Finance Advisor

Job Highlight This is an excellent opportunity to provide strategic financial leadership within a dynamic international organization. The position offers exposure to a diverse portfolio of projects, cross-functional collaboration, and the chance to drive significant improvements in financial management and operational efficiency. Role Purpose Reporting to the Head of Support Services, the Finance Advisor manages a team of 6 and maintains close working relationships with other finance practitioners located in regional and field locations to ensure a robust control environment, high-quality financial reporting, and the integration of financial services across four diverse portfolios. The Finance Advisor provides strategic oversight and comprehensive financial management for the New York Portfolios Office (NYPO), ensuring compliance with organizational requirements, driving continuous improvement, and leading a high-performing finance team. Functions / Key Results Expected Provide strategic financial support and budget oversight to NYPODevelop Finance/Budget annual work plan, setting of priorities and planning of work in line with corporate goals and business planning process Monitor and analyze the operating environment to ensure adequate agility, risk management and quick readjustment of the operations as needed Strengthen client and stakeholder satisfaction by ensuring NYPO'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 NYPO, as well as the achievement of the Strategic Objectives Contribute with specialist financial knowledge to long-term strategy of NYPO's business efficiencies Deliver cross-functional integration and process efficiency improvementsBridge the gap between HQ-level policy development and execution at field level, including conducting financial training to personnelLead cross-functional integration and process efficiency improvements through linkages between program and operations with an emphasis on finance and budgetingWork towards coherence in processes and in policy improvements for long-term solutions to repetitive challengesBenchmark internal financial practices with external best practicesWork closely with other management practice advisors on the utilization and enhancement of systems and toolsKnowledge building and sharing with regards to financial management and operations Enforce compliance with organizational requirementsSupervise the performance of monthly, quarterly and year-end accounting processesMitigate reputational risk by ensuring integrity and accuracy of financial performance and expenditureEnsure transactions are correct and escalate complex and recurring challenges.Drive inputs on budget design across programmesLead control and data integrity tests of systemsContribute to practice-led initiatives on common operational recommendations when developing new systemsDrive the delivery of training to the business to raise financial capacity, awareness and compliance Ensure client-facing performance and reporting is excellent and undergoing continuous improvementConstant assessment of client-satisfaction and performance through KPIs related to Financial Management as part of internal and external benchmarkingConduct a thorough analysis of statistics and trends to inform and guide the portfolioEstablish a knowledge management system to ensure Financial Management trends and lessons learned are captured to inform future decision making and best practicesLead financial quarterly reviews with the clients and stakeholders to communicate challenges and achievementsContribute as practice specialist to resolving NYPO functional challenges by coordinating and developing long-term strategies towards innovative solutionsReview and lead financial process efficiencies, and contribute to the development of NYPO SOPsEnable the assessment of risks versus opportunities considering the Internal Control Framework Lead a high-performing teamLead an effective, high-performing, and inclusive Finance team. Ensure team cohesion and integration across the two Finance sub-teams. Foster and role-model a safe and inclusive work environment that upholds dignity and respect for all personnel. Uphold the highest standards of conduct and take decisive action to address behaviours that undermine inclusion, equity, or psychological safety.Ensure that hybrid working arrangements are managed equitably, with conscious attention to ensuring that remote and part-time team members have equal access to development opportunities, visibility, and recognition; in accordance with UNOPS policy requirements.Ensure that DEI objectives are embedded in PER/PRAs for all ICS-10 and above Finance team members at a minimum, and that training and development plans include inclusive leadership competencies. Ensure resource maximization and business planning is effective and embedded in business as usual (BAU)Lead the budget and business planning process, reflecting the strategic and operational requirements Monitor the budget implementation and resource utilization/status related to NYPO's admin and LSS budgets Steward the management resources of NYPO clusters ensuring timely cost recovery and adequate pricing Improve and where necessary develop costing/budgeting models to ensure adequate resource planning is embedded into new projects.Monitor NYPO's performance against financial targetsEducation Requirements RequiredMaster degree (or equivalent) preferably in Business Administration, Finance, Accounting or related fields with a minimum of 7 years of relevant experience; or Bachelor's degree preferably in Business Administration, Finance, Accounting or related fields with a minimum of 9 years of relevant experienceRequiredExperience Requirements Relevant experience is defined as progressive professional experience in business process analysis and/or redesign, and/or optimization in financial management, budget oversight, and strategic financial planning.DesiredExperience in managing the financial components of project management cycles is desired.A minimum of 2 years of experience managing teams in a professional environment is required. Experience fostering diverse and inclusive team cultures, including in hybrid or multicultural work environments, is desirable. Experience working in an international organization or the UN system.