Finance Specialist

Based in Copenhagen, Denmark, the UNOPS Integrated Practice Advice and Support (IPAS) serves all the regions and headquarters, primarily with advice and solutions to everyday implementation challenges. IPAS consists of a diverse team of subject matter experts in the six practice areas of HR, Administration, Legal, Finance, Procurement, Project Management and Infrastructure. IPAS has three main roles:

Support to operations in the field offices: IPAS provides timely advice and supports actively finding of solutions to everyday implementation challenges, based on policy and best practices. It also provides operational support in specific areas.

Business efficiency: IPAS recommends changes to policies, processes and operating standards based on the feedback and experience of the field offices. IPAS also ensures transparent and efficient project implementation, in line with policy and business needs. 

Body of knowledge: IPAS contributes to research and coordination within the policy groups and project practitioners. It provides structured knowledge and subject matter expertise which is used across practice areas to provide coherent and tailored advice to the requesting offices.

Under the Head of IPAS Finance supervision, the incumbent will work closely with Operations Centres and field offices, primarily to provide everyday support and solutions to corporate implementation initiatives. The incumbent will keep a balance between operational implementation efficiencies and policy/rules requirements, and also contribute towards long-term solutions by channeling practical recommendations through the Practice Advisor for improvements in policies and processes for efficient project implementation.

Specific Job Functions:

Financial Advisory Support to UNOPS operations

• Work closely with Operations Centres and field offices to provide solutions to the network of practice specialists and support personnel in the field offices on practice operational matters;
• Solution-oriented support for the development of projects, and the efficient implementation of projects and activities in the region;
• Provide and adapt interpretations to policies and practices;
• Support field offices in developing their annual work plans if need be;
• Provide advice and recommendation on the formulation of project proposals to ensure data accuracy, adherence to corporate standards on pricing, reporting, and that risks have been properly assessed.
• Provide quality input and advice on project proposals, and recommendations on submissions of cases for Committee/Board reviews;
• Approval and processing of regional commitments and transactions;
• Supervision and management of the support personnel within the practice operating within the regional office;
• Coordinate on a daily basis the regional practice teams, and fill any temporary support gap.

Contribute to business efficiency

• Coordinate among management practices and field offices and serve as a bridge to the gap in cross-functional solution provision;
• Contribute with quality advice to the cross-functional initiatives and projects of IPAS towards more coherent and efficient policies, processes and systems;
• Contribute with quality advice to the cross-functional initiatives and projects of IPAS towards more coherent and efficient policies, processes and systems;
• Keep abreast of external developments and best practices and raises recommendations;Develop and prepare regional corporate reports to help assess progress in a timely manner, including keeping an overview of resources and utilization;
• Coordinate and support the field offices in preparation and timely submission of periodic reports;
• Establish and maintain work programme schedules for ongoing commitments/contracts/cases, and a general oversight of the regional activities;
• Help maintain a mechanism and manage on a day-to-day basis the feedback loop with users and other clients on challenges, gaps and possible areas of improvement
• Maintain client feedback/suggestions, as well as a log on recurrent challenges and make suggestions for long-term solutions through policy/process change.

Build and maintain an active body of knowledge

• Contribute with practical knowledge to the enhancements of practice policy developments;
• Actively contributes to global knowledge by maintaining knowledge systems and sharing information and knowledge across the regions;
• Provide training to personnel on processes, rules/policies and systems;
• Contribute to product designs and implementation;
• Recommend solutions and process efficiency initiatives;
• Contribute to the development and maintenance of corporate systems and tools.

Final Product

• Accurate, timely and professional execution of above duties.
• Proactive follow-up on duties and commitments.
• Client satisfaction based on feedback against performance indicators and measurements.

Education:

• Advanced university degree required in Finance, Accounting, Business Administration or similar field. Bachelor’s degree with additional two years relevant work experience will be accepted in lieu of Masters/advanced university degree

Experience

• Minimum 5 years of experience in Finance is required (if in possession of advanced university degree)
• Field experience is highly desirable
• Broader experience within more than one management practice is desirable

Language

• Fluency in English, both written and verbal, required. Knowledge of another UN language such as Spanish or French is desirable

• 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.
• UNOPS seeks to reasonably accommodate candidates with special needs, upon request.
• 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
• UNOPS seeks to reasonably accommodate candidates with special needs, upon request.
• 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 is an operational arm of the United Nations, supporting the successful implementation of its partners’ peacebuilding, humanitarian and development projects around the world. Our mission is to help people build better lives and countries achieve sustainable development.

UNOPS areas of expertise cover infrastructure, procurement, project management, financial management and human resources.

Working with us

UNOPS offers short- and long-term work opportunities in diverse and challenging environments across the globe. We are looking for creative, results-focused professionals with skills in a range of disciplines.

Diversity

With over 4,000 UNOPS personnel and approximately 7,000 personnel recruited on behalf of UNOPS partners spread across 80 countries, our workforce represents a wide range of nationalities and cultures. We promote a balanced, diverse workforce — a strength that helps us better understand and address our partners’ needs, and continually strive to improve our gender balance through initiatives and policies that encourage recruitment of qualified female candidates.

Work life harmonization

UNOPS values its people and recognizes the importance of balancing professional and personal demands.