Chief of Unit

Org. Setting and ReportingThe position is located in the Grants Management and Field Support Unit (GMFSU), 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 reports to the Chief of the Accounts Section. For more information on UNOV and UNODC, please visit our websites: www.unov.org and www.unodc.org. ResponsibilitiesWithin delegated authority, the Chief of Unit will be responsible for the following duties: • Plan and manage activities undertaken by the Unit; ensure that substantive work programmes and programmed activities are carried out in a timely fashion, coordinating diverse projects in the Unit, and, in liaison with other organizations of the United Nations System, donors and agencies as appropriate. • Manage, supervise and carry out the work programme of the Unit under his/her responsibility. Co-ordinate the work carried out by the Unit; provide programmatic and substantive reviews of drafts prepared by others. • Manage a complete financial operation, encompassing a wide variety of funding sources, a large volume of transactions, and extensive dispersed activities, such as grant management, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Service Clearing Account, treasury, payroll, government and vendor claims, travel, billing, and bank reconciliation, etc. Supervise and direct the activities of a functional unit of Accounts Section. • Responsible for approval/Confirmation of proposed obligations or expenditure for services, facilities supplies and equipment expenses, as well as those pertaining to personnel, in accordance with the Financial Regulations and Rules of the UN, relevant appropriations and staffing tables and corresponding approved allotments. • Take the lead in developing accounting policies. • Analyse accounts, review/prepare regular financial reports. Propose/implement solutions with respect to problem transactions and irregularities. • Ensure that accurate and complete accounting, reporting and internal control systems are functioning and that all relevant records are maintained. • Prepare or consolidate financial statements and other types of financial reports/statements of all entities for which UNOV has received delegated authority. Respond to internal/external audit observations. • Collect and analyze data to identify trends or patterns and provide insights through graphs, charts, tables and reports using data visualization methods to enable data-driven planning, decision-making, presentation and reporting. • Provide substantive support to the development and implementation of new accounting systems. Take initiative to improve accounting processes and approaches. • Guide/Support/Train Clients/Field Offices on finance related processes and specific finance-related cases and provide financial expertise. • Supervise activities relating to overseeing the recording, reporting, and compliance of EU funding arrangements. • Monitor and report on risk management related activities within the Division and the area of work. • Participate in meetings and provide financial expertise. • Lead the coordination/monitoring/reporting activities on internal and external audits/verifications. • Recruit staff for Unit taking due account geographical and gender balance and other institutional values. • Manage, guide, train and supervise general service and professional staff in the function. • Foster teamwork and communication among staff in the Unit and across organizational boundaries. • Perform other work-related duties as required. Competencies• Professionalism: Has excellent knowledge of modern Enterprise Resources Planning (ERP) accounting systems such as UMOJA (SAP) and of MS Excel. Has excellent knowledge of accounting principles, procedures and standards. Has ability to apply conceptual, analytical and evaluative skills in accounting operations. Has ability to conduct independent research and analysis, identify issues, formulate options and make conclusions and recommendations. Has ability to analyze and interpret data in support of decision-making and convey resulting information to management. 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. • Client Orientation: Considers all those to whom services are provided to be “clients” and seeks to see things from clients’ point of view; establishes and maintains productive partnerships with clients by gaining their trust and respect; identifies clients’ needs and matches them to appropriate solutions; monitors ongoing developments inside and outside the clients’ environment to keep informed and anticipate problems; keeps clients informed of progress or setbacks in projects; meets timeline for delivery of products or services to client. • Technological Awareness: Keeps abreast of available technology; understands applicability and limitation of technology to the work of the office; actively seeks to apply technology to appropriate tasks; shows willingness to learn new technology. Managerial competencies • Managing Performance: Delegates the appropriate responsibility, accountability and decision-making authority; makes sure that roles, responsibilities and reporting lines are clear to each staff member; accurately judges the amount of time and resources needed to accomplish a task and matches task to skills; monitors progress against milestones and deadlines; regularly discusses performance and provides feedback and coaching to staff; encourages risk-taking and supports creativity and initiative; actively supports the development and career aspirations of staff; appraises performance fairly. EducationAn advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent degree) 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 experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree. Certification as a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) / Chartered Accountant (CA), or equivalent is required. Job - Specific QualificationCertification as a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) / Chartered Accountant (CA), or equivalent is required. Work ExperienceA minimum of seven years of progressively responsible experience in accounting, finance, or budget, which includes five years in accounting at the headquarters of an entity with global operations, is required. Experience in IPSAS accounting for voluntary contributions and donor reporting is desirable. Experience in preparing Financial Statements according to International Accounting Standards (IPSAS or IFRS or equivalent) is required. Of the minimum years of experience, at least three years of supervisory experience in accounting, finance, or budget is required. Work experience in providing support and training to various field offices globally is desirable. Work experience in auditing or internal control is desirable. Work experience with relevant modules of an SAP system is desirable. Experience in data analytics or related area is desirable. Experience of working within the United Nations Common System is desirable. LanguagesEnglish and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this position, fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another United Nations official language is an advantage. AssessmentEvaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise and a competency-based interview. Special NoticeThis position is funded from extra budgetary resources. The initial appointment will be for a period of one year and any extension of the appointment will be subject to the availability of funding. At the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the recruitment and employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence and integrity, with due regard to geographic diversity. All employment decisions are made based on qualifications and organizational needs. The United Nations is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment of mutual respect. The United Nations recruits and employs staff regardless of gender identity, sexual orientation, race, religious, cultural and ethnic backgrounds or disabilities. Reasonable accommodation for applicants with disabilities may be provided to support participation in the recruitment process when requested and indicated in the application. The United Nations Secretariat is committed to achieving 50/50 gender balance and geographical diversity in its staff. Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply for this position. Vienna is classified as an H and a family duty station. United Nations ConsiderationsAccording 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. Candidates will not be considered for employment with the United Nations if they have committed violations of international human rights law, violations of international humanitarian law, sexual exploitation, sexual abuse, or sexual harassment, or if there are reasonable grounds to believe that they have been involved in the commission of any of these acts. The term “sexual exploitation” means any actual or attempted abuse of a position of vulnerability, differential power, or trust, for sexual purposes, including, but not limited to, profiting monetarily, socially or politically from the sexual exploitation of another. The term “sexual abuse” means the actual or threatened physical intrusion of a sexual nature, whether by force or under unequal or coercive conditions. The term “sexual harassment” means any unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature that might reasonably be expected or be perceived to cause offence or humiliation, when such conduct interferes with work, is made a condition of employment or creates an intimidating, hostile or offensive work environment, and when the gravity of the conduct warrants the termination of the perpetrator’s working relationship. Candidates who have committed crimes other than minor traffic offences may not be considered for employment. 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. Reasonable accommodation may be provided to applicants with disabilities upon request, to support their participation in the recruitment process. By accepting a letter of appointment, staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General, who may assign them to any of the activities or offices of the United Nations in accordance with staff regulation 1.2 (c). Further, staff members in the Professional and higher category up to and including the D-2 level and the Field Service category are normally required to move periodically to discharge functions in different duty stations under conditions established in ST/AI/2023/3 on Mobility, as may be amended or revised. This condition of service applies to all position specific job openings and does not apply to temporary positions. Applicants are urged to carefully follow all instructions available in the online recruitment platform, inspira, and to refer to the Applicant Guide by clicking on “Manuals” in the “Help” tile of the inspira account-holder homepage. The 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 according to the instructions provided in inspira to be considered for the current job opening. 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 reference checks to verify the information provided in the application. Job openings advertised on the Careers Portal will be removed at 11:59 p.m. (New York time) on the deadline date. No FeeTHE 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.