Finance Specialist (Financial Reporting Systems), P-3, FRGM, DFAM New York HQ

Contract

This is a P-3 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 5 years of experience, depending on education.

Salary

The salary for this job should be between 140,639 USD and 184,155 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.

UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. To save their lives. To defend their rights. To help them fulfill their potential.

Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone.

And we never give up.

For every child, hope..

The role of DFAM is to safeguard the financial resources entrusted to UNICEF for the survival, development and protection of the world’s children by maintaining and improving financial and administrative systems and procedures to ensure efficient, cost-effective and transparent utilization of these resources. This post resides within the Financial Reporting, Analysis and Monitoring unit of the Financial Reporting and Grant Management Section of DFAM, reporting to the Finance Manager, Financial Reporting.

Under the general guidance of the Finance Manager, Financial Reporting, the incumbent is primarily responsible for ensuring that UNICEF’s operating system, SAP, is set up in a manner that is aligned with International Public Sector Accounting Standards and UNICEF’s financial policies and procedures. The primary focus being the financial information module (“FI”) of the operating system along with IT processes resulting in financial accounting transactions within FI either directly or through sub-modules and/or sub-ledgers. This includes coordination and review of system changes and monitor periodic processing activities and automated financial controls within SAP). In addition, the incumbent will analyze results, investigate and follow up on issues; serve as the primary liaison between DFAM – Financial Reporting and Grants Monitoring section and Information and Communication Division (ITCD).

How can you make a difference?

The following are the key functions of the position:

1. Responsible for ensuring periodic processing activities are executed timely and accurately including: opening and closing periods, uploading data, and executing programs (e.g., foreign exchange revaluation, etc.). Coordinate global manual and systematic period closing activities. Identify anomalies in the execution of the periodic activities and escalate to supervisor timely for resolution. Maintain documentation and process guidance for the periodic activities. Maintain access tables for sensitive document types and monitor access to post to closed periods​
2. Support the design, business specifications, documentation and testing of financial systems. The scope will include among other tasks, all ICTD developments in SAP or other UNICEF systems that impacts finance and financial reporting modules, in collaboration with the other accountants in the Financial Reporting and Grants Management section. Maintain documentation of testing results for all related implementations.
3. Liaise with ICTD, other HQ sections/divisions and field offices on system changes, issues and reporting requirements based on instructions and in liaison with or under guidance of Finance Manager, Financial Reporting. Contribute to identification of systems issues and reporting requirements possible solutions.
4. Maintain UNICEF’s GL master data with support of assistant. Ensure that there are adequate controls in place in establishing GL master data based on UNICEF’s risk management policies and that it remains accurate and valid by performing periodic cleansing activities. Update the chart of accounts, and maintain the related glossary of definitions, as required and in compliance with IPSAS.
5. Provide technical advice and guidance to HQ staff on exceptional, ad hoc issues related to systems based on policies and procedures established in official UNICEF documentation and in line with IPSAS requirements. Identify and provide feedback and suggestions to management related to improvements to the system, reports and UNICEF’s policies, procedures and processes. Facilitate the development and implementation of financial systems structures and participate in designing automated systems of accounting and reporting.
6. Ensure that the Financial Reporting and Grant Management Section/ Financial Reporting, Analysis and Monitoring unit is represented professionally on the UNICEF intranet and that information is useful, accurate and current to all relevant stakeholders, including field offices and other UNICEF divisions. Develop new content as required based on the activities and results of the Financial Reporting and Grant Management section. Coordinate with the Comptroller’s Office to ensure content changes are posted timely.
7. Produce timely and informative reports such as CEB and TOESD reporting, schedules and analysis on a routine and ad hoc basis, especially for year-end (e.g. segment report) and quarterly financial reports. Approve IATI submissions monthly in line with agreed SLA​. Maintenance of financial reports, ensuring they remain accurate and are easy to use by offices and divisions. Responsible for liaison with other sections and divisions to ensure reports are dynamic and can be used for multiple purposes both management and financial reporting ensuring information is readily available and consistent for any purpose/use such as FI cube and checking year-end SP cube for clearance
8. Supervise staff, establish priorities, assess progress and provide guidance to staff to ensure achievement of objectives.
9. Identify training needs and develop training activities to build capacity within the team and globally in areas of responsibility e.g. training on use of GL accounts.
10. Perform other duties as required

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…

• Professional Accounting or Auditing Qualification (such as Chartered Accountant, Certified Public Accountant or equivalent) or an advanced degree (Masters) in Accounting and/or a related field is required. Preference will be given to holders of Professional Accounting qualifications or equivalent
• A minimum of five (5) years progressively responsible experience in accounting or financial auditing, including experience working in a managerial role is required.
• Experience working with International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) or International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSAS) is highly desirable.
• Knowledge of the UN system is considered an asset.
• Experience in the non-profit sector or working internationally is highly desirable.
• Excellent computer skills required, including experience in maintaining, managing or utilizing enterprise resource system, preferably SAP.
• Developing country work experience and/or familiarity with emergency is considered an asset.
• Fluency in English (oral and written) is required . Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) is an asset.

For every Child, you demonstrate...

UNICEF’s Core Values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust and Accountability and Sustainability (CRITAS) underpin everything we do and how we do it. Get acquainted with Our Values Charter: UNICEF Values

UNICEF competencies required for this post are…

(1) Builds and maintains partnerships (2) Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness (3) Drive to achieve results for impact (4) Innovates and embraces change (5) Manages ambiguity and complexity (6) Thinks and acts strategically (7) Works collaboratively with others (8) Nurtures, leads and manages people.

During the recruitment process, we test candidates following the competency framework. Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels: competency framework here.

UNICEF is here to serve the world’s most disadvantaged children and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, or any other personal characteristic. We offer a wide range of benefits to our staff, including paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF strongly encourages the use of flexible working arrangements. UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination. UNICEF is committed to promote the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check.

Remarks:

This position is re-advertised to expand the pool of applicants. Previous applicants need not re-apply.

Priority will be given to all the eligible candidates participating in 2022 Mobility Exercise and Staff on Abolished post.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.

Mobility is a condition of international professional employment with UNICEF and an underlying premise of the international civil service.

UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance. Issuance of a visa by the host country of the duty station, which will be facilitated by UNICEF, is required for IP positions. Appointments are also subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid). Government employees that are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally required to resign from their government before taking up an assignment with UNICEF. UNICEF reserves the right to withdraw an offer of appointment, without compensation, if a visa or medical clearance is not obtained, or necessary inoculation requirements are not met, within a reasonable period for any reason.