Administrative and Finance Officer

Contract

This is a P-4 contract. This kind of contract is known as Professional and Director staff. It is normally internationally recruited only. It's a staff contract. It usually requires 7 years of experience, depending on education.

Salary

The salary for this job should be between 128,450 USD and 165,609 USD.

Please keep in mind that the salary displayed here is an estimation by UN Talent based on the location and the type of contract. It may vary depending on the organization. The recruiter should be able to inform you about the exact salary range. In case the job description contains another salary information, please refer to this one.

Org. Setting and Reporting The objective of this Convention is to combat desertification and mitigate the effects of drought in countries experiencing serious drought and/or desertification, particularly in Africa, through effective action at all levels, supported by international cooperation and partnership arrangements, in the framework of an integrated approach which is consistent with Agenda 21, with a view to contributing to the achievement of sustainable development in affected areas. The functions of the secretariat are, among others, to make arrangements for sessions of the Conference of the Parties (COP) and its subsidiary bodies. In addition, the secretariat also provides assistance to Parties in implementing the Convention.

This post is located at the UNCCD Administrative Services (AS) Unit, duty station in Bonn, Germany. The incumbent reports to the Chief, AS.

Responsibilities Within delegated authority, the Finance Officer will be responsible for the following duties:

• Prepares financial statements and its notes for all UNCCD funds based on the rules and regulations of the United Nations, Conference of the Parties and as per IPSAS compliance
• Serves as Approving Officer for all UNCCD funds and ensures that all accounts are reconciled on a timely manner
• Monitors the status of contributions for voluntary financing activities; follow up with donors and UNOG on outstanding contributions; and clears agreements with donors
• Analyses accounts, reviews/prepares regular financial reports and monthly UNDP SCA reports. Proposes/implements solutions with respect to problem transactions and irregularities
• Ensures that accurate and complete accounting, reporting and internal control systems are functioning and that all relevant records are maintained
• Act as UNCCD focal point and responds to internal/external audit observations, month end and year end closing of accounts
• Provide substantive support to the development and implementation of new accounting policies. Takes initiative to improve accounting process and approaches
• Prepares the financial utilization report and status of monthly financial management report for the voluntary fund contributions/extra-budgetary funds
• Provide data for the preparation of programme and budget documents, and the financial performance for the Convention trust funds
• Assists the Chief of Administrative Services in planning requirements and oversee support services during UNCCD inter sessional meetings in accordance with UN financial rules and regulations
• Supervises and provide guidance to the staff in Administrative Services and performs other duties as assigned, including acting as Officer-in-Charge in the absence of the Chief of Administrative Services

• Performs any other job-related activity required to achieve the goals and objectives of the team, the Unit, the programme or the secretariat.

  Competencies Professionalism: Possesses conceptual and analytical skills including a complete, in-depth grasp of financial principles and practices, with knowledge of budget development, including results-based budgeting, and the financial administration of resources. Ability to provide authoritative advice to senior managers on strategic issues. Accepts additional responsibilities as required by the demands of service; strives for excellence in performance continually; remains composed while working effectively in stressful situations; uses information technology effectively as a tool and resource; demonstrates substantive and technological knowledge to meet responsibilities and post requirements with excellence. Shows pride in work and in achievements. Demonstrates professional competence and mastery of subject matter. Is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results. Is motivated by professional rather than personal concerns. Shows persistence when faced with difficult problems or challenges; remains calm in stressful situations. Takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work.

Planning & Organizing: Develops clear goals that are consistent with agreed strategies; identifies priority activities and assignments; adjusts priorities as required; allocates appropriate amount of time and resources for completing work; foresees risks and allows for contingencies when planning; monitors and adjusts plans and actions as necessary; uses time efficiently.

Client Orientation: Considers all those to whom services are provided to be “clients” and seeks to see things from clients’ point of view; establishes and maintains productive partnerships with clients by gaining their trust and respect; identifies clients’ needs and matches them to appropriate solutions; monitors ongoing developments inside and outside the clients’ environment to keep informed and anticipate problems; keeps clients informed of progress or setbacks in projects; meets timeline for delivery of products or services to client.

