OBJECTIVES OF THE PROGRAMME

The WHO Global Service Centre (GSC), Malaysia, provides specialized services to all staff and all WHO offices worldwide and Partner Entities in respect of human resources, procurement, finance and support of corporate IT applications and infrastructure. The aim of the GSC is to provide the swift and reliable delivery of a comprehensive array of products and services covering all these fields. The Global Finance team (GFI) within the GSC provides processing and accounting services for payroll, pension, accounts payable, travel and expenses and awards transactions as set out in the Service Catalogue.

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES

Processing errors could lead to large-scale financial loss to the Organization, delayed implementation and severe inconvenience to staff, technical units and/or suppliers, globally. The position requires a good understanding of WHO’s rules, procedures and systems to ensure that payments are processed timely and correctly; that awards are created accurately and in a timely manner; that agreed controls are operating effectively to minimize risks; all documents are analyzed for accuracy and completeness; all accounting is correctly reconciled and correctly stated.

Under the supervision of the Coordinator, Global Finance, and working closely with the Global Finance Services Manager and Global Payroll Manager, other coordinators of units and Human Resources Managers/Officers and Budget and Finance Officers in the Centre and in the Regional Offices and at Headquarters, the incumbent is responsible for a team of finance professionals that carries out reporting, reconciliation and quality assurance in GFI. The reporting, quality assurance and reconciliations relate to Global Accounts Payable and Payroll functions, both of which are defined as critical business activities. Under the guidance and direct supervision of the Coordinator, Global Finance, the incumbent:

• Leads, briefs, motivates, trains and coaches a client-oriented and highly skilled Finance Team that is fully committed to the achievement of GSC and Finance targets.
• Manages the day-to-day operations, responding to changes in volumes and workload, including careful planning for peak workload periods while monitoring the application of flexible working arrangement policies thereby ensuring requests, queries and incidents are processed within the turn-around times specified in the Service Catalogue and within the relevant control environment.
• Identifies opportunities to improve customer satisfaction, recommends process improvements and supports the implementation of new processes, systems and tools that contribute to improved customer satisfaction and enhanced support of business processes and controls within the target operating model.
• Manages reporting on GSC controlled accounts, related reconciliation activities within Global Finance and ensures monthly, accurate and timely submissions to HQ, Regions and various stakeholders. This includes providing clean, aged, reconciled Supplier balances, bank reconciliations, Accounts Payable Trial Balance, Personal Accounts and relevant general ledger accounts. The incumbent must ensure the financial management reports are prepared in accordance with International Public Sector Accounting Standards and are user-friendly.
• Ensures that service requests and other work requests are distributed to team members in an equitable and transparent manner.
• Ensures integrity and consistency of data captured in ledgers with respect to transactions initiated by GSC-GFI.
• Validates the consistent application of Regulations and Rules, Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), policies and procedures, particularly with clarity and consistency to IPSAS principles. Search for opportunities to harmonize business processes between teams and initiates documentation of and adherence to new processes.
• Identifies system issues, notify IT Support teams accordingly and test subsequent system fixes.
• As Quality Management Representative for the ISO 9001-2015 quality management system for GSC activities in scope, is responsible for implementing the requirements specified in ISO 9001 with reference to the quality management system (QMS) and as such maintains the QMS, reports on QMS performance and promotes customer requirements. Coordinates the quality management processes, including inter alia managing the foundation documents, coordinating quality audits including quality management audit reporting, periodically monitoring the management of risks and reports on any actions taken; ensuring existing internal controls are appropriately in place and ensures that proper monitoring mechanisms are in place and that they can be used to identify weaknesses and address them immediately, identifying gaps and bottlenecks in operating procedures and proposes changes in collaboration/consultation with stakeholders and coordinates the revision and approval process; keeps clear archive of all GSC Finance SOPs to ensure updated versions are accessible by users (serves as the custodian for GFI SOPs), reporting on compliance issues and corrective actions.
• In collaboration with Global Finance Services Manager and Global Payroll Manager, develops and proposes new procedures and guidelines in Global Finance and systematically tracks level of implementation of changes that drive operational efficiencies.
• Operates a robust system of oversight to ensure cases of non-compliance by end users to policies and procedures are identified and reported to facilitate corrective actions by Global Finance Services Manager and Global Payroll Manager. Tracks and reports on implementation of agreed corrective actions.
• Coordinates the provision of periodic reports and feedback to management, clients and stakeholders to maintain expectations and apply best practice mechanisms that achieve optimal service delivery, including inter alia KPI reporting, performance and monitoring reporting and exception tracking and reporting. This includes instilling a performance management culture throughout GFI & PAY, including continuously evaluating services to clients with a view to improving delivery through innovation and deployment of best practices. The incumbent consolidates and distributes the GSC finance reporting package.
• Acts as Focal point for Global Finance related matters with Internal and External Auditors and: i) responds to queries relating to reports on GSC controlled accounts; ii) coordinates with Coordinator, Global Finance, Global Finance Services Manager and Global Payroll Manager to formulate response on specific audit queries relating to specific AP and Payroll matters; iii) responsible for the coordination and monitoring of updates on implementation of open Audit recommendations within Global Finance; iv) implements reconciliation and reporting related audit recommendations.
• Leads, contributes to complex and challenging business projects pertaining to quality assurance and reporting and collaborates with Global Finance Services Manager and Global Payroll Manager as needed on AP and Payroll processes in order to significantly enhance efficiency, business improvement, continuity, information and performance of Global Finance units.
• Recommends process improvements and supports the implementation of new processes, systems and tools that contribute to enhanced support of business processes and controls within the target operating model.
• Creates/coordinates a culture of knowledge building and sharing on financial management and operations by synthesizing lessons learned and best practices and customizing them to ensure smooth integration into workflows and team interactions; and ensures initiatives for knowledge sharing and transfer with staff.
• Engages with clients to develop outreach/clinics/training sessions to improve understanding of SOPs and workflows of financial transactions and services.
• Monitors staff/management issues within the team and support/advise management and staff as appropriate to improve information flow/exchange, manage relationships and avoid/resolve issues and conflicts.
• Closely collaborates with colleagues in GFI, PAY, GSC, HQ, ROs and COs, valuing one GSC.
• Perform duties as assigned by the Coordinator, Global Finance.
• Back up for Coordinator, Global Finance and Global Finance Services Manager as required.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education

Essential:

• University Degree in accounting / financial management / business administration AND an equivalent completed professional training in accounting certification such as CPA, CA, ACCA, CIMA or equivalent.

