Finance Specialist - Surge Capacity, Multiple positions

Job categories Finance

Vacancy code VA/2024/B0005/28854

Level ICS-10

Department/office MP, SSC, IPAS

Duty station Home based

Contract type International ICA

Contract level IICA-2

Duration Building a pool of candidates for ongoing opportunities, retainer engagements and short-term engagements

Application period 11-Sep-2024 to 02-Oct-2024

Applications to vacancies must be received before midnight Copenhagen time (CET) on the closing date of the announcement.

Please note that UNOPS will at no stage of the recruitment process request candidates to make payments of any kind.

This vacancy is closed.

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Background Information - Job-specific

Background Information – UNOPS
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
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. We are looking for creative, results-focused professionals with skills in a range of disciplines.

Diversity
With over 5,000 UNOPS personnel and approximately 7,400 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 the recruitment of qualified female candidates.

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

Background Information - IPAS Surge Mechanism:

The Surge Mechanism at UNOPS is designed for the rapid deployment of highly skilled personnel and specialized experts to support offices facing immediate operational needs. This quick mobilization aims to reinforce an office's capacity in urgent, short-term, and often high-risk situations. Managed by the Surge Coordinator, the Surge Team collaborates with various business units to expand and strengthen the mechanism. Currently, the Surge Mechanism focuses on four main support areas:

Operational Support: Filling urgent and unforeseen gaps
Diagnosis: Undertaking analyses and developing action plans.
Turnaround: Providing support in internal crises, working to get current projects or processes back on track.
Emergency Response: Responding to humanitarian and external crises.

In order to meet the needs for surge support at UNOPS, the Surge Team is establishing a Surge Pool of Finance Specialists interested in short-term assignments in various locations. The Finance Specialist will address critical projects and situations, either remotely or on-site, and are expected to be highly mobile and ready to work in various global locations, including challenging environments. Assignments abroad may range from several weeks up to a maximum of three months.

Role of the Finance Specialist:

The ideal candidate will be a Finance Specialist with a strong background in international finance management as well as experience and a proven track record in one or more of the key areas of support mentioned earlier. They should have a sound understanding of international finance management best practices, a strategic mindset, an openness to innovation, and a focus on delivering practical financial solutions to enhance project management and donor relations.

Key qualifications include:

International Perspective: Experience working in a global or international organization, with a focus on project finance.
Advisory Skills: Ability to offer sound financial advice to both management and field personnel.
Initiative Coordination: Experience in leading the development and implementation of global project finance initiatives.
Documentation and Policy Development: Experience in drafting finance-related policy documents, process guidelines, and ensuring their effective rollout across UNOPS offices.
Audit and Liaison: Ability to support audits and coordinate with various teams within the Finance Group, IPAS, and other stakeholders.
Stakeholder Engagement: Competence in engaging with high-level internal and external stakeholders to address financial issues related to project implementation.
Problem Solving: Capability to independently manage and resolve issues related to the application of UNOPS financial policies, working alongside Finance Group and IPAS colleagues.

Summary of Key Functions:

This position provides a unique opportunity to influence UNOPS' approach to project financial management. We seek a Finance Specialist with substantial experience in one or more of the following areas to collaborate with local project finance teams:

Oversight and support
Financial review of project agreements
Cost attribution and recovery
Project cash management
Client financial reporting
Project financial closure
Knowledge management

The successful candidate will play a crucial role in shaping and enhancing UNOPS’ financial practices on a global scale, contributing to effective and sustainable project management.

Functional Responsibilities

1. Oversight support Support with ...

1. Oversight support

Support with expenditure review to ensure cost recovery of the office is secured as well as identifying potential losses
Rethink and improve project finance practices relevant to field offices
Draft finance-related guidance documents
Advise Senior Management of Local Field office on streamlining of recurring activities
Dissemination of best practices, including through outreach to internal and external stakeholders
Review of task distributions and DOAs to align the organizational structure of the field office
Support of the field office with addressing and responding to internal and external audit requests

2. Financial review of project agreements

Engagement review and advisory
Budget review and advisory
Project classification review

3. Cost attribution and cost recovery

Review of local project direct and indirect costs
Oversight and budgeting for full cost recovery through LSS, GSS and ME
Spending limit oversight

4. Project cash management

Provide advice on the use of Operational Advances, Petty Cash, Advance Financing and other cash management modalities

5. Client financial reporting

Review of GL entries to ensure accurate financial reporting
Promotion of best practice ensuring timely reporting

6. Project financial closure

Project review support
Project closure advisory
Preparation of draft final financial reports

7. Knowledge Management

Identify weaknesses in processes and share best practices
Providing access to knowledge for finance activities
Foster understanding of corporate processes to the benefit of the local office
Support with roll out of new practices to field offices

Competencies

Develops and implements sustainable business strategies, thinks long term and ex...

