Finance Specialist, Statutory Reporting Unit, Finance Branch, Division for Management Services, New York, P-4

The Position:

This Finance Specialist, based at UNFPA Headquarters (HQ) in New York, is responsible for leading the Finance Branch (FB) Statutory Reporting Unit (SRU) team. The incumbent reports to the Chief, Finance Branch.

The FB plays a key role in the custody and oversight over the appropriate use of financial resources, and the strengthening of ongoing compliance with the International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSAS). Its portfolio of activities include:

(a) Global financial management.

(b) Development of financial management policies, procedures, and guidelines and monitoring of compliance therewith.

(c) Statutory and specialized reporting; and 

(d) Processing and control of transactions and provision of advice, operational guidance, and support to field offices and HQ units in key financial management and operations areas, including:

    i. Financial accounting and reporting; 

   ii. Accounts payable; 

  iii. Payments; 

  iv. Vendor management; 

   v. Contributions receivable; 

  vi. Other accounts receivable;

 vii. Collections;

viii. Trust fund management; 

  ix. Donor reporting; 

   x. Cash transfers to partners, and

  xi. Inventory accounting. 

The FB is also actively involved in the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Transformation project, which aims at implementing an integrated and transformational information technology solution, including a new, more agile and flexible Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system providing UNFPA with more effective business processes and better ability to respond to evolving user needs. 

The SRU is responsible for the operationalization and continued enhancement of the IPSAS environment within UNFPA, including the development of and support to the proper implementation of accounting policies. The SRU coordinates the annual accounts closure, prepares IPSAS-compliant financial statements and other statutory reports and liaises with auditors on finance related matters. The SRU is also responsible for specialized accounting in selected areas, including inventories, employee benefits and intangible assets.

How you can make a difference:

With 3,000 employees, annual revenues of US dollars 1.5 billion, and assets of US dollars 2.3 billion, UNFPA is the lead UN agency for delivering a world where every pregnancy is wanted, every childbirth is safe and every young person's potential is fulfilled.  UNFPA’s new strategic plan (2022-2025), focuses on three transformative results: to end preventable maternal deaths; end unmet need for family planning; and end gender-based violence and harmful practices. 

In a world where fundamental human rights are at risk, we need principled and ethical staff, who embody these international norms and standards, and who will defend them courageously and with full conviction.

UNFPA is seeking candidates that transform, inspire and deliver high impact and sustained results; we need staff who are transparent, exceptional in how they manage the resources entrusted to them, and who commit to deliver excellence in their assigned areas of responsibility.

Job Purpose:

As the SRU Lead, you will have the opportunity to work, in collaboration with a large and diverse FB team, to allow effective financial reporting at UNFPA in support of its role as action leader and global champion of reproductive health and rights.

You will work closely with UNFPA field offices and HQ units, supporting them to put in place effective processes in those areas under the purview of the SRU. You will also work closely with other FB teams and HQ units to enable accurate and IPSAS-compliant corporate financial reporting.

Qualifications and Experience  

Education:

• Advanced university degree in Finance, Accounting or related fields.
• An internationally recognized professional accountancy designation, together with a bachelor’s degree in the above-mentioned fields, will be deemed equivalent to an advanced degree for this position.  

Knowledge and Experience:

• At least 7 years of experience in accounting or financial auditing, with a minimum of 4 years of supervisory experience.
• Experience in both directly preparing and supervising the preparation of financial statements.
• Demonstrated experience in applying IFRS or IPSAS.
• Demonstrated experience developing and implementing accounting and/or financial policies and procedures and standard operating procedures.
• Demonstrated experience in the use of data reporting and analytics tools.
• Experience supporting systems implementations, including development of business requirements, data conversion and migration, testing and user training, an advantage.
• In-depth understanding of financial management and operations processes in the United Nations an advantage.
• Experience working with the Oracle ERP system a significant advantage. 

Languages:

Fluency in English is required; Working knowledge of other official UN languages desirable.