Chief, Finance Integration & Technologies (FIT) [Open to internal and exter at UNDP

Madrid, Community of Madrid, Spain -

Full Time

Start Date

Immediate

Expiry Date

25 Jun, 26

Salary

0.0

Posted On

27 Mar, 26

Experience

5 year(s) or above

Remote Job

Yes

Telecommute

Yes

Sponsor Visa

Skills

Financial Process Redesign, Continuous Improvement, Record-to-Report, Automation, Data Analysis, AI-Enabled Capabilities, Financial Reporting, Technical Accounting, IPSAS Standards, ERP Systems, Process Transformation, Project Management, Portfolio Management, Financial Policy, Risk Management, Decision-Making

Industry

International Affairs

Description

Background The Bureau for Management Services’ Office of Financial Resources Management (BMS/OFRM) supports the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in the implementation of the 2030 agenda and UNDP’s Strategic Plan. It achieves this by developing and making fully operational a dynamic and harmonized integrated resource management framework based on comprehensive analysis that enhances UNDP’s financial and administrative performance, as well as facilitating UN reform and coherence. The primary role of BMS/ OFRM is to maintain the financial integrity of UNDP through providing functional leadership, supporting the efficient and effective management of its financial resources, promoting financial sustainability and responsible resource allocation. This is accomplished by the development and implementation of sound financial policies and practices, oversight of corporate financial management performance, and flexible scalable support to resource allocation. BMS/OFRM serves as a business partner to Bureaux and Country Offices, providing sound financial management, advisory and analytical services, with a view to continuously improve the financial management performance of business units and support Bureaux in the exercising of their oversight functions. Within OFRM, the Treasury Division oversees cash, currency and banking risks globally, managing the organization’s liquidity with centralized investment of excess cash balances to meet its liabilities. BMS/OFRM is a key source of information for the Executive Board, General Assembly, to UNDP stakeholders, and wider civil society. It supports transparency through the provision of quality statutory and other financial reports, that comply with international standards and regulatory guidelines. Within OFRM, the Financial Performance Management & Reporting (FPMR) team is responsible for oversight of financial reporting, the preparation and integrity of UNDP’s financial statements, and providing timely and accurate financial information in accordance with international accounting standards. FPMR fosters trust and accountability through leadership in financial policy, robust internal financial controls, and close engagement with auditors to support an unqualified audit opinion, while also delivering expert accounting and financial advisory support, addressing complex and non-routine financial issues, and overseeing financial risk related to implementing partners, enabling informed senior decision-making and sustained audit assurance. Within FPMR, there are four units: * Corporate Financial Reporting (CFR): Responsible for promoting clear accountability for financial transactions and for producing UNDP’s corporate financial statements. * Financial Performance Management (FPM): Responsible for managing aspects of financial performance, including the administration of the Annual Representation exercise and the Statement of Internal Control Over Financial Reporting; monitoring of financial risks related to financial statement integrity; and management of the implementing partners policy framework, including the agency-wide Harmonized Approach to Cash Transfers (HACT) framework. * Payroll Finance Oversight (PFO): Responsible for the financial oversight of payroll accounting functions, as well as the reporting of employee benefits and liabilities for all UNDP personnel. * Finance Integration & Technologies (FIT): applies expert financial and systems analysis to resolve complex issues and enable automation, continuous accounting, and high-quality, timely decision-making. Position Purpose Finance Integration & Technologies (FIT): The FIT function sits within the FPMR team and provides deep analytical, technical, and process expertise and operates at the intersection of accounting policy, financial processes, systems to strengthen the quality, speed, and reliability of financial reporting and decision-making. FIT drives continuous improvement across finance processes, with a particular focus on the fast-close agenda. By leveraging data, automation, and emerging AI-enabled capabilities, FIT streamlines workflows, strengthens controls, and improves data quality—enabling faster closes, more reliable financial information, and deeper insights for senior management. This work supports the transition toward continuous accounting and greater end-to-end process automation. Ultimately, FIT leads the design, launch, and scaling of high-impact initiatives, partnering with operational teams to take projects from concept through implementation and deliver sustainable efficiency gains through technology-enabled process reengineering. The team also supports the rigorous interpretation of IPSAS standards, and advises on complex and non-routine matters, and works in close partnership with Corporate Accounting and Reporting and other finance functions to ensure consistent, auditable outcomes. The Head, FIT, is responsible for leading the delivery of advanced financial analysis, technical accounting, and process re-design in support of the Chief of Accounts and OFRM. The Head, FIT acts as a trusted internal advisor and implementer on complex and non-routine matters, is comfortable operating with ambiguity and limited precedent, and provides logical, well-reasoned recommendations where established guidance may not exist, while working in close partnership with other units in FPMR and other finance functions to ensure high-quality, and decision-useful outcomes. The performance of the Head, FIT, has a direct impact on the efficiency and effectiveness of the automation roadmap for all major accounting streams including though not limited to financial closure, consolidation and reporting processes, consistent and leading with best practices and supports the shift toward continuous accounting and increased automation of