UNICEF works in over 190 countries and territories to save children’s lives, defend their rights, and help them fulfill their potential, from early childhood through adolescence.

At UNICEF, we are committed, passionate, and proud of what we do. Promoting the rights of every child is not just a job – it is a calling.

UNICEF is a place where careers are built: we offer our staff diverse opportunities for personal and professional development that will help them develop a fulfilling career while delivering on a rewarding mission. We pride ourselves on a culture that helps staff thrive, coupled with an attractive compensation and benefits package.

Visit our website to learn more about what we do at UNICEF.

For every child, Health

UNICEF is a core partner of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) which aims to complete the eradication and containment of all wild, vaccine-related and Sabin polioviruses, such that no child ever again suffers paralytic poliomyelitis. To date, global incidence of polio has decreased by 99.9% since GPEI’s inception and an estimated 16 million people today are walking who would otherwise have been paralyzed by the disease, and more than 1.5 million people are alive, whose lives would otherwise have been lost. Now the task remains to tackle polio in its last few strongholds and to get rid of the final 0.1% of polio cases. To fulfill our commitment to vaccinating more than 400 million children each year, UNICEF and partners engage in resource mobilization, partnership, and advocacy activities to ensure adequate support for our global polio eradication efforts.

How can you make a difference?

Under the guidance of the Senior Adviser Resource Mobilization, The Finance Manager is responsible for implementing a robust financial strategy for managing the finances of UNICEF’s polio eradication programme, including assessing the financial requirements of the programme, ensuring all approved activities are funded and developing and implementing strategies to improve monitoring and oversight. The Finance Manager ensures that funding proposals are consistent with programme strategies and budgetary ceilings. This staff member also represents UNICEF in several GPEI working groups, serves as Co-Chair of the Financial Management Group with WHO and leads on reporting on financial matters to GPEI senior management. The Finance Manager acts as a liaison between the Polio Programme and the Division of Financial and Administrative Management for all financial and budgetary elements of the Polio Eradication Programme. The Finance Manager also oversees preparation of the GPEI and UNICEF quarterly expenditure reporting as well as financial gaps analysis, building on the GPEI and UNICEF resource mobilization strategy. The post also provides support to regional and country offices for in-country resource mobilization efforts both with private and public sector donors.

Key accountabilities and tasks include the following:

• Provides technical advice and support to regional and country offices and to government counterparts in the management of immunization budgets to implement strategies to achieve polio eradication. This includes budget planning, quarterly updates of resource requirements and tracking of expenditures. Oversees the estimation of financial needs for the polio eradication at global, regional and country level and the development of quarterly financial resource requirement (FRR) estimates.
• Undertakes field visits to monitor and evaluate implementation of projects/activities and build capacity for better budget management and tracking within the polio teams.
• Represents UNICEF in meetings with government and partners to advocate and promote UNICEF programme goals and objectives. Collaborates with partner agencies in support of fundraising for immunization and polio eradication. Participates in meetings with partner agencies and within UNICEF covering immunization and polio eradication activities. Leads the development of materials in support of UNICEF’s fundraising efforts for broader immunization efforts for governments and Natcoms.
• Leads and oversees the development of grant proposals and donor reports for polio eradication which would include an updated or current country Situation Analysis and their requirements. This entails review of proposals prepared by regional and country offices to ensure consistency and accuracy. Monitors efficient management of resources.
• Leads the preparation of donor grant reviews and all programme reports for management, board, donors, budget reviews, programme analysis, annual reports, etc.

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…

Minimum requirements:

• Education: Advanced university degree in Accounting, Finance or Business Administration or equivalent or any other comparable recognized professional qualification or valid professional certification (CA; CPA; etc.) from an internationally recognized, accredited chartered accountancy institution is required.
• Work Experience: A minimum of 8 years of professional experience in financial management / budget management in an international organization and/or large corporation is required.
• Language Requirements: Fluency in English required.

Desirables:

• Experience in a UN system agency or organization some of which served in a developing country is considered as an asset.
• Advanced knowledge of Microsoft Office, especially Excel required.
• Experience in database packages, web-based management systems and ERP systems (preferably SAP financial modules) is considered as an asset.
• Experience with IPSAS and/or IFRS is considered as an asset.

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF’s Core Values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust and Accountability and Sustainability (CRITAS) underpin everything we do and how we do it. Get acquainted with Our Values Charter: UNICEF Values

The UNICEF competencies required for this post are…

(1) Builds and maintains partnerships

(2) Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness

(3) Drive to achieve results for impact

(4) Innovates and embraces change

(5) Manages ambiguity and complexity

(6) Thinks and acts strategically

(7) Works collaboratively with others

(8) Nurtures, leads and manages people

Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels.

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious or ethnic background, and persons with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization. To create a more inclusive workplace, UNICEF offers paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks, and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF strongly encourages the use of flexible working arrangements. Click here to learn more about flexible work arrangements, well-being, and benefits.

According to the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD), persons with disabilities include those who have long-term physical, mental, intellectual, or sensory impairments which, in interaction with various barriers, may hinder their full and effective participation in society on an equal basis with others. In its Disability Inclusion Policy and Strategy 2022-2030, UNICEF has committed to increase the number of employees with disabilities by 2030. At UNICEF, we provide reasonable accommodation for work-related support requirements of candidates and employees with disabilities. Also, UNICEF has launched a Global Accessibility Helpdesk to strengthen physical and digital accessibility. If you are an applicant with a disability who needs digital accessibility support in completing the online application, please submit your request through the accessibility email button on the UNICEF Careers webpage Accessibility UNICEF.

UNICEF does not hire candidates who are married to children (persons under 18). UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination based on gender, nationality, age, race, sexual orientation, religious or ethnic background or disabilities. UNICEF is committed to promote the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check, and selected candidates with disabilities may be requested to submit supporting documentation in relation to their disability confidentially.

UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance. Issuance of a visa by the host country of the duty station is required for IP positions and will be facilitated by UNICEF. Appointments may also be subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid). Should you be selected for a position with UNICEF, you either must be inoculated as required or receive a medical exemption from the relevant department of the UN. Otherwise, the selection will be canceled.

Remarks:

As per Article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity.

UNICEF’s active commitment to diversity and inclusion is critical to deliver the best results for children.

Government employees who are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally required to resign from their government positions before taking up an assignment with UNICEF. UNICEF reserves the right to withdraw an offer of appointment, without compensation, if a visa or medical clearance is not obtained, or necessary inoculation requirements are not met, within a reasonable period for any reason.

UNICEF does not charge a processing fee at any stage of its recruitment, selection, and hiring processes (i.e., application stage, interview stage, validation stage, or appointment and training). UNICEF will not ask for applicants’ bank account information.

Mobility is a condition of international professional employment with UNICEF and an underlying premise of the international civil service.

All UNICEF positions are advertised, and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process. An internal candidate performing at the level of the post in the relevant functional area, or an internal/external candidate in the corresponding Talent Group, may be selected, if suitable for the post, without assessment of other candidates.

Additional information about working for UNICEF can be found here.

Level of Education: Bachelor Degree

Work Hours: 8

Experience in Months: No requirements