Org. Setting and Reporting

This position is located in the Accounts Payable (AP) Unit in the Payments Section of the Financial Services within the Pension Administration of the United Nations Joint Staff Pension Fund (UNJSPF).

The incumbent reports to the Chief of the Payments Section. The Payments Section manages monthly payroll for UNJSPF periodic benefits, updates cost-of-living adjustments, and administers returned payments and Accounts Payable.

Responsibilities

Within delegated authority, the Accountant will be responsible for the following duties:
Multi-currency AP (accounts payable) reconciliation and year-end closing
• Performs regular multi-currency AP reconciliations to confirm all pension transactions have been correctly interfaced to the accounting system. Resolves discrepancies during reconciliation and prepares journal entries.
• Assists, prepares or consolidates financial statements for inclusion in the UNJSPF Statements to be audited. Responds to internal/external audit observations.
• Analyses and reviews AP accruals for year-end and prepares journal entries.
• Participates in the development of accounting policies.
• Ensures that accurate and complete accounting, reporting and internal control systems are functioning and that all relevant records are maintained.

AP review and forfeiture
• Monitors regularly open payables originating from payroll and one-time benefits throughout the year and takes follow up procedures. Approves/Confirms that AP is maintained in accordance with the Regulations and Rules of the UNJSPF.
• Coordinates and supervises the processing of AP forfeiture, ensuring that a relevant COLA (cost-of-living adjustment) record is generated.
• Develops communication tool to remind the beneficiary of open payables.
• Develops general guidelines to establish a systematic way of structuring open payables and constructing a standard work practice.
• Coordinate with other Unit/Sections to establish the best practice for any overlapping areas.

Development of alternative payment channel
• Coordinates with the project team to explore alternative channels for routing payments
• Leads functional testing to introduce new banking templates in the IPAS (Integrated Pension Administration System).
• Arranges communication to advise on changes to payment routing and the introduction of new payment templates.
• Keeps the banking reference page up-to-date.

System fix and enhancement
• Defines requirements and works with systems units with respect to produce relevant AP reports in IPAS and BI Dashboard.
• Leads functional testing to improve/fix AP functionalities
• Keeps abreast of and provides guidance on AP-related IPAS procedures.

Supervision of AP transactions including batch and report
• Reviews/evaluates AP reports and AP batch. Identifies problem transactions and irregularities in related accounts, resolving them in a timely and effective manner.
• Provides authoritative interpretation of requirements for handling AP transactions.
• Provides advice and guidance concerning the Fund’s Regulations and Rules.

Approval function and other
• Approves/Confirms the transactions for payroll and miscellaneous payments (e.g., change of PI, deduction, suspension, reinstatement, deletion, reissuance, statement of benefit, emergency fund payment, correspondence and etc.) in accordance with the Regulations and Rules of the UNJSPF.
• Performs other related duties as required.

Competencies

• PROFESSIONALISM: Knowledge of accounting principles, procedures and standards. Ability to apply conceptual, analytical and evaluative skills in accounting operations. Ability to conduct independent research and analysis, identify issues, formulate options and make conclusions and 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. The ability to analyse and interpret data in support of decision-making and convey resulting information to management.

• 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.

• 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. A first-level university degree in combination with 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 desirable.

Work Experience

A minimum of five years of progressively responsible professional experience in accounting, finance, budget, or administration is required.

At least three years of experience in multi-currency payroll processing is required.

Experience in multi-currency account payable reconciliation between two systems is desirable.

Experience in pension-related fields is desirable.

Experience in the implementation of new payment instruction templates is desirable.

Two years or more of experience in data analytics or related area is desirable

Languages

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this position fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official language of the United Nations is desirable.

Assessment

Evaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise followed by a competency based interview.

Special Notice

The United Nations Joint Staff Pension Fund (UNJSPF) is an inter-agency body established by the United Nations General Assembly in 1949. The Pension Fund pays benefits in 17 currencies to about 80,000 beneficiaries who reside in more than 190 countries, and services more than 130,000 participants who work in the 25 Member Organizations of the Pension Fund.

Any candidate from a member organization of UNJSPF applying for these posts is considered as an internal candidate provided he/she has been appointed through the appointment and promotion procedures applicable in his/her respective organization. Staff members in the General Service category at the G-6 and G-7 levels shall be eligible to apply to the position in this job opening, provided they meet the requirements of the position as set forth in this job opening. Eligibility of General Service staff extends to all entities of the United Nations common system. If selected, a General Service staff member would be required to resign from their appointment in the General Service category and be reappointed on a fixed-term appointment limited to service with UNJSPF. The period of ineligibility for re-employment following resignation shall not apply to such staff resigning from the General Service or related category to take up the functions of these positions in the Fund secretariat. The selected candidate is expected to start as soon as possible.

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.

The appointment or assignment and renewal thereof are subject to the availability of the post or funds, budgetary approval, or extension of the mandate.

Pursuant to section 7.11 of ST/AI/2012/2/Rev.1, candidates recruited through the Young Professionals Programme (YPP) who have not served for a minimum of two years in the position of their initial assignment are not eligible to apply to this position.

The United Nations Joint Staff Pension Fund is committed to achieving 50/50 gender balance and geographical diversity in its staff. Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply for this position.

United Nations Considerations

According 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.

The paramount consideration in the appointment, transfer, or promotion of staff shall be the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity. By accepting an offer of appointment, United Nations staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General and assignment by him or her to any activities or offices of the United Nations in accordance with staff regulation 1.2 (c). In this context, all internationally recruited staff members shall be required to move periodically to discharge new functions within or across duty stations under conditions established by the Secretary-General.

Applicants are urged to follow carefully all instructions available in the online recruitment platform, inspira. For more detailed guidance, applicants may refer to the Manual for the Applicant, which can be accessed by clicking on “Manuals” hyper-link on the upper right side 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 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.