end-to-end financial processes. The Head, FIT, has a strong bias toward durable, system-enabled solutions over manual processes or one-off fixes. UNDP adopts a portfolio approach to accommodate changing business needs and leverage linkages across interventions to achieve its strategic goals. This is a recognition of interconnected nature of development risks & crises that the world is facing and that call for assembling of multidisciplinary teams for an integrated & systemic response. Therefore, UNDP personnel are expected to work across issues, units, functions, teams and projects in multidisciplinary teams to enhance and enable horizontal collaboration. Duties and Responsibilities Sets the roadmap for finance process redesign and continuous improvement at the direction of the Chief of Accounts. * Defines and owns the delivery of the roadmap for finance process modernization across core finance domains—particularly record-to-report—ensuring alignment with FPMR priorities, audit expectations, and the CFO’s fast close and continuous accounting agenda. * Establishes target operating models and architectural principles for standardized, system-enabled finance processes, determining where simplification, automation, and control enhancement deliver the greatest institutional value. * Provides key inputs and KPIs on the fast close agenda, setting performance targets (e.g. cycle time, automation coverage, reconciliation reduction) and ensuring that improvements balance speed, control, and audit assurance. * Directs the use of automation, data, and AI-enabled capabilities, suggesting and recommending solution approaches and guiding resources toward durable, scalable, and system-native outcomes rather than manual or one-off fixes. * Holds accountability for sustainable adoption, ensuring that approved process and system changes are embedded into business-as-usual operations through appropriate governance, change management, and performance monitoring, while holding the team accountable for execution. Leads and delivers high-impact finance process interventions and solutions. * Directly leads and contributes to the design and resolution of the most complex, high-impact finance process challenges, particularly those spanning record-to-report, consolidation, and reporting, where solutions require deep technical judgment, cross-functional coordination, and bespoke design. * Actively shapes and validates future-state process designs and system solutions, ensuring that proposed changes are practical, controllable, and aligned with target operating models, audit requirements, and system constraints. * Engages hands-on with automation, data, and AI-enabled use cases for finance, working closely with systems, analytics, and business teams to translate conceptual improvements into viable, system-native solutions. * Provides senior-level problem solving and decision support during implementation, intervening directly to unblock complex issues, resolve trade-offs, and ensure delivery remains aligned with intended outcomes. * Ensures that implemented solutions achieve measurable improvements in close efficiency, data quality, control effectiveness, and reporting reliability, taking personal accountability for outcomes in priority initiatives. Provides technical leadership and internal advisory support on complex accounting and financial matters. * Leads the analysis and resolution of complex, non-routine, and judgment-intensive accounting and financial issues. * Develops, documents, and maintains technical accounting positions and advisory papers, ensuring rigorous interpretation and application of IPSAS standards. * Acts as a focal point for complex accounting judgments, supporting the articulation and defence of management positions during audits and reviews. Leads the FIT team through direction by the Chief of Accounts on ambiguous and emerging issues and change initiative projects. * Translates complex technical and analytical issues into clear options, risks, and recommendations for senior management. * Delivers consistent, high-quality plans, implementations and outputs aligned with OFRM priorities. * Supports informed decision-making by balancing technical rigor, operational practicality, and governance considerations. Undertake a variety of financial analyses to respond to Chief of Accounts requirements for financial Information and other tasks as needed. * Perform other duties, as may be assigned by the Chief of Accounts. The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organisation. Supervisory/Managerial Responsibilities: The incumbent will oversee 3 posts; 1 IP staff member and 2 NPSAs. Competencies * Core Competencies: Achieve Results: LEVEL 3: Set and align challenging, achievable objectives for multiple projects, have lasting impact. Think Innovatively: LEVEL 3: Proactively mitigate potential risks, develop new ideas to solve complex problems. Learn Continuously: LEVEL 3: Create and act on opportunities to expand horizons, diversify experiences. Adapt with Agility: LEVEL 3: Proactively initiate and champion change, manage multiple competing demands Act with Determination: LEVEL 3: Think beyond immediate task/barriers and take action to achieve greater results. Engage and Partner: LEVEL 3: Political savvy, navigate complex landscape, champion inter-agency collaboration. Enable Diversity and Inclusion: LEVEL 3: Appreciate benefits of diverse workforce and champion inclusivity. People Management UNDP People Management Competencies can be found in the dedicated site [https://undp.sharepoint.com/teams/OHR/competency%20framework/Shared%20Documents/Forms/Gallery%20View.aspx?id=%2Fteams%2FOHR%2Fcompetency%20framework%2FShared%20Documents%2FPeople%20Management%20Competencies%2Epdf&parent=%2Fteams%2FOHR%2Fcompetency%20framework%2FShared%20Documents]. * Cross Functional and Technical Competencies: Business Direction & Strategy - Systems Thinking: Ability to use objective problem analysis and judgement to understand how interrelated elements coexist within an overall process or system, and to consider how altering one element can impact on other parts of the system. Business Direction & Strategy - Business Acumen: Ability to understand and deal with a business situation in a manner that is likely to lead to a good outcome. Knowledge and understanding of the operational frameworks in the organization and ability to make good judgments and quick decisions within such frameworks. Business Management - Communication: * Ability to communicate in a clear, concise and unambiguous manner both through written and verbal communication; to tailor messages and choose communication methods depending on the audience. * Ability to manage communications internally and externally, through media, social media and other appropriate channels. Business Management - Portfolio Management: * Ability to select, prioritise and control the organization's programmes and projects, in line with its strategic objectives and capacity. * Ability to balance the implementation of change initiatives and the maintenance of business-as-usual, while optimising return on investment. * Knowledge and understanding of key principles of project, programme, and portfolio management. Business Management - Customer Satisfaction/ Client Management: * Ability to respond timely and appropriately with a sense of urgency, provide consistent solutions, and deliver timely and quality results and/or solutions to fulfill and understand the real customers' needs. Provide inputs to the development of customer service strategy. Look for ways to add value beyond clients' immediate requests. * Ability to anticipate client's upcoming needs and concerns. Finance - Accounting (General): Knowledge of accounting concepts, principles, frameworks, standards, regulations, policies and trends, and ability to apply this to strategic and practical situations. Finance - Finance Business Partnering: Able to support business units and add value by innovating and providing solutions to financial issues/queries, including through FAQs, financial tools, advisory, etc. Influences and appropriately challenges non-finance colleagues for whom the service is being provided. Understands the operations, opportunities and challenges of the organization. Holds a commercial outlook, demonstrating accountability towards organizational goals. Required Skills and Experience The role requires the ability to operate effectively with limited precedent, incomplete information, and evolving requirements, and to confidently lead new initiatives, and challenge status quo. Education: * A professional accounting qualification from an internationally accredited institute of accountancy is required. * An advanced university degree (master’s) in Business Administration, Public Administration, Finance, Accounting, Information Technology (IT) or other relevant subject is required; OR * A first level university degree (bachelor’s degree) in Finance, Accounting, Business Administration, Public Administration or other relevant subject, in combination with two additional years of relevant experience in finance management will be considered in lieu of the master’s degree. Experience: Required: * A minimum of 7 years (with Master’s degree) or 9 years (with Bachelor’s degree) of current and relevant work experience in finance departments, preparing/analyzing financial statements and automating financial processes. * At least 5 years of relevant experience at a managerial level. * Audit and/or consulting experience in a large international auditing firm. * Detailed current technical knowledge, experience, and expertise in complying with GAAP, preferably IPSAS or IFRS. * Demonstrated experience and sound knowledge in working with ERP systems (preferably Oracle Fusion Cloud ERP and Oracle Cloud EPM (Enterprise Performance Management). * Demonstrated passion in AI, digital transformation, and process automation. Eager to explore and apply new technologies. * Collaborative team player with flexibility to work across global time zones. Desirable: * Process transformation experience in large organizations, including strong project management with the proven ability to partner effectively with technical teams, apply strong process and problem-solving skills to resolve ambiguity and design scalable workflows, and translate clearly between business and technical stakeholders. * Demonstrated experience and expertise in the design, writing and interpretation of financial policies and procedures. Language: * Fluency in English * Working knowledge of another UN language is desirable. Equal opportunity As an equal opportunity employer, UNDP values diversity as an expression of the multiplicity of nations and cultures where we operate and, as such, we encourage qualified applicants from all backgrounds to apply for roles in the organization. Our employment decisions are based on merit and suitability for the role, without discrimination. UNDP is also committed to creating an inclusive workplace where all personnel are empowered to contribute to our mission, are valued, can thrive, and benefit from career opportunities that are open to all. Sexual harassment, exploitation, and abuse of authority UNDP does not tolerate harassment, sexual harassment, exploitation, discrimination and abuse of authority. All selected candidates, therefore, undergo relevant checks and are expected to adhere to the respective standards and principles. Probation For all new UNDP fixed term appointments (FTA), including for staff members being transferred or seconded to UNDP under the Inter-Organization Agreement concerning Transfer, Secondment or Loan of Staff, on an appointment of more than one year, continuation of the appointment beyond the initial 12 months is contingent upon the successful completion of a probationary period. Right to select multiple candidates UNDP reserves the right to select one or more candidates from this vacancy announcement. We may also retain applications and consider candidates applying to this post for other similar positions with UNDP at the same grade level and with similar job description, experience and educational requirements. Use of AI by candidates Applicants are invited to read UNDP’s guidance for candidates on using AI responsibly in UNDP recruitment and selection [https://www.undp.org/careers/using-ai-responsibly-undp-recruitment-and-selection] Scam alert UNDP does not charge a fee at any stage of its recruitment process. For further information, please see www.undp.org/scam-alert.

Responsibilities

This role sets the roadmap for finance process redesign and continuous improvement, focusing on modernizing core finance domains like record-to-report through simplification, automation, and control enhancement. The incumbent leads high-impact interventions, shaping future-state designs and ensuring implemented solutions deliver measurable improvements in efficiency, data quality, and reporting reliability.