The Position:

The Chief, Accounts and Financial Management position is part of the Finance Branch of the Division for Management Services. The Finance Branch is responsible for leading global finance, including financial operations management, key financial and accounting policies and processes, accounting and treasury services; overseeing improvement efforts in areas of financial operations; ensuring the ERP and related financial systems are configured and functioning to manage, monitor and report on key financial processes and information, and that the Financial Statements are prepared based on the International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSAS). The Branch also plays a key role in the custody and distribution of financial resources, the monitoring of expenditures, and producing statutory, financial management and donor reporting.

How you can make a difference:

UNFPA is the lead UN agency for delivering a world where every pregnancy is wanted, every childbirth is safe and every young person’s potential is fulfilled. UNFPA’s strategic plan (2022-2025), reaffirms the relevance of the current strategic direction of UNFPA and focuses on three transformative results: to end preventable maternal deaths; end unmet need for family planning; and end gender-based violence and harmful practices. These results capture our strategic commitments on accelerating progress towards realizing the ICPD and SDGs in the Decade of Action leading up to 2030. Our strategic plan calls upon UN Member States, organizations and individuals to “build forward better”, while addressing the negative impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic on women’s and girls’ access to sexual and reproductive health and reproductive rights, recover lost gains and realize our goals.

In a world where fundamental human rights are at risk, we need principled and ethical staff, who embody these international norms and standards, and who will defend them courageously and with full conviction.

UNFPA is seeking candidates that transform, inspire and deliver high impact and sustained results; we need staff who are transparent, exceptional in how they manage the resources entrusted to them and who commit to deliver excellence in programme results.

Job Purpose:

The Chief, Accounts and Financial Management will oversee the Accounting and Payments Unit (APU), the Data Management Unit (DMU), the Statutory Reporting Unit (SRU) and the Revenue and Donor Reporting Unit (RDRU) and work in partnership with other units of the Finance Branch (Global Monitoring and Advisory Team, Shared Service Unit (SSU) as well as the Information Technology Solutions Office (ITSO), the Resource Mobilization Branch (RMB), the Supply Chain Management Unit (SCMU), and colleagues in field offices. You will report directly to the Chief, Finance Branch. This role ensures an efficient and effective financial operations framework is in place, including policies, systems and processes that are aligned with UNFPA’s mission and regulations and enable an agile operating environment.

You would be responsible for:

1. Strategic management and HR management

• Provide strategic and timely advice to the Chief, Finance Branch on high priority technical areas and staff engagement, and deputize as needed.
• Actively participate in leadership of the broader DMS Management Team as part of the Branch Senior Management Team.
• Contribute to the strategic direction of the Finance Branch and facilitate and report on an inclusive branch annual workplan in line with the UNFPA Strategic Plan.
• Oversee and manage the DMU, SRU, APU and RDRU teams, including performance management, career progression and professional growth of team members.
• Participate in the UNFPA Headquarters Risk Committee and other corporate and /or UN interagency initiatives as required.

2. Partnerships, Knowledge management, Communication and Training

• Maintain active and positive relationships with key partners for the Finance branch, including ITSO, RMB, SCMU, and the wider UNFPA operations community.
• Provide quality guidance to field offices and HQ Units; and oversee the Branch responsiveness through the global service desk.
• Contribute to communication, training and knowledge transfer within the branch and more broadly within UNFPA on financial and accounting management, including IT systems under the purview of the Finance Branch.

3. Innovation, Policy, Process and systems efficiency

Working with the Team Leads:

• Oversee branch business efficiency and effectiveness innovations with an emphasis on management by exception and technology solutions.
• Ensure the ERP and related systems are adapted for new IPSAS standards adopted by UNFPA.
• Maintain the policies of the Finance Branch, and update as required, including for accounting policy.

4. Financial Accounting, Period end closure activities and Statutory Reporting,

Represent the Finance Branch in working fora, including the UN Task Force on Accounting Standards.

