Senior Adviser (Operations and Finance), FT, Post# 83472, Operations & Finance, PFP, Geneva, Switzerland

At the global level, the Division of Private Fundraising and Partnerships (PFP) coordinates and provides support to National Committees and Country Offices (COs) in all private sector fundraising and partnership activities, in cooperation with Regional Offices (ROs) and with other Headquarter (HQ) divisions. This post is part of the office of the Deputy Director of Operations and Finance (O&F), within PFP. The office is accountable for the management of the oversight framework for private sector activities with responsibilities that include risk management, management of oversight activities, coordinating planning and results across the O&F Section, ensuring O&F plans are risk informed, with an aim for continuous improvement, changes are managed, and results are monitored.

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.

At the global level, the Division of Private Fundraising and Partnerships (PFP) coordinates and provides support to National Committees and Country Offices (COs) in all private sector fundraising and partnership activities, in cooperation with Regional Offices (ROs) and with other Headquarter (HQ) divisions.

This post is part of the office of the Deputy Director of Operations and Finance (O&F), within PFP. The office is accountable for the management of the oversight framework for private sector activities with responsibilities that include risk management, management of oversight activities, coordinating planning and results across the O&F Section, ensuring O&F plans are risk informed, with an aim for continuous improvement, changes are managed, and results are monitored.

For every child, a champion

Reporting to the Deputy Director Operations and Finance, the incumbent will lead risk management in UNICEF’s Private Fundraising and Partnerships Division.  This includes leading global projects to manage operational risks that could affect fundraising from the private sector in UNICEF Country Offices, managing change initiatives in Operations and Finance, managing oversight activities, and advising the Deputy Director for Operations and Finance.

The position is also responsible for leading change initiatives to improve the effectiveness and efficiencies in operational processes involving National Committees (NCs) and country offices (COs), supporting the Divisions overall internal control mechanisms, and developing and coordinating an Operations Community to ensure efficient knowledge sharing and mainstreaming of best practices.

How can you make a difference?

Summary of key functions/accountabilities:

1. Risk management advisory for PFP and PSFR COs

• Lead the integration of risk management in planning and decision-making processes.
• Lead the review of risks across PFP, including identification, analysis and assessment.
• Support the design and implementation of risk mitigation actions as appropriate.
• Monitor progress of mitigating actions and reporting on them.
• Maintain and update the Risk Register as an active risk management tool.
• Provide guidance to Country Offices with fundraising operations on key risks and how to mitigate them.
• Guide Country Offices with private fundraising activities to identify and manage risks relating to fundraising.
• Act as focal point for PFP global (ERM) accountability on fundraising and ensure adequate liaison with CO/RO/PPD or other stakeholders within PFP to address or mitigate risks that threaten the achievement of PFP’s strategic goals or risks identified in audit reports.
• Lead global projects to mitigate key fundraising related risks e.g., projects on data security and data privacy.
• Assess risks in emerging financing mechanisms including innovative financing instruments and provide advice to ensure risks are appropriately elevated and mitigated.
• Review of fundraising and partnership agreements ensuring all risks taken are within PFP’s risk appetite and adequately mitigated.

2. Management of Oversight Activities

• Advise the PFP Deputy Director Operations and Finance, and the Director of PFP on organizational and process changes required to support the effective implementation of audit recommendations as well as effectiveness and efficiencies initiative recommendations.
• Act as Focal point for PFP’s relationship with the UN Board of Auditors, Office of Audit and Investigations, and other oversight bodies. This includes (a) ensuring agreement is reached between UNBOA on audit timing each year,  (b) facilitating responses to requests for information from the UN Board of Auditors; (c) providing guidance to all sections in PFP on the audit process and assistance with responding to audit questionnaires, (d) reviewing external audit management letters and reports and assisting with responses; and (e) coordinating  official responses to external audit observations and recommendations, including preparing periodic status updates.
• Conduct periodic analyses of internal and external audit reports of Country Offices with fundraising operations to identify trends and systemic issues being raised and identify potential solutions to address the issues.
• Analyze executive level requests, recommendations from oversight bodies, best practices and current and emerging trends in strategic financial management and support UNICEF’s effort to launch relevant and emergent financial management strategies, approaches and policies that enhance the organization’s efficiency and effectiveness in financial resources management.

