Head of Strategic Finance P4 - Munich, Germany

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WFP celebrates and embraces diversity. It is committed to the principle of equal employment opportunity for all its employees and encourages qualified candidates to apply irrespective of race, colour, national origin, ethnic or social background, genetic information, gender, gender identity and/or expression, sexual orientation, religion or belief, HIV status or disability.

DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS

Applications must be submitted by Sunday, November 27, 2022 (11:59 PM CET)

ABOUT WFP

The United Nations World Food Programme is the world's largest humanitarian agency fighting hunger worldwide. The mission of WFP is to help the world achieve Zero Hunger in our lifetimes. Every day, WFP works worldwide to ensure that no child goes to bed hungry and that the poorest and most vulnerable, particularly women and children, can access the nutritious food they need.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE OF ASSIGNMENT

The World Food Programme (WFP) is the United Nations frontline agency fighting hunger. WFP reaches more than 100 million people every day - delivering food assistance in emergencies and working with smallholder farmers, communities, and governments to improve nutrition and build resilience.

The WFP Innovation Accelerator was named by Fast Company as Most Innovative Non-Profit Organization 2021 for its work in identifying, nurturing, and scaling disruptive start-ups and innovations to end global hunger. Based in Munich, Germany, the Innovation Accelerator provides WFP employees and start-ups with funding, hands-on support, and access to WFP’s global operations. Through the Accelerator, WFP is leveraging unprecedented advances in digital innovation - such as mobile technology, artificial intelligence, and blockchain - and new business models to transform the way it serves vulnerable communities across the world. In 2021, Accelerator supported innovations that positively impacted the lives of 9 million people globally. Most recently, the Accelerator runs programmes for external partners such as the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and others.

More information here: http://innovation.wfp.org and https://youtu.be/OnKkQlRdh2c.

STANDARD MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Education:

• Advanced University degree in Finance, Business Administration, Accounting, or related fields, or First University degree in the same subject(s) with additional years of related work experience.
• A membership in an international recognized professional accountancy body such as Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA), Institute of Certified Public Accounts (ICPA) or equivalent is desirable.

Experience:

• Minimum 8 years of progressive postgraduate professional experience in financial reporting and financial management, specifically including strategic financial management.

Knowledge & Skills:

• Experience in leading teams (at least of 3 team members), including work planning, operational management, and team development.
• Experience in working and managing teams in large organizations linked to financial sphere. Experience in working in the humanitarian, development and/or impact sector is a plus.
• Advanced experience in management of budget, business planning, and forecasting activities; knowledge of managing special account is a plus.
• Demonstrated in-depth understanding of financial and risk management techniques.
• Managed budgets and financial statuses of large operations. Experience in UN or WFP financial roles is a plus.
• Strong conceptual thinking to develop finance strategies and coordinate projects which have innovative elements.
• Experience of working in teams focused on innovation, is a plus.
• Ability to interact with leaders and external audiences with maturity and tact.
• Collaborative spirit able to liaise with a wide range of people at all levels and across different cultures and to act with credibility and diplomacy.
• Strong time management skills with an ability to plan ahead, anticipate requirements, problems, and obstacles, and an ability juggle competing priorities successfully, and work to tight deadlines.
• Self-motivated and able to work with a high degree of autonomy.
• Fully committed to achieving the goals of the World Food Programme.
• Willing to travel to different field locations and challenging operating environments.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES (not all-inclusive)

The Head of Strategic Finance, reporting to the Head of WFP Innovation Accelerator, is expected to:

1. Lead the Financial Operations of the WFP Innovation Accelerator:

• Lead the design and implementation of the Innovation Accelerator finance and resource management strategies, by participating in key programmatic initiatives, and embedding value for money in these initiatives through advice on financial assessment, reporting, and accounting.
• Lead the operation of the WFP Innovation Accelerator Special Account operations, specifically including registration of grants, financial management and disbursement of grants to individual innovations or external entities.
• Advise and support the WFP Innovation Accelerator team and its portfolio projects (as applicable) in implementing finance, budgeting and resource management policies and plans in order to ensure transparent and efficient utilization of WFP’s financial resources and identify areas for savings in current financial or business processes.
• Coordinate the delivery of accurate financial reporting and analyses in accordance with International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSAS), ensuring accuracy, deadlines, accounting processes and corporate governance requirements are complied with for the Organization.
• Oversee the provision of financial assessment of partners, service providers, and other entities as needed, providing conclusions to management to enable them to make informed decisions.
• Design, implement, monitor and analyse budgets for new and ongoing projects according to established corporate procedures and requirements.
• Ensure that bank reconciliation, disbursements, clearance of receivables, overall cash management and monthly financial.
• Where necessary, manage and coordinate administrative services, negotiating contracts and following standard processes to provide cost-effective, quality and timely services to WFP staff.
• Consolidate and analyse financial data, identifying potential trends and issues, presenting clear recommendations and influencing management to tackle complex or regional problems.
• Propose innovative financial solutions to achieve programmatic goals, develop and implement improvements to financial policies, systems and procedures in order to improve efficiency and effectiveness of operations, minimise risk, and align services with business objectives.
• Develop and oversee the delivery of financial controls and insight into WFP performance, undertaking periodic risk and internal control assessments to identify areas which may present potential audit, compliance or financial risks.
• Lead, motivate and coach the Strategic Finance team to enable continued development and high performance.
• Contribute to preparedness actions such as risk analysis and contingency planning and make recommendations. Periodically monitor the management of risks and report on any action taken.

2. Provide finance and innovative finance expert advice to projects and activities as applicable:

• Provide finance and innovative expert advice to other WFP Innovation Accelerator staff or innovations in the portfolio as required.
• Represent the WFP Innovation Accelerator at internal meetings, external meetings, and events with other UN agencies, banks, and other financial institutions, or other partners and entities as required.
• Contribute to the Innovative Finance activities of the WFP Innovation Accelerator by leading or supporting project activities as required.

3. Actively lead Accelerator’s development through effective management and act as a member of its leadership team:

• Lead efforts with the overall goal of making the Accelerator a more effective platform in mind, while ensuring compliance with WFP policies in operations including facets such as the use of vendors and subcontractors, partnerships, contracts, and reporting.
• Lead other core processes of the Innovation Accelerator, linked to the areas of expertise.
• Provide analysis & content preparation for corporate priority topics and executive management meetings.
• Take up lead roles in running workshops and events, core processes of the WFP Innovation Accelerator.
• Support the Head of the Innovation Accelerator and the Director of Innovation with any other activities and tasks as required.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

Limited Fixed-Term Appointment (LFT) position is a non-mobile staff appointment in the international professional category for a limited period of up to 4 years. The position is based in Munich, Germany and the selected candidate will be expected to relocate.

WFP offers an attractive compensation and benefits package in line with ICSC standards (httR:llicsc.un.org) including basic salary, post adjustment, relocation entitlement, visa, travel and shipment allowances, 30 days' annual leave, home leave, an education grant for dependent children, a pension plan, and medical insurance.

REMINDERS BEFORE YOU SUBMIT YOUR APPLICATION

• We strongly recommend that your profile is accurate, complete, and includes your employment records, academic qualifications, language skills and UN Grade (if applicable)
• Once your profile is completed, please apply, and submit your application
• Please make sure you upload your professional CV in the English language
• Kindly note the only documents you will need to submit at this time are your CV and Cover Letter
• Additional documents such as passport, recommendation letters, academic certificates, etc. may potentially be requested at a future time
• Please contact us at [email protected] in case you face any challenges with submitting your application
• Only shortlisted candidates will be notified

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WFP has a zero-tolerance approach to conduct such as fraud, sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination. All selected candidates will be expected to adhere to WFP’s standards of conduct and will therefore undergo rigorous background verification internally or through third parties. Selected candidates will also be required to provide additional information as part of the verification exercise. Misrepresentation of information provided during the recruitment process may lead to disqualification or termination of employment

WFP will not request payment at any stage of the recruitment process including at the offer stage. Any requests for payment should be refused and reported to local law enforcement authorities for appropriate action.