Finance Officer (P3)

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 OSCE Secretariat in Vienna assists the Chairpersonship in its activities, and provides operational and administrative support to the field operations, and, as appropriate, to other institutions. 

The OSCE Secretariat’s Department of Management and Finance (DMF) is responsible for managing the material and financial resources of the Organization. The objective of DMF is to provide efficient and effective management of non-staff resources in support of OSCE programmatic activities. It provides policy guidance on the management of OSCE financial and material resources and develops and maintains OSCE Financial Regulations and Rules and Financial Administrative Instructions. DMF consists of Budget and Finance Services, Mission Support Section, Information and Communication Technology Section and the Information Security and Co-ordination Unit.

The Budget and Finance Services Section is responsible for co-ordinating and supporting the
programme planning and budgeting process in general, including providing policy guidance and support to the Secretariat, OSCE Institutions and Field Operations. The Budget and Finance Services Section consists of the Accounts and Treasury Unit and Integrated Resource
Management Unit.

Tasks and Responsibilities:

As Finance Officer, you will report to the Chief, Accounts and Treasury Unit and your second-level supervisor is the Principal Deputy Director DMF, Head of Budget and Finance Section. You will work with all Executive Structures to oversee and co-ordinate financial accounting policy and operations, and ensure compliance with the Common Regulatory Management System (CRMS). 

More specifically, you will be responsible for the following:

1. Preparing annual Financial Statements in accordance with the International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSAS) and organizational directives and deadlines; keeping abreast of changes in accounting standards and their interpretations, as well as applications of IPSAS standards by UN system entities; exercising judgment in the preparation of year-end adjustment journals and in the application of complex accounting standards; responding to queries from auditors, devising and implementing corrective action as required;
2. Co-ordinating the accounting closure process, maintaining the overall integrity of the Organization’s budgetary and reporting general ledgers and corresponding sub-ledgers; monitoring the proper maintenance of the asset register in close collaboration with the Asset, Logistic and Transportation Support Unit, ensuring the accuracy and integrity of accounting information for property, plant and equipment, intangible assets and inventories;
3. Preparing financial reports in accordance with both IPSAS standards and the Organization’s budget documents and treatments; preparing draft reports and documents for submission to policy-making organs; analyzing and evaluating regular financial reports, explaining exceptions and variances and producing related reports and correspondence;
4. Verifying accounts payable and accounts receivable transactions up to a certain limit; providing authoritative interpretations of requirements for handling transactions; providing advice and guidance on the interpretation and application of the Organizational financial rules and regulations; ensuring consistent implementation of accounting policies and procedures, and recommending changes for improvement;
5. Managing human and financial resources, preparing and discussing with staff individual work programmes, and evaluating performance against set objectives;
6. Performing other duties as assigned, including revising accounting manuals, procedures and instructions, and preparing and delivering training on accounting-related matters; participating in special projects within DMF by providing inputs to support policy decisions, suggestions for the technical implementation in the ERP system and other related tasks as needed.

For more detailed information on the structure and work of the OSCE Secretariat, please see https://www.osce.org/secretariat 

Necessary Qualifications:

• First-level university degree in accounting, finance, business administration or another related field;
• Professional accounting certification obtained from an internationally recognized professional accountancy body (i.e. CPA);
• A minimum of six years’ work experience as a chartered accountant, preferably in the public sector or an international organization;
• Experience of IPSAS or IAS/IFRS (International Accounting Standards/International Financial Reporting Standards) and their application to a complex international organization or corporation;
• Excellent oral and written communication skills in English; knowledge of another OSCE official language is desirable;
• Demonstrated gender awareness and sensitivity, and an ability to integrate a gender perspective into tasks and activities;
• Ability and willingness to work as a member of team, with people of different cultural, and religious backgrounds, different gender, and diverse political views, while maintaining impartiality and objectivity;
• Computer literate with practical experience in Microsoft applications and with complex computerized ERP systems.

Remuneration Package:

Monthly remuneration is around EUR 7,800, with the actual monthly salary depending on post adjustment and family status. OSCE salaries are exempt from taxation in Austria. Social benefits will include possibility of participation in the Cigna medical insurance scheme and the OSCE Provident Fund. Other allowances and benefits are similar to those offered under the United Nations Common System.

Please note that 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.