Chief, Accounts, Finance Branch, Division for Management Services

The Chief, Accounts position oversees the Data Management Unit, Statutory Reporting Unit, and Revenue and Donor Reporting Unit within the Finance Branch. The role ensures efficient financial operations, policy alignment with UNFPA's mission, and compliance with International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSAS).

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic and timely advice to the Chief, Finance Branch on high priority technical areas and staff engagement, and deputize as needed.
• Actively participate as part of the Branch Senior Management Team and as part of the broader DMS Management Team.
• Contribute to the strategic direction of the Finance Branch and facilitate and report on an inclusive branch annual workplan in line with the UNFPA Strategic Plan.
• Oversee and manage the DMU, SRU and RDRU teams, including performance management, career progression and professional growth of team members.
• Maintain active and positive relationships with key partners for the Finance branch, including ITSO, DER, SCMU, and the wider UNFPA operations community.
• Provide quality guidance to field offices and HQ Units; and oversee the Branch responsiveness through the global service desk.
• Contribute to communication, training and knowledge transfer within the branch and more broadly within UNFPA on accounting topics, including IT systems under the purview of the Finance Branch.
• Oversee branch business efficiency and effectiveness innovations with an emphasis on management by exception and technology solutions.
• Ensure the ERP and related systems are adapted for new IPSAS standards adopted by UNFPA.
• Maintain the policies of the Finance Branch, and update as required, including for accounting policies.
• Represent the Finance Branch in working fora, including the UN Task Force on Accounting Standards.
• Ensure the regular analysis and adjustment of general ledger accounts within materiality.
• Implement second line controls in accounting within the UNFPA risk and control framework.
• Monitor the periodic, synchronized financial closure of all ERP modules.
• Lead the organization wide periodic financial closure processes.
• Oversee and quality assure the UNFPA Financial Statement preparation process in accordance with IPSAS and data in the organisation’s ERP, ensure statutory deadlines are met.
• Produce required Executive Board report/s under the purview of the Finance Branch.
• Manage and certify external financial reporting such as for the UN Chief Executive Board, OECD, and annual certified donor reporting in line with donor agreements.
• Manage branch engagement with the external auditors, including timely response and resolution to audit queries and recommendations.
• Oversee the relationship with the UN Agency providing treasury services to UNFPA in accordance with the Service Level Agreement, including cash flow, foreign currency and investment management.
• Oversee the banking operations of UNFPA, including resolution of cash flow and banking issues in humanitarian and complex operating contexts.
• Lead the ongoing exploration and innovation of technologies in the banking sector and with other UN Agencies for digital payments and other disbursement solutions.
• Oversee the timely application and management of contributions receivables, cash deposits, cash flow and treasury investments.
• Oversee the timely set up and maintenance of financial master data, and ERP system administration.
• Oversee the provision of quality assured data and global data sets as required.
• Perform other duties as required by the Chief, Finance Branch and / or UNFPA Leadership.

Requirements

• Advanced university degree in Finance, Accounting, or a related field is required.
• A fully qualified professional accounting qualification from a recognised international institute is required, and will be accepted in lieu of an advanced university degree (e.g. ACA, ACCA).
• At least 10 years of progressively responsible experience in financial accounting and statutory reporting positions at multinational organizations, with a minimum of 5 years in a supervisory role.
• Progressively responsible experience of supervision of staff and positive engagement and relationship management with field based colleagues and headquarters focal points.
• Demonstrated experience developing and implementing practical and risk based financial policies and procedures (with a strong emphasis on IPSAS based accounting policies), and managing a positive change environment including communication and training.
• Demonstrated experience in interpreting accounting standards and developing compliant and practical accounting policies.
• Demonstrated experience in financial accounting and statutory reporting in accordance with International Public Sector Accounting Standards or International Financial Reporting Standards for a global, complex organisation.
• Experience in maintaining and managing ERP system applications, preferably Oracle, including the development and use of data reporting and analytics tools.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Able to solicit and listen to client feedback, design business processes to balance control needs and efficiency and to translate business requirements into logical systems specifications.
• In-depth understanding of financial management and operations processes in the United Nations, including complex development and humanitarian locations, is desirable.
• Fluency in English is required; knowledge of other official UN languages, especially French, is highly desirable.

Skills

• Financial Accounting
• Statutory Reporting
• Supervision Experience
• Staff Supervision
• Relationship Management
• Financial Policies Development
• Risk Based Financial Policies
• IPSAS Accounting Policies
• Accounting Standards Interpretation
• International Public Sector Accounting Standards
• International Financial Reporting Standards
• ERP Systems Administration
• Oracle ERP
• Data Reporting
• Data Analytics
• Business Process Design
• Finance Management
• Financial Operations
• Client Feedback Analysis

Languages

English