The UfM Secretariat is seeking to incorporate a Head of Unit-Finance and Contracts for its headquarters in Barcelona. Below is the job description, detailing the responsibilities and required skills and qualifications.

The Head of Unit for Finance and Contracts manages the activities and team of the Finance & Contracts Unit, ensuring alignment with sound financial management principles, legality and regularity of operations, and the UfM´s internal control framework. The position oversees operational and strategic financial functions including budgeting, accounting, treasury, procurement, and financial reporting. It ensures appropriate segregation of duties and contributes to internal control mechanisms. The role involves direct collaboration with the Accounting Officer and other relevant stakeholders to safeguard the organization’s financial integrity and ensure effective resource use in support of the Secretariat´s strategic goals.

Management and Coordination:
• To assist and advise the Deputy Director of Administration and the organization on all Finance & Contracts matters.
• Provide strategic oversight of Treasury, Procurement, Accounting, Planning and
• Monitoring, including implementing effective internal control systems.
• Manages long-term financial planning processes.
• Ensures the proper management of the Finance and Contracts Unit, ensuring the identification of the needs of the Units and requirements to achieve its objectives.
• Ensure task distribution, set priorities and objectives for Unit staff and manage their performance.
• Lead long-term financial planning and annual budgeting processes.
• Partner with the Accounting Officer to coordinate interconnected financial and accounting processes.
• Promote cross-functional collaboration, through regular consultations with other units and Divisions.
• Foster a result-oriented, accountable, and client-focused work environment.
• Other duties assigned by the Deputy Director of Legal & Administration.

Financial Systems and Compliance:
• Oversee the implementation of financial rules and procedures in compliance with UfM´s financial regulations.
• Ensure the conformity of financial activities and operations with applicable contractual and legal obligations.
• Implement principles of accounting and internal controls in line with IFRS or IPSAS standards.
• Monitor and review accounting and related system reports for accuracy and completeness.
• Supervise data entry and the integrity of financial information systems.
• Coordinate internal and external audits, ensuring prompt implementation of audit recommendations.
• Implement early warning mechanisms and periodic alerts to highlight budget variances or emerging spending risks.

Budgeting and Financial Analysis:
• Coordinate with Divisions/Departments on the preparation and monitoring of budgets and financial plans.
• Analyze and review expenditures and contracts and grants from a financial perspective in conjunction with relevant Divisions/Departments.
• Provide financial projections and recommendations to ensure budgetary discipline.
• Develop the annual operating budget and consult and in collaboration with departmental management on the fiscal aspects of program planning, salary recommendations, and other administrative actions.
• Maintain and disseminate clear budget visibility and availability by sharing up-to-date budget data and forecasts to internal stakeholders.
Financial Reporting and Monitoring:
• Ensure effective security and control and reporting of funds and expenditures, allocated to the organization and all necessary internal and external administrative functions related to the efficient expenditure, supported by accurate documentation.
• Compile and analyze financial information to prepare entries to accounts, such as general ledger accounts, and oversee all transactional records.
• Coordinates the preparation of financial statements, financial and periodic informative reports and ad-hoc reports.
• Prepare and review budget, revenue, expense, payroll entries, invoices, and other accounting documents.
• Develop and manage robust cash flow forecasting tools