Org. Setting and Reporting

The position is located in the Financial Reporting and Oversight Unit (FRO), Accounts Section (AS), Financial Resources Management Service (FRMS), Division for Management (DM) of the United Nations Office at Vienna and United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNOV/UNODC). The incumbent reports to the Finance Officer on internal control and oversight and works closely with the Chief of Financial Resources Management Service. For more information on UNOV and UNODC, please visit our websites: www.unov.org and www.unodc.org.

Responsibilities

Within delegated authority, the Associate Accountant will be responsible for the following duties depending on the specific position assigned: • Review, approve, reconcile and process a range of accounting transactions, on a regular and recurring basis. • Approve/Confirm that proposed obligations or expenditure are in accordance with the Financial Regulations and Rules of the UN, relevant appropriations and staffing tables and corresponding approved allotments. • Prepare and reconcile relevant accounts with a view to identifying anomalies and unusual trends/transaction. Initiate corrective actions. • Assist in the preparation of IPSAS (International Public Sector Accounting Standards) compliant financial statements and other types of financial reports/statements. • Assist in ensuring that accurate and complete accounting, reporting and internal control systems are functioning and that all relevant records are maintained. • Assist in the development of accounting policies and guidelines. • Assist in coordination with the technical team, in the installation and administration of accounting systems. • Assist in supporting Clients/Field Offices by troubleshooting specific finance-related cases, delivering trainings, preparing tailored reports, and triaging Umoja operational issues escalating as needed. • Assist in the recording, reporting, and compliance checking of EU funding arrangements. • Assist in coordination with various offices to assess, document, and improve internal controls. Assist in preparation of statement of internal controls and other relevant reports. • Assist in coordination of internal and external audits/verifications, facilitate planning, logistics, and communication with auditors, provide guidance to various offices, review audit findings to assist in the formulation of management response and corrective action plans, and monitor/report on progress of implementation. • Guide staff as required. • Contribute to the collection and analysis of data as well as identification of trends or patterns and provide draft insights through graphs, charts, tables and reports using data visualization methods for data-driven planning, decision-making, presentation and reporting. • Performs other related duties as required.

Competencies

• Professionalism: Has knowledge of accounting principles, procedures and standards. Has ability to apply conceptual, analytical and evaluative skills in accounting operations. Has ability to conduct independent research and analysis, identify issues, formulate options and make conclusions and recommendations. Has very good IT skills with extensive knowledge of complex computerized accounting systems such as SAP. Has ability to analyze and interpret data in support of decision-making and convey resulting information to management. 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. • Teamwork: Works collaboratively with colleagues to achieve organizational goals; solicits input by genuinely valuing others’ ideas and expertise; is willing to learn from others; places team agenda before personal agenda; supports and acts in accordance with final group decision, even when such decisions may not entirely reflect own position; shares credit for team accomplishments and accepts joint responsibility for team shortcomings. • Client Orientation: Considers all those to whom services are provided to be “clients” and seeks to see things from clients’ point of view; establishes and maintains productive partnerships with clients by gaining their trust and respect; identifies clients’ needs and matches them to appropriate solutions; monitors ongoing developments inside and outside the clients’ environment to keep informed and anticipate problems; keeps clients informed of progress or setbacks in projects; meets timeline for delivery of products or services to client.

Education

Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in accounting, business administration, finance or related field. A first-level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying work experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree. A first-level university degree and no experience will be accepted for candidates who have passed the Young Professionals Programme Examination (YPP), United Nations National Competitive Recruitment Examination (NCRE) or the General Service to Professional Examination (G to P). Certification as a Certified Public Accountant (CPA), Chartered Accountant (CA) or equivalent is desirable. Certification as a CPA, CA or equivalent is required if degree obtained is not in accounting.

Job – Specific Qualification

Not available.

Work Experience

A minimum of two years of progressively responsible professional experience in accounting, finance, budget, or related area OR the successful completion of the Young Professionals Programme Examination (YPP), United Nations National Competitive Recruitment Examination (NCRE) or the General Service to Professional Examination (G to P) is required. Working experience with Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems is desirable. Working experience with financial audit is desirable. Knowledge or experience with an SAP system is desirable. Knowledge or experience in preparing Financial Statements is desirable. Experience in data analytics or related area is desirable.

Languages

English and French are the working languages of the UN Secretariat. For the positions advertised, fluency in English is required; knowledge of another UN official language is an advantage.

Assessment

Evaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise and a competency-based interview.

Special Notice

This position is funded from extra budgetary resources. The initial appointment will be for a period of one year and any extension of the appointment will be subject to the availability of funding. At the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the recruitment and employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence and integrity, with due regard to geographic diversity. All employment decisions are made based on qualifications and organizational needs. The United Nations is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment of mutual respect. The United Nations recruits and employs staff regardless of gender identity, sexual orientation, race, religious, cultural and ethnic backgrounds or disabilities. Reasonable accommodation for applicants with disabilities may be provided to support participation in the recruitment process when requested and indicated in the application. The United Nations Secretariat is committed to achieving 50/50 gender balance and geographical diversity in its staff. Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply for this position. Pursuant to section 7.11 of ST/AI/2012/2/Rev.1, candidates recruited through the young professionals programme who have not served for a minimum of two years in the position of their initial assignment are not eligible to apply to this position. Applicants, who successfully go through a competitive recruitment process and are recommended for selection and/or inclusion in the roster of pre-approved candidates for subsequent job openings at the same level and with similar functions, may have their application information and roster status shared with other UN Organizations. Such applicants may be contacted by other UN Organizations for similar job openings, subject to the confirmation of their interest. Placement on the roster is no guarantee of a future selection. Vienna is classified in the H and family duty station.

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. By accepting a letter of appointment, staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General, who may assign them to any of the activities or offices of the United Nations in accordance with staff regulation 1.2 (c). Further, staff members in the Professional and higher category up to and including the D-2 level and the Field Service category are normally required to move periodically to discharge functions in different duty stations under conditions established in ST/AI/2023/3 on Mobility, as may be amended or revised. This condition of service applies to all position specific job openings and does not apply to temporary positions. Applicants are urged to carefully follow all instructions available in the online recruitment platform, inspira, and to refer to the Applicant Guide by clicking on “Manuals” in the “Help” tile 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.