Senior Advisor, Finance (Policy Review)

Overview

This retainer position supports substantive policy review to ensure financial policies are technically sound, internally consistent, and compliant with the UNOPS Legislative Framework (LFR). The Senior Advisor works closely with the CFO/DCFO and partners across the Finance Group to resolve cross-policy friction and preserve alignment with International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSAS) and the Financial Regulations and Rules (FRRs).

Responsibilities

• Review draft financial policies for technical accuracy and consistency with public sector accounting standards, including alignment with:
  • UNOPS paper on new revenue standards and transfer expense (IPSAS 47/48)
  • UNOPS policy on management of Property Plant Equipment (PPE) and Intangibles
  • UNOPS fee-for-service or operating model
• Review and improve accounting guidelines on:
  • Revenue Recognition
  • Expense Recognition
  • Asset Management
  • In close consultation with the Chief of Accounts
• Conduct benchmark analysis of accounting policy components and treatments across UN agencies and recommend enhancements to existing UNOPS policies on accounting and financial reporting
• Serve as a key bridge between technical Policy Owners and the Legal Group (LG)/Policy Development Committee (PDC) to ensure accounting standards and professional requirements are maintained during the legal approval process
• Ensure policy revisions are cohesive and avoid duplication or conflicts between existing instruments and new LFR-compliant policies
• Coordinate with other Practice Groups (e.g., Procurement, Project Management) to prevent friction in integrated “Service Line” delivery and support breaking down silos
• Validate which provisions are genuinely mandatory versus guidance, ensuring the framework remains agile and user-focused (not overly process-heavy)
• Support review and consultation on development of guidance for specific Finance and Accounting processes (from an IPSAS perspective)
• Liaise with the Legal Group by reviewing feedback for technical alignment and ensuring financial nuances are preserved during legal refinements
• Facilitate the Consultative Group process by synthesizing feedback into actionable changes while maintaining legal compliance
• Monitor policy effective dates against critical financial deadlines (e.g., year-end closure, interim audits) and escalate risks where the review process threatens operational readiness
• Monitor and document exceptions where standard processes must be adapted, including managing the submission of “Statements of Concerns” when technical financial principles are at risk of being overridden by generic administrative frameworks
• Identify bottlenecks in the LFR process and recommend tailored approaches (e.g., seeking ED/DED exceptions) to support timely issuance of critical finance and accounting policies

Deliverables

• Coherence reports summarizing the FG policy landscape, including cross-policy conflicts, outdated instruments, and opportunities for consolidation
• Policy health dashboard tracking substantive readiness status (e.g., “Drafting,” “In Consultation,” “Technical Review Complete,” “LG Feedback Resolution Pending”)
• Mediation briefs summarizing contentious points between technical experts (FG) and LG, including recommendations for Policy Owner sign-off
• Stakeholder syncs with Policy Owners (bi-weekly updates) to review progress, unblock drafting delays, and address “quality” concerns

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) in Finance, Accounting, Business Administration or other equivalent disciplines with 12 years of relevant experience OR
• Master’s degree (or equivalent) in any of the above disciplines with 10 years of relevant experience
• Relevant experience in progressive work across finance, accounting, or related fields, with a focus on financial advisory, quality assurance, and legislative/regulatory compliance
• Extensive experience leading and managing complex financial programs or services within an international organization or large corporate environment
• Demonstrated experience developing and implementing financial policies, procedures, and control frameworks
• Proven track record providing authoritative financial expertise and strategic guidance to senior stakeholders
• English fluency (required)

Preferred Qualifications

• Professional certification in finance or accounting (e.g., CPA, ACCA, CIMA)
• Experience with UNOPS financial regulations and rules, or similar UN financial frameworks

Compensation & Benefits

• Not a full-time contract. This is a retainer contract providing on-demand services.
• A specific number of hours cannot be guaranteed each month or year.

Location

• Home based

Contract Details

• Contract type: ICA - IICA - Retainer
• Contract level: IICA 4
• Duration: 1 year with the possibility of extension subject to satisfactory performance, organizational requirements, and the availability of funds
• Posting start date: 14-Oct-2026
• Posting end date: 21-Oct-2026
• ICS level: ICS 12

Additional Information

• UNOPS does not accept unsolicited resumes.
• UNOPS will not request candidates to make payments of any kind during the recruitment process.
• Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
• For retainer contracts, mandatory courses (around 4 hours) must be completed in the candidate’s own time before providing services; refreshers or new mandatory courses may be required.
• Background checks are conducted for all final candidates.
• 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.