UNOPS is recruiting an Advisor, Finance for its New York Office, part of the Global Portfolios Office (GPO). The senior-level post (ICS 11, IICA 3) leads a team of 6, provides strategic financial oversight across four diverse portfolios, and requires a Master's degree with 7 years or a Bachelor's degree with 9 years of relevant experience. Applications close on 15 November 2026 at midnight Copenhagen time (CET). At Youth Works Hub, we went through the full vacancy and set out every responsibility, requirement and condition below.
Post Details
💼 Position title: Advisor, Finance
🗂️ Job category: Strategy & Corporate Services
📍 Duty station: New York
🎖️ Seniority level: Senior Level
🔢 ICS level: ICS 11
📝 Contract type: ICA - IICA - Regular
📑 Contract level: IICA 3
⏳ Duration: ongoing
🆔 Vacancy ID: 5011
Why This Role Stands Out
UNOPS describes the post as an excellent opportunity to provide strategic financial leadership within a dynamic international organization. It offers exposure to a diverse portfolio of projects, cross-functional collaboration, and the chance to drive significant improvements in financial management and operational efficiency.
Inside the UNOPS Global Portfolios Office
The UNOPS Global Portfolios Office (GPO) brings together diverse expertise to help partners deliver impact worldwide:
🏙️ Hubs in New York, Geneva and Vienna, with expert teams operating globally
🌱 Multi-regional initiatives that advance sustainable development, climate action and peacebuilding, including in some of the world's most challenging environments
🎯 Support for UNOPS' strategic priorities and the Sustainable Development Goals across more than 130 countries
🤝 Close work with major global partners, including governments, international financial institutions and UN agencies
🛠️ Services such as project management, fund management, hosting services and HR support
Purpose of the Finance Advisor Post
Reporting to the Head of Support Services, the Finance Advisor manages a team of 6 and maintains close working relationships with other finance practitioners in regional and field locations. The aim is to ensure a robust control environment, high-quality financial reporting and the integration of financial services across four diverse portfolios. The Advisor provides strategic oversight and comprehensive financial management for the New York Office, ensuring compliance with organizational requirements, driving continuous improvement and leading a high-performing finance team.
1. Strategic Financial Support and Budget Oversight to NYPO
🗓️ Develop the Finance/Budget annual work plan, setting priorities and planning work in line with corporate goals and the business planning process
🔭 Monitor and analyze the operating environment to ensure adequate agility, risk management and quick readjustment of operations as needed
😊 Strengthen client and stakeholder satisfaction by ensuring NYPO's financial reporting requirements are met
🧾 Lead internal and external audit exercises and accountability for financial audit recommendations
🧑🏫 Act as the practice specialist by contributing to corporate strategy requirements and to corporate recommendations made by the Finance Group
🚀 Drive finance function initiatives to ensure added value and optimal support across NYPO, as well as the achievement of the Strategic Objectives
🧠 Contribute specialist financial knowledge to the long-term strategy of NYPO's business efficiencies
2. Cross-Functional Integration and Process Efficiency
🌉 Bridge the gap between HQ-level policy development and execution at field level, including conducting financial training to personnel
🔗 Lead cross-functional integration and process efficiency improvements through linkages between program and operations, with an emphasis on finance and budgeting
🧩 Work towards coherence in processes and policy improvements for long-term solutions to repetitive challenges
📏 Benchmark internal financial practices with external best practices
🖥️ Work closely with other management practice advisors on the use and enhancement of systems and tools
📚 Knowledge building and sharing on financial management and operations
3. Compliance With Organizational Requirements
📆 Supervise monthly, quarterly and year-end accounting processes
🛡️ Mitigate reputational risk by ensuring the integrity and accuracy of financial performance and expenditure
✔️ Ensure transactions are correct and escalate complex and recurring challenges
✏️ Drive inputs on budget design across programmes
🧪 Lead control and data integrity tests of systems
💡 Contribute to practice-led initiatives on common operational recommendations when developing new systems
