Associate Finance Officer (P2)

Background:

The OSCE has a comprehensive approach to security that encompasses politico-military, economic and environmental, and human aspects. It therefore addresses a wide range of security-related concerns, including arms control, confidence- and security-building measures, human rights, combating human trafficking, national minorities, democratization, policing strategies, counter-terrorism and economic and environmental activities. All 57 participating States enjoy equal status, and decisions are taken by consensus on a politically, but not legally binding basis.

The Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) is the principal institution of the OSCE responsible for the human dimension. ODIHR is active throughout the OSCE area in the fields of election observation, democratic development, human rights, tolerance and non-discrimination, and the rule of law. ODIHR’s assistance projects and other activities are implemented in participating States in accordance with ODIHR’s mandate. 

Tasks and Responsibilities:

Under the supervision of the Chief of Finance / Deputy Head, Common Services, the incumbent performs the following duties:

1. Monitoring and controlling the implementation of the ODIHR unified and extra-budgetary (ExB) budgets;
2. Managing the Finance and Budget Assistants to ensure ODIHR Departments receive day-to-day budgetary support and financial service;
3. Interpreting OSCE/ODIHR regulatory documents and advising ODIHR programme staff members on matters related to financial management and compliance; identifying problems in applications of OSCE Common Regulatory Management System (CRMS) and ODIHR policy documents, propose corrective actions, draft internal instructions, if needed;
4. Answering queries from the OSCE Office of Internal Oversight and External Auditors; assisting in implementation of audit recommendations;
5. Co-ordinating within the ODIHR and the OSCE Secretariat on all matters related to extra-budgetary programmes and contributions; reviewing new ExB programmes and ensuring that costing and budgetary standards are met and that cost estimates are in line with planned activities;
6. Preparing in-house regular and ad-hoc financial reports on budgetary/financial performance of ExB programmes and pledges, explaining variances, suggesting and approving reallocations; answer ODIHR donors’ queries related to financial matters;
7. Performing administrative and financial oversight over Implementing Partner Agreements with partner organizations;
8. Assisting in identifying, describing and estimating the impact of risks affecting ODIHR;
9. Conducting training on financial matters to newcomers;
10. Carrying out other related duties as required.

For more detailed information on the structure and work of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights, please see https://www.osce.org/odihr.

Necessary Qualifications:

• First-level university degree in finance and accounting, business administration or economics, supplemented by additional courses in finance/accounting;
• Certification from a recognized professional accountancy institution, such as Certified Public Accountants or Chartered Accountants, is desirable;
• Minimum 4 years (full-time equivalent) of relevant professional experience in budget, accounting or finance, including two years in an international organization and some experience in an inter-governmental, governmental or commercial organization;
• Computer literate with practical experience in Microsoft Office applications, enterprise resource planning systems, finance and budgetary systems and database software;
• Excellent written and oral communication skills in English; knowledge of another official OSCE language would be an asset;
• Ability to work with people of different nationalities, religions and cultural backgrounds;
• Demonstrated gender awareness and sensitivity, and an ability to integrate a gender perspective into tasks and activities.

Remuneration Package:

Monthly remuneration is approximately EUR 5,600 depending on post adjustment and family status. OSCE salaries are exempt from taxation in Poland. Social security will include participation in the Cigna International medical insurance scheme and OSCE Provident Fund maintained by the OSCE. The Organization contributes an amount equivalent to 15% of the employee’s salary to this Fund and the employee contributes 7.5%. Other allowances and benefits are similar to those offered under the United Nations Common System.

Appointments are normally made at step 1 of the applicable OSCE salary scale.

If you wish to apply for this position, please use the OSCE’s online application link found under https://vacancies.osce.org/. 

The OSCE retains the discretion to re-advertise/re-post the vacancy, to cancel the recruitment, to offer an appointment at a lower grade or to offer an appointment with a modified job description or for a different duration. 

Only those candidates who are selected to participate in the subsequent stages of recruitment will be contacted.

Please note that vacancies in the OSCE are open for competition only amongst nationals of participating States, please see https://www.osce.org/participating-states.

The OSCE is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages qualified female and male candidates from all religious, ethnic and social backgrounds to apply to become a part of the Organization.

Candidates should be aware that OSCE officials shall conduct themselves at all times in a manner befitting the status of an international civil servant. This includes avoiding any action which may adversely reflect on the integrity, independence and impartiality of their position and function as officials of the OSCE. The OSCE is committed to applying the highest ethical standards in carrying out its mandate. For more information on the values set out in OSCE Competency Model, please see https://jobs.osce.org/resources/document/our-competency-model.

The OSCE is a non-career organization committed to the principle of staff rotation, therefore the maximum period of service in this post is 7 years.

The mandatory retirement age at the OSCE is 65 years for contracted positions at the general service, professional and director level. The Organization shall apply an age limit of 63 years at the time of appointment as the incumbent selected is normally expected to carry out the contractual obligation of two years. 

Please be aware that the OSCE does not request payment at any stage of the application and review process.