Chief Financial Officer and Assistant Executive Director, Management

ABOUT WFP

The World Food Programme is the world’s largest humanitarian organization saving lives in emergencies and using food assistance to build a pathway to peace, stability and prosperity, for people recovering from conflict, disasters and the impact of climate change.

OVERVIEW OF THE ROLE

The Chief Financial Officer and Assistant Executive Director, Management (Assistant Secretary-General level) is a member of WFP's Senior Leadership Group and will be responsible for leading and promoting innovation, efficiency, and effectiveness across WFP's financial management functions and ensuring effective systems for external and internal financial controls and accountability. The position plays a critical role in ensuring the effective and efficient use of financial resources in support of WFP's mission to end global hunger. This role carries the fiduciary responsibility to ensure the organization's financial health, compliance, and accountability. The CFO also plays a critical role in end-to-end budgeting and planning to implementation processes. The AED oversees the organization's resource allocation, including budgeting and contribution programming.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• As a member of WFP's senior leadership team work closely with the Executive Director, Deputy Executive Director and COO, Assistant Executive Directors and other senior leaders to develop and implement policies, strategies, and programmes that advance WFP's mission and goals.
• Set strategies for WFP's Management Department that align with the organization's mandate and goals.
• Provide leadership and direction to ensure that risk management, internal control and compliance, oversight reporting, anti-fraud & anti-corruption measures are embedded throughout the organization
• Engage Division heads and lead and coordinate the formulation, integration and implementation of relevant financial management policies, strategies and plans.
• Safeguard WFP's financial resources, ensuring they are managed responsibly, ethically, and in compliance with IPSAS and other applicable regulations.
• Provide strategic financial advice to the leadership team, Executive Board and their Member states, and other stakeholders to protect and enhance WFP's financial standing.
• Promote and set the tone for innovation, efficiency and effectiveness
• Provide strategic leadership in integrating financial management functions across the organization to ensure effective coordination and alignment.
• Lead the development and implementation of resource allocation strategies, ensuring optimal utilization of resources aligned with WFP's strategic priorities.
• Foster a culture of accountability, transparency, and continuous improvement within the financial management functions.
• Act as a role model, setting an example of the highest standards of integrity for all staff through personal behaviour. Foster and ensure an organizational environment that respects diversity, gender equality and cultural/racial sensitivity and facilitates openness to diverse perspectives.
• Engage and represent WFP in high-level fora (e.g. United Nations, Governments, Executive Board, Humanitarian and Development Communities, etc.), asserting the organization’s position and ensuring that WFP interests are at the forefront of discussions and considerations.
• Lead and foster inter-agency partnerships to enable coordinated and holistic preparedness and response to humanitarian and development needs, ensuring WFP actions complement inter-agency efforts.

CORE REQUIREMENTS

Experience:

• A minimum of 20 years of progressively responsible experience in financial management, including financial planning, budgeting, reporting, and analysis.
• Proven leadership experience in managing financial operations in large and complex organizations, preferably within the humanitarian or development sector.

Knowledge & Skills:

• In-depth knowledge of international accounting standards, financial regulations, and best practices.
• Proven track record in financial management, strategic planning, risk management, and mitigation.
• Strong strategic thinking, analytical skills, and the ability to provide financial insights and recommendations.
• Strong leadership and management skills, with the ability to build effective relationships with stakeholders at all levels inside and outside the organization.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to influence and persuade at the highest levels.
• High level of emotional intelligence, with the ability to manage complex and challenging situations with empathy and tact.
• A firm commitment to the work, objectives, values, and guiding principles of WFP and the United Nations system.
• Impeccable personal and professional integrity.
• Strong networking and relationship-building skills, evidenced by an extensive network of contacts with key players and stakeholders at the international level.
• Able to provide leadership and responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives into substantive work and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work.
• Willingness to travel to different locations worldwide, often in challenging and remote environments.

LANGUAGES AND EDUCATION

• Fluency (level C) in English language.
• Working knowledge of a second official UN language: Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian, Spanish, and/or Portuguese (a WFP working language) highly desirable
• Advanced university degree in finance, accounting, business administration, or a related field.
• Professional certification (e.g., CPA, CA, CMA) is highly desirable.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

The selected candidate will be employed on a fixed-term contract at the Assistant Secretary General level, with a probationary period of one year.

WFP offers an attractive compensation and benefits package, including basic salary, post adjustment, relocation entitlement, travel and shipment allowances, 30 days’ annual leave, as well as expatriate entitlements such as home leave, an education grant for dependent children, and compulsory pension plan and medical insurance. For more details please visit icsc.un.org.

DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS

All applications should include a cover letter and the curriculum vitae of the candidate in English and must be submitted through the WFP Careers website by Tuesday, 1 August 2023 at 23:59 Rome time.