3. Strategic Operations Development and Change Management

• Lead PFP’s Operations and Finance change initiatives to improve the effectiveness and efficiencies in operational processes.
• Support Division overall on internal control mechanisms and chair, participate and share relevant governance mechanisms as assigned (CRC and ICT Board). 
• Support the Divisions overall internal control mechanisms including participating in relevant governance mechanisms.
• Lead the annual Statement of Internal Controls exercise.
• Support the Division in relevant innovations to strengthen delivery of the strategic plan such as innovative finance or new business and closing models for engagement with NCs and identifying opportunities for business optimization.
• Identify strategic issues and key bottlenecks within operations that impact private sector fundraising (PSFR) for National Committees and Country Offices.
• Engage with stakeholders across UNICEF to address operational bottlenecks identified.
• Lead the building of the Operations and Finance Community for Private Sector Fundraising to ensure efficient knowledge sharing and mainstreaming of best practices.

4. Support PSFR CO operations capacity building and training

• Develop training packages as required to disseminate information to COs and NCs, coordinating input from various stakeholders within the Division on operations related content.
• Provide and/or develop guidance to support systems and controls, monitor/test adherence/compliance, develop best practices, and share with COs with Private sector fundraising (PSFR) activities.
• As part of operational support to COs with PSFR activities, update the guidance documents as and when necessary and consolidate risks identified in PSFR country offices with a view to developing tools to strengthen the capacity of the offices.

5. Annual Planning for Operations and Finance

• Lead the annual Finance and Operations work planning. This includes identification of key priorities, development of unit Workplan activities, progress monitoring, and reporting.
• Support implementation of the Finance and Operations section’s commitments to the delivery of the Divisional Management Plan.

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

Education:

• An advanced university degree (Master’s or equivalent) in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, or related field.
• A recognized professional accounting certification (CA, CPA, ACCA, CIMA) is an asset.

Experience:

• A minimum of 10 years of progressively responsible professional experience offering management advisory support in a complex setting is required.
• Experience in Finance, risk management, audit, business analysis, and operational management is required.
• Demonstrated experience in business modeling and stakeholder coordination and management is an asset. 
• Experience supporting change management is an asset.
• Understanding of private sector engagement is an asset.
• Experience with UNICEF/UN is an asset.

Language Requirements:

• Fluency in English. Working knowledge of French is desirable.

For every Child, you demonstrate...

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

The UNICEF competencies required for this post are...

• Nurtures, Leads and Manages People (2)
• Demonstrates Self Awareness and Ethical Awareness (2)
• Works Collaboratively with others (2)
• Builds and Maintains Partnerships (2)
• Innovates and Embraces Change (2)
• Thinks and Acts Strategically (2)
• Drives to achieve impactful results (2)
• Manages ambiguity and complexity (2) are required.

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:

UNICEF PFP-Geneva is currently reviewing organizational changes; therefore, the exact future location of the post is still under consideration/to be determined. Candidates may be asked commence duties remotely. Should the selected candidate be assigned and relocate to Geneva, they may later be asked to relocate and be assigned to another location during the initial contract or assignment period.

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.

UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance.  Issuance of a visa by the host country of the duty station, which will be facilitated by UNICEF, is required for IP positions. Appointments may also be subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid). Government employees that are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally required to resign from their government before taking up an assignment with UNICEF. UNICEF reserves the right to withdraw an offer of appointment, without compensation, if a visa or medical clearance is not obtained, or necessary inoculation requirements are not met, within a reasonable period for any reason.

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