Deputy Director, Global Shared Services Centre (GSSC), Kuala Lumpur

United Nations General Assembly Resolution 67/226 calls for more effective and cost-efficient support services in all programme countries by reducing the duplication of functions, and administrative and transaction costs through the consolidation of operational support services[1]. In late 2017 as part of the Reform Agenda, the Secretary-General committed to the establishment of common back-office functions at the country office level to optimize the delivery of location-dependent functions, and expansion of global service centers to optimize the delivery of location-independent function, by 2022. UNDP has also subsequently reflected this as part of its 2018-2021 Strategic Plan by committing to transform the organization into the backbone of the United Nations Development System through the consolidation of support services to drive efficiency savings.

In line with these objectives and building on recommendations from recent management services review, evaluations, and audit findings, the Executive Group, at its meeting on 31 January 2019, recommended pursuing the global clustering initiative across UNDP and the optimization of administrative operations at the country office level.

As an essential component of the strategic direction of the UNDP Bureau for Management Services (BMS) and the emphasis on the provision of cost-effective and integrated management transactions services, the UNDP Global Shared Services Center (GSSC) combines the resources of GSSC (Copenhagen), GSSC (Kuala Lumpur) and Regional Service centers in line with approvals from the Executive Group such as Dakar and Panama. 

The Deputy Director, GSSC works under the direct supervision of the Director of GSSC and supports him/her in the day-to-day coordination of the GSSC activities in Kuala Lumpur, including the oversight and day-to-day management of the two strategic finance service lines: Revenue /Contribution and Project Accounting. The Deputy Director works in close coordination with stakeholders, and internal and external clients. The Deputy Director will support the Director, GSSC in ensuring a sound internal control environment at the GSSC and will act as the audit focal point. The Deputy Director, GSSC serves as the focal point with the Accountant General’s Office in the Ministry of Finance of Malaysia.

The Incumbent will be accountable for delivering quality results in the following;

• Supports the Director in the day-to-day coordination of GSSC activities in Kuala Lumpur to ensure timely and relevant results as well as managing the overall GSSC budget;
• Supports the Director in ensuring the quality and effectiveness of coordinated transactions services delivered from GSSC to UNDP and external clients; 
• Supports the Director in ensuring the financial sustainability of the GSSC
• Leads the partnership building and knowledge management initiatives in GSSC

Supports the Director in the day-to-day coordination of the activities in Kuala Lumpur to ensure timely and relevant results.

• Ensures effective and efficient management of GSSC resources and operations to support all units;
• Manages and has oversight of the Revenue/Contribution and Project Accounting service delivery teams
• Plans, coordinates and oversees work planning, budgeting and reporting;
• Ensures active engagement with functional leaders through regular work-planning, results-monitoring, and information-sharing to ensure all centralized services are governed by a unified management approach; and
• Strengthens liaison and collaboration with the GSSC internal and external clients on finance administrative services in Kuala Lumpur and all the Regional Service Centers;
• Provides substantive inputs to the preparation of the annual planning, liaising with relevant corporate units to ensure alignment with corporate priorities;
• Monitors, supports and reports to the Director on the implementation of Kuala Lumpur GSSC-related recommendations;
• Ensures compliance and maintenance of GSSC Finance accreditations with various institutions
• Work with OFM in the development of finance policy;
• Serves as Officer-in-Charge of GSSC in the absence of the Director;
• Undertakes ad hoc missions, tasks and representational duties as requested by the Director.

Supports the Director in ensuring the quality and effectiveness of coordinated management transactions services delivered from GSSC to UNDP and external clients; 

• Enables the effective resource management of Kuala Lumpur GSSC and other RSC and advises the Director on the optimization of resources, in collaboration with the Client Relationship Manager, ensures the proper costing for services delivered as well as the collection of cost recovery;
• Maintains efficient communication, integration and coordination systems between GSSC and internal and external clients to ensure quality delivery of services;
• Ensures the strategic direction of operations in compliance with UN/UNDP rules and regulations.
• Advises on corporate transaction services strategies, policies and plans of the GSSC;
• Enables a client-focused culture in the delivery of services;
• Supports UNDP’s effort to integrate global support services.
• Advises and supports the Director in securing adequate resources and tools to deliver services to expectation and scale support services accordingly;
• Coordinates with GSSC managers on scenario planning and associated capacity requirements.

