Finance Specialist

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Description

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• Perform a variety of analytical and reconciliation tasks:
• Review refund, re-programming and write-down Note for the Records (NFRs) for accuracy and completeness and coordinate approvals.
• Manage analysis on overspent grants and accounts receivable. Ensure ageing receivables that will not be collected are promptly written-down.
• Ensure timely follow ups with offices for status of disbursement requests.
• Act as Grants Management (GM) team focal point for liaison with FRU on accounting issues and IPSAS compliance of revenue recognition and receivable transactions.
• Review periodically contingency assets recorded in VISION to ensure accuracy of interpretation.
• Provide technical advice and guidance to country offices and HQ staff based on UNICEF policies and procedures
• Manage and track write-off cases, provide guidance to offices and prepare write-off requests for Comptroller’s approval.
• Manage quarterly US collection, including analysis of amounts to be collected, requests in the US payment system and reconciliations. Work with donor counterparts and GSSC processors to ensure payments are received.
• Support the review of revenue/receivables issues and prepare proposals for correct accounting entries and/or corrections required. Propose solutions for issues related to classification, valuation, codification and recoding of accounting entries.
• Review UN levy received entries and create UN levy payables.
• Take corrective action in the system as required.
• Manage year-end processing required from DFAM side.
• Testing of system updates and improvements.
• Prepare periodic and ad hoc management and information reports, concerning revenue, special accounts, accounts receivables and liaise with UNICEF offices, Divisions and other DFAM units on issues requiring their support and/or clarification.
• Trust accounts reconciliation analysis; Contributions in Kind (CIK) tracking file and cost recovery analysis for expensing; Impairment reports; Year-end schedules;  Provide support with revenue and receivables reporting in quarterly financial packs;  Audit support in addition to Ad hoc reports as required

• Communicate the results of the review and reconciliation activities to supervisor; other HQ divisions and/or country or regional offices.
• Assist in drafting of policies and procedures applicable to the area of financial resources management, guidelines, work processes and training materials.
• Follow up on unresolved issues in a timely manner.
• Other assignments at the request of the supervisor and/or the Chief Grants Management. Back up of alternate Finance Specialist in the unit.

• An advanced (Masters) university* degree in Business Administration, Financial Management or related field, including a valid professional certification in Professional Accounting or Auditing Qualification (such as Chartered Accountant, Certified Public Accountant or equivalent). Preference will be given to holders of Professional Accounting qualifications or equivalent.
• A minimum of five (5) years of progressively responsible professional work experience, at the national and international levels, in the area of finance and accounting is required.
• A Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field may be considered exceptionally in lieu of the advanced degree if the applicant holds a valid professional certification in Professional Accounting or Auditing Qualification (such as Chartered Accountant, Certified Public Accountant or equivalent) plus 3 years of additional work experience in addition to the minimum 5 years stated above.
• Experience working with International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) or International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSAS) is highly desirable.
• Developing country work experience and/or familiarity with emergency is considered an asset.
• Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) is considered an asset.

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