Working with the Team Leads:

• As the owner of the UNFPA General Ledger, ensure the regular analysis and adjustment of general ledger accounts within materiality.
• Implement second line of defense controls in financial management and accounting within the UNFPA risk and control framework.
• Monitor the periodic, synchronized financial closure of all ERP modules.
• Lead the organization wide periodic financial closure processes.
• Oversee and quality assure the UNFPA Financial Statement preparation process in accordance with the International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSAS), ensure statutory deadlines are met.
• Produce required Executive Board report/s under the purview of the Finance Branch.
• Oversee external financial reporting such as for the UN Chief Executive Board, (CEB), Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), as well as annual certified donor reporting in line with donor agreements.
• Oversee the branch engagement with the external auditors, including timely response and resolution to audit queries and recommendations under the purview of the Finance Branch.

5. Treasury management including cash flow, banking, foreign currency and investments.

Working with the RDRU Team lead:

• Oversee the relationship with the UN Agency providing treasury services to UNFPA in accordance with the Service Level Agreement, including cash flow, foreign currency and investment management.
• Oversee the banking operations of UNFPA, including resolution of cash flow and banking issues in humanitarian and complex operating contexts.
• Lead the ongoing exploration and innovation of technologies in the banking sector and with other UN Agencies for digital payments and other disbursement solutions

6. Business continuity management

Working with the APU and RDRU Team leads

• Oversee the Finance Branch business continuity activities and service provision to select HQ and liaison offices including accounts payable, petty cash, supplier maintenance and deposit application; and monitor the performance of the outsourced supplier management company process.
• Oversee the provision of quality assured data and data sets as required.

7. Other duties

• Perform other duties as required by UNFPA Leadership and / or branch Chief.

Qualifications and Experience:

Education:

Advanced university degree in Finance, Accounting, or a related field is required.

Knowledge and Experience:

• At least 10 years of progressively responsible experience in financial management or accounting positions at multinational organizations, with a minimum of 5 years in supervisory roles.
• Progressively responsible experience of supervision ofstaff and positive engagement and relationship management with field based colleagues and headquarters focal points.
• Demonstrated experience developing and implementing practical and risk based financial policies and procedures, managing a positive change environment including communication and training.
• Demonstrated experience in financial accounting and reporting in accordance with International Public Sector Accounting Standards or International Financial Reporting Standards.
• Experience in maintaining and managing ERP system applications, preferably Oracle, including the development and use of data reporting and analytics tools.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills. Able to solicit and listen to client feedback, design business processes to balance control needs and efficiency and to translate business requirements into logical systems specifications.
• In-depth understanding of financial management and operations processes in the United Nations, including complex development and humanitarian locations, is desirable

Languages:

Fluency in English; knowledge of other official UN languages, especially French, is highly desirable.

Required Competencies:

Values:

• Exemplifying integrity,
• Demonstrating commitment to UNFPA and the UN system,
• Embracing cultural diversity,
• Embracing change

Core Competencies:

• Achieving results,
• Being accountable,
• Developing and applying professional expertise/business acumen,
• Thinking analytically and strategically,
• Working in teams/managing ourselves and our relationships,
• Communicating for impact.

Functional Competencies:

• Managing the organization’s financial resources ,
• Developing ICT applications,
• Managing teams for performance,
• Implementing change for impact

Managerial Competencies:

• Providing strategic vision and focus;
• Engaging internal/external partners and stakeholders;
• Leading, developing and empowering people/creating a culture of performance;
• Making decisions and exercising judgment.

Compensation and Benefits:

This position offers an attractive remuneration package including a competitive net salary plus health insurance and other benefits as applicable.

UNFPA Work Environment:

UNFPA provides a work environment that reflects the values of gender equality, diversity, integrity and healthy work-life balance. We are committed to ensuring gender parity in the organization and therefore encourage women to apply. Individuals from the LGBTQIA+ community, minority ethnic groups, indigenous populations, persons with disabilities, and other underrepresented groups are highly encouraged to apply. UNFPA promotes equal opportunities in terms of appointment, training, compensation and selection for all regardless of personal characteristics and dimensions of diversity. Diversity, Equity and Inclusion is at the heart of UNFPA’s workforce – click here to learn more.

Disclaimer:

Selection and appointment may be subject to background and reference checks, medical clearance, visa issuance and other administrative requirements.

UNFPA does not charge any application, processing, training, interviewing, testing or other fee in connection with the application or recruitment process and does not concern itself with information on applicants’ bank accounts.

Applicants for positions in the international Professional and higher categories, who hold permanent resident status in a country other than their country of nationality, may be required to renounce such status upon their appointment.