Finance Officer (Accountant, IPSAS), Vienna , Closing date: Wednesday, 17 June 2015

Finance Officer (Accountant, IPSAS), Vienna

• Organization: UNOV - United Nations Office at Vienna
• Country: Austria
• City: Vienna, Austria
• Office: United Nations Office at Vienna
• Grade: P-4

Posting Title:
Finance Officer (Accountant, IPSAS), P4
Job Code Title:
ACCOUNTANT
Department/ Office
United Nations Office at Vienna
Duty Station
VIENNA
Posting Period
18 May 2015-17 June 2015
Job Opening number
15-FIN-UNOV-43236-R-VIENNA (X)
United Nations Core Values: Integrity, Professionalism, Respect for Diversity
Special Notice
This post is funded from extra-budgetary resources. Any extension of appointment against this position is subject to continued availability of funding.
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
The position is located in the Accounts Section (AS), Financial Resources Management Service (FRMS), Division for Management (DM) of the United Nations Office at Vienna and United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNOV/UNODC), in Vienna. The incumbent will report to the Chief of the Accounts Section (AS). This position involves a variety of tasks to ensure timely and accurate delivery of IPSAS (International Public Sector Accounting Standards) compliant balances under the current and the forthcoming ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) system.
For more information on UNOV and UNODC, please visit our websites: www.unvienna.org and www.unodc.org
Responsibilities
Within delegated authority, the Finance Officer (Accountant) will be responsible for the following duties:
Supervise and coordinate the work and activities of the local IPSAS implementation;
Liaise with the United Nations Secretariat Team to ensure consistency of the activities in UNOV/UNODC with those of the UN Secretariat;
Identify gaps in key processes and ensure the implementation of IPSAS compliant operational policies and procedures;
Provide business analysis and direction for ensuring IPSAS compliant policies in current information system and forthcoming ERP implementation;
Manage and deliver the development and implementation of activities to support continuous IPSAS compliance in UNOV/UNODC;
Assure relevant data cleansing and preparation exercise to ensure continuous IPSAS compliant balances and financial statements in the current and the forthcoming ERP;
Manage and coordinate the preparation and consolidation of annual IPSAS compliant financial statements;
Liaise with UNODC Field Offices and ensure adherence with IPSAS compliant policies and financial submissions;
Manage the preparation of regular and ad hoc financial management reports;
Contribute to proposals and delivery of finance and IPSAS training;
Support IPSAS compliance in the current information system and the transition to the forthcoming ERP;
Monitor the compliance of IPSAS related audit observations in UNOV/UNODC;
Perform other work related duties as required.
Competencies
Professionalism - Has knowledge of financial and accounting principles and practices, procedures and standards. Is able to apply conceptual, analytical and evaluative skills in accounting operations. Is able to conduct independent research and analysis, identify issues, formulate options and make conclusions and recommendations. Is able to plan and coordinate the work of a team. Is able to prepare reports, formulating positions on issues, articulating options concisely conveying maximum necessary information making and defending recommendations. 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 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.
Accountability: Takes ownership of all responsibilities and honours commitments; delivers outputs for which one has responsibility within prescribed time, cost and quality standards; operates in compliance with organizational regulations and rules; supports subordinates, provides oversight and takes responsibility for delegated assignments; takes personal responsibility for his/her own shortcomings and those of the work unit, where applicable.
Education
Advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent) in business administration, finance, accounting or related field is required. A first level university degree in similar fields in combination with two additional years of qualifying relevant experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree. An accounting qualification as Certified Public Accountant (CPA), Chartered Accountant (CA) or Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA) is required. A combination of Finance with a focus on Information Technology is desirable.
Work Experience
A minimum of seven years of progressively responsible professional experience in accounting and auditing in private or public sector multinational organizations is required. Demonstrated experience in complex accounting operations including multicurrency transactions and consolidations is required. Several years of demonstrated experience in transitioning private sector or public sector accounting standards such as International Financial Reporting Standards or IPSAS is required. Extensive experience in working with the finance module and consolidation in an Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) or the UN's own Integrated Management Information system (IMIS) is required. Experience in planning, developing and implementing a change management project is desirable. Familiarity with the UN regulatory framework for administration and operations is desirable.
Languages
English and French are the working languages of the UN Secretariat. For the position advertised, fluency in English, i.e. oral and written proficiency, is required. Knowledge of other official UN languages is an asset.
Assessment Method
Evaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise which may be followed by competency-based interview.
United Nations Considerations
Candidates will be required to meet the requirements of Article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter as well as the requirements of the position. The United Nations is committed to the highest standards of efficiency, competence and integrity for all its human resources, 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 and/or violations of international human rights law and international humanitarian law.
The United Nations shall place 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. (Charter of the United Nations - Chapter 3, article 8). 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 inspira account-holder homepage.
Applications are pre-screened by the system according to the published requirements of the job opening on the basis of the information provided in the application. In relation to the requirements of the job opening, applicants must provide complete and accurate information pertaining to their qualifications, including their education, work experience, and language skills. Each applicant must bear in mind that submission of incomplete or inaccurate applications may render that applicant ineligible for consideration for the job opening. Initial screening and evaluation of applications will be conducted on the basis of the information submitted. Applications cannot be amended following submission. 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.