Chief Financial Officer and Comptroller

The Finance Practice Group (FPG) is a critical and strategic business function in UNOPS and serves as an authoritative and integrated partner in the organization on strategic financial planning and budgeting, business strategy and practices, financial analysis and risk assessment, financial management services and long term organisational treasury and investments.  As the steward of resources of a self-financing UN entity, the FPG is accountable for timely cost recovery and reporting to partners, maintaining the integrity and transparency of financial management of resources in accordance with the highest standards of ethics and organisational/international accountability framework and the accurate and transparent financial reporting to governing bodies, clients, partners and stakeholders.

The Chief Financial Officer and Comptroller (CFO) is one of the senior-most leaders within UNOPS, provides strategic and operational guidance to the Executive Office and all business units in UNOPS on financial and risk management.

Summary of functions:

1. Strategic advisory services
2. Financial leadership
3. Financial management and control
4. Financial information and reporting
5. Knowledge management and innovation

1.  Strategic advisory services

• Contribute to the formulation of UNOPS overall strategies and policies through advisory services to the Executive Director and Deputy Executive Director and participation in the senior management group on current and future business operations and strategy development and planning.  
• As a member of the senior management team, ensure the strategic alignment of financial management policies and services with the business goals of UNOPS, sustaining the organisation's ability to adapt and respond to the external environment.
• Serve as the lead internal advocate for prudent management and growth of financial assets and build an informed and shared management engagement on financial issues, by advocating the value of linking financial and operational information for decision-making purposes.
• Provide the senior management team with timely and accurate management reports, strategic advice and proposals to ensure the immediate and longer term implications, opportunities and risks of business decisions are fully considered, and aligned with the organisation’s financial strategy.
• Ensure the Executive Director and Deputy Executive Director are kept informed of issues, trends, and changes which are relevant to the operation of an efficient finance function.
• Act as an integral member of the UNOPS senior management team, providing financial and nonfinancial information, to support the board’s decision making.

2.  Financial Leadership

• Lead and empower the Finance Practice Group in the design and delivery of an integrated platform of services, which ensures highly responsive service to clients, management and project staff while safeguarding the integrity of financial systems and resource liquidity in accordance with UNOPS policies.
• Assess the performance and efficacy of financial services and take decisions and/or recommend to the Executive Director and Deputy Executive Director major changes and/or alignment in operations to enhance and/or maintain efficacy. 
• Promote teamwork and collaboration by providing the team with clear direction, objectives and guidance to enable them to perform their duties responsibly, effectively and efficiently.
• Plan, recruit and develop a flexible workforce with the skills and competencies needed to ensure optimum performance, and ensure gender and geographical diversity.
• Foster a positive work environment, respectful of both men and women, and ensure that the highest standards of conduct are observed.

3.  Financial Management and Control

• Lead the implementation of financial policies that capture developments in financial management, promoting the comparative advantage of UNOPS and demonstrating effective stewardship of resources to clients and donors.
• Ensure that systems and processes for financial administration, financial control and protection of the organisation’s resources and assets are in place and designed in conformity with appropriate ethical standards and monitor their continuing effectiveness in practice.
• Review and maintain a well-organised, competent global organisational structure of the Finance Practice as well as highly efficient internal financial processes at all times.
• Ensure the maintenance of an effective financial management infrastructure that extends to all Regions and is responsive and adaptable to the varied business initiatives pursued by UNOPS.
• Champion financial risk management by promoting innovation in financial controls, policies and risk mitigation mechanisms.
• Provide recommendations based on analysis of various audit and other information to enhance financial policies and to implement necessary changes that will strengthen the financial capacity and controls throughout the organisation.

4.  Financial Information and reporting

• Lead the development and implementation of the UNOPS strategic budget process, providing guidance, support, analysis and input to stakeholders throughout, articulating important financial issues and proposing appropriate solutions.
• Consolidate the overall budget for UNOPS, guiding and influencing organizational decision making to focus available resources on the most critical strategic priorities.
• Monitor, evaluate and communicate budgetary performance through quarterly reporting to the Executive Office, and through the interim or mid-year review process.
• Provide oversight of UNOPS financial accounting and reporting activities, including annual budget development and implementation.
• Ensure statutory financial statements are accurate and prepared in compliance with the International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSAS).
• Endorse all financial reports submitted to senior management, including reports submitted to legislative bodies and for certification by the United Nations Board of Auditors, in compliance with all applicable financial regulations, rules, procedures and accounting standards.
• Drive improvements to the organisation’s overall financial system and to ensure that the maximum benefit of management information is obtained.

5.  Knowledge Management and Innovation

• Lead the development and introduction of innovation to ensure UNOPS is continually incorporating best practices approaches in the delivery of project services.
• Ensure the dissemination and sharing of best practices and lessons learned for corporate development planning and knowledge building.
• Establish priorities, in consultation with the Executive Director, for targeted investments in growth and innovation and as a member of the UNOPS global management team, contribute to identification and implementation of innovation and continuous improvement in support of organisational excellence and world-class performance.

Impact of Results

The Chief Financial Officer directly impacts the effective management and financial integrity of UNOPS through the effective stewarding of organisational resources, maintaining appropriate controls and integrity of financial management in accordance with relevant international standards, enabling prudent management and growth of financial assets and building an informed and shared management engagement on financial issues in support of the UNOPS overall strategy.

Core competencies:

• Demonstrates integrity by modeling the UN’s values and ethical standards.
• Promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of UNOPS.
• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability.
• Treats all people fairly without favoritism.

Functional competencies:

• Defines and articulates a clear vision and priorities and aligns the strategic priorities of the unit with the direction and strategic priorities of the organization.
• Role models energetic, determined, positive, robust and resilient leadership, able to inspire confidence and respect, and exemplify high standards of conduct.
• Adopts a flexible leadership style, able to move through visioning to implementation and collaboration/consultation to challenge as appropriate.
• Builds robust relationships both internally and externally.
• Supports collective ownership of strategy, risks and delivery.
• Communicates ideas and concept in writing and orally, clearly and convincingly.
• Addresses and deals effectively with difficult situations.
• Implements best practice in change management and leadership.

Education

• A Master’s degree in finance, accounting, business administration, or other related financial field is required.
• A professional qualification such as CA or CPA is required.

Experience

• A minimum of 10 years of experience with an exceptional track record of progressively responsible leadership experience in financial management and accounting.
• Knowledge of IPSAS, IFRS or GAAP is required.
• Previous experience as a CFO of a large organization, leading strategic risk management and investment strategies is highly desirable.
• Strong commercial acumen derived through private sector experience would also be an advantage.
• Solid experience in risk management from a business and economical perspective.

• Full working knowledge of English.
• Knowledge of another official UNOPS language is an asset.

• Please note that the closing date is midnight Copenhagen time (CET)
• 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.
• 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.