Develops and implements sustainable business strategies, thinks long term and externally in order to positively shape the organization. Anticipates and perceives the impact and implications of future decisions and activities on other parts of the organization.(for levels IICA-2, IICA-3, LICA Specialist- 10, LICA Specialist-11, NOC, NOD, P3, P4 and above)

Treats all individuals with respect; responds sensitively to differences and encourages others to do the same. Upholds organizational and ethical norms. Maintains high standards of trustworthiness. Role model for diversity and inclusion.

Acts as a positive role model contributing to the team spirit. Collaborates and supports the development of others. For people managers only: Acts as positive leadership role model, motivates, directs and inspires others to succeed, utilizing appropriate leadership styles.

Demonstrates understanding of the impact of own role on all partners and always puts the end beneficiary first. Builds and maintains strong external relationships and is a competent partner for others (if relevant to the role).

Efficiently establishes an appropriate course of action for self and/or others to accomplish a goal. Actions lead to total task accomplishment through concern for quality in all areas. Sees opportunities and takes the initiative to act on them. Understands that responsible use of resources maximizes our impact on our beneficiaries.

Open to change and flexible in a fast paced environment. Effectively adapts own approach to suit changing circumstances or requirements. Reflects on experiences and modifies own behavior. Performance is consistent, even under pressure. Always pursues continuous improvements.

Evaluates data and courses of action to reach logical, pragmatic decisions. Takes an unbiased, rational approach with calculated risks. Applies innovation and creativity to problem-solving.

Expresses ideas or facts in a clear, concise and open manner. Communication indicates a consideration for the feelings and needs of others. Actively listens and proactively shares knowledge. Handles conflict effectively, by overcoming differences of opinion and finding common ground.

Education/Experience/Language requirements

Education: Advanced University degree in Business Administration, Finance, ...

Contract type, level and duration

Contract type: International Contractor Agreement Contract level: IICA2/LI...

Additional Information

Please note that UNOPS does not accept unsolicited resumes. Applic...

Please note that UNOPS does not accept unsolicited resumes.
Applications received after the closing date will not be considered.
Please note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process, which involves various assessments.
UNOPS embraces diversity and is committed to equal employment opportunity. Our workforce consists of many diverse nationalities, cultures, languages, races, gender identities, sexual orientations, and abilities. UNOPS seeks to sustain and strengthen this diversity to ensure equal opportunities as well as an inclusive working environment for its entire workforce.
Qualified women and candidates from groups which are underrepresented in the UNOPS workforce are encouraged to apply. These include in particular candidates from racialized and/or indigenous groups, members of minority gender identities and sexual orientations, and people with disabilities.
We would like to ensure all candidates perform at their best during the assessment process. If you are shortlisted and require additional assistance to complete any assessment, including reasonable accommodation, please inform our human resources team when you receive an invitation.

Terms and Conditions

For staff positions only, UNOPS reserves the right to appoint a candidate at a lower level than the advertised level of the post.
For retainer contracts, you must complete a few mandatory courses ( they take around 4 hours to complete) in your own time, before providing services to UNOPS. Refreshers or new mandatory courses may be required during your contract. Please note that you will not receive any compensation for taking courses and refreshers. For more information on a retainer contract here.
All UNOPS personnel are responsible for performing their duties in accordance with the UN Charter and UNOPS Policies and Instructions, as well as other relevant accountability frameworks. In addition, all personnel must demonstrate an understanding of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in a manner consistent with UN core values and the UN Common Agenda.
It is the policy of UNOPS to conduct background checks on all potential personnel. Recruitment in UNOPS is contingent on the results of such checks.

This vacancy is closed.

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APPLICATION TIPS

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TOGETHER, WE BUILD THE FUTURE

UNOPS – an operational arm of the United Nations – supports the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by successfully implementing its partners’ peacebuilding, humanitarian and development projects around the world.

Our mission is to help people build better lives and countries achieve peace and sustainable development.

We are proud of our people. The UNOPS family brings together approximately 160 nationalities, represented by over 5,000 UNOPS personnel as well as some 7,800 personnel recruited on behalf on our partners. Spread across 80 countries, our workforce is rich in diversity and culture – with inclusion at its core.

We understand the importance of balancing professional and personal demands and offer several flexible working options.

Explore what we offer here.