Head of Project Finance

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.

The Head of Project Finance reports to the Deputy Chief Financial Officer who provides broad supervision and guidance.  The role is responsible for driving the finance vision of being a true business partner to UNOPS projects, by providing in-depth advice on costing and pricing matters.  This includes advancing UNOPS cost recovery mechanisms and policies and supporting field operations with hands-on project finance accounting.  The role should build a team that operates as a centre of excellence, providing seamless, appropriate, relevant and pro-active project specific reporting.  The role includes facilitating project implementation and closure in close collaboration with the Integrated Practice Advisory Service (IPAS) and providing outreach and training on all things related to project finance.

Summary of functions:

1. Costing and pricing

2. Project implementation and closure

3. Project reporting

4. Team leadership

5. Knowledge management and innovation

1.     Costing and pricing        

• With the Deputy CFO under the authority and guidance of the CFO, drive UNOPS approach to cost distribution and recovery through development, formulation and oversight of implementation of corporate policies, administrative instructions and tools.

• Make recommendations for the development and implementation of funding models of UNOPS structures and identify areas for improvements.

• Contribute to the improvement of UNOPS pricing systems configuration, including fee charging tool, master data and reporting.

• Lead the year-end adjustment for cost recovery, including implementing data quality checks.

• Provide oversight on cost recovery, ensuring projects are charged as per agreement.

• Implement the appropriate systems to ensure oversight of fee postings.

2.     Project implementation and closure        

• Recommend to the Deputy CFO  the development of guidance tools and templates for financial proposals.

• Recommend to the Deputy CFO the development of pro-forma costing tools for budget planning.

• Recommend to the Deputy CFO the establishment of administrative instruction on the administration of project funds.

• Recommend to the Deputy CFO the Development and implementation of appropriate review policies of financial proposal compliance to policies.

• Lead the development of guidance and templates for project closure.

• Review Memorandum of Understanding (MOU’s) for financial aspects.

• Implement appropriate monitoring systems of overspend for implementation projects.

• Work in close collaboration with IPAS to ensure the effectiveness of project implementation and closure policies and tools.

3.     Project reporting       

• Lead the development of guidance tools and templates for project financial statements.

• Develop and implement the systems to evaluate recovery performance per service/client (by cost and fee).

• Prepare and submit annual management declaration for EU projects

• Lead the development of status reports and projections for cost driver development and recovery.  This includes supporting the Quarterly Business Review and annual Business Planning processes.

• Ensure quality project finance inputs are provided for final Financial Statements.

• Accountable for reporting quality and continuous adjustments to stakeholders needs as well as timeliness. Ensure smooth coordination to all stakeholders internally and externally to achieve this goal. Maintain a dashboard on reporting quality, improvements and timeliness.

4.     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.

5.     Knowledge management and innovation        

• Contribute to the development of internal capacity across the organization in terms of project finance.

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

• Recommend, set and/or develop new policies and procedures and introduce innovation and best practices in business operations to enhance services.

• 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 project finance. 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 the 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 financial analysis and reporting 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.