Head of Business Planning & Analysis

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

UNOPS provides its partners with advisory, implementation and transactional services, with projects ranging from building schools and hospitals, to procuring goods and services and training local personnel. UNOPS works closely with governments and communities to ensure increased economic, social and environmental sustainability for the projects we support, with a focus on developing national capacity.

UNOPS vision is a world where people can live full lives supported by appropriate, sustainable and resilient infrastructure, and by the efficient and transparent use of public resources in procurement and project management.

With over 8,000 personnel spread across 80 countries, UNOPS offers its partners the logistical, technical and management knowledge they need, where they need it.  By implementing around 1,000 projects for our partners at any given time, UNOPS makes significant contributions to results on the ground, often in the most challenging environments.  

The Finance Group (FG) 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, FG 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.

1.     Business planning        

• With the Deputy CFO under the authority and guidance of the CFO, drive the organisation-wide processes for business planning, forecasting, target setting and resource allocation.

• Recommend key assumptions required for annual business planning process.

• Consolidate UNOPS overall budget and present for appropriate approvals.

• Support the Deputy CFO and the CFO in their work with key stakeholders to ensure budgets are appropriate and that action plans are established to achieve the necessary financial outputs.

• Monitor and evaluate the implementation of business plans, highlighting deviations and recommending prompt corrective actions.

• Review investment funding and associated investment proposals and make recommendations for appropriate decision making by senior management.

2.     Corporate advisory·       

• Support and assist the Deputy CFO in advising key stakeholders across the organisation for the development of financial and non-financial KPI's.

• Analyze actual financial results to understand key business drivers and variances to budget/forecast.

• Participate in discussions on the development of UNOPS Strategic Plans and Mid-Term reviews and development results reporting.

• Support and assist the Deputy CFO work with Senior Management to help them better understand financial trends and financial opportunities.

• Support and assist the Deputy CFO in advising UNOPS senior management on corporate performance with the purpose of informing strategic decision making and resource allocation in line with the organizational priorities.

3.     Team leadership        

• Provide substantive input to the CFO and Deputy CFO on FG constant improvement plans.

• Establish team priorities, and supervise the implementation of work plans.

• With the Deputy CFO, set team objectives, performance measurements, standards and results expected to ensure timely and client focused services. Monitor implementation and oversee progress.

• With the Deputy CFO, plan and allocate resources (human, financial and administrative) to achieve goals and ensure the cost effective and appropriate use of resources in accordance with UNOPS standards of ethics, integrity and accountability framework.

• 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.

4.     Knowledge management and innovation        

• Contribute to the development of internal capacity across the organization in terms of business planning.

• Constantly monitor and evaluate policies, procedures, methods, tools and associated systems to ensure its utility, applicability and efficacy.

• Design/approve refinements to processes to maximise the benefits of management information system to enhance efficiency and facilitate organisational/management monitoring, oversight and reporting.

• Lead/organise training events and design/set training agenda to build capacity of stakeholders on business planning. Determine and make available sufficient and expert resources for training events.

 Impact of results

 The responsible and transparent financial analysis and reporting of financial resources to governing bodies, clients, partners and stakeholders enhance the visibility and image of UNOPS as an effective service provider in project services and management and consequently strengthen its competitive position as a partner of choice in sustainable development and project services in the country served.

• A Masters degree in finance, accounting, business administration, economics or other related financial field is required.
• A minimum of 7 years of experience in business/financial planning in a large international organisation or business corporation is required.
• Managerial experience at the international level is required.
• Some experience in UN system organisations an asset.
• Full working knowledge of English.  
• Knowledge of another official UN language is an asset.  

• 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.
• 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.

APPLICANTS SHOULD INCLUDE A MOTIVATION LETTER WITH THEIR APPLICATIONS