Deputy Head of Finance- Operations

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.

With over 7,000 personnel spread across 80 countries, UNOPS offers its partners the logistical, technical and management knowledge they need, wherever they need it.

A flexible structure and global reach means that we can quickly respond to our partners' needs, while offering the benefits of economies of scale.

1. Implementation of operational and financial management strategies

Ensures the implementation of operational and financial management strategies, focusing on the achievement of the following results:

• Plan, guide and manage finance operations including Treasury, Accounts Payable, Budget and Quality assurance processes.
• Advice to senior management on strategic financial resources management
• Authoritative interpretation of requirements for handling transactions advice and guidance concerning UNOPS’ financial practices and rules.
• Operational efficiency of the managerial or accounting aspects of the areas managed. Continuous analysis and monitoring of the financial situation, presentation of forecasts for projects.
• Development/review of office standard operating procedures, guidelines and control of workflows, implement effective internal controls and accounting for efficient delivery of financial services and safeguarding of the organization’s assets.
• Full compliance with financial activities, financial recording/reporting system and audit follow up with UN/UNOPS rules, regulations, policies and strategies and IPSAS standards.
• Implementation of the effective internal control, proper design and functioning of the financial resources management system. Periodical review of internal control and procedures
• Performance of appropriate role in Enterprise system for transactions approvals and bank reconciliation.
• Approvals authority of pending disbursements (cheques, bank transfers, EFT) and bank reconciliations.
• Proper planning, expenditure tracking and audit of financial resources, including extra-budgetary income in accordance with UNOPS rules and regulations
• Control of the workflows in the Finance Unit.
• Elaboration of the framework and conditions of contributions within the Business Unit’s resources mobilization efforts
• Elaboration and implementation of cost saving and reduction strategies.
• Monitoring of financial exception reports for unusual activities, transactions, and investigates anomalies or unusual transactions.
• Informs supervisors and other UNOPS staff at Headquarters of the results of the investigation when satisfactory answers are not obtained.
• Conduct risk assessments on finance operations and propose mitigating actions to senior management
• Contribute to the preparation and act as focal point for financial operations for annual audits and other assurance processes performed for MMOC, and ensure the implementations of audit recommendations.
• Support the Head of Finance in the implementation of the MMOC Finance strategic plans and overall contribution to the achievement of MMOC strategic plan.
• Establish and monitor the achievement of tactical and operational plans and regularly report to the FMO on performance indicators in the form of a regularly updated dashboard allowing tracking the team’s and individual team members performance.

2. Budget management and organization of the cost-recovery system

Manages the budgets and organizes an optimal cost-recovery system focusing on achievement of the following results:

• Financial resources management through planning, guiding, controlling the resources in accordance with UNOPS rules and regulations.
• Preparation and monitoring of budgets of management projects.
• Ensure preparation, submission and approval of the office operating budget (LMDC), review recovery process; regular reporting and analysis, monitoring of expenditures and propose when necessary improvement in allocation practices for MMOC shared resources.
• Establishment of the development projects’ budgets preparation/modification monitoring system, control of budgetary status versus authorized spending limits (ASL) and budgets delivery levels.
• Sending project budget to KK if authorized by the Senior Management (can be done only on the basis of signed documents and project budgets).
• Elaboration of proper mechanisms to eliminate deficiencies in budget management.
• Preparation of cost-recovery bills in Enterprise system for the services provided by UNOPS

• Ensures proper control of  accounts focusing on achievement of the following  results in compliance with IPSAS and UNOPS policies and procedures:
• Elaboration of the internal expenditures’ control system which ensures that vouchers processed are matched and completed, transactions are correctly recorded and posted in Enterprise system; payrolls; accounts reconciliations are duly prepared; , travel claims and other entitlements are duly processed, receipting of goods and services and establishment of accruals are properly done
• Ensure data quality and control of the accounts by performing ongoing review, analysis and reconciliation of accounts.
• Manager level in Enterprise system
• Control of accounts closure and opening
• Timely corrective actions on unposted vouchers, including the vouchers with budget check errors, match exceptions, unapproved vouchers. Timely response to HQ requests to resolve financial data issues.
• Control of the Accounts Receivables for UNOPS projects and maintenance of the General Ledger

4.  Cash Management

Ensures proper cash management  focusing on achievement of the following results:

• Contribute to the preparation of long-term cash flow forecasts and conduct monthly reviews of cash position for local accounts to ensure sufficient funds on hand for disbursements. Timely identification and recording of receipts for income application.

• Monitoring of financial exception reports for unusual activities, transactions and investigation of anomalies or unusual transactions. Provision of information to supervisors and other UNOPS staff at HQ on the results of the investigation when satisfactory answers are not obtained.

• Daily review of zero-balance account bank statements in Enterprise system to monitor imprest level; identification and record of contributions.
• Primary contact with local bank management on routine operational matters including negotiation of exchange rate on replenishments.
• Member of bank signatory panel.
• Timely and accurate approval of bank reconciliation, including a documented review of exceptions.
• Initiation of bank transfers and deals, selecting bank transfers and deals for approval and settlement.
• Performing Paycycle manager role in Enterprise system
• Timely preparation of monthly cashflow forecast for use by Treasury team. Liaison with UN Agencies and projects’ Budgeting and Reporting officers to obtain an estimate of their cash requirements.
• Cash disbursements made on sites.

5.Team Management

• Facilitate the engagement and provision of high-quality results and services of the team supervised through effective recruitment, work planning, performance management, coaching, and promotion of learning and development.
• Provide oversight, ensuring compliance with team members with existing policies and best practices.
• Continuous assessment of the performance and effectiveness of financial services and make decisions and recommend to the Financial Management Officer changes and/or corrective actions in the team structure and/or finance operations to enhance and maintain effectiveness in changing the environment.
• Work under the guidance of the FMO towards the design, planning and orientation of the Finance team key performance indicators aligned with the MMOC finance strategic plan.

6.  Knowledge building and knowledge sharing

• Organize, facilitate and deliver training and learning initiatives for personnel on finance related topics.
• Lead, approve and conduct initiatives on capacity development and knowledge building for Finance personnel, including network development, learning plans and activities, Finance practice information and best practice benchmarking.

• Oversee team’s contributions to Finance knowledge networks and communities of practice including collaborative synthesis of lessons learnt and dissemination of best practices in human resources management
• Guide team’s collection of feedback, ideas, and internal knowledge about processes and best practices and utilize productively. 

Impact of Results

The effective and successful achievement of results by the Deputy Head of Finance- Operations directly impacts on the availability of UNOPS’ financial resources to effectively support the development and implementation of the organisation’s programmes and projects.  It enhances the organizations financial and programme performance, demonstrating UNOPS’ effective stewardship of donor and partner funds. These promote the credibility of the organization as an effective service provider in project services and management.

• Full knowledge of English language and Myanmar language is essential.