IPSAS Specialist

Result of Service - Issuance of new and updated IPSAS policy framework, corporate guidance, training and implementation procedures/user guides for the new IPSAS standards including ERP guidance. - Launching of training related to the new/updated standards. - Required Lease Data and Heritage Assets data is recorded in the ERP System. - Determination of transition adjustments, transition disclosures and ongoing disclosures in Financial Statements.

Work Location New York

Expected duration 12 months

Duties and Responsibilities This consultancy is located in the Office of Programme Planning, Finance and Budget (OPPFB), Department of Management Strategy, Policy and Compliance (DMSPC) at UNHQ in New York. The Consultant will be working in the Financial Analytics & Reporting Section within the Financial Reporting Service of Finance Division.

The Financial Reporting Service is responsible for the preparation of IPSAS-compliant financial statements and ensures the sustainability of IPSAS-compliant accounting and reporting. The Financial Analytics & Reporting Section is responsible for the analysis of financial data and the coordination of global support for financial accounting related activities, including coordination of activities for support and reporting for Property, Plant and Equipment, Leases, Intangibles as well as Internally Developed Assets, and Inventory.

With recent updates to IPSAS standards relating to leases (IPSAS 43 Leases Exposure draft (ED 78), as well as the release of the updated IPSAS on Property Plant and Equipment (IPSAS 45) which included changes to Heritage Assets reporting, and the release of IPSAS 46 on Measurement, the Consultant will be responsible for the following:

• Formulating a comprehensive project plan to address the IPSAS changes.

• Creation of data collection templates and designing/establishing online data collection forms, processes and controls for information collation and analysis for IPSAS 43 Leases implementation.

• Liaising with of a large group of global focal points during the project period.

• Planning and delivering workshops to finance teams, procurement, and real estate teams, worldwide to ensure they understand the changes as well as helping them identify, capture data and account for various type of UN leases.

• Working with entities to ensure that action is taken to provide relevant data to allow for the implementation of the updates to IPSAS for Leases, Property Plant and Equipment updates (including Heritage Assets and Measurement changes).

• Drafting and publishing IPSAS policy framework, corporate guidance, and implementation procedures (user guides) relating to upcoming issuance of the IPSAS standards including information for the Knowledge Gateway (UN's online community of practice).

• Identify and address consequential impacts to other IPSAS policy framework chapters and existing corporate guidance documents.

• Working with the UN's Enterprise Resource Planning Team (ERPSD) and Asset Management Team (GAMPS) to capture systems requirements specifications to design an ERP solution for IPSAS implementation.

• Liaising with ERPSD for new functionality and testing of new functionality as well as the mass data load, data quality plan, controls review where necessary.

• Working with UN training team (CDOTS) to design appropriate training material for the implementation for all stakeholders involved including worldwide finance teams, procurement, and real estate teams.

  Qualifications/special skills Academic Qualifications:

• Advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent) in accounting, business administration, procurement, public administration, or engineering.
• A first-level university degree in combination with qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
• Chartered Accountant or related qualification is required.

Experience: - At least 7 years of relevant professional experience in financial statement reporting. - Experience in financial standards implementation is required. - Experience in writing financial policy papers is required. - Experience in IFRS 16 (or IPSAS 43) Leases reporting requirements required. - Experience with IPSAS standards or the application of new standards in a non-profit environment in desirable. - Experience in implementation of the equivalent private sector accounting standards is desirable. - Experience in SAP is desirable. - Experience in project planning is desirable.

Languages Proficiency in English is required.

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.