preparation of annual plans for HR, grants, and procurement consistent with the Strategic Plan and the Annual Work Plan and Budget approved by members.

2. Fiduciary control and member/donor reporting

• Ensure robust fiduciary controls and compliance with UNOPS polices and rules and the Cities Alliance Standard Operating Procedures. 
• Oversee and ensure appropriate and sound decisions are taken to uphold the highest of standards related to the management of the Cities Alliance grant facility.
• Take responsibility for all financial reporting requirements to ensure fulfilment of donor conditions, through robust planning and close coordination with colleagues.
• Present the overall financial situation to members of the Cities Alliance Management Board which convenes twice each year.
• Review official UNOPS financial statements and other financial reporting prepared by the Portfolio Management Team in ECR/Geneva before transmission to donors.
• Review and negotiate Grant Agreements, and amendments, with grantees (NGOs, other non-state and state actors, UN and other multilateral institutions).
• Review the analytical and accounting key used by Cities Alliance periodically to ensure it aligns with the Strategic Plan, facilitates financial monitoring and reporting on the Annual Workplan, and supports the Secretariat in the analysis of its business activity and cost drivers.
• Lead the preparation of the Cities Alliance Programme Audit conducted every two years by UNOPS independent auditors. Ensure members, donors, the UNOPS Internal Audit and Investigations Group (IAIG) are consulted and informed as appropriate. Liaise closely with the Portfolio Management team in ECR/Geneva and facilitate access to all information held by the Secretariat. Prepare the Management Response and implement all follow-up actions required, including reporting to the Cities Alliance Management Board.

Advanced university degree (Masters or equivalent) in business and/or financial management. A first level university degree with additional relevant experience related to the responsibilities of the position may be accepted in lieu of an advanced university degree.

• At least ten (10) years of professional work experience in business administration and financial management in public and/or private sector is required.
• Experience of working for UNOPS, the UN, and/or multilateral development institutions/banks is an asset.
• Previous work experience with grant making organisations and grant making processes is an asset.
• At least 5 years’ experience in dealing with large financial/ERP systems.

Fluency in  English is required. Working knowledge of  French is an asset.

• A professional qualification such as Chartered Accountant or Certified Public Accountant is required.
• PRINCE2 Foundation or a similar project management certification (i.e. PMBOK, PMI) is an advantage.

• Strong analytical and financial management skills required to plan and projectise all resources using sound costing methodologies and principles and maximising the use of analytical accounting keys in an ERP to allocate, monitor and report on resources for senior managers, members and donors. 
• Demonstrated ability to present and communicate effectively and with credibility to a range of stakeholders on financial issues.
• Experience in leading, managing, and motivating direct and indirect reports and ensuring compliance with policies, rules and procedures.
• Previous experience in organisational reforms to streamline processes for organisational efficiency and capacity to train staff on use of systems and processes. 

• Please note that the closing date is midnight Copenhagen time
• Applications received after the closing date will not be considered.
• Only those candidates that are short-listed for interviews will be notified.
• Qualified female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.
• Work life harmonization - UNOPS values its people and recognizes the importance of balancing professional and personal demands. We have a progressive policy on work-life harmonization and offer several flexible working options. This policy applies to UNOPS personnel on all contract types
• For staff positions only, UNOPS reserves the right to appoint a candidate at a lower level than the advertised level of the post
• The incumbent is responsible to abide by security policies, administrative instructions, plans and procedures of the UN Security Management System and that of UNOPS.  

It is the policy of UNOPS to conduct background checks on all potential recruits/interns.
Recruitment/internship in UNOPS is contingent on the results of such checks.

UNOPS supports the successful implementation of its partners’ peacebuilding, humanitarian and development projects around the world. Our mission is to serve people in need by expanding the ability of the United Nations, governments and other partners to manage projects, infrastructure and procurement in a sustainable and efficient manner.

Working in some of the world’s most challenging environments, our vision is to advance sustainable implementation practices, always satisfying or surpassing our partners’ expectations.

With over 7,000 personnel spread across 80 countries, UNOPS offers its partners the logistical, technical and management knowledge they need, wherever they need it.

A flexible structure and global reach means that we can quickly respond to our partners' needs, while offering the benefits of economies of scale.