Finance Director (Humanitarian Advisory Team)

Entering its seventh year of conflict, Yemen remains the world’s largest humanitarian crisis with around 80% of its 31 million population in need of humanitarian assistance, including 5 million on the brink of famine and over 4 million internally displaced persons fleeing the ongoing armed conflict. In light of the dire humanitarian situation, the Famine Relief Fund (FRF) is planning to allocate a substantial amount of grants in support of urgent humanitarian action in Yemen with the aim to avert the risk of widespread famine. The project aims at supporting the establishment and operations of a Humanitarian Advisory Team for Yemen Famine Relief Fund. The Humanitarian Advisory Team will provide dedicated, independent, expert humanitarian advice, informing the swift allocation of funds by the Famine Relief Fund, in line with humanitarian principles of independence, neutrality and impartiality – in support of the wider humanitarian effort in Yemen.

• Objective 1: Provide the FRF with the data, information and analysis on humanitarian needs in Yemen.

• Objective 2: Advise the FRF on allocation and implementation modalities to most effectively achieve maximum humanitarian impact and save lives.

• Objective 3: Liaise with partners and the humanitarian architecture for the Yemen crisis to ensure complementarity of proposed activities under the FRF.

• Objective 4: Monitor impact of FRF allocations to advise on effectiveness and to inform future strategies/allocations by the Fund, should they become available.

The project will contribute towards accomplishing the strategic objective 2 of the Yemen Humanitarian Response Plan (June - 2020 December) to “help millions of destitute Yemenis overcome hunger by providing food and nutrition assistance, increasing household incomes and advocating for measures that bring economic stability” and to the specific food security and agriculture cluster objective 1 -Increase access to food for highly vulnerable families across the country.

Moreover, in line with the Agenda 2030, the project aims at contributing towards the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 2 - No Hunger : End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture.

The Fund Finance Director is responsible for reviewing proposals considered by the Fund and financial reporting by recipients, through the application of technical expertise and by ensuring the  financial integrity of programs supported by the FRF.

The Fund Finance Director will provide advice on the development, establishment and maintenance of appropriate internal controls, financial systems and financial procedures. 

The Fund Finance Director expected to abide by security policies, administrative instructions, plans and procedures of the UN Security Management System and that of UNOPS.  

The Fund Finance Director will report to the e Programme Director.

UNOPS is committed to achieving a truly diverse workforce.

Within delegated authority, the Fund Finance Director is responsible for managing all financial  and budgetary matters for the Humanitarian Advisory Team FRF.

1. Strategic Management Advice 

2. Financial Reporting

3. Quality Assurance

4. Delivery and Performance

5. Stakeholder Management

6. Knowledge Management

Strategic Management Advice 

• Provide financial authoritative advice and technical support enabling senior management to develop, and monitor planning assumptions against resources to achieve organizational goals.

• Review proposals considered by the Fund and financial reporting by recipients, providing advice on the financial integrity of programs.

• Conduct proposal budget reviews, analysis and forecasting and provide budgetary advice and options for the FRF.

• Anticipate and analyse potential financial risks for the Fund; 

• Understand and provide advice to mitigate key elements of the Fund’s risk profile.

• Provide advice on the establishment and maintenance of appropriate internal controls, financial systems and financial procedures.

• Develop budgetary guidance, Standard Operating Procedures (SOP´s),  financial and policy manuals for the FRF to consider, as needed.

• Oversee and manage internal financial processes to identify possible gaps and implement corrective actions.

Financial Reporting 

• Oversee, interpret and lead decisions in relation to monthly, quarterly, yearly and project specific financial reports for the FRF in accordance with UNOPS rules and procedures.

• Review financial reporting of recipients and provide highly technical advice on program implementation applying a compliance approach

Quality Assurance

• Provide advice on implementing partner’s capacity vis-a-vis the  funding requirements.

• Advise on whether the appropriate measures have been documented in a Closure Plan to facilitate the transition of operations in the final stage of delivery.

Delivery and Performance

• Monitor the work packages to be delivered by the UNOPS team or by implementing partners.

• Identify and manage risks, advising the Fund Board, Programme Director and/or representatives of deviations that have or will exceed set tolerances as approved in the programme plan.

• Monitor progress of the programme at a strategic level and ensure periodic progress and updates are made to the Fund Board (in collaboration with the Technical Secretariat).

Stakeholder Management

• Manage communications with stakeholders regarding Fund activities, progress and exceptions, enabling their ability to accept handover of Fund deliverables.

• Advise the partners on issues that may impact the achievement of their outcomes

• Represent the Humanitarian Advisory Team and UNOPS at external events and meetings

Knowledge Management

• Provide feedback to Practice Leads on policy, supporting guidance with an aim towards continuous improvement of UNOPS policies complete lessons learned as per reporting format.

• Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) is required. Preferably in business administration, finance, international relations/studies, political sciences, economics, public administration, law, management or related area. 
• A first-level university degree (Bachelor's degree or equivalent) in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

• A minimum of ten (10) years of progressively responsible experience in development, establishment and maintenance of appropriate internal controls, financial systems and financial procedures is required. 
• Experience within the UN Common System or other comparable international organisations is desirable.

• Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another UN official language is an advantage.

• 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.
• London is a Family Duty Station.
• This is an Emergency Recruitment and the contract duration is for 8 months only.
• UNOPS seeks to reasonably accommodate candidates with special needs, upon request.
• Work life harmonization - UNOPS values its people and recognizes the importance of balancing professional and personal demands. We have a progressive policy on work-life harmonization and offer several flexible working options. This policy applies to UNOPS personnel on all contract types
• 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 (around 4 hours) in your own time, before providing services to UNOPS.
• 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.

Contract type: Individual Contractual Agreement (ICA) Contract level: IICA 4
Contract duration: Ongoing ICA – ‘Open-ended, subject to organizational requirements, availability of funds and satisfactory performance.’