UN Women: Chief Finance Officer (CFO) & Director, Division of Finance and Administration, New York, USA, D-2

Background:

UN Women, grounded in the vision of equality enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations, works for the elimination of discrimination against women and girls; the empowerment of women; and the achievement of equality between women and men as partners and beneficiaries of development, human rights, humanitarian action and peace and security.

The Division of Finance and Administration (DFA) leads the integrated management of UN Women’s financial and operational resources, covering Regular Resources and Other Resources. Its responsibilities span resource planning and budgeting, financial reporting, accounting and oversight, information and communications technology management, as well as procurement, premises, asset management, administration, and safety and security. DFA ensures the effective and efficient delivery of these essential services while supporting the Executive Director in shaping and implementing the organization’s mission, strategy, and action plans.

Guided by a clear set of priorities, DFA is committed to maintaining compliance with international standards and UN Women’s policies and procedures—critical to the trust of partners, donors, stakeholders, and beneficiaries. The Division employs continuous risk management, developing strategies to mitigate organizational risks while safeguarding resources. Efficiency and value for money are central to its work, with a strong focus on innovation, automation, and streamlining processes to reduce administrative burden. DFA also invests in capacity development, providing training and guidance to UN Women personnel and, in some cases, to implementing partners and beneficiaries.

DFA’s Strategic Objectives:

• Streamline and simplify processes, policies, and procedures
• Enable programme colleagues to deliver UN Women’s triple mandate effectively
• Maximize value for money through optimal resource use
• Apply materiality principles to compliance and risk management
• Balance preventive and detective controls with accountability mechanisms

Under the guidance and direct supervision of the Deputy Executive Director for Resource Management, Sustainability and Partnerships (DED, RMSP), the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) & Director of DFA provides strategic leadership and oversight for all aspects of UN Women’s finance and administration functions. This includes financial management, budgeting, procurement and travel, facilities and asset management, information technology operations, and safety and security services. The CFO & Director ensures strong financial controls, compliance with UN Women regulations and international standards, and drives organizational transformation through innovative financial tools and streamlined business processes. The role also serves as a strategic adviser to senior leadership and represents UN Women in high‑level intergovernmental and inter‑agency forums.

The CFO & Director leads and manages the DFA team — comprising Finance, Integrated Budget Management, Procurement and Travel, Facilities and Asset Management, Information Technology, and Safety & Security Services — ensuring strategic alignment with organizational priorities and operational excellence. The role fosters a culture of performance, collaboration, accountability, and continuous improvement across all functional areas.

Working closely with the DED, RMSP, the Strategy, Planning, Resources and Effectiveness Division (SPRED), headquarters divisions, and regional offices, the CFO & Director ensures effective implementation of UN Women’s strategic objectives, integrated budget frameworks, and risk management strategies. This role maintains coherence in finance and administration across headquarters, regional, and country offices, enabling the organization to deliver on its mission efficiently and effectively.

Strategic Leadership and Representation:

• Lead, guide, and manage the personnel and operations of the Division of Finance and Administration, comprising the Finance, Integrated Budget Management, Procurement and Travel, Facilities Administration and Assets, and Information Technology units. Ensure strategic alignment with organizational goals, foster operational excellence, and promote a culture of performance, collaboration, accountability and continuous improvement across the Division.
• Drive cost-effective and cutting-edge reforms across financial, budgeting, and administrative functions. Champion organizational transformation through initiatives such as business process reengineering, automation, shared services, regionalization, and outsourcing, in line with international best practices.
• Provide strategic and authoritative advice to the Deputy Executive Director for Resource Management, Sustainability and Partnerships (DED, RMSP) on all finance, bud