Sr. Finance Manager (Global Cash Transfers), P5 Division of Finance & Administrative Management, Istanbul - Turkey

Contract

This is a P-5 contract. This kind of contract is known as Professional and Director staff. It is normally internationally recruited only. It's a staff contract. It usually requires 10 years of experience, depending on education. More about P-5 contracts and their salaries.

UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. To save their lives. To defend their rights. To help them fulfill their potential.

Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone.

And we never give up.

For every child, hope...

Under the direct supervision of the Deputy Director of Treasury & Structured Finance (TSF) Section , the incumbent is accountable for leading the strategic vision for innovative financial management of cash programme delivery across the organization. The incumbent will work closely with the Treasurer, and the Treasury and Banking Units within TSF Section to define the strategic focus and approach, and to operationalize the strategic vision in overseeing UNICEF’s policy and guidance positions for financial management cash transfer programming, capacity building approach to ensure a cash fit operational work force in the organization, continued investments in modernization of information and enterprise resource management tools, technical support to field offices, and expanding investment in management information systems. The incumbent will supervise a Digital Payment Specialist who will support global technical support and operational capacity.

The incumbent will work close with other DFAM sections including Financial Reporting and Analysis, Budget, and the Office of the Comptroller, coordinating overarching DFAM efforts in support of cash assistance including effective accounting practices, budget and resource management, and internal control and audit responses. The incumbent will also work very closely with other UNICEF HQ divisions including Program Group (PG) Social Policy Section where the HQ interdivisional Cash Team is coordinated from, as well as the Emergency Programmes Division (EMOPS), the Supply Division, ICTD, the Division of Analysis, Planning and Monitoring (DAPM), and UNICEF Global Shared Services Center (GSSC). There will also be regular engagement with Regional Offices, and a wide array of country offices being supported in the implementation of cash transfer programmes.

How can you make a difference?

Main accountabilities:

• Lead DFAM’s activities in support of UNICEF’s cash transfer programmes, in close cooperation with the rest of the TSF Section, in particular the Banking Unit and the Treasury Unit.

• Support the Deputy Director of Treasury & Structured Finance (TSF) Section in designing the strategic direction of the financial management of global cash transfers.

• Advance the use of technology, including the scale up of digital payment solutions (such as Mobile Network Operators - MNOs, and payment aggregators) in the scale up and delivery of cash transfer programming working closely with DFAM’s TSF Section Banking and Treasury Units; other DFAM Sections including FRAM, Budget and the Office of the Comptroller; other HQ divisions including the Interdivisional Cash Team coordinated by Programme Group Social Policy Section, EMOPs, DAPM, Supply Division, ICTD; and the leading ROs and COs in this field, in support of UNICEF’s digital financial transformation.

• Maintain a strong focus on innovation to identify opportunities for new technology partnerships for payment to beneficiaries at country level, and technology tools to enhance transparency, reporting and risk mitigation. Work closely with Supply Division and PFP to enhance UNICEF’s partnerships with key commercial service providers in the digital payments and technology space.

• Identify and assess operational risks associated with payment systems for cash transfers, develop financial risk mitigation strategies throughout the cash transfer cycle, and assist in the management of such risks. This includes evaluation the payment modality adequacy for the type of beneficiary, and the country and programme context from a financial risk perspective.

• Technically review and advise on the payment modalities used by UNICEF offices to engage with all types of financial service providers for cash transfer services (e.g., banks, mobile network operators, other digital payment providers), tailoring them to the specific needs of the cash programmes being delivered, the country context, banking system and payment infrastructure, liquidity and foreign exchange regime, always seeking to mitigate risk and enhance transparency.
• Work with DFAM’s TSF Section Banking Unit, Supply Division, and legal teams to identify and engage payment providers for cash transfers, with a preference for digital payment providers, and working with the Banking Unit recommend for approval by the Deputy Director of Treasury & Structured Finance Section.
• In close collaboration with the Banking & Payment Methods Unit, do coordinate and negotiate cash delivery services with financial service providers.
• Identify and implement innovative solutions to support digital payment methods for cash transfers, access to financial services and identity management to shape the environment and create new opportunities for delivering cash in UNICEF.
• Participate in financial inter-agency coordination efforts as part of UN Common Cash System (UNCCS) and other UN and NGO system efforts to enhance collaborative cash programming approaches, focusing on UNCCS Procurement and Finance Working Group participation, as well as regular engagement with the UN treasury Working Group when requested to do so by the Treasurer.
• Lead efforts for development and enhancement of UNICEF management information and ERP systems support cash programming. Serve as the financial business lead in the continued development and maintenance of UNICEF’s HOPE management information system (MIS) used for cash programme beneficiary data management, creation of standard payment instructions, reconciliation, and internal controls for cash programmes. Work closely with DFAM Vision and ICTD teams to promote ERP enhancements to support cash programming financial functions.

