Background Information - Job-specific
Finance Group
The Finance Group (FG) serves as a strategic partner and fiduciary advisor, ensuring transparent, accountable, and effective resource management across UNOPS. The Group defines financial strategy in alignment with organizational goals, establishes finance policies, systems, and processes, and leads corporate budgeting to enable full cost recovery and ensure long-term financial sustainability. Throughout the project lifecycle, the Finance Group provides expert guidance, oversight, and tailored financial solutions. Responsibilities include delivering comprehensive financial and corporate performance reporting, strengthening financial capacity across the organization, and continuously enhancing resource planning and allocation. In addition, the Finance Group prepares and oversees the implementation of finance-related policies, upholding the highest standards of financial stewardship and supporting UNOPS in achieving operational excellence and fiscal responsibility.
The Role
The Project Finance Advisor reports to the Head of Project Finance, who provides broad supervision and guidance. As a senior team member, the position includes supervisory responsibility over other team members and could be requested to take on the Officer in Charge (OIC) role for the Head of Project Finance in their absence. The role contributes to FGโs vision of being a true business partner to UNOPS projects, by providing advice on all financial matters for partner relationship questions and project delivery to internal and external senior stakeholders. This includes establishing aspects of the financial framework within which client projects can operate, i.e. the policies and systems that govern cost recovery, financial aspects of global agreements with partners, implementation support and oversight, financial reporting, closure of records and support to audits and verifications. The role is part of a centre of excellence, providing seamless, appropriate, relevant and proactive project-specific tools, guidance and support. The role includes collaboration on project setup, implementation and closure with UNOPS delivery functions and UNOPS Partnerships Group, and supports outreach and training on all things related to project finance.
Functional ResponsibilitiesSummary of Key Functions:
Partner Negotiations
Project Finance
Implementation/ Transactional Services Delivery Support
Cost Recovery
Knowledge Management
Team Management
Partner Negotiations
Lead negotiations with partners on financial matters covering Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs), agreement templates and related annexes. Review and approve financial conditions/clauses as per delegation.
Issue partner-specific process guidance and supporting documents to ensure quality and process compliance with UNOPS policies as well as documentation of the partnerโs needs.
Project Finance
Draft responses to audit queries from both internal (Internal Audit & Investigations Group) and external bodies (UN Board of Auditors, Joint Inspection Unit), and collaborate with auditors on all project finance-related matters. Provide support for project audits and verifications as needed.
Act as an approver in accordance with the assigned Delegation of Authority.
Oversee and coordinate both regular and ad hoc internal and external reporting on client projects and the cost recovery model. Ensure accurate reconciliation of general ledger accounts under the responsibility of project finance.
Provide inputs to official UNOPS documents related to project finance.
Implementation/Transactional Services Delivery Support
Oversee and coordinate the finance support to UNOPS delivery functions throughout the entire service life cycle, including the review of implementation and transactional service agreements, system setup of finance-related records (such as project/service accounts and budgets), review and approval of accounting entries related to services, preparing financial reports for partners, and ensuring closure of financial records at the end of an agreement.
Cost Recovery
Support the continuous development and implementation of UNOPSโ cost recovery model. Oversee and coordinate the review of cost recovery-related budgets, rates, processes and performance.
Ensure consistent application of UNOPS cost recovery principles and manage the oversight of any refunds of excess reserves to UNOPS partners.
Provide inputs to official UNOPS documents related to cost recovery.
People Management
Establish the annual work plan for the project finance team. Set objectives, performance measurements, standards and results expected.
Monitor implementation of the teamโs annual work plan, oversee progress and ensure delivery of results as planned and according to expectation.
Promote teamwork and collaboration by providing the team with clear direction, objectives and guidance to enable them to perform their duties responsibly, effectively and efficiently.
Develop a flexible workforce with the skills and competencies needed to ensure optimum performance
Foster a positive work environment, respectful of all, and ensure that the highest standards of conduct are observed.
Knowledge Management and Innovation
Contribute to the development and introduction of innovation in UNOPS project finance practices.
Promote knowledge sharing and dissemination of lessons learned across the organization.
Plan and lead capacity-building initiatives for personnel, clients and stakeholders.
Maintain comprehensive knowledge of project finance activities to support UNOPS teams and other corporate functions as needed.
