Chief of Financial Management (P4)

Background:

OSCE Missions and its field activities are the front line of OSCE work in areas that require assistance and are the agent through which political decisions are translated into action. Each Mission has a specific mandate, but they generally work on early warning, preventive diplomacy, conflict management and post-conflict rehabilitation.

The OSCE Mission in Kosovo (OMiK) promotes human rights, good governance and safety of all people living in Kosovo through monitoring, expert advice, advocacy and capacity building work with institutions and communities. The Mission, established in 1999, is the largest OSCE field operation.

The OSCE Gender Action Plan is committed to increasing the number of female staff in all areas of the OSCE’s work. Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply for this management opportunity.

Tasks and Responsibilities:

Under the overall supervision of the Head, Administration and Finance (P5), the successful candidate will be tasked with the following duties:

Identifying the financial requirements of the Mission and maintaining efficient financial services (treasury, accounting and budget operations) in co-operations with senior financial management at the OSCE Secretariat. Planning, developing, reviewing and approving or proposing for approval financial management concepts and internal control procedures; reviewing existing policies related to financial management and developing and proposing to the supervisor policies adapted to the specific needs of the Mission implementing the provisions of the Financial Instructions and Regulations in all standard financial operations; establishing a mechanism to measure cost-efficiency of operations at the Mission.

Reviewing and initiating change in the allocation of financial functions performed by either at Mission’s Headquarters or by Programmes and Regional Centers. Reviewing existing Financial Instructions and Regulations and identifying sections thereof requiring updating to accommodate the operations at OMIK and in line with the changing needs of the Organization; requesting inputs from Professional staff supervised based on their experience and consolidating policy proposals, discussing them with the supervisor and senior management at OMIK, and explaining the benefits for programme implementation derived from new approaches, adaptations and amendments; after endorsement of the draft paper by the senior management, submiting the cleared version to the Director of Administration and Support.

Briefing and guiding staff of the Division of Financial Management, the Officers at substantive departments and Administrative Assistants in Field Offices on proposed concepts, internal control procedures, policies and approaches and requests their co-operation; is available for consultation and further clarification; enforcing the application of existing Financial Instructions and Regulations. Discussing with Professional and General Staff of the Division challenging situations, bottlenecks and complex individual cases; proposing approaches and finding solutions to problems, usually in close co-operation with staff responsible for the specialized area of work. Analyzing financial reports submitted by Professional staff, clearing them or requesting clarification and additional information; taking corrective action, if necessary. In the context of reviewing complex questions, the incumbent may check records.

Providing leadership to and co-ordinating all important aspects of work of the Financial Management Division (budget formulation, adjustment, implementation and control; post table management; payroll function; cash flow and cash management; payment and accounting operations; financial reporting). Requesting monthly work forecasts and weekly work plans for review and approval/revision. Ensuring adherence to Financial Instructions and Regulations; recommending exceptions to financial rules or exercises delegated authority to approve exceptions to rules; interpreting the Organization’s policy with respect to difficult and complex cases involving financial resources or commitments; providing the rationale for decisions which may serve as precedents; ensuring that records on precedents are maintained.

Guiding senior management through all phases of the budget cycle to achieve efficient programme implementation, by establishing financial requirements; reviewing budget estimates and proposals; advising on and monitoring budgetary implementation; periodically checking and controlling the budgetary status to ensure adherence to budgetary limits. Advising on the correct application of financial rules and procedures, on general financial management issues, on the appropriateness of disbursing funds.

Co-ordinating IT Financial issues with the respective work units in the Mission. Overseeing the introduction of electronic integrated management information systems adapted to all aspects of financial management. Ascertaining that staff of the Division is trained on all applications related to financial management.

For more detailed information on the structure and work of the OSCE Mission in Kosovo, please see: Mission in Kosovo | OSCE

Necessary Qualifications:

International mission members in the OSCE are internationally recruited. For the purposes of OSCE Missions (Field Operations) this means that they are hired to work in a duty station outside of their home country or country of permanent residence. As a result, nationals and permanent residents of the duty station are not eligible for international mission member positions. In the case of individuals with multiple nationalities, candidates are still ineligible for consideration even if using another citizenship for application while simultaneously maintaining the citizenship or permanent residence status of the country where the duty station is located.

Advanced university degree in Business Administration, Finance and/or related fields or first level university degree supplemented by certification from a recognized professional accountancy institution, such as Certified Public Accountant, Chartered Accountant, Certified Management Accountant or similar.

A first-level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the second-level university degree supplemented by certification from a recognized professional accountancy institution.

A minimum of seven years of progressively responsible professional experience at the operational and senior management/policy-making levels are required, part of it should have been acquired in an international organization or a mission environment.

Thorough understanding of financial management principles and practices as well as organizational and general management concepts.

Ability to provide leadership to and to motivate staff, to plan and schedule work carried out by organizational units responsible for diverse financial operations.

Excellent communication skills.

Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with people of different backgrounds. Gender awareness and sensitivity, and ability to intergrade a gender perspective into tasks and activities.

Excellent oral and written communication skills in English, with good drafting skills. Knowledge of another OSCE language would be an asset;

Ability and willingness to work as a member of team, with people of different cultural, and religious backgrounds, different gender, and diverse political views, while maintaining impartiality and objectivity;

Computer literate with practical experience using Microsoft applications.

Remuneration Package:

Monthly remuneration subject to social security deductions is approximately US$ 6, 300.166 to which is added Board and Lodging Allowance (currently EUR 113 per day). Social benefits will include possibility of participation in the Vanbreda medical insurance scheme and the OSCE Provident Fund.

Appointments are normally made at Step 1 of the applicable OSCE salary scale. In exceptional cases, an initial appointment at up to Step 3 may be considered. This depends on factors such as relevant experience exceeding minimum requirements or higher previous remuneration. Any such request by a candidate must be reviewed and approved by the OSCE before the appointment

If you wish to apply for this position, please use the OSCE's online application link found under https://vacancies.osce.org/.

The OSCE retains the discretion to re-advertise/re-post the vacancy, to cancel the recruitment, to offer an appointment at a lower grade or to offer an appointment with a modified job description or for a different duration.

Only those candidates who are selected to participate in the subsequent stages of recruitment will be contacted.

Candidates interviewed and found suitable in the recruitment process for this vacancy notice will be placed on a roster of suitable candidates (valid for three years) for fixed-term posts, should a suitable opportunity arise. The placement on a roster does not guarantee a future appointment or assignment.

Please note that vacancies in the OSCE are open for competition only amongst nationals of participating States, please see https://www.osce.org/participating-states.

The OSCE is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages qualified female and male candidates from all religious, ethnic and social backgrounds to apply to become a part of the Organization.

Candidates should be aware that OSCE officials shall conduct themselves at all times in a manner befitting the status of an international civil servant. This includes avoiding any action which may adversely reflect on the integrity, independence and impartiality of their position and function as officials of the OSCE. The OSCE is committed to applying the highest ethical standards in carrying out its mandate. For more information on the values set out in OSCE Competency Model, please see https://jobs.osce.org/resources/document/our-competency-model.

The OSCE is a non-career organization committed to the principle of staff rotation, therefore the maximum period of service in this post is 7 years.

Please be aware that OSCE appointments are subject to medical clearance.

The mandatory retirement age at the OSCE is 65 years for contracted positions at the general service, professional and director level. The Organization shall apply an age limit of 62 years at the time of appointment as the incumbent selected is normally expected to carry out the contractual obligation of two years.

Please be aware that the OSCE does not request payment at any stage of the application and review process. Additional Information