Senior Advisor on Transformation, Accountability and Internal Control

This position is located in the Risk and Compliance Group (RCG). RCG is a strategic amalgamation of key Second Line of Defence functions at UNOPS headquarters, embodying UNOPS’ commitment to managing corporate risks effectively and aligning UNOPS’ operations with UN core values. RCG’s focus is on ensuring best practices in risk management, quality, compliance, internal controls, and due diligence.

RCG  is responsible for supporting UNOPS in identifying, assessing, managing, and mitigating risks, as well as ensuring adherence to laws, regulations, and internal policies. The Group develops policies, provides training, and monitors compliance, reporting regularly to senior management. It also advises on risk management and compliance strategies to ensure that UNOPS operates within legal and ethical  frameworks and upholds a strong ethical standard.

The Senior Advisor will advise the Director RCG on integrating Second Line of Defence elements and function in the wider UNOPS Transformation Process; provide leadership and drive UNOPS implementation of the 2023 Joint Inspection Unit Review of Accountability Frameworks in the United Nations Systems Organizations; and provide leadership of the Internal Control Function during the transformation phase.

Functional Responsibilities

Act as RCG focal point and advisor for the UNOPS Transformation Process

• In collaboration with the RCG Director and the RCG Team Leads, ensure that RCG engages consistently and holistically with the wider UNOPS Transformation Process.
• Represent RCG’s point of view in all the Transformation Processes, ensuring the Second Line of Defence is integrated into the wider change initiatives.
• Ensure information from the wider Transformation Process is communicated to RCG, and ensure involvement of the relevant RCG experts directly in the process where necessary.
• In collaboration with the Head of Compliance and the Chief Risk Officer, engage with the Process Innovation and Digitization Project, and the 3PM project, to ensure that UNOPS Framework and evidence-based control testing program is risk informed, digitized and smart.
• Engage with the Legislative Framework and Financial Regulations and Rules Review teams to ensure the Second Line of Defence perspective is integrated into the review in a smart and risk informed manner.
• Engage with wider change processes (e.g. the IPAS Review/EAC Review) to ensure implications for the Second Line of Defence in general, and RCG in particular, are identified and acted upon.
• Advice and engage with the Third Line of Defence to ensure appropriate collaboration and knowledge sharing.
• Act as a catalyst within UNOPS, for promoting an open, risk-informed and progressive culture on all aspects of the compliance and control agenda with focus on continuous learning and accountability. Engage with Senior Stakeholders in UNOPS (regional management; change and transformation Directors and Transformation Initiative Sponsors; policy owners; IAIG; Ethics) in order to do so.
• Represent RCG at wider Transformation and Change governance boards, steering committees, working groups etc where appropriate.

Provide leadership of the Internal Control Function during the transformation phase

• Bring in significant experience in redesigning and implementing Internal Control and systems
• Define the functional strategy for Internal Control and the function’s annual focus areas, targets, performance indicators, resourcing and workplan.
• Lead reviews on existing capabilities specific to policies, processes, systems, functions and offices.
• Testing the effectiveness of control implementation in both system and manual contexts.
• Play a transformative role in firstly redefining the Internal Control agenda for UNOPS and uplifting the maturity of the Internal Control function across processes and regions.
• Ensure alignment with the broader business transformation and digitalization agenda, and advise local and functional leadership on optimizing internal controls to ensure a right balance between segregation of duties and accountability for decision quality, project outputs and contribution.
• Oversee the development of Internal Control dashboards and associated data models.
• Chair a Community of Practice for Internal Control and actively engage regional focal points and key functions such as Finance Group, risk management, information security, business continuity, Quality Assurance Group, Internal Audit and Investigations Group and Ethics Office to drive an effective knowledge exchange and capturing of synergies.
• Provide regular updates on progress on priorities agreed with line management and hold themselves accountable for effective carrying of their duties.

Provide leadership and drive UNOPS implementation of the 2023 Joint Inspection Unit Review of Accountability Frameworks in the United Nations Systems Organizations 

• Set a clear vision for what we want to achieve for each element of the accountability framework
• Assess the areas to be addressed in coordination with relevant stakeholders and set out possible approaches to address it (to be captured in the Accountability Framework or elsewhere)
• Assess the impact on the organizational set-up of RCG in particular with respect to compliance, internal control, oversight committees and community of practices
• Assess how the Accountability Framework integrates, complements or replace other key policy frameworks e.g. GRC (likely to replace), ERM , Internal Control Framework etc.
• Assess enhancements to the Internal Control Framework to ensure it is relevant and fit for purpose for UNOPS aligned with the approach taken in the UN
• Develop the Accountability Framework by topic in consultation and in collaboration
• Analyze the future reporting requirements, the requirements for data & analytics to ensure plans are in place to develop these for 2025 and beyond. This include designing the actual reports as appropriate
• The framework to be developed in coordination and collaboration with Senior stakeholders and UNOPS leadership across HeadQuarters, Regional Directors, Multi Country Offices and Country Offices

Education/Experience/Language requirements

Education

• A Master’s degree preferably in risk management, economics, law, international relations, business administration, finance and accounting or other relevant fields is required.
• A bachelor’s degree combined with two (2) additional years of relevant experience may be accepted in lieu of a Master’s degree

Work Experience 

• At least ten (10) years of compliance, internal control or risk management experience, including at a senior level, preferably in an international setting is required
• UNOPS experience is required
• Experience in developing and/or managing risk-based internal controls frameworks for complex settings and high risk areas is required
• Experience in developing accountability frameworks is an asset
• Experience in reviewing internal control frameworks; developing policy management and internal standard operating procedures;  risk management standards (e.g. ISO 31000) in the context of compliance risk; advising on organizational change; investigative and auditing activities would be an asset   
• Experience in advising senior management and executive boards on compliance and risk management  or on large transformation initiatives would be strong asset

Language Requirements

• Full working knowledge of English is essential.
• Knowledge of another official UNOPS language (French, Spanish) is an asset.

Source: https://jobs.unops.org/Pages/ViewVacancy/VADetails.aspx?id=28462