Head of Finance and Management Services
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. WFP utilizes food assistance to support people recovering from conflict, disasters, and extreme weather. The organization values diversity, inclusion, and a high-performing workforce committed to its mission.
Job Purpose
The Head of Finance, Risk and Management Services provides strategic leadership and oversight for finance, risk management, compliance, assurance, and management services within a Country Office. This role serves as a principal advisor to senior management on financial stewardship, governance, resource management, and operational efficiency, ensuring that enabling services effectively support programmatic delivery and organizational objectives. The incumbent leads multidisciplinary teams, managing financial resources, risk governance frameworks, and corporate compliance requirements. Key responsibilities include directing all finance operations, ensuring accurate financial reporting, providing advice on donor funding, leading financial oversight of complex transactions, and establishing comprehensive enterprise risk management frameworks. The position also oversees management services, drives efficiency initiatives, and represents the organization in engagements with various stakeholders.
Responsibilities
The Head of Finance, Risk and Management Services provides strategic leadership and direction for finance, risk management, compliance, assurance, and management services within a country office. This role involves defining strategic priorities, aligning them with the country strategy and corporate objectives, and advising senior management on financial, governance, and operational matters. Key responsibilities include directing all finance operations, ensuring effective budgeting, accounting, treasury, and financial reporting, and managing month-end/year-end closures with IPSAS compliance. The position also oversees financial aspects of donor funding, project budgets, and cash-based transfer operations, ensuring robust fiduciary controls. A critical function is establishing and maintaining an enterprise risk management framework, identifying, assessing, and mitigating strategic, operational, and compliance risks. This includes monitoring audit recommendations and promoting adherence to organizational regulations, anti-fraud policies, and ethical conduct. The role also provides strategic oversight of management services like administration, facilities, and fleet operations, driving efficiency and cost optimization. Furthermore, it involves leading financial assessments and due diligence for partners, providing guidance on financial management, and building capacity. Finally, the Head of Finance, Risk and Management Services leads and develops multidisciplinary teams, fostering a culture of accountability and continuous learning, and represents the organization in engagements with various stakeholders on finance, governance, risk, and management services.
Work Experience
The role requires an advanced university degree in a relevant field or a first university degree with additional experience. Desirable experiences include at least 3 years in financial management, accounting, budgeting, reporting, administration, asset management, facilities management, risk management, internal controls, and staff supervision. Fluency in English and French is essential, with knowledge of another UN language being an advantage.
Skills
Financial Management, Risk Management, Compliance, Assurance, Management Services, Budgeting, Accounting, Treasury, Reporting, Auditing, Due Diligence, Leadership, Team Management, Stakeholder Management