Overview
The Comptroller will direct and manage the organization’s global financial, budget, accounting and administrative management operations and contribute to senior management decision-making to help ensure UNICEF effectively lives up to its mandate to protect the rights of every child worldwide.
Key Responsibilities
- Monitors UNICEF’s financial performance to ensure achievement of global organizational objectives and goals.
- Develops, implements, and ensures adherence to global financial, accounting, budgetary and administrative policies and procedures.
- Establishes internal control mechanisms, performance standards, and measurements to ensure the organisation's assets are protected, resources are efficiently and effectively utilised, and all operational transactions are in accordance with the UN/UNICEF Financial Regulations and Rules.
- Formulates and implements strategic risk management approaches.
- Formulates the organization's financial plans and participates in the formulation of the strategic plans and integrated budget.
- Proposes liquidity policy to the Executive Director and monitors its application.
- Directs and supervises the activities of the Division of Financial and Administrative Management (DFAM) and provides financial guidance to senior management.
- Oversees the Global Strategic Operations function.
- Manages and approves financial operations related to the organization's assets and liabilities, revenue, and expenses.
- Directs the opening and management of all UNICEF bank accounts and authorizes transfer and payment of funds.
- Decides, with the advice of a UNICEF Financial Advisory Committee, on the investment of funds.
- Monitors return on investments and take action to minimize investment risk.
- Ensures compliance with relevant financial accountability requirements and timely and reporting to Governing Bodies, Donors and UNICEF management.
- Develops and ensures adherence to accounting policies.
- Oversees the preparation and utilization of the institutional budget.
- In collaboration with relevant divisions, monitors the allocation and implementation of the programme and private sector budgets.
- Contribute to the identification and formulation of innovative financing modalities.
- Advises the Office of the Executive Director on the development of broad organizational operational objectives and policy issues.
- Ensures issuance of operational and financial policies and their consistent application throughout the Organization.
- Contributes to financial planning and level of UNICEF expenditures and activities based on available and expected resources.
- Monitors and reports financial results in relation to budget plans.
- Oversight of global premises, fleet management and travel, including eco-sustainability and accessibility, and business continuity.
- Serves as Chairperson of the Contract Review Committee (CRC) and the Insurance and Property Survey Board.
- Coordinates all relations of UNICEF with the United Nations Board of Auditors and other UN bodies as needed.
- Act for the Deputy Executive Director (Management) as required.
- Participates in UNICEF Executive Board meetings, providing guidance and advice to the Executive Director on financial and budgetary matters.
- Provides authoritative advice and decisions along with principles for new guidelines related to financial management.
- Contribute to improved ERM discourse and decision-making.
Required Experience
- At least 15 years of professional financial management experience at a senior level in large organizations.
- Previous experience with the United Nations or international organizations with operations in humanitarian or development context is an asset.
Qualifications
- Advanced university degree in finance, accounting, business administration, or a related field and internationally recognized professional certification (e.g., CPA, CA, ACCA or equivalent) is required.
- A first-level university degree in similar fields in combination with two additional years of qualifying relevant experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