Managing Performance: Delegates the appropriate responsibility, accountability and decision-making authority; makes sure that roles, responsibilities and reporting lines are clear to each staff member; accurately judges the amount of time and resources needed to accomplish a task and matches task to skills; monitors progress against milestones and deadlines; regularly discusses performance and provides feedback and coaching to staff; encourages risk-taking and supports creativity and initiative; actively supports the development and career aspirations of staff; appraises performance fairly.

Education Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent degree) in business administration, finance, accounting, or related field is required. A first-level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree. Certification as a Certified Public Accountant (CPA), Chartered Accountants (CA), Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA) or equivalent is desirable.

Work Experience A minimum of 7 years of progressively responsible professional experience in accounting, finance, budget, and administration. or related areas is required

Experience with budgetary policies and practices, financial regulations and rules is required.

Experience in the use of information technology tools for financial analysis and monitoring of budgets is required.

Managing resources in a financial system/module of an enterprise resource planning (ERP) or similar system is desirable.

Experience with the operations of intergovernmental and legislative machinery is desirable.

Languages Fluency (both oral and written) in English is required, including good drafting skills. Knowledge of another UN official language is an advantage.

Assessment Evaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise which will be followed by competency-based interview.

Special Notice This position is available for an initial period of one year. Extension of appointment is subject to the availability of funds.

Individual contractors and consultants who have worked within the UN Secretariat in the last six months, irrespective of the administering entity, are ineligible to apply for professional and higher temporary or fixed-term positions and their applications will not be considered.

United Nations Considerations According to 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. Candidates will not be considered for employment with the United Nations if they have committed violations of international human rights law, violations of international humanitarian law, sexual exploitation, sexual abuse, or sexual harassment, or if there are reasonable grounds to believe that they have been involved in the commission of any of these acts. The term “sexual exploitation” means any actual or attempted abuse of a position of vulnerability, differential power, or trust, for sexual purposes, including, but not limited to, profiting monetarily, socially or politically from the sexual exploitation of another. The term “sexual abuse” means the actual or threatened physical intrusion of a sexual nature, whether by force or under unequal or coercive conditions. The term “sexual harassment” means any unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature that might reasonably be expected or be perceived to cause offence or humiliation, when such conduct interferes with work, is made a condition of employment or creates an intimidating, hostile or offensive work environment, and when the gravity of the conduct warrants the termination of the perpetrator’s working relationship. Candidates who have committed crimes other than minor traffic offences may not be considered for employment.

Due regard will be paid to the importance of recruiting the staff on as wide a geographical basis as possible. The United Nations places no restrictions on the eligibility of men and women to participate in any capacity and under conditions of equality in its principal and subsidiary organs. The United Nations Secretariat is a non-smoking environment.

The paramount consideration in the appointment, transfer, or promotion of staff shall be the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity. By accepting an offer of appointment, United Nations staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General and assignment by him or her to any activities or offices of the United Nations in accordance with staff regulation 1.2 (c). In this context, all internationally recruited staff members shall be required to move periodically to discharge new functions within or across duty stations under conditions established by the Secretary-General.

Applicants are urged to follow carefully all instructions available in the online recruitment platform, inspira. For more detailed guidance, applicants may refer to the Manual for the Applicant, which can be accessed by clicking on “Manuals” hyper-link on the upper right side of the inspira account-holder homepage.

The evaluation of applicants will be conducted on the basis of the information submitted in the application according to the evaluation criteria of the job opening and the applicable internal legislations of the United Nations including the Charter of the United Nations, resolutions of the General Assembly, the Staff Regulations and Rules, administrative issuances and guidelines. Applicants must provide complete and accurate information pertaining to their personal profile and qualifications according to the instructions provided in inspira to be considered for the current job opening. No amendment, addition, deletion, revision or modification shall be made to applications that have been submitted. Candidates under serious consideration for selection will be subject to reference checks to verify the information provided in the application.

Job openings advertised on the Careers Portal will be removed at 11:59 p.m. (New York time) on the deadline date.

No Fee THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.