Supports the Director in ensuring the financial sustainability of the GSSC

• Under the guidance of the Director GSSC, and in close collaboration with the Deputy Director GSSC Copenhagen, oversees the implementation of GSSC financial sustainability initiatives
• In collaboration with the Client Relationship Manager, Service Delivery Managers oversee the development and implementation of client strategies that ensure GSSC financial sustainability, in particular for finance services
• Continuously explores and recommends a suite of services for existing and new clients with a view to ensuring GSSC’s financial sustainability
• Provides substantive contribution and management support for the identification of new services and clients to support GSSC’s financial sustainability
• In collaboration with the Service Delivery Teams and Business Systems Manager ensures continued optimization of services to support GSSC financial sustainability

Leads the partnership building and knowledge management initiatives in GSSC

• Oversees the knowledge management and innovation strategy implementation for GSSC, in
• Leads partnership building with various internal stakeholders. Seeks feedback and incorporates it into the recommendations to the GSSC Director;
• Promotes partnerships among various business process review streams, as related to clustering and service optimization;
• Manages the preparation of various concept notes, one-pagers, regular newsletters, primers, progress reports and other documentation as required by various stakeholders;
• Ensures synergies among various business units’ interests and addresses emerging needs through regular mechanisms;
• Ensures that UNDP’s representation and interests in inter-agency committees and task forces are supported with evidence-based data;
• Identifies and leads the implementation of appropriate innovation strategies that contribute to smooth implementation of clustering and service optimization projects;
• Leads development and implementation of coherent knowledge management platforms that facilitate the gathering, processing, codifying and use of knowledge required for the implementation of clustering and service optimization projects;
• Advocates for regular knowledge building and sharing initiatives, including webinars and other forms of knowledge dissemination.

Supervisory/Managerial Responsibilities:

• 50 staff including 2 Finance Specialists(P4/P3);
• Revenue/Contribution and Project Accounting teams

Core:

Achieve Results:             

• Prioritize team workflow, mobilize resources, drive scalable results/strategic impact

Think Innovatively:        

• Easily navigate complexity, encourage/enable radical innovation, has foresight

Learn Continuously       

• Create and act on opportunities to expand horizons, diversify experiences

Adapt with Agility          

• Proactively initiate and champion change, manage multiple competing demands

Act with Determination

• Able to make difficult decisions in challenging situations, inspire confidence

Engage and Partner       

• Political savvy, navigate complex landscape, champion inter-agency collaboration  

Enable Diversity and Inclusion  

• Appreciate benefits of diverse workforce and champion inclusivity

People Management:

UNDP People: Management Competencies can be found on the dedicated site.

Technical/ Cross-Functional Competencies:

Strategic Thinking   

• Ability to develop effective strategies and prioritized plans in line with UNDP's objectives, based on the systemic analysis of challenges, potential risks and opportunities; linking the vision to reality on the ground, and creating tangible solutions
• Ability to leverage learning from a variety of sources to anticipate and respond to future trends; to demonstrate foresight in order to model what future developments and possible ways forward look like for UNDP

Effective Decision Making  

• Ability to take decisions in a timely and efficient manner in line with one's authority, area of expertise and resources

Results-based Management

• Ability to manage programmes and projects with a focus at improved performance and demonstrable results

Partnerships Management  

• Ability to build and maintain partnerships with wide networks of stakeholders, governments, civil society and private sector partners, experts and others in line with UNDP strategy and policies

Advocacy Strategy & Implementation       

• Ability to create and implement advocacy strategies which lead to impactful change

Effectiveness 

• Development Partnership Architecture

• Master’s degree in Business Administration, Public Administration, Information Technology, Finance, or relevant field of professional management and operational management.
• Professional Accounting Qualification from an internationally accredited institute of accountancy is a must.
• Long-listed candidates may be required to undergo the UNDP Advanced Accountancy & Finance Test (AAFT)

• Minimum 10 years of relevant professional experience in management and leadership of diverse and remotely situated teams, in multiple locations.
• Demonstrated success in client relationship management.
• Sound experience in data analysis and financial management.
• Professional Accounting Qualification from an internationally accredited institute of accountancy is a must.

Language Requirements:

• Proficiency in the English language is required.
• Working knowledge of another UN language is desirable.