Develops and implements sustainable business strategies, thinks long term and externally in order to positively shape the organization. Anticipates and perceives the impact and implications of future decisions and activities on other parts of the organization. Treats all individuals with respect; responds sensitively to differences and encourages others to do the same. Upholds organizational and ethical norms. Maintains high standards of trustworthiness. Role model for diversity and inclusion.
Acts as a positive role model contributing to the team spirit. Collaborates and supports the development of others. For people managers only: Acts as positive leadership role model, motivates, directs and inspires others to succeed, utilizing appropriate leadership styles. Demonstrates understanding of the impact of own role on all partners and always puts the end beneficiary first. Builds and maintains strong external relationships and is a competent partner for others (if relevant to the role). Efficiently establishes an appropriate course of action for self and/or others to accomplish a goal. Actions lead to total task accomplishment through concern for quality in all areas. Sees opportunities and takes the initiative to act on them. Understands that responsible use of resources maximizes our impact on our beneficiaries. Open to change and flexible in a fast paced environment. Effectively adapts own approach to suit changing circumstances or requirements. Reflects on experiences and modifies own behavior. Performance is consistent, even under pressure. Always pursues continuous improvements. Evaluates data and courses of action to reach logical, pragmatic decisions. Takes an unbiased, rational approach with calculated risks. Applies innovation and creativity to problem-solving. Expresses ideas or facts in a clear, concise and open manner. Communication indicates a consideration for the feelings and needs of others. Actively listens and proactively shares knowledge. Handles conflict effectively, by overcoming differences of opinion and finding common ground. Education/Experience/Language requirements
Education
Advanced university degree (Masterโs or equivalent), preferably in Finance or Business Administration, or other related field is required.
A combination of an undergraduate degree in above mentioned fields with two additional years of work experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
Appropriate professional accreditation or qualification in Finance is desirable.
Experience
Required: At least 7 years of experience working in financial management
Highly desirable: Experience working in a field location
Highly desirable: Supervisory experience
Highly desirable: experience working on financial matters as they relate to project management, including project budgeting and project reporting
Understanding of UNOPS financial model as it relates to client projects is a strong asset
Further experience with partner relations and project financial aspects are a strong asset
Language Requirements
Full working knowledge of English is a pre-requisite.
Knowledge of another official UN language is an asset.
Contract type, level and duration
Contract type: Staff
Contract level: P4
Contract duration: Fixed-term staff contracts - One year initially, renewable subject to satisfactory performance and funding availability As per the terms of the Host Agreement between UNOPS and the Government of Denmark, UNOPS officials are privileged to an exemption from taxation on the salaries and emoluments paid to them by UNOPS granted that they reside in Denmark.
For more details about United Nations staff contracts, please follow this link:
https://www.unops.org/english/Opportunities/job-opportunities/what-we-offer/Pages/UN-Staff-Contracts.aspx
Additional Information
Please note that UNOPS does not accept unsolicited resumes.
Applications received after the closing date will not be considered.
Please note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process, which involves various assessments.
UNOPS embraces diversity and is committed to equal employment opportunity. Our workforce consists of many diverse nationalities, cultures, languages, races, gender identities, sexual orientations, and abilities. UNOPS seeks to sustain and strengthen this diversity to ensure equal opportunities as well as an inclusive working environment for its entire workforce.
UNOPS evaluates all applications based on the skills, qualifications and experience requirements outlined in the vacancy announcement. We are committed to considering all candidates in a fair and transparent manner, and we value diverse perspectives and experiences, including those of women, indigenous and racialized communities, individuals with diverse gender identities and sexual orientations, and people with disabilities.We would like to ensure all candidates perform at their best during the assessment process. If you are shortlisted and require additional assistance to complete any assessment, including reasonable accommodation, please inform our human resources team when you receive an invitation.
Terms and Conditions
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 ( they take around 4 hours to complete) in your own time, before providing services to UNOPS. Refreshers or new mandatory courses may be required during your contract. Please note that you will not receive any compensation for taking courses and refreshers. For more information on a retainer contract here.
All UNOPS personnel are responsible for performing their duties in accordance with the UN Charter and UNOPS Policies and Instructions, as well as other relevant accountability frameworks. In addition, all personnel must demonstrate an understanding of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in a manner consistent with UN core values and the UN Common Agenda.
It is the policy of UNOPS to conduct background checks on all potential personnel. Recruitment in UNOPS is contingent on the results of such checks.