• Support annual cash programme volume reporting and verification.

• Could be asked to support surge response field missions to provide technical support and guidance to Country offices in their design of national payment systems; assessment, selection of and negotiations with Financial Service Providers (FSP), including preparedness for country/region mission as needed.

  2. Development and mainstreaming of operation SoPs, guidance, and tools

• Develop/Contribute to policies, SoPs and DFAM tools relating to cash transfer programming, their roll out, and regular updates.

• Regularly update/strengthen DFAM tools and dashboards related to cash transfer programming. Share field data and insights from interaction with the cash community and regularly report on cash programme activities.
• In close collaboration with the inter-divisional cash team coordinated from the Programme Group, contribute to the development, testing and rolling out of training and communication materials, operational concept notes, and guidelines including collecting and consolidating field inputs.

3. Additional tasks:

• Stay up to date with latest developments in cash transfer programming trends and technologies
• Maintain regular interaction with other members of UNICEF’s interdivisional cash team and with the coordinator of the Interdivisional Cash Team.
• Take part on and influence headquarters internal and external discussions on global cash programming.

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…

• Master’s Degree in Business, Finance or Economics.
• Minimum 10 years’ experience of progressively responsible professional work experience at national and international levels around finance, accounting, auditing, or risk management.
• Minimum 5 years’ experience in providing direct technical assistance to UN Agencies, NGOs, governments or in private sector entities operating in cash transfers and global payments.

• Experience/Exposure to humanitarian and development cash-based programming is a strong asset.

• Demonstrated knowledge in use of cash in emergencies.

• Experience with digital payments and new finance technologies.

• Fluency in English (verbal and written). Good written and spoken skills and knowledge of another UN language is an asset.

• Good knowledge of information management and in data analysis.

• Ability to work independently and respond to feedback in a timely and professional manner.

• Experience in emergency programme implementation is an asset.
• Familiarity with UNICEF’s programmes in emergency contexts preferred.
• Experience in multi-stakeholder co-ordination and facilitation, including with UN agencies is an asset.
• Knowledge of the UNICEF operational business model such as HACT and UN contracting and procurement is an asset

Specific Technical Knowledge Required

• First-hand knowledge and understanding of cash-based programming design options
• Experience in digital payment systems including mobile-based money transfers, mobile vouchers, card-based payments, such as prepaid debit cards, and/or other digital technologies;

• Solid knowledge of policies and regulations governing digital financial services as well as global and regional best practices in the field.

• Knowledge of the global diverse perspective on cash-based programming in development and humanitarian settings

For every Child, you demonstrate...

UNICEF's values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, and Accountability (CRITA).

The UNICEF competencies required for this post are...

Core competencies

• Nurtures, Leads and Manages People (2)

• Demonstrates Self Awareness and Ethical Awareness (2)

• Works Collaboratively with others (2)

• Builds and Maintains Partnerships (2)

• Innovates and Embraces Change (2)

• Thinks and Acts Strategically (2)

• Drives to achieve impactful results (2)

• Manages ambiguity and complexity (2)

Common Technical Knowledge Required:

• Ability to assess all financial aspects of cash programming.

• Understanding and experience in the use of technology for cash programming

• Excellent analytical, organization, communication, and management skills. Must be detail oriented with the ability to multi-task.

Technical Knowledge to be Acquired/Enhanced:

• UN policies and strategy to address international development and humanitarian issues and the responses.

• UN common approaches to programmatic issues and UNICEF positions

• UN security operations and guidelines

UNICEF's values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, and Accountability (CRITA). To view our competency framework, please visit here.

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization.

UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination. UNICEF also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles. All selected candidates will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles and will therefore undergo rigorous reference and background checks. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check.

UNICEF’s active commitment towards diversity and inclusion is critical to deliver the best results for children. For this position, eligible and suitable female candidates are encouraged to apply.

Remarks:

Candidates who applied to the previously issued Requisition No: 549350, need not apply again. Mobility is a condition of international professional employment with UNICEF and an underlying premise of the international civil service. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.

UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance. Issuance of a visa by the host country of the duty station, which will be facilitated by UNICEF, is required for IP positions. Appointments may also be subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (COVID). Government employees that are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally required to resign from their government before taking up an assignment with UNICEF. UNICEF reserves the right to withdraw an offer of appointment, without compensation, if a visa or medical clearance is not obtained, or necessary inoculation requirements are not met, within a reasonable period for any reason.