Finance Specialist

The UNOPS Global Portfolios Office (GPO) brings together diverse expertise to help partners deliver impact worldwide. With hubs in New York, Geneva, and Vienna, and expert teams operating globally, GPO leads multi-regional initiatives that advance sustainable development, climate action, and peacebuilding - including in some of the world’s most challenging environments. By leveraging our collective expertise and global networks, GPO supports UNOPS’ strategic priorities and the Sustainable Development Goals across more than 130 countries. We work closely with major global partners - including governments, international financial institutions, and UN agencies - to deliver a wide range of services, such as project management, fund management, hosting services, and HR support.

Not Required - part of GPO/NYPO

Under the direct supervision of the Finance Advisor, the Finance Specialist will support the Finance Advisor in maintaining a robust control environment. The incumbent acts as a key bridge between HQ-level policy and field execution, ensuring financial integrity and excellence in client-facing performance. The role contributes to the finance vision of being a true business partner to UNOPS projects by providing advice and governance of project financial reporting and closure.

The incumbent will be personnel of UNOPS under its full responsibility.

Important Considerations:

• These Terms of Reference are generic and indicative. Not all tasks listed may be required, and additional duties may be assigned as appropriate and consistent with the scope of services.
• This recruitment aims to fill an ongoing, full-time position. Depending on actual needs, the hiring unit may decide to recruit endorsed qualified professionals for contracts with different working conditions (short/long term, part/full-time, retainer, regular or ongoing positions).

The Finance Specialist plans, manages and leads project and office financial operations, ensuring integrity, transparency and compliance with UNOPS Financial Rules and Regulations (FRRs), IPSAS standards, and donor/ partner requirements. The role provides guidance on budgeting, cash management, cost recovery, financial reporting, and internal controls, while strengthening the financial management capacity of project and field teams.

The effective and successful achievement of results by the Finance Specialist directly have an impact on the overall execution of the UNOPS financial services. Accurate analysis and presentation of financial information ensures proper financial processes in the organization.

1. Provision of strategic financial support to NYO

2. Management of Client Project Financial Closure & Verification of Final Financial Report

3. Project Fund Management and Budget Approvals

4. Lead Partner Financial Reporting, refinement, and capacity building

5. Client reporting and other project finance-related aspects

6. Facilitation of knowledge building and knowledge sharing/ Team Management

1. Provision of Strategic Support to NYO

• Develop Finance/Budget annual work plan, setting of priorities and planning of work in line with corporate goals and business planning process for NYO projects.
• Monitor and analyze the operating environment to ensure adequate agility, risk management and quick readjustment of the operations as needed.
• Reduce reputational risk by ensuring NYO's financial reporting requirements are met.
• Lead internal and external audit exercises and accountability for financial audit recommendations.
• Act as the practice specialist by contributing to corporate strategy requirements, and to corporate recommendations made by Finance Group.
• Drive finance function initiatives to ensure added value and optimal support across NYO, as well as the achievement of the Strategic Objectives.
• Contribute with specialist financial knowledge to long-term strategy of NYO's business efficiencies.
• Ensure financial records are maintained and available on file for review by clients upon request.
• Lead the revision of LSS models and manage financial conversations with clients regarding cost recovery.
• Support monthly administration budget monitoring and communicate deviations to relevant teams.

2. Management of Client Project Financial Closure & Verification of Final Financial Report

This includes the preparation of partner-related Final Financial Reports focusing on the achievement of the following results:

• Lead financial closure activities, ensuring all activities conclude within agreed financial limits.
• Ensure that project financial closure activities are initiated in a timely manner to guarantee efficient project budget management.
• Responsible for verifying the Final Financial Reports (FFR) for the accurate and timely closure of client projects, in charge of requesting corrections and/or clarification where needed, and ensuring that the final financial reports are tailored to partner-specific needs and share the certified reports with the related field office after the approval of the report.
• Ensure that the FFR issued are in full compliance with UNOPS' rules, regulations, policies, procedures, and partner-reporting requirements as agreed in the legal agreement and/or in the global agreement between UNOPS and the partner.
• Support for any project audit/verification to identify transactions, prepare documentation etc.
• Any other project financial closure and verification tasks as necessary.

3. Project Fund Management and Budget Approvals

• Review and release internal (project) budgets, including cost estimates and budget revisions in line with the approved budgets at engagement/legal agreement level.
• Verify the completeness and accuracy of the supporting documentation for advance financing requests and ensure the associated financial risks are mitigated as much as possible. Submits received requests transparently with a recommendation for action to senior management where applicable.
• Track project budgets and conduct detailed variance analyses to identify risks to budget adherence.
• Ensuring that advance financing is recovered as it becomes due according to the terms of their approval. Escalate cases that can not be recovered as per the original plan, with a recommendation of action to senior management.
• Process refunds/transfer of surplus project cash balances once the partner has accepted the Final Financial Reports, as and when needed. The refunds are based on the approved FFRs, and the incumbent is expected to verify the correct banking information for the cash transfer to the partner.
• Process refunds/transfer of surplus project cash balances for ongoing projects.
• Liaise with FG colleagues to process exceptional financial closure, including application of balances to the unclaimed balance account and oversight of balances on the account.
• Any other project fund management and budget management tasks as necessary.

