Chief of Section, Finance at United Nations Office at Nairobi

Responsibilities

• Leading the activities of the Accounts Section which include: Managing procedures and practices for expenditure control and financial reporting of regular budget and extra-budgetary funds of UNON, UNEP and UN-Habitat; Maintaining proper accounting records and reports, including analysis of financial accounts to ensure that decision makers receive timely and accurate financial information, and coordinating the preparation of financial statements and ensuring the observance of reporting deadlines; Reviewing and coordinating financial systems and procedures of UNEP and UN-HABITAT outposted offices and ensuring uniformity of systems among offices; Discharging, as required, approving officer's responsibilities for all financial obligations pertaining to UNEP, UN-HABITAT and