Finance Specialist, P-3, Grants Management Unit, DFAM, Brussels, Belgium, #116899

UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. To save their lives. To defend their rights. To help them fulfill their potential.

Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone.

And we never give up.

For every child, hope…

The incumbent is responsible for providing guidance and support to Global Shared Services Center (GSSC), and Public Partnerships Division (PPD) colleagues with processing of contributions, special accounts and other funding arrangements in adherence with UNICEF Financial Regulations and Rules, policies and directives. Assist immediate supervisor and Chief of Grants Management Unit (GMU) in the review of work processes towards introducing efficiencies, review of complex agreements, liaison with Financial Reporting Unit (FRU) on International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSAS) compliance, drafting of policies and procedures applicable to the area of financial resources, guidelines and training material. Analyze receivables for designated donors/customers and verify correctness of application of receipts.

How can you make a difference?

Key functions of this positions include:

Perform a variety of analytical and reconciliation tasks:

• Review refund, re-programming and write-down Note for the Records (NFRs) for accuracy and completeness and coordinate approvals.

• Manage analysis on overspent grants and accounts receivable. Ensure ageing receivables that will not be collected are promptly written-down.

Ensure timely follow ups with offices for status of disbursement requests.

• Act as Grants Management (GM) team focal point for liaison with FRU on accounting issues and IPSAS compliance of revenue recognition and

receivable transactions.

• Review periodically contingency assets recorded in VISION to ensure accuracy of interpretation.

• Provide technical advice and guidance to country offices and HQ staff based on UNICEF policies and procedures

• Manage and track write-off cases, provide guidance to offices and prepare write-off requests for Comptroller’s approval.

• Manage quarterly US collection, including analysis of amounts to be collected, requests in the US payment system and reconciliations. Work with donor counterparts and GSSC processors to ensure payments are received.

• Support the review of revenue/receivables issues and prepare proposals for correct accounting entries and/or corrections required. Propose solutions for issues related to classification, valuation, codification and recoding of accounting entries.

• Review UN levy received entries and create UN levy payables.

• Take corrective action in the system as required.

• Manage year-end processing required from DFAM side.

• Testing of system updates and improvements.

Prepare periodic and ad hoc management and information reports, concerning revenue, special accounts, accounts receivables and liaise with UNICEF offices, Divisions and other DFAM units on issues requiring their support and/or clarification.

• Trust accounts reconciliation analysis; Contributions in Kind (CIK) tracking file and cost recovery analysis for expensing; Impairment reports; Year-end schedules;  Provide support with revenue and receivables reporting in quarterly financial packs;  Audit support in addition to Ad hoc reports as required

Communication

• Communicate the results of the review and reconciliation activities to supervisor; other HQ divisions and/or country or regional offices.

• Assist in drafting of policies and procedures applicable to the area of financial resources management, guidelines, work processes and training materials.

• Follow up on unresolved issues in a timely manner.

Other assignments at the request of the supervisor and/or the Chief Grants Management. Back up of alternate Finance Specialist in the unit.

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…

• An advanced (Masters) university* degree in Business Administration, Financial Management or related field, including a valid professional certification in Professional Accounting or Auditing Qualification (such as Chartered Accountant, Certified Public Accountant or equivalent). Preference will be given to holders of Professional Accounting qualifications or equivalent.
• A minimum of five (5) years of progressively responsible professional work experience, at the national and international levels, in the area of finance and accounting is required.
• * A Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field may be considered exceptionally in lieu of the advanced degree if the applicant holds a valid professional certification in Professional Accounting or Auditing Qualification (such as Chartered Accountant, Certified Public Accountant or equivalent) plus 3 years of additional work experience in addition to the minimum 5 years stated above.
• Experience working with International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) or International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSAS) is highly desirable.
• Developing country work experience and/or familiarity with emergency is considered an asset.
• Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) is considered an asset.

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF’s Core Values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust and Accountability and Sustainability (CRITAS) underpin everything we do and how we do it. Get acquainted with Our Values Charter: UNICEF Values

UNICEF competencies required for this post are…

(1) Builds and maintains partnerships (2) Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness (3) Drive to achieve results for impact (4) Innovates and embraces change (5) Manages ambiguity and complexity (6) Thinks and acts strategically (7) Works collaboratively with others.

During the recruitment process, we test candidates following the competency framework. Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels: competency framework here.

UNICEF is here to serve the world’s most disadvantaged children and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, or any other personal characteristic.

We offer a wide range of benefits to our staff, including paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF strongly encourages the use of flexible working arrangements.

UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination. UNICEF is committed to promote the protection and safeguarding of all children. 

Remarks:
Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.

UNICEF’s active commitment towards diversity and inclusion is critical to deliver the best results for children. For this position, eligible and suitable are encouraged to apply.

Mobility is a condition of international professional employment with UNICEF and an underlying premise of the international civil service.

UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance.  Issuance of a visa by the host country of the duty station, which will be facilitated by UNICEF, is required for IP positions. Appointments are also subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid). Should you be selected for a position with UNICEF, you either must be inoculated as required or receive a medical exemption from the relevant department of the UN. Otherwise, the selection will be cancelled.

All selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference and background checks and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check.

Government employees that are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally required to resign from their government before taking up an assignment with UNICEF. UNICEF reserves the right to withdraw an offer of appointment, without compensation, if a visa or medical clearance is not obtained, or necessary inoculation requirements are not met, within a reasonable period for any reason.