Chief of Operations – P5

Org. Setting and Reporting 

The United Nations Secretary-General is responsible for the investment of the assets of the United Nations Joint Staff Pension Fund (UNJSPF). The Secretary-General has delegated this responsibility to the Representative of the Secretary-General for the investment of the assets of the UNJSPF (RSG). The RSG heads the Office of Investment Management (OIM), which manages a $90+ billion multi-asset class, global investment portfolio, about 85% of which is actively managed in-house. Asset classes under management comprise global equities, fixed income, foreign exchange, private equity, real estate, infrastructure, timber and commodities. OIM’s staff are all based in New York but come from over 30 countries. For more information please visit OIM’s website at https://oim.unjspf.org/.  This position is located in the Operations Section of the Office of Investment Management of the United Nations Joint Staff Pension Fund (UNJSPF). OIM is responsible for the day-to-day management of the investments of the Fund. The Chief of Operations has dual reporting lines to the Chief Operating Officer (COO) of OIM and the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of Pension Administration.

 

Responsibilities 

Within delegated authority, the Chief of Operations will be responsible for the following duties:   •Coordinates the multi-currency back-office operations of the investment of the assets of the United Nations Joint Staff Pension Fund; •Supervises trading and settlement of transactions in various currencies in which the Fund has investments, supervises the custodians, the Master Record Keeper (MRK) and network of sub-custodians worldwide; • Supervises the preparation of reports of investment activities of the Fund as supplied by the Global Custodians and Market Master Record Keeper by type of currency, asset class and country; •Reports investment activity including all sell/buy activities, corporate actions, redemptions, income collection, tax receivables, drawdowns or other actions which may affect the value of the Fund;  •Prepares the strategic framework and biennium budget for the Operations Section;  •Undertakes special reviews of operational objectives and related financial policies and procedures affecting the Fund’s investment accounting and financial systems.  • Takes the lead in designing and implementing required changes; •Directs the development, installation, and implementation of new accounting systems and related information technology systems.  • Evaluates the efficiency, performance and enhancements of these systems; •Supervises the preparation of daily cash projections and assures that the Investment Section is aware of potential overdrafts; •Works closely with the IT section to assure that proper reconciliations are available and that computerized solutions are properly initiated and utilized. •Plans, integrates and coordinates the work of supervisors responsible for portions of the finance programme; monitors achievement of objectives. •Maintains high level of professionalism, integrity and honesty in protecting the assets of the Fund; •Holds regular meetings with the Fund’s Global Custodians and Master Record Keeper to ensure that the assets of the Fund are intact and that Global Custodians and sub-custodians are operating within the guidelines set forth in the custody agreements, and that all reporting of Fund activity is accurate and meets the needs of the Fund; •periodically confirms with independent sources the investments reported by the Global Custodians; •Ensures that the staff in the Section receive necessary training to keep up to date with rapidly changing environment and investment policies of the Fund; •Provides authoritative advice, financial interpretations, adaptations and corrective actions in response to audits and other queries to ensure adherence to UN Financial Regulations and Rules, (Staff Rules, Administrative Instructions, Bulletins and Circulars); •Manages staff, plans and discusses with staff individual work programs, and evaluates performance; •Coordinates the implementation of IPSAS standards for the investments of the Fund. •Collects and analyzes data to identify trends or patterns and provide insights through graphs, charts, tables and reports using data visualization methods to enable data-driven planning, decision-making, presentation and reporting.  Work implies frequent interaction with the following: Senior Officials of the Master Record Keeper, Custodians, the Pension Board, ACABQ, Fifth Committee, and General Assembly.

 

Competencies 

Core Competencies:  • Professionalism: Knowledge of accounting principles, procedures and standards. Ability to apply conceptual, analytical and evaluative skills in accounting operations and provide technical advice to managers. Ability to prepare reports or rationale with respect to key accounting decisions, including formulating new strategies and approaches in financial operations. 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.   •Planning & Organizing: Develops clear goals that are consistent with agreed strategies; identifies priority activities and assignments; adjusts priorities as required; allocates appropriate amount of time and resources for completing work; foresees risks and allows for contingencies when planning; monitors and adjusts plans and actions as necessary; uses time efficiently.  •Accountability: Takes ownership of all responsibilities and honours commitments; delivers outputs for which one has responsibility within prescribed time,cost and quality standards; operates in compliance with organizational regulations and rules; supports subordinates, provides oversight and takes responsibility for delegated assignments; takes personal responsibility for his/her own shortcomings and those of the work unit, where applicable.  Managerial Competencies:  •Leadership: Serves as a role model to others: empowers others to translate vision into results; is proactive in developing strategies to accomplish objectives; establishes and maintains relationships with a broad range of people to understand needs and gain support; anticipates and resolves conflicts by pursuing mutually agreeable solutions; strives for change and improvements; does not accept the status quo; shows the courage to take unpopular stands. Provides leadership and takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work; demonstrates knowledge of strategies and commitment to the goal of gender balance in staffing.   •Judgement/Decision-making: Identifies the key issues in a complex situation, and comes to the heart of the problem quickly; gathers relevant information before making a decision; considers positive and negative impacts of decisions prior to making them; takes decisions with an eye to the impact on others and on the Organization; proposes a course of action or makes a recommendations based on all available information; checks assumptions against facts; determines the actions proposed will satisfy the expressed and underlying needs for the decision; makes tough decisions when necessary.

 

Education 

Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent degree) in business administration, finance, accounting or related field. A first-level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree. Certification as a Certified Public Accountant (CPA), Chartered Accountant (CA) or equivalent is desirable.

 

Job – Specific Qualification 

Not available.

 

Work Experience 

A minimum of ten years of progressively responsible experience in international investment accounting, financial reporting, investment operations and cash management is required.    Experience in pension fund accounting and trade settlement using SWIFT is desirable.

 

Languages 

English and French are the working languages of the UN Secretariat. For this position, fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another UN official language is desirable.

 

Assessment 

Evaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise which may be followed by competency-based interview.

 

Special Notice 

• Staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General and to assignment by him or her. In this context, all staff are expected to move periodically to new functions in their careers in accordance with established rules and procedures.  • The United Nations Secretariat is committed to achieving 50/50 gender balance in its staff. Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply for this position.  • Appointment at the United Nations is subject to mandatory adherence to the United Nations Financial disclosure Programme. An appointment to the Office of Investment Management (OIM) of the UNJSPF additionally requires compliance with the rules and regulations pertaining to OIM’s Code of Ethics, Personal Securities, Gift and Hospitality policies.  • For this position, the lateral and geographical requirement outlined in section 6.4 of the Staff Selection System, ST/AI/2010/3, is waived.  • For this position, applicants from the following Member States, which are unrepresented or under-represented in the UN Secretariat as of 31 July 2024, are strongly encouraged to apply: Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Bahrain, Belize, Brunei Darussalam, China, Cuba, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Dominica, Equatorial Guinea, Germany, Grenada, Guinea-Bissau, Hungary, Indonesia, Israel, Japan, Kiribati, Kuwait, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Libya, Liechtenstein, Malta, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Nauru, Oman, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Somalia, Timor-Leste, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, United Arab Emirates, United States of America, Vanuatu.

 

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.

 

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