Senior Advisor, Finance (Policy Review)
Organizational Context
The Finance Group at UNOPS acts as a strategic partner, ensuring transparent and effective resource management. It defines financial strategy, establishes policies and systems, and leads corporate budgeting for financial sustainability. The group provides expert guidance throughout the project lifecycle, delivers financial reporting, and enhances resource planning. This role sits within the Finance Group, focusing on substantive quality assurance and legislative framework alignment for financial policies.
Job Purpose
The Senior Advisor, Finance (Policy Review) is crucial for maintaining UNOPS' financial integrity and global compliance. This role requires a deep understanding of complex financial regulations to provide authoritative advisory services. It involves navigating intricate financial landscapes and strengthening organizational financial governance. By integrating diverse financial specializations, the position delivers comprehensive advisory services and leads complex programs focused on substantive quality assurance and legislative framework alignment, ensuring policies are technically sound and compliant.
Responsibilities
Conduct substantive policy reviews, ensuring technical accuracy, consistency with International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSAS), and alignment with UNOPS' operating model. Review financial reporting policies and accounting guidelines for revenue, expense, and asset management. Perform benchmark analysis across UN agencies to recommend policy enhancements. Act as a liaison between policy owners and the Legal Group/Policy Development Committee, preserving accounting standards during legal review. Ensure policy coherence, avoiding duplication and conflicts, and collaborate with other practice groups to prevent friction in service delivery. Validate mandatory provisions and support the development of guidance for finance and accounting processes. Facilitate stakeholder engagement, synthesize feedback, and manage consultative processes. Monitor policy effective dates against financial deadlines and identify risks to operational readiness. Manage exceptions and document concerns when financial principles are at risk. Identify and recommend improvements to the policy review process to ensure timely issuance of critical policies. Deliver coherence reports, policy health dashboards, mediation briefs, and stakeholder updates.
Work Experience
Requires progressive experience in finance, accounting, or related fields, with a focus on financial advisory, quality assurance, and regulatory compliance. Extensive experience managing complex financial programs in international organizations or large corporations is necessary. Demonstrated experience in developing and implementing financial policies, procedures, and control frameworks is essential. Proven ability to provide authoritative financial expertise and strategic guidance to senior stakeholders is required. Experience with UNOPS financial regulations or similar UN frameworks is desirable.
Skills
Compliance Management, Financial Regulations, Legislative Affairs, Policy Analysis, Quality Assurance, Risk Management, Strategic Thinking