Head of Finance & Management Services Officer

Organizational Context

The World Food Programme (WFP) is the world's largest humanitarian organization, dedicated to saving lives in emergencies and building pathways to peace and prosperity through food assistance. WFP operates in diverse and challenging environments, striving to ensure effective humanitarian aid reaches millions globally. The organization values integrity, collaboration, commitment, humanity, and inclusion, fostering a skilled and high-performing workforce.

Job Purpose

The Head of Finance & Management Services Officer will lead the stewardship of WFP resources and the delivery of high-quality, value-for-money enabling services. This role is responsible for managing finance, management services, and risk functions, strengthening internal controls, compliance, and accountability. The incumbent will advise senior management on financial viability, resource utilization, and operational risks, ensuring that assistance to beneficiaries is supported by efficient, transparent, and risk-informed business processes. Key responsibilities include setting strategic direction for finance and management services, overseeing financial operations, providing expert financial advice, managing budgets and forecasts, conducting financial assessments, leading risk management practices, coordinating audits, and ensuring compliance with WFP policies and procedures.

Responsibilities

The Head of Finance & Management Services is responsible for the strategic direction and management of WFP's financial operations, management services, and risk functions within a country office. This role involves leading finance, budgeting, accounting, and resource management to ensure timely and accurate financial reporting, budget monitoring, and cash management in compliance with corporate standards. The position requires providing expert financial advice to senior management on fund utilization, project budgets, financial viability, and risk mitigation. Key responsibilities include overseeing budget design and analysis for projects, conducting financial assessments of partners, and coordinating financial controls and risk management practices. The role also entails leading management services to deliver efficient support functions like facilities, assets, and travel, while promoting UN reform and inter-agency collaboration. Furthermore, the Head of Finance & Management Services is tasked with representing the Country Office in financial and management matters, leading and developing a multidisciplinary team, and contributing to emergency preparedness and response efforts. This includes ensuring compliance with WFP policies, promoting a risk-informed approach, and driving improvements in operational efficiency and accountability across enabling services.

Work Experience

The role requires an advanced university degree in Finance, Accounting, Business Administration, Public Administration, Audit, Risk Management, International Development, or a related field. Alternatively, a first university degree with additional years of relevant experience and training is acceptable. Membership in a professional accountancy body like ACCA or CPA is desirable. Fluency in English is mandatory.

Skills

Finance, Accounting, Budgeting, Resource Management, Risk Management, Internal Controls, Compliance, Audit, Financial Reporting, Financial Analysis, Cash Management, Disbursements, Project Management, Due Diligence, Policy Development, Team Leadership, Inter-agency Coordination, Emergency Preparedness, Business Continuity, Fraud Prevention

Explore related opportunities