FINANCE OFFICER

Org. Setting and ReportingOn 29 May 1948, the United Nations Security Council, in its resolution 50 (1948) called for a cessation of hostilities in Palestine and established the first peacekeeping mission headed by a UN Mediator with the assistance of a group of military observers to be known as the United Nations Truce Supervision Organization (UNTSO). UNTSO is mandated to observe and maintain the unconditional ceasefires and assist the parties to the 1949 Armistice Agreements in the supervision of the application and observance of the terms of those Agreements. UNTSO's mandate covers five countries, including Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, and the Syrian Arab Republic. This position is located in the Finance and Budget Unit at UNTSO Headquarters, Jerusalem. The Finance Officer at this level reports to the Chief Finance and Budget Officer. ResponsibilitiesUnder the overall direction of the Chief Finance and Budget Officer, and within limits of delegated authority, the Finance Officer will perform the following functions: • Provides substantive support and leads in the review and production of COSO reviews. This includes analysis and review of UNHQ risks and controls set out as part of the Statement on Internal Control initiative, as it relates to UNTSO • Oversees internal reporting requirements and works in close coordination with account holders to produce new reports and enrich existing reports to improve informational quality for various stratospheres of management. • Managing the achievement of UNTSO key performance indicators (KPIs) and all Service Level Agreement (SLAs) components for UNTSO projects/programmes/operations. • Ensure that the outputs produced by the team maintain high quality standards; that reports are clear, objective, and based on comprehensive data. Plan, organize, manage, guide, train, supervise the work of the team assigned. Plan and oversee the management of the activities undertaken by the team. • Management of delivery of services such as the processing of non-travel related commercial vendors’ invoices and payments to vendors providing goods or services (processing invoices resulting from commitments such as Purchase Orders, Fund Commitments, Direct Expenditures, and Replenishment of imprest / pretty cash. • Assists in development of annual budget development programme, particularly with respect to the establishment of major resourcing priorities, prepare cost estimates and budget proposals, in terms of UNTSO’s resourcing requirements such non-staff requirements, including programmatic aspects; review, analyze and revise data with respect to the finalization of the budget proposals as well as Result Based Budgeting inputs. • Participates in the preparation, review and finalization of budget performance reports in compliance with the Legislative requirements and recommendations and Controller’s instructions; reviews and ensure valid variances between approved budgets and actual expenditures. • Participates in developing inputs to the UN’s legislative processes for consideration of the Centre’s financing requirements by PPFB, Controller’s Office, the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions (ACABQ) and the Fifth Committee of the General Assembly. • Oversees the preparation of staff members’ entitlements including claims, danger pay, daily subsistence allowance, mission subsistence allowance for Government Provider Personnel, Civilian Police and Staff Officers, and any other allowances for payments in conformity and adherence to applicable United Nations policies e.g., staff rules, financial regulations and rules, ST/AI issuances or practices, IPSAS policy framework etc. • Supervises the disbursement processes as appropriate, monitors the house bank account balances transaction summaries; manages cash flow requirements. • Provides advice, financial interpretations, adaptations, and corrective actions in response to audits and other queries to ensure adherence to the UN Financial Regulations and Rules, Staff Rules, Administrative Instructions, Bulletins and Circulars under the guidance of the Service Delivery Manager. • Ensures the integrity of financial and management systems and the controls that underpin them. • Acts as Approving Officer under Financial Rule 105.4 in adherence with the UN Regulations and Rules. • Ensures that the established IPSAS compliance monitoring and Internal Control Framework (ICF) is fully implemented, and any deviations documented and reported. • Reviews and verifies completeness of documentation supporting invoices and payment requests. • Performs other duties as may be assigned. CompetenciesProfessionalism: Knowledge of Security policies, procedures and practices. Demonstrates sound judgment in applying Security policies, procedures and practices and in applying technical expertise to resolve a range of security related issues/problems; Must be apt at supervising a multi-cultural team of FSAs; 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. Commitment to implementing the goal of gender equality by ensuring the equal participation and full involvement of women and men in all aspects of work. Teamwork: Works collaboratively with colleagues to achieve organizational goals. Solicits input by genuinely valuing others' ideas and expertise; is willing to learn from others. Places team agenda before personal agenda. Supports and acts in accordance with final group decision, even when such decisions may not entirely reflect own position. Shares credit for team accomplishments and accepts joint responsibility for team shortcomings. Planning& 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 contingencies when planning; monitors and adjusts plans and actions as necessary; uses time efficiently. EducationAn advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent) in business administration, public administration, finance, or in a related area is required. A first-level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience in accounting, budget, finance may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree. Job - Specific QualificationProfessional certification/accreditation as a Certified Public Accountant (CPA), Chartered Accountant (ACCA/CIMA/CIPFA) or by a similar professional body is desirable. Work ExperienceAt least five (5) years of progressively responsible experience in finance, administration, budget, business administration, public administration or related area is required. For the first level degree holders, seven (7) years of qualifying experience. Experience working with ERP systems such as SAP is required. Experience in use and application of IPSAS in a working environment is required. Experience in advanced Microsoft Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Power BI and data analytics is required. LanguagesEnglish and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. Fluency in spoken and written English is required. Knowledge of Arabic and Hebrew is required. AssessmentPreviously rostered candidates are not subject to any further assessment and as such, will not be invited for such an assessment. Special NoticeThis \"Recruit from Roster\" job opening is only open to roster applicants who are already placed on pre-approved rosters, following a review by a United Nations Central Review Body. Only roster applicants who were placed on rosters with similar functions at the same level are considered to be eligible candidates. Eligible applicants receive an email inviting them to apply. Rostered applicants are encouraged to apply only if they are interested and available to take up the position at the duty station/s specified in the Job Opening. Applying to this job opening carries an expectation to accept the offer, if selected. At the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the recruitment and employment of 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 on the basis of 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. 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. This position is subject to local recruitment pursuant to staff rule 4.4 of the United Nations Staff Rules. Applicants for positions in the General Service and related categories must be authorized to work for the United Nations in the duty station where the position is located. Eligible applicants selected from outside the duty station are responsible for any expenses in connection with their relocation to the duty station. Staff members subject to local recruitment are not eligible for allowances or benefits exclusively applicable to international recruitment. 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.