Organization: UN Population Fund
Country: United States of America
Closing date: 15 Jul 2015
We are pleased to announce the following vacancy:
VACANCY NO.: Job ID 3033
CLOSING DATE: 15 July 2015 (5.00 p.m. New York time)
POST TITLE: Accounts Specialist, Statutory Reporting Unit
CATEGORY: P-3
POST NUMBER: 60202
DUTY STATION: New York
POST TYPE: Non-Rotational
DURATION: One year (renewable)[i]
ORGANIZATIONAL UNIT: Finance Branch, Division for Management Services
ORGANIZATIONAL SETTING:
This Accounts Specialist position is located within the Accounts Section, Finance Branch of the Division for Management Services (DMS) and will directly report to the head of the Statutory Reporting Unit (SRU) under the overall supervision of the Chief of the Accounts Section.
The Finance Branch is responsible for global financial management, issuance of management and statutory reports, preparation of donor reports, support to and monitoring of field offices on all financial and accounting matters, management of corporate accounts and the continuous development of corporate financial policies and guidance. The Branch also plays a key role in the custody and oversight over appropriate use of financial resources, monitoring of expenditures and strengthening ongoing compliance with the International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSAS) adopted by UNFPA in 2012.
The Accounts Section currently consists of four teams – statutory reporting unit; the revenue team, the global monitoring and advisory team and the payment team.
The SRU is currently responsible for the operationalization of the IPSAS environment within UNFPA and ongoing strengthening of compliance including drafting and revision of UNFPA accounting policies and procedures. The unit is also responsible for the coordination of annual accounts closure, preparation of Financial Statements (FS) and other statutory reports and liaison with auditors on finance related matters. As part of these functions, SRU maintains oversight over areas that were primarily impacted by IPSAS such as inventory accounting, employee benefits and lease accounting.
JOB PURPOSE
Under the overall supervision of the head of SRU, the Accounts Specialist supports continuous strengthening of UNFPA compliance with IPSAS at the operational and policy level, plays key role in annual closure of accounts, prepares UNFPA annual financial statements and other statutory reports and drafts financial policies and procedures.
Major Activities/Expected Results:
Operationalize IPSAS-compliant accounting environment within UNFPA:
- Develop new and update existing accounting policies, procedures and guidance documents to ensure ongoing compliance with IPSAS; perform research and analysis to determine appropriate IPSAS financial disclosures associated with any accounting policy changes;
- Ensure that adequate system of "checks and balances" exists to monitor compliance with corporate accounting policies throughout the year; develop and implement improvements;
- Evaluate existing systems for operationalization of IPSAS environment in UNFPA (e.g. automated financial statements, Atlas and Cognos monitoring tools, etc); identify opportunities for and develop improvements.
Prepare UNFPA financial statements and other statutory and management reports:
- Responsible for preparation of a number of statements and notes for UNFPA financial statements; ensure that these statements and notes are accurate and adequately supported;
- Provide guidance / support to and oversight over inputs of other units to financial statements in order to ensure their accuracy and completeness;
- Liaison with external and internal auditors and respond to their queries and recommendations; prepare responses to audit observations;
- Implement quality assurance activities over information included in financial statements before, during and after closure of accounts. This includes periodic enquiry of high risk areas / transactions, follow-up on lessons learnt, support of business units in clean-up activities and developing measures for minimizing user errors;
- Prepare other statutory and management reports such as statistical and financial review report for the Executive Board and monthly financial monitoring reports for management.
Accounting reviews:
- Serve as a lead for selected accounting areas that were primarily impacted by IPSAS such as employee benefits, inventory accounting, etc. This includes data collection and validation; oversight over transactions raised by different users and initiation of corrections; account reconciliation and aging analysis; user support and guidance;
· Develop and implement new and update existing business processes in selected areas including initiation of new reporting tools and writing standard operating procedures;
· Assist with administration of the CIPFA programme.
Provide training and knowledge sharing sessions as required.
Perform other duties as assigned by the Supervisor.
REQUIRED COMPETENCIES:
i) Values: Exemplifying integrity, Demonstrating commitment to UNFPA and the UN system, Embracing cultural diversity, Embracing change
ii) Core Competencies: Achieving results, Being accountable, Developing and applying professional expertise/business acumen, Thinking analytically and strategically, Working in teams/managing ourselves and our relationships, Communicating for impact
FUNCTIONAL SKILLSETS
Ensuring operational effectiveness and accountability for results, Managing the organizations financial resources, Providing a technical / functional support system
Job Requirements:
§Advanced University Degree in Finance/Accounting or related discipline. A recognized professional accounting designation (CPA, CA), together with a bachelor"s degree, will be deemed equivalent to a masters level degree for this position.
§Minimum 5 years of experience in accounting and/or finance is required;
§Demonstrated experience in preparation of accounts under IPSAS or IFRS is strongly preferred;
§Advance knowledge of spreadsheets is required;
§Experience in handling of web-based management systems and ERP financials, preferably PeopleSoft is a distinct advantage;
§Strong analytical and problem solving skills. Able to translate business requirements into logical systems specifications;
§Experience in drafting accounting policies is a distinct advantage.
§Fluency in English is required; knowledge of another UN language an asset.
UNFPA provides a work environment that reflects the values of gender quality, teamwork, respect for diversity, integrity and a healthy balance of work and life. We are committed to maintaining our balanced gender distribution and therefore encourage women to apply.
We offer an attractive remuneration package commensurate with the level of the position. The package includes a competitive salary plus housing allowance, home leave, health insurance and other benefits.
[i] No expectancy of renewal in accordance with UN Staff Regulation 4.5
How to apply:
UNFPA has established an electronic application management system. This allows applicants to create a candidate profile, which can be updated regularly and submitted for more than one vacancy.
Download the Step by Step Guide to Applying in the E-Recruit System of UNFPA at http://www.unfpa.org/employment.
Please print out the Guide for your reference during the registration and application process.
Notice: There is no application, processing or other fee at any stage of the application process. UNFPA does not solicit or screen for information in respect of HIV or AIDS and does not discriminate on the basis of HIV/AIDS status. In accordance with the rules of the United Nations, persons applying to posts in the international Professional category, who hold permanent resident status in a country other than their country of nationality, are required to renounce such status upon their appointment. Exceptions to this rule are very limited and can be made only for: (a) stateless persons; (b) newly appointed staff members who have applied for citizenship by naturalization, when such citizenship will be granted imminently; (c) acting staff members in the General Service and related categories with permanent residency status, on promotion to the Professional category; (d) staff members appointed under a temporary appointment. Please understand that UNFPA is not in a position to provide advice on or assistance in applying for any citizenship.
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