Accounting Specialist Team Lead

The Accounting Specialist will lead the CFRS team and report to the Finance Senior Manager of IPAS Finance.

The Accounting Specialist, with the CFRS team, is responsible  for corporate financial reporting support and project accounting, more specifically supporting UNOPS monthly/quarterly/year-end closing activities, providing technical accounting advice, leading the cash and GL accounts reconciliation, and supporting the preparation of UNOPS corporate financial reports. The role also includes contributing to the external audit processes including implementation of recommendations. 

Functional Responsibilities:

Core technical functions:

Corporate Financial Reporting Support:

• Lead  all aspects of the monthly, quarterly and year-end closures for GL accounts that fall under IPAS Finance CFRS;
• Ensure the accuracy, integrity, quality and timeliness of financial reporting  and transactions;
• Contribute to  IPSAS compliance initiatives including policies, regulations, rules, and procedures;
• Initiate or support initiatives for system or tool improvements ;
• Lead the implementation of audit recommendations that are related to IPAS Finance and coordinate the collection of audit samples and requirements during internal/external audit exercises.
• Address and promptly resolve any issues arising from processing anomalies.
• Review and approve quarterly and year-end submissions from the Country offices for accuracy and compliance with UNOPS accounting standards and principles;
• Collaborate with the Finance Group and Country Offices to ensure risks associated with the books closure and the preparation of the annual report are identified and managed accordingly.

Project Accounting:

• Provide project accounting advisory services to Offices and Units during implementation and closure phase;
• Ensure that identified follow-up or corrective actions deriving from quarterly submissions and quarterly account reconciliations are processed by the Offices and Units;
• Review and confirm appropriateness of operational transactions processed by Offices as per applicable policies, regulations, rules and interpretive guidelines, for GL accounts under IPAS CFRS responsibility;
• Approve Requests for Payments on accounts under IPAS CFRS responsibility (Refund of unspent balances to Donors/UN Agencies, Payroll contributions, Rent deposits,…)
• Oversee staff separations final payment: review calculation in line with staff entitlements (annual leave, home leave, repatriation grant, tax reimbursement) and outstanding financial items.

Team Leadership:

• Establish team priorities, and supervise the implementation of work plans.
• Promote teamwork and collaboration by providing the team with clear direction, objectives and guidance to enable them to perform their duties responsibly, effectively and efficiently.
• Plan, recruit and develop a flexible workforce with the skills and competencies needed to ensure optimum performance, and ensure gender and geographical diversity.
• Foster a positive work environment, respectful of diversity, and ensure that the highest standards of conduct are observed.

Business Efficiency:

• Ensure a systematic approach to collect and address issues, feedback and suggestions from operations in regards to improvements of policies, processes and systems related to finance.
• Work closely with Finance Group and other HQ units to address business critical issues and find solutions that are fit for purpose.
• Contribute specialist and practical knowledge to policy development to be responsive to UNOPS strategy, improve efficiencies and strengthen internal controls.
• Ensure effective data analytics of IPAS Finance to identify risks, opportunities and trends;
• Contribute to cross-functional initiatives to ensure that internal policies, processes, systems and tools are aligned with the overall regulatory framework, ensuring that they are practical, relevant and add value to organizational operations.

Knowledge Management and Capacity Building:

• Ensure knowledge and information on financial matters is maintained and shared actively within the team as well as packaged in appropriate formats that can be easily communicated with the country offices.
• Keep abreast of external developments and best practices and provide recommendations to relevant stakeholders
• Provide regular feedback to internal clients on challenges, gaps and possible areas of improvement.
• Develop a strategy to ensure knowledge transfer and capacity building related to project finance, working closely with other IPAS teams to provide integrated training where relevant.

Education Experience Language requirements:

Education: 

• Master’s Degree in Finance, Accounting or related fields is required.
• A first-level university degree (Bachelor’s Degree) in combination with 2 additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
• An internationally recognized professional finance or accounting certification (e.g. ACCA, CIMA, CPA, etc.) is a strong advantage.

Work Experience: 

• At least 5 years of experience in financial management or accounting positions at multinational organizations, with a minimum of 1 year in supervisory roles is required;
• Demonstrated experience in financial accounting and reporting in accordance with International Public Sector Accounting Standards or International Financial Reporting Standards is required;
• Demonstrated experience in finance processes mapping is essential.
• In depth understanding of financial management and operations processes in the United Nations is highly desirable;
• Field experience is highly desirable;
• Experience in implementing new or improving existing digital systems, including developing requirements, is desirable.

Languages: 

• Fluency in English required.
• Fluency in French or Spanish is a significant advantage.
• Working knowledge of other official UN languages is desirable

Source: https://jobs.unops.org/Pages/ViewVacancy/VADetails.aspx?id=28468#4