4. Lead Partner Financial Reporting, refinement, and capacity building

• Provides support through tools and reports on the project financial closure process performance.
• Serve as a "third line of defense" regarding payroll payments to ensure compliance with client DoAs.
• Provides support through tools on the project financial reporting performance.
• Provides support through tools and reports on the refund/transfer process and the exceptional closure balances.
• Support the establishment and implementation of an effective expenditure control framework, ensuring that vouchers are matched, verified, and cleared in accordance with financial rules.
• Proposes solutions to resolve issues linked to the financial reporting and closure of partner projects, e.g. delay in partner responses, late submission of reports, etc.
• Advise management on financial accountability mechanisms, including full-cost recovery and spending limit oversight.

5. Client reporting and other project finance-related aspects

• Prepare, review and analyze monthly, quarterly and annual financial reports for management and donors, ensuring accuracy and adherence to reporting timelines.
• Support the preparation of client financial statements, interim financial reports (IFRs), and delivery reports in line with contractual and audit requirements.
• Develop and maintain financial dashboards and reporting tools for portfolio oversight and performance analysis.
• Ensure reports are timely, accurate, and compliant with donor requirements and funding agreements.
• Act as the main point of contact for clients’ financial queries and requests for information.
• Coordinate with clients to ensure data collection and reporting follow agreed formats and timelines
• Contribute to the annual financial closure process, ensuring all accounts are reconciled and adjustments made in compliance with UNOPS standards.

6. Facilitation of knowledge building and knowledge sharing/ Team Management

• Serve as Officer-in-Charge (OIC) when the Finance Advisor is unavailable.
• Participate in strategic meetings, such as Steering Committees and Quarterly Assurance Meetings, to provide financial guidance.
• Ensure financial strategies align with project priorities and external donor expectations.
• Foster knowledge building by sharing best practices and contributing to financial SOP development.
• Assists in training of colleagues upon requests from portfolio managers, the supervisor and other finance officers on project finance management.
• Sound contributions to knowledge networks and communities of practice

Important Considerations:

• These Terms of Reference are generic and indicative. Not all tasks listed may be required, and additional duties may be assigned as appropriate and consistent with the scope of services.
• This recruitment aims to fill an ongoing, full-time position. Depending on actual needs, the hiring unit may decide to recruit endorsed qualified professionals for contracts with different working conditions (short/long term, part/full-time, retainer, regular or ongoing positions).

Required

• Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) in Finance, Accounting, Business Administration or other disciplines with 7 years of relevant experience OR
• A master's degree (or equivalent) in any of the above disciplines with 5 years of relevant experience is required.

Desired

• Professional certification (e.g. CPA, ACCA, CA, CIMA) is desired.
• Knowledge of IPSAS or other international accounting standards is desired.

Required

• Relevant experience working in project financial management, budgeting, cash management and financial reporting, or related areas.
• Demonstrable proficiency in the use of collaboration and productivity tools (e.g. MS Office, G-Suite, etc) and web-based management systems.

Desired

• Familiarity with digital technologies and their application in process optimization and automation is highly desirable.
• Familiarity with UNOPS or other UN policies, processes, tools and systems is an asset.
• Experience in people management is highly desirable.
• Applicants with Non-UN experience are encouraged to apply.

• UNOPS does not accept unsolicited resumes.
• UNOPS will at no stage of the recruitment process request candidates to make payments of any kind.
• Applications to vacancies must be received before midnight Copenhagen time (CET) on the closing date of the announcement. Applications received after the closing date will not be considered.
• Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and invited to proceed to the next stage of the selection process, which may include various assessments.
• UNOPS embraces diversity and is committed to equal employment opportunity. Our workforce consists of a wide range of nationalities, cultures, languages, races, gender identities, sexual orientations, and abilities. We strive to sustain and strengthen this diversity, fostering an inclusive working environment where all personnel are treated with respect and have equal access to opportunities.
• UNOPS evaluates all applications based on the skills, qualifications and experience outlined in the vacancy announcement. We are committed to a fair and transparent selection process and welcome diverse perspectives, including those of women, indigenous and racialized communities, individuals of diverse gender identities and sexual orientations, and persons with disabilities.
• We are committed to enabling all candidates to perform at their best during the assessment process. If you are shortlisted and require support or reasonable accommodation to complete any assessment, please inform our human resources team upon receiving your invitation.
• UNOPS has zero tolerance for sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA), sexual harassment, and other forms of abusive conduct, including discrimination, abuse of authority, and harassment. To uphold these standards, background checks are conducted for all final candidates to help ensure that individuals with a history of such conduct are not hired. By applying for a position with UNOPS, candidates acknowledge and consent to these verification processes.
  

• 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.
• For more details about the contract types, please click 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.