Desirable:

• Advanced University Degree in accounting / financial management / business administration.

Experience

Essential:

• At least 7 years of recent and proven relevant experience in a large, complex, international organization. Relevant experience entails working at a management level in consolidations, financial reporting, reconciliations and/or compliance.
• At least 7 years of recent and proven experience managing a team.
• Experience of IPSAS and/or IFRS.

Desirable:

• Experience in a Finance Shared Services Centre at management level.
• Experience of working with a case management or CRM system.
• Solid understanding of WHO Financial Regulations and Rules, policies and procedures.

Skills

• Excellent judgement and ability to detect shortcomings and anomalies.
• Excellent integrity, tact and discretion in dealing with others.
• Ability to work under pressure/flexibility while meeting deadlines.
• Excellent leadership, management and organizational skills combined with the ability to produce innovative solutions and drive the team.
• Excellent analytical skills.
• Excellent writing and communication skills to present proposals in a concise, clear and logical manner.
• Solid understanding of WHO Financial Regulations and Rules, policies and procedures.

WHO Competencies

1. Teamwork
2. Respecting and promoting individual and cultural differences
3. Communication
4. Producing results
5. Ensuring the effective use of resources
6. Creating an empowering and motivating environment

Use of Language Skills

Essential:

• Expert knowledge of English.

Desirable:

• Intermediate knowledge of French.
• Intermediate knowledge of Official UN Languages.

REMUNERATION

Remuneration comprises an annual base salary starting at MYR 214,683 (subject to mandatory deductions for pension contributions and health insurance, as applicable) and 30 days of annual leave.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

• This vacancy notice may be used to fill other similar positions at the same grade level including those of a temporary nature.

• Only candidates under serious consideration will be contacted.

• A written test and/or an asynchronous video assessment may be used as a form of screening.

• In the event that your candidature is retained for an interview, you will be required to provide, in advance, a scanned copy of the degree(s)/diploma(s)/certificate(s) required for this position. WHO only considers higher educational qualifications obtained from an institution accredited/recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED), a list updated by the International Association of Universities (IAU)/United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The list can be accessed through the link: http://www.whed.net/. Some professional certificates may not appear in the WHED and will require individual review.

• 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. Due regard will be paid to the importance of recruiting the staff on as wide a geographical basis as possible.

• Any appointment/extension of appointment is subject to WHO Staff Regulations, Staff Rules and Manual.

• The WHO is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment of mutual respect. The WHO recruits and employs staff regardless of disability status, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, language, race, marital status, religious, cultural, ethnic and socio-economic backgrounds, or any other personal characteristics.

• The WHO is committed to achieving gender parity and geographical diversity in its staff. Women, persons with disabilities, and nationals of unrepresented and underrepresented Member States (

https://www.who.int/careers/diversity-equity-and-inclusion

) are strongly encouraged to apply.

• Persons with disabilities can request reasonable accommodations to enable participation in the recruitment process. Requests for reasonable accommodation should be sent through an email to

[email protected]

• An impeccable record for integrity and professional ethical standards is essential. WHO prides itself on a workforce that adheres to the highest ethical and professional standards and that is committed to put the WHO Values Charter into practice.

• WHO has zero tolerance towards sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA), sexual harassment and other types of abusive conduct (i.e., discrimination, abuse of authority and harassment). All members of the WHO workforce have a role to play in promoting a safe and respectful workplace and should report to WHO any actual or suspected cases of SEA, sexual harassment and other types of abusive conduct. To ensure that individuals with a substantiated history of SEA, sexual harassment or other types of abusive conduct are not hired by the Organization, WHO will conduct a background verification of final candidates.

• WHO has a smoke-free environment and does not recruit smokers or users of any form of tobacco.

• For information on WHO’s operations please visit: http://www.who.int.

• WHO also offers wide range of benefits to staff, including parental leave and attractive flexible work arrangements to help promote a healthy work-life balance and to allow all staff members to express and develop their talents fully.

• The statutory retirement age for staff appointments is 65 years. For external applicants, only those who are expected to complete the term of appointment will normally be considered.

• Please note that WHO’s contracts are conditional on members of the workforce confirming that they are vaccinated as required by WHO before undertaking a WHO assignment, except where a medical condition does not allow such vaccination, as certified by the WHO Staff Health and Wellbeing Services (SHW). The successful candidate will be asked to provide relevant evidence related to this condition. A copy of the updated vaccination card must be shared with WHO medical service in the medical clearance process. Please note that certain countries require proof of specific vaccinations for entry or exit. For example, official proof /certification of yellow fever vaccination is required to enter many countries. Country-specific vaccine recommendations can be found on the WHO international travel and Staff Health and Wellbeing website. For vaccination-related queries please directly contact SHW directly at [email protected].

• This is a National Professional Officer position. Therefore, only applications from nationals of the country where the duty station is located will be accepted. Applicants who are not nationals of this country will not be considered.

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