Job Careers: Chief, Financial Reporting Service, New York

• Organization: OPPBA - Office of Programme Planning, Budget and Accounts
• Country: United States
• City: New York
• Office: OPPBA New York
• Grade: D-1
• Follow @UNjobs

Closing date: Friday, 25 November 2016

---

Posting Title: Chief, Financial Reporting Service, D1
Job Code Title: PRINCIPAL FINANCE OFFICER
Department/ Office: Office of Programme Planning, Budget and Accounts
Duty Station: NEW YORK
Posting Period: 27 October 2016-25 November 2016
Job Opening number: 16-FIN-DM OPPBA-67287-R-NEW YORK (R)
Staffing Exercise ID: N/A
United Nations Core Values: Integrity, Professionalism, Respect for Diversity
Special Notice
Staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General and to assignment by him or her. In this context, all staff are expected to move periodically to new functions in their careers in accordance with established rules and procedures.
Organizational Setting and Reporting
This position is located in the Accounts Division of the Office of Programme Planning and Accounts in the Department of Management, New York. The Chief Financial Reporting Service reports to the Director of the Accounts Division.
Responsibilities
Under the supervision of the Director of the Accounts Division, the incumbent oversees the work of the Financial Reporting Service in the Division. Specific responsibilities include

• Oversees the management of activities undertaken by the Service, ensures that programmed activities are carried out in a timely fashion and co-ordinates work in the different areas both within the Division and Department, and with other organizations of the United Nations System, as appropriate.
• Leads and provides strategic direction for the inclusion of accounting business requirements in development and implementation of International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSAS).
• Co-ordinates the work carried out by the UN IPSAS project Team and works closely with managers in Offices Away from Headquarters, Regional Commissions, peacekeeping and special political missions; provides substantive reviews of emerging issues to improve accuracy, disclosure, consistency and formats of financial statements and ensure issuance within timeframes specified in Financial Regulations;
• Provides further substantial guidance in support of the implementation of Umoja.
• Co-ordinates and oversees the timely and accurate preparation of published financial statements comprising the Regular Budget, Peacekeeping Operations, Tribunals, Iraq Escrow accounts, UN Compensation Commission, International Trade Centre, UN University and UNITAR;
• Represents the Division and reports to intergovernmental and legislative bodies on financial and accounting issues raised, as appropriate.
• Develops appropriate accounting policies, procedures and systems of internal control;
• Maintains working relationships with internal and external auditors; advise and guide the Division staff on financial matters;
• Oversees the programmatic/administrative tasks necessary for the functioning of the Service/including preparation of budgets, reporting on budget/programme performance, evaluation of staff performance (PAS), inputs for results-based budgeting.
• Oversees the recruitment of staff, taking due account of geographical balance.
• Fosters client-focused approach to problem-solving, and expanded use of information technology tools.

Competencies

• Professionalism:
  • Demonstrated ability to provide strategic advice and guidance on accounting matters and related policy issues
  • Proven skills and ability to identify issues, formulate opinions, draw conclusions and recommend solutions
  • Knowledge of the field of work and policy issues related to accounting and finance in general and of specific areas being supervised
  • Ability to produce reports and papers on technical issues and to review and edit the work of others
  • Proven ability to drive for change and improvement in positions held.
• Communication:
  • Speaks and writes clearly and effectively
  • Listens to others, correctly interprets messages from others and responds appropriately
  • Asks questions to clarify, and exhibits interest in having two-way communication
  • Tailors language, tone, style and format to match the audience
  • Demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed
• Planning and 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
  Leadership:
  
  • Serves as a role model that other people want to follow: empowers others to translate vision into results; is proactive in developing strategies to accomplish objectives
  • Establishes and maintains relationships with a broad range of people to understand needs and gain support
  • Anticipates and resolves conflicts by pursuing mutually agreeable solutions
  • Drives for change and improvements
  • Does not accept the status quo
  • Shows the courage to take unpopular stands
  • Provides leadership and takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work
  • Demonstrates knowledge of strategies and commitment to the goal of gender balance in staffing.
  Judgement/ Decision-making:
  
  • Identifies the key issues in a complex situation, and comes to the heart of the problem quickly
  • Gathers relevant information before making a decision
  • Considers positive and negative impacts of decisions prior to making them
  • Takes decisions with an eye to the impact on others and on the Organization
  • Proposes a course of action or makes a recommendation based on all available information
  • Checks assumptions against facts
  • Determines that the actions proposed will satisfy the expressed and underlying needs for the decision
  • Makes tough decisions when necessary

Education
Advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent degree) in accounting, finance, business or public administration , law, social sciences or related area. Accreditation with an internationally recognized professional accounting body such as Chartered or Certified Public Accountant (CPA) is desirable. A first-level university degree in combination with qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
Work Experience
A minimum of fifteen years of progressively responsible experience in accounting, business or finance including solid financial accounting experience is required. Significant experience with international or intergovernmental organizations at a senior level, leading a group of staff working in the financial area, is required. Experience with International Public Sector Accounting Standards, information and communications technology and particularly application of enterprise resource planning systems is required. Cost and management accounting experience and audit liaison experience is desirable.
Languages
Fluency in English is required; knowledge of French is desirable. Knowledge of another UN official language is an advantage.
Assessment
Evaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise which may be followed by competency-based interview.
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, including but not limited to, respect for international human rights and humanitarian law. Candidates may be subject to screening against these standards, including but not limited to, whether they have committed or are alleged to have committed criminal offences or violations of international human rights law and international humanitarian law.
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.
Applicants are urged to follow carefully all instructions available in the online recruitment platform, inspira. For more detailed guidance, applicants may refer to the At-a-Glance on 'The Application Process' and the Instructional Manual for the Applicants, which can be accessed by clicking on 'Manuals' hyper-link on the upper right side of the inspira account-holder homepage.
The screening and 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, including but not limited to, their education, work experience, and language skills, according to the instructions provided on inspira. Applicants will be disqualified from consideration if they do not demonstrate in their application that they meet the evaluation criteria of the job opening and the applicable internal legislations of the United Nations. Applicants are solely responsible for providing complete and accurate information at the time of application: 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 a reference-checking process to verify the information provided in the application.
Job openings advertised on the Careers Portal will be removed at midnight (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.