Accounting Specialist, Team Lead

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.

• 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