Finance Specialist (Team Lead), Supply Chain Management Unit (SCMU), Copenhagen, Denmark, P3

The Position:

The Finance Specialist position is located in the Finance Team within Pillar 4 – Support Services in the Supply Chain Management Unit (SCMU). The position reports directly to the Head of Pillar 4 - Support Services. The Finance Specialist will work closely with other SCMU colleagues, other HQ Business Units particularly with the Finance Branch, the Regional Offices and the Country Offices and with a number of external partners.

All positions in SCMU are subject to funding availability and are renewable on an annual basis.

How you can make a difference:

UNFPA occupies a unique position in the sexual and reproductive health commodity ecosystem as a critical  player in supply chain management, a leading public procurer of sexual and reproductive health commodities, a trusted partner to national governments, and one of the few organizations with the scale and partnerships necessary to build accountability for last mile delivery.

The UNFPA Supply Chain Management Unit (SCMU) is self-funded and was made operational in January 2022. It is tasked with ensuring that UNFPA is able to effectively and efficiently support the delivery of life-saving reproductive health products and other programme supplies to the end user when and where they are needed. To achieve this, it is important to strengthen the capacity of governments and implementing partners to ensure coordination, end-to-end visibility and accountability on all supply chain and logistics management related activities, in particular for programme supplies, across all UNFPA programmes.

Job Purpose:

The Finance Specialist plays a pivotal role in financial management and controllership of SCMU’s financial activities. This role encompasses oversight of Accounts Payable and Receivable functions, internal financial controls, financial reporting, oversight of finance transactions processing, facilitating budget planning, coordinating annual account closures, and implementing audit recommendations in line with UNFPA regulations. The position will provide strategic oversight and management of a dedicated team.

Main Task and Responsibilities

A. Support the Head of Pillar 4 - Support Services in overseeing SCMU’s financial operations, ensuring strategic resource management, compliance, and operational efficiency.

• Provide expert financial guidance to SCMU senior leadership on resource planning, budgeting, and financial optimization to ensure strategic use of available resources.
• Ensure full compliance with UNFPA financial regulations, IPSAS standards, and internal control frameworks by establishing sound financial controls and safeguarding the integrity of SCMU’s financial operations.
• Lead the planning, execution, and monitoring of SCMU’s budget, including performance tracking, variance analysis, forecasting, and implementation of corrective actions.
• Oversee ERP-based financial functions, including approval workflows, reconciliations, ledger integrity, and transaction processing to ensure timely, accurate, and auditable records.
• Supervise accounts payable and receivable processes, ensuring accuracy, timeliness, and compliance with applicable financial policies and donor requirements.
• Lead the annual financial closure process, including year-end reconciliations, preparation of financial reports, coordination with auditors, and implementation of audit recommendations.
• Support the design and implementation of innovative financing approaches to diversify funding sources, enhance financial sustainability, and strengthen SCMU’s value proposition.
• Support and implement activities related to UNFPA’s Governance, Risk, Compliance and Reporting function.

B. Capacity Strengthening

• Developing and implementing UNFPA's capacity-strengthening initiatives.
• Advocate for the training of supply chain professionals.
• Coach and mentor UNFPA personnel to strengthen their capacity to provide informed technical guidance in the supply chain management function.

C. Thought Leadership, Knowledge Sharing and Advisory

• Champion UNFPA's supply chain thought leadership through actively engaging with industry experts, participating in relevant forums, contributing to research and publications, and representing UNFPA's expertise in various supply chain management discussions and initiatives.
• Foster an environment for knowledge retention and sharing and the creation of a community of practice for supply chain.
• Provide counsel and support on the full range of supply chain management issues, incorporating best practices and continuous improvement across UNFPA.

D. Partnerships and Resource Mobilization

• Prominently contribute to the development of UNFPA’s value proposition and relationships with donors and partners.
• Support SCMU’s collaboration with the Division for Communication and Strategic Partnerships to diversify funding opportunities.
• Support SCMU’s oversight of resource mobilization proposals for quality assurance purposes

E. Collaboration and Representation

• Establish effective collaboration with relevant stakeholders within UNFPA to ensure coordinated and effective tailored solutions for each area of intervention.
• Lead the fostering of relationships with key supply chain partners with the purpose of increasing the efficiency of UNFPA’s supply chain function.
• Represent SCMU and UNFPA in meetings related to financial management functions.

F. Team Management

• Create a conducive working environment aligned with UNFPA's 2030 People Strategy.
• Lead and supervise the team.

G. Carry out any other duties as may be required by the Chief, SCMU.

Qualifications and Experience

Education:  

An advanced university degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, International Commerce, or equivalent field is an asset. Additional professional certification such as Certified Public Accountant (CPA), Certified Management Accountant (CMA), Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA), Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA) would be an additional asset.

Knowledge and Experience: 

• A minimum of five (5) years of relevant, progressively responsible experience in financial management, accounting, or related areas. 
• Experience in managing a team, particularly within a remote and/or matrix organizational structure is required.
• Professional written and spoken presentation skills, including for the development of reports, presentations, and the ability to synthesize complex supply chain documents for both technical and non-technical audiences is required.
• Strong interpersonal skills and capability to develop and maintain broad diversified partnerships is required.
• Experience using Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) is required.
• Basic proficiency in project management skills is an asset.
• Experience in managing a team, particularly within a matrix organizational structure is an asset.
• Knowledge of UNFPA Strategic Plan, UNFPA Humanitarian Thematic Fund, UNFPA Strategy and Operational Plan to Scale-up and Strengthen Interventions on Gender-based Violence in Emergencies, 2023-2025 is an asset.

Languages: 

Fluency in English is required. Working knowledge of another official UN language is an asset.

Required Competencies: 

Values:

• Exemplifying integrity
• Demonstrating commitment to UNFPA and the UN system
• Embracing cultural diversity
• Embracing change

Core Competencies: 

• Achieving Results  
• Being Accountable
• Developing and Applying Professional Expertise/Business Acumen
• Thinking analytically and Strategically
• Working in Teams/Managing Ourselves and our Relationships
• Communicating for Impact

Functional Competencies:

• Organizational leadership and direction 
• Ensuring operational effectiveness and accountability for results
• External and internal communication and advocacy for results mobilization
• Managing the organization's financial resources
• Providing procurement services
• Aligning human resources management with the organization’s strategic direction

Managerial Competencies:

• Providing strategic focus
• Engaging staff and partners
• Leading, developing and empowering people/creating a culture of performance
• Making decisions and exercise judgment

Compensation and Benefits:

This position offers an attractive remuneration package including a competitive net salary plus health insurance and other benefits as applicable.

UNFPA Work Environment:

UNFPA provides a work environment that reflects the values of gender equality, diversity, integrity and healthy work-life balance. We are committed to ensuring gender parity in the organization and therefore encourage women to apply. Individuals from the LGBTQIA+ community, minority ethnic groups, indigenous populations, persons with disabilities, and other underrepresented groups are highly encouraged to apply. UNFPA promotes equal opportunities in terms of appointment, training, compensation and selection for all regardless of personal characteristics and dimensions of diversity. Diversity, Equity and Inclusion is at the heart of UNFPA's workforce - click here to learn more.

Disclaimer:

Selection and appointment may be subject to background and reference checks, medical clearance, visa issuance and other administrative requirements. 

UNFPA does not charge any application, processing, training, interviewing, testing or other fee in connection with the application or recruitment process and does not concern itself with information on applicants' bank accounts. 

Applicants for positions in the international Professional and higher categories, who hold permanent resident status in a country other than their country of nationality, may be required to renounce such status upon their appointment.