Finance Manager (Fintech Solutions & Strategic Engagement), P4, FTA, Office of Innovation, Helsinki, Finland

The Finance Manager (Fintech Solutions and Strategic Engagement) will work with other divisions as well as UNICEF National Committees to explore and develop new alternative social goods construct solutions relating to transactional fundraising and fintech solutions. This will be accomplished by building a global incubator that can develop new fintech and cutting edge technologies that can reach scale with clear revenue-generating targets – transforming traditional fundraising efforts to leverage the use of digital payments, gaming, and crypto financing to play an active role in transforming the world and its future for newer generations.

UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. To save their lives. To defend their rights. To help them fulfill their potential.

Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone.

And we never give up.

For every child, hope

The Office of Global Innovation is a creative, interactive, and agile team in UNICEF. We sit at a unique intersection, where an organization that works on huge global issues meets the startup thinking, the technology, and the partners that turn this energy into scalable solutions.

The incumbent is placed within the newly established Innovative Finance Hub, reporting to the Director of Office of Innovation at UNICEF. He/she will work closely with other divisions on innovation and innovative finance.

Underpinned by the UNICEF new Strategic Plan and Global IF4C Strategy, the new Innovative Finance Hub in Helsinki will develop new transformational strategies, standards & frameworks:

• To re-define innovative financing & impact standards and concepts to include the needs of children
• To co-create fintech & cutting-edge technologies to leverage new, innovative resource channels for children

The Innovative Finance Hub will reimagine how UNICEF operates, accelerates and streamlines finding new sources of funding and financing to fill the SDG gap - to protect gains made, rebuild from losses from COVID-19 and radically accelerate progress towards the SDGs for children. Our aim is to build a genuine, global thought leadership hub around innovative financing that not only be transformational as an approach for UNICEF’s Global Innovation Strategy but also serve as a catalyst for change within the development industry.

The Finance Manager (Fintech Solutions and Strategic Engagement) will be responsible for coordinating and managing the following:

1. Global Fintech Solutions and Cryptocurrency Fundraising:

• Organize network events – inviting subject matter experts on cryptocurrency and other digital currencies to generate new ideas for the IF Hub in efforts to build a Crypto Fundraising strategy for children and youth, unlocking the global crypto market cap of $1.39 trillion.
• Work with other UNICEF Divisions as well as UNICEF National Committees to develop a strategic approach for cryptocurrency revenue generation and utilization.  This includes defining and developing a framework of governance structure for crypto fundraising for the incubator placed in the IF Hub.
• Building capacity on best practices, lessons learned, and consultations with practitioners currently in this arena.
• Ensure strong collaboration with UNICEF’s Venture team to better enhance direct fundraising efforts for UNICEF as an organization in relation to blockchain application and other emerging technologies.
• Manage the expansion of UNICEF’s Venture Fund (currently US 17.9 million in size), which aims to identify and pilot promising frontier technologies to develop scalable platforms that UNICEF can use in a range of applications and country settings.

2. Transformational Gaming Alliances:

• Together with other UNICEF Divisions, as well as UNICEF National Committees build and connect global creative innovation ecosystems to incubate new funding solutions through new alliances with the gaming industry.
• Capture a new market of the younger generation to learn and directly contribute as individuals to scalable solutions moving us closer to realizing a better world for children and young people everywhere.

3. Global Transactional Fundraising Strategy:

• In a sand-box environment, incubate and develop a pipeline of global multimillion transactional fundraising solutions, that will amplify funding for UNICEF innovation projects globally, with child-aligned outcomes.

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…

• An advanced university degree in relevant field, e.g., Public Policy, Business Administration, Finance, Development, or related degree.
  • *A first University Degree in a relevant field combined with 2 additional years of professional experience may be accepted in lieu of an Advanced University Degree.
• A minimum of 8 years of relevant work experience at national and international levels in project management, consulting, research, budget, development, or equivalent education experience.
• An in-depth understanding and relevant experience of transactional fundraising and cryptocurrency is essential.
• Strong capacity to work effectively in inter-divisional teams.
• Strong capacity to distill and translate multifaceted and critical issues for organizational attention.
• Experience in/knowledge of the UN system and knowledge of UNICEF’s work would be an asset.
• Strategic and global thinking and analytical ability.
• Excellent organizational, interpersonal and communications skills.
• Ability to conceptualize, plan and execute ideas as well as to manage projects.
• Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language is an asset.

For every Child, you demonstrate...

UNICEF's values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, and Accountability (CRITA).

The UNICEF competencies required for this post are...

• Demonstrates Self Awareness and Ethical Awareness (1)
• Works Collaboratively with others (1)
• Builds and Maintains Partnerships (1)
• Innovates and Embraces Change (1)
• Thinks and Acts Strategically (1)
• Drive to achieve impactful results (1)
• Manages ambiguity and complexity (1)

To view our competency framework, please visit here.

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization.

UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination. UNICEF also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles. All selected candidates will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles and will therefore undergo rigorous reference and background checks. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check.

Remarks:

Mobility is a condition of international professional employment with UNICEF and an underlying premise of the international civil service.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.