Org. Setting and Reporting

The Department of Operational Support (DOS) was established to provide end-to-end operational support, advisory services and other solutions to operating entities across the Secretariat, including departments, offices away from headquarters, peace operations, and regional commissions.

The Regional Service Centre in Entebbe, Uganda (RSCE), was established in July 2010, following the adoption of General Assembly resolution 64/269. The Centre provides efficient, client-oriented and scalable services with the goal of moving transactional, non-location dependent administrative functions to the Centre from its client entities. This includes transactional elements of human resources, finance, multimodal movement and control, personnel and cargo transport and information and communications technology (ICT) support. In addition to these services, the Office of the Director RSCE and the Deputy provides overall guidance on the operations of the RSCE including strategic planning, communication, budgeting, human resources management, property management, quality assurance and business intelligence, conference services, record keeping and archive management, and audit response and risk management.

For more information, please visit https://rsce.unmissions.org.

This position is located in the Financial Services and Compliance Monitoring Pillar, Accounts Unit at the RSCE. The Finance Officer reports to Chief of Accounts Unit who is also the Service Line Manager.

Responsibilities

Within the delegated authority, the Finance Officer will carry out the following duties:

• Manages the achievement of RSCE Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and all Service Level Agreement (SLAs) components for RSCE projects/programmes/operations related to the Accounts Unit.
• Ensures that the outputs produced by the team maintain high quality standards; that reports are clear, objective, and based on comprehensive data.
• Plans, organizes, manages, guides, trains, supervises work of the team assigned; plans and oversees management of the activities undertaken by the team.
• Supports the preparation of monthly financial reports for all RSCE client missions in compliance with IPSAS standards.
• Manages delivery of services such as the processing of non-travel related commercial vendors’ invoices and payments to vendors providing goods or services to all RSCE Client Missions (processing invoices resulting from commitments such as purchase orders, fund commitments, direct expenditures, medical clinic invoices and replenishment of imprest/pretty cash.
• Performs the Treasury role for all payments originating from RSCE Client Mission, and all payments assigned to the RSCE house banks; liaises daily with the UN Treasury at HQ for the oversight on payments of vendors and personnel released by the RSCE.
• Assists in development of the Service Line’s annual budget development programme, particularly with respect to the establishment of major resourcing priorities, prepare cost estimates and budget proposals, in terms of the Service Line’s resourcing requirements such as 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 legislative requirements, recommendations and controller’s instructions; reviews and ensures 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 FOFD, 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, volunteer living allowance 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 of the RSCE or the Client Missions as appropriate, monitors the house bank account balances band 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 information circulars under the guidance of the Service Line Manger and Service Delivery Manager.
• Ensures the integrity of financial and management systems and the controls that underpin them; reports findings and makes recommendations to Chief Financial Services.
• 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.

Competencies

Professionalism: Knowledge of financial and budgetary management principles and practices. Ability to independently conduct research and analysis, formulate options and present 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.

Planning and 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 for contingencies when planning. Monitors and adjusts plans and actions as necessary. Uses time efficiently.

Accountability: Takes ownership of all responsibilities and honors 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, or related field. A first level university degree in combination with an additional 2 years qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree. Professional certification/accreditation as a Certified Public Accountant (CPA), Chartered Accountant (ACCA/CIMA/CIPFA) or by a similar professional body is desirable.

Work Experience

A minimum of five years of progressively responsible experience in finance, administration, budget, business administration or related area is required.

At least 2 years of hands-on experience with IPSAS/IFRS or similar international accounting standards is required.

Experience in analyzing financial data and preparing management reports is required.

Experience working in a United Nations common system field operation (inclusive of peacekeeping, political missions and UN agencies, funds and programmes) or similar international organization or non-governmental organization in a conflict or post-conflict setting is desirable.

Hands-on experience in using Business Intelligence Reporting tools is desirable.

Experience working in a shared service Centre or similar setup is desirable.

Languages

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the position(s) advertised, fluency in English is required.

Assessment

Evaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise which may be followed by competency-based interview.

Special Notice

• This position is temporarily available until 31 December 2023, with possibility of extension as per operational needs.

• The United Nations Secretariat is committed to achieving 50/50 gender balance in its staff. Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply for this position.

• 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.

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.

Reasonable accommodation may be provided to applicants with disabilities upon request, to support their participation in the recruitment process.

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.