🎓 Drive the delivery of training to the business to raise financial capacity, awareness and compliance
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4. Client-Facing Performance and Reporting
📈 Constant assessment of client satisfaction and performance through KPIs related to Financial Management, as part of internal and external benchmarking
🔍 Thorough analysis of statistics and trends to inform and guide the portfolio
🗄️ Establish a knowledge management system so that Financial Management trends and lessons learned inform future decision making and best practices
🗣️ Lead financial quarterly reviews with clients and stakeholders to communicate challenges and achievements
🧭 Contribute as practice specialist to resolving NYPO functional challenges by developing long-term strategies towards innovative solutions
⚙️ Review and lead financial process efficiencies, and contribute to the development of NYPO SOPs
⚖️ Enable the assessment of risks versus opportunities considering the Internal Control Framework
5. Leading a High-Performing, Inclusive Team
👥 Lead an effective, high-performing and inclusive Finance team, ensuring cohesion and integration across the two Finance sub-teams
🫶 Foster and role-model a safe and inclusive work environment that upholds dignity and respect for all personnel
🏛️ Uphold the highest standards of conduct and take decisive action to address behaviours that undermine inclusion, equity or psychological safety
🏠 Manage hybrid working arrangements equitably, so that remote and part-time team members have equal access to development opportunities, visibility and recognition, in accordance with UNOPS policy requirements
🎯 Ensure DEI objectives are embedded in PER/PRAs for all ICS-10 and above Finance team members at a minimum, and that training and development plans include inclusive leadership competencies
6. Resource Maximization and Business Planning
🗺️ Lead the budget and business planning process, reflecting strategic and operational requirements
📉 Monitor budget implementation and resource utilization related to NYPO's admin and LSS budgets
💶 Steward the management resources of NYPO clusters, ensuring timely cost recovery and adequate pricing
🧮 Improve and, where necessary, develop costing/budgeting models so that adequate resource planning is embedded into new projects
🎯 Monitor NYPO's performance against financial targets
Skills Listed for the Advisor, Finance
📋 Budget Process
🔄 Continuous Improvement
📊 Financial Analysis
🗓️ Financial Planning
🌟 Mentoring
🤝 Stakeholder Management
🧑✈️ Team Leadership
💬 Effective communication
UNOPS Competencies
🌐 Develops and implements sustainable business strategies, thinks long term and externally to positively shape the organisation, and anticipates the impact of future decisions on other parts of the organisation
💠 Treats all individuals with respect, responds sensitively to differences, upholds organisational and ethical norms, maintains high standards of trustworthiness and is a role model for diversity and inclusion
🧑🤝🧑 Acts as a positive role model contributing to team spirit, collaborates and supports the development of others; for people managers, motivates, directs and inspires others using appropriate leadership styles
🎁 Understands the impact of own role on all partners, always puts the end beneficiary first, and builds strong external relationships
✅ Efficiently establishes a course of action to accomplish a goal, with concern for quality in all areas, takes initiative, and understands that responsible use of resources maximizes impact on beneficiaries
🌀 Open to change and flexible in a fast-paced environment, adapts own approach, reflects on experiences and pursues continuous improvement, with consistent performance under pressure
🧠 Evaluates data and courses of action to reach logical, pragmatic decisions, takes calculated risks and applies innovation and creativity to problem-solving
🗨️ Expresses ideas clearly, concisely and openly, actively listens, proactively shares knowledge and handles conflict effectively
Education Requirements
🎓 A Master's degree (or equivalent), preferably in Business Administration, Finance, Accounting or related fields, with a minimum of 7 years of relevant experience; or
📘 A Bachelor's degree, preferably in Business Administration, Finance, Accounting or related fields, with a minimum of 9 years of relevant experience
What Counts as Relevant Experience
Relevant experience is defined as progressive professional experience in business process analysis and/or redesign, and/or optimization in financial management, budget oversight and strategic financial planning.
