UNDP Jobs - 61110- Strategic Management Advisor

Strategic Management Advisor

Location :

New York, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

Type of Contract :

FTA International

Starting Date :

Application Deadline :

15-Dec-15 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

P-5

Duration of Initial Contract :

One Year

Languages Required :

English

Expected Duration of Assignment :

UNDP is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence. UNDP does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.

Background

Organizational Context:

The United Nations Development Programme is the global development network of the United Nations system that is on the ground in 177 countries, with its Headquarters in New York, USA. The Bureau for Management Services (BMS) is a central Bureau tasked with the development of corporate strategies, policies, tools and systems in key cross-cutting management areas. Drawing on sound analytics and a risk-management approach, BMS supports the achievement of development results through management advice, innovative business solutions, and other corporate services in line with international best practices and evolving needs and expectations of development partners. BMS also ensures policy adherence in operations management within UN Rules & Regulations, safeguarding UNDP’s accountability vis-à-vis Member States and other stakeholders.

In support of UNDP’s current Strategic Plan, the Service Delivery Model adopted by the Bureau for Management Services (BMS) aims to provide more integrated, effective, and customer focused services. These values inform the realigned Offices of Human Resources Management, Financial Resources Management and the newly created Office of Management Services (OMS). The global finance function supports UNDP through continuous enhancement of UNDP’s financial performance, delivering sound stewardship of resources, and enhancing accountability through informed decision making, effective processes and transparent reporting. It includes innovation, flexibility and scalability in the context of a fluctuating funding environment.

The Office of Financial Resources Management (OFRM) performs a pivotal role within BMS and within UNDP’s global finance function, partnering with Bureaux and Country Offices. The primary role of OFRM is to maintain the financial integrity of UNDP through providing financial leadership, supporting the efficient and effective management of its financial resources, promoting financial sustainability and responsible resource allocation. This is accomplished by the development and implementation of sound financial policies and practices, oversight of corporate financial management performance, and flexible scalable support to resource allocation.

OFRM serves as a business partner to Bureaux, providing sound financial management, advisory and analytical services, with a view to continuously improve the financial management performance of business units and support Bureaux in the exercising of their oversight functions. OFRM is a key source of information for the Executive Board, General Assembly, to Partners and wider civil society. It supports transparency through the provision of on time and quality statutory and other financial reports that comply with international standards and regulatory guidelines.

The Strategic Management Adviser contributes to the development and integration of financial resources management strategies and related improvement initiatives, and coordinates with managers in OFRM and other relevant units on the roll-out of these strategies throughout UNDP. The post also plays a key role in ensuring that OFRM presents Management, the Executive Board, and UNDP partners and stakeholders documents on resource planning and financial matters in a coordinated and consistent manner.

Duties and Responsibilities

Summary of Key Responsibilities:

Contributes to the development of emerging resource planning strategies for the resources management framework;
Contributes to the strategic development of the global Finance Function;
Coordinates and provides substantive advice on Executive level documents and briefs;
Coordinates the management of Service Agreements with BMS/CTU and BMS Operations for services provided to OFRM.

Description of Key Responsibilities:

Contributes to the development of emerging resource planning strategies for the resources management framework.

Analyzes executive requests, recommendations from oversight bodies, best practices and current and emerging trends in strategic financial management and supports UNDP’s effort to launch relevant and emergent financial management strategies, approaches and policies that enhance the organization’s efficiency and effectiveness in resources financial management.
Working closely with other managers in OFRM and UNDP, s/he is expected to provide advice and expertise to respective teams involved in financial management strategy and improvement initiatives, including the Integrated Resource Management Framework (IRMF) Enhancement Project and the Country Office Business Model initiative, Business Process Reengineering
Provides value-added advisory services on best practices and policy/operational instruments to promote the development of effective and innovative financial management strategies, including policy development.

Contributes to the strategic development of the global Finance Function.

In close cooperation with OFRM units, and with the BMS Policy and Strategy Unit coordinates the integration of new and innovative financial management improvement strategies throughout UNDP.
Provides advice and expertise on the formulation and delivery of high quality and practical learning tools and programmes to transfer requisite financial management strategy knowledge to clients, and supports the development of the wider finance function including the Bureau Finance Business Partners.

Coordinates and provides substantive advice on Executive level documents and briefs:

In close consultation with UNDP-internal managers, UN agency partners and Executive Board members, s/he contributes to the strategic vision for UNDP’s financial management functions through developing relevant financial management strategies and conceptualizing and drafting policy and strategy papers, Executive Board documents, resource planning frameworks, Executive Group and Operations Performance Group briefs.
Coordinates the development of Executive Board documents prepared by OFRM units, ensuring a coordinated and consistent approach to preparation and presentation of information on financial management matters.
In close consultation with UNDP-internal managers, provides briefings and substantive advice to the Deputy Assistant Administrator, Deputy Director and Chief Finance Officer on proposals and issues presented in Executive Group and Operations Performance Group documents and their potential impact on achieving efficient and effective financial management.
Ensures that appropriate audit recommendations on management and reporting in respect of the integrated budget and resource utilization by management are implemented as appropriate and risks are managed, included in the formulation of policies, procedures and guidance as well as in the development of new systems.
Ensures that financial analysis and reporting is presented in compliance as appropriate with external and statutory financial reporting requirements, including IPSAS, and internal UNDP and UN system financial reporting norms as well as the UNDP Financial Regulations and Rules and applicable policies and procedures. Supports the preparation of the narrative section of the Executive Board paper “Annual Review of the Financial Situation”.
Provides analyses and briefs for senior management on a broad range of financial management topics, appropriately factoring in risks and opportunities.
Support the Chief Finance Officer in exercising corporate oversight.

Coordinates the management of Service Agreements with BMS/CTU and BMS Operations for services provided to OFRM

Manages the OFRM Policy and Strategy Unit, ensuring effective coordination of work plan activities, approaches and resulting actions.
Provides strategic and substantive technical guidance and manages the Audit Coordination Specialist.
Provides advice to the Deputy Assistant Administrator, Deputy Director and Chief Finance Officer on strategy development for the OFRM divisional budget.
Coordinates OFRM global process owners to ensure that services from BMS/CTU and other Units providing services to OFRM meet performance targets within agreed resources and budgets. Coordinates budget negotiations, change requests, change management and service evolutions with the GSSCs.

Competencies

Core Competencies:

Innovation:

Ability to make new and useful ideas work.

Leadership:

Ability to persuade others to follow.

People Management:

Ability to improve performance and satisfaction.

Communication:

Ability to listen, adapt, persuade and transform.

Delivery:

Ability to get things done.

Technical and Functional Competencies:

Strategic Partnership:

Excellent skills in building partnerships and structuring internal and external (Executive Board / UN agency partners) consultative processes on highly complex and priority resource strategies.

Strategic Thinking:

Ability to think strategically and analytically on complex and high priority subjects; exceptional ability to innovate.

Knowledge of Resource Management Frameworks:

Strong understanding of the state of play with respect to resource and finance management frameworks and instruments.

Formulation of Resource/Finance Strategies and Policies:

Ability to formulate resource and finance strategies and policy, and advising on complex and important financial issues.

Knowledge of ICT and Corporate Analytics Tools:

Understands the strategic role of ICT and corporate analytics with respect to strategic resource management.

Knowledge Management:

Ability to efficiently handle and share information and knowledge.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

A professional accounting qualification certificate from an internationally recognized institute of accountancy.

Experience:

Minimum 10 years of relevant work experience in any of the areas: resource management, budget, finance, accounting or a directly-related field with a good understanding of strategic management issues within the UNDP/UN environment or any international organization.
Preferably at least 5 years’ experience as an external auditor working in an international accounting/audit firm.

Language:

Excellent oral and written communication skills in English, with an adequate working knowledge of another UN language preferred.

Other Required Qualifications:

Detailed knowledge and experience complying with IFRS or IPSAS.
Highly refined analytical capacity and drafting skills.
Proven track record of excellent management and leadership skills.
Good working knowledge of ERP systems, PeopleSoft an asset.