The United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) is an operational arm of the United Nations, dedicated to implementing projects for the UN System, international financial institutions, governments, and other partners in the aid world.
This role is for a seasoned professional to join the Risk and Compliance Group (RCG) as a Risk and Compliance Advisor. This position is crucial for enhancing operational integrity, ensuring accountability, and supporting strategic initiatives across UNOPS' global operations. Professionals in this role are sought for expertise in one or more of the core functional areas: Internal Control & Compliance, Due Diligence, and Risk Management Advisory.
Functions / Key Results Expected
Internal Control & Compliance Advisory
- Design, improve, and implement internal control systems and frameworks, including defining enhancement strategies, annual focus areas, and reporting mechanisms (e.g., dashboards and other visualization tools).
- Lead or contribute to reviews on existing capabilities related to policies, processes, systems, and functions, which may involve gap analyses, control design reviews, and validating control effectiveness.
- Address audit recommendations specific to UNOPS’ Internal Control Framework (ICF) and implement appropriate corrective actions.
- Contribute to the development and implementation of risk-based compliance programs and frameworks, reflecting external good practice, particularly within the UN system.
- Advise on the development and maintenance of policies relating to compliance and contribute to their implementation across headquarters and regional units.
- Contribute to the continuous improvement of UNOPS’ legislative and policy framework in light of risk management and internal control requirements.
Due Diligence Advisory
- Recommend revisions of the existing integrity due diligence policies, procedures, and tools after assessing their adequacy based on best practices.
- Lead components of the integrity due diligence risk assessments and advise on mitigation of UNOPS’ exposure to integrity risks.
- Provide advice on the implementation of a UNOPS-wide plan to integrate various elements of risk-based due diligence assessments with the monitoring framework.
- Contribute to the preparation of periodic due diligence updates and reports.
- Provide advice on the development of integrity due diligence training materials with a focus on financial crime and AML/CFT (Anti-Money Laundering/Countering the Financing of Terrorism).
Risk Management Advisory
- Review existing enterprise risk management policies, processes, performance indicators, and role definitions.
- Provide advice on the development, enhancement, and institutionalization of the ERM framework across all risk domains (corporate, portfolio, operations), including risk appetite and escalation protocols.
- Contribute to the development of risk management principles, tools, and practices in the context of project, program, and portfolio management.
- Analyze complex and/or systemic risk exposures across the global UNOPS portfolio or focused regions/themes (e.g., fragile settings, infrastructure, large procurement engagements).
- Provide high-level advice to senior management on risk-informed decision-making, trade-offs, and prioritization of strategic risks.
- Work with senior management, corporate functions, and regional entities in developing and rolling out threshold-based risk escalation protocols and map those to performance metrics. Perform quality assurance of Management Team level risk metrics.
- Contribute to and support internal awareness-raising and capacity building efforts through targeted guidance, training, and facilitation of workshops with internal stakeholders.
- In close collaboration with RCG personnel and in coordination with other relevant UNOPS units (PLG, IPMG, PG, LG, Regions, etc.), lead and/or contribute to corporate initiatives that mitigate corporate risks (e.g., WB ESF, TA).
Capacity Building & Knowledge Management
- Provide risk and compliance, as well as due diligence related training, coaching, and facilitation support to UNOPS stakeholders at headquarters and in regional offices.
- Develop the capacity of personnel in risk-based compliance through education and training, especially concerning policy changes and framework implementation.
Reporting & Coordination
- Conduct compliance data analysis and contribute to the production of compliance reports and dashboards.
- Provide expert advice on compliance concerns and incidents.
- Coordinate with Policy Groups and other units to address systemic compliance risks and issues and advise on cross-functional solutions.
Education and Experience Requirements
Education Requirements
- Required: A Master's degree preferably in risk management, law, international relations, business administration, finance and accounting, or a related field is required.
- Alternative Qualification: A Bachelor's degree combined with two (2) additional years of relevant experience may be accepted in lieu of a Master’s degree.
Experience Requirements
- Required Experience: A minimum of 7 years of progressively responsible experience in compliance, risk management, internal controls, and/or due diligence is required, ideally in large international or multinational organizations.
- Substantive Expertise (in at least four areas is required):
- Internal control framework development and implementation.
- Risk-based compliance program design.
- Fraud risk management and mitigation.
- Control testing and assurance activities.
- Investigative or forensic audit work.
- Financial Crime Prevention and/or AML/CFT.
- Ability to process and evaluate vast amounts of structured or unstructured data to assess risks.
- Advanced expertise in the development of reporting dashboards or data visualization tools for internal control or compliance insights.
- Cross-functional collaboration across global teams.
- Policy and SOP development, including gap or impact analysis.
- Coordinating responses to corporate risks.
Desired Qualifications
- Professional qualifications such as Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialist (CAMS), Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE), Certified Internal Auditor (CIA), Certified Compliance & Ethics Professional (CCEP), Certified Regulatory Compliance Manager (CRCM), or other relevant certifications in due diligence, risk management, compliance, or fraud and corruption, are highly desirable.