Team Management and Desired Experience
👔 A minimum of 2 years of experience managing teams in a professional environment is required
📂 Experience managing the financial components of project management cycles is desired
🎨 Experience fostering diverse and inclusive team cultures, including in hybrid or multicultural work environments, is desirable
🇺🇳 Experience working in an international organization or the UN system
Language Requirements
🗣️ English: fluent, required
📗 French: fluent, desirable
📙 Spanish: fluent, desirable
📕 Arabic: fluent, desirable
📒 Russian: fluent, desirable
📓 Chinese, Mandarin: fluent, desirable
Application Timing and Shortlisting
⏰ Applications must be received before midnight Copenhagen time (CET) on the closing date; applications received after the closing date will not be considered.
📬 Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and invited to the next stage of the selection process, which may include various assessments.
🚫 UNOPS does not accept unsolicited resumes.
💳 UNOPS will at no stage of the recruitment process request candidates to make payments of any kind.
Diversity and Reasonable Accommodation
UNOPS embraces diversity and is committed to equal employment opportunity. Its workforce consists of a wide range of nationalities, cultures, languages, races, gender identities, sexual orientations and abilities. UNOPS evaluates all applications based on the skills, qualifications and experience outlined in the vacancy announcement, and welcomes diverse perspectives, including those of women, indigenous and racialized communities, individuals of diverse gender identities and sexual orientations, and persons with disabilities. If you are shortlisted and require support or reasonable accommodation to complete any assessment, inform the human resources team upon receiving your invitation.
Zero Tolerance Policy and Background Checks
UNOPS has zero tolerance for sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA), sexual harassment and other forms of abusive conduct, including discrimination, abuse of authority and harassment. Background checks are conducted for all final candidates, and by applying, candidates acknowledge and consent to these verification processes. Recruitment in UNOPS is contingent on the results of such checks.
Contract Terms and Conditions
📉 For staff positions only, UNOPS reserves the right to appoint a candidate at a lower level than the advertised level of the post.
🖱️ For retainer contracts, you must complete a few mandatory courses (around 4 hours) in your own time before providing services to UNOPS; refreshers or new mandatory courses may be required, and no compensation is given for taking them.
📜 All UNOPS personnel must perform their duties in accordance with the UN Charter and UNOPS Policies and Instructions, and demonstrate an understanding of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) consistent with UN core values and the UN Common Agenda.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What level is the UNOPS Advisor, Finance post in New York?
It is a senior-level post at ICS 11, offered as an ICA - IICA - Regular contract at IICA 3 level. The duration is listed as ongoing.
Who does the Advisor, Finance report to?
The Finance Advisor reports to the Head of Support Services. The post manages a team of 6 across two Finance sub-teams and works with finance practitioners in regional and field locations.
What education and experience are required?
You need a Master's degree with at least 7 years of relevant experience, or a Bachelor's degree with at least 9 years, preferably in Business Administration, Finance, Accounting or related fields. At least 2 years of team management experience is also required.
What counts as relevant experience for this role?
Relevant experience means progressive professional experience in business process analysis and/or redesign, optimization in financial management, budget oversight and strategic financial planning.
Which languages are needed?
Fluent English is required. Fluency in French, Spanish, Arabic, Russian or Chinese (Mandarin) is desirable.
What is the application closing time?
Applications must be received before midnight Copenhagen time (CET) on 15 November 2026. Applications received after the closing date will not be considered.
Does UNOPS charge any fee to apply?
No. UNOPS will at no stage of the recruitment process request candidates to make payments of any kind.
What happens after I apply?
Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and invited to the next stage, which may include various assessments. Background checks are conducted for all final candidates.
Deadline
⏳ 15 November 2026
Links
🔗 Vacancy (UNOPS Careers): https://careers.unops.org/careersmarketplace/JobDetail/Advisor-Finance/5011
📝 Apply (UNOPS Careers login): https://careers.unops.org/careersmarketplace/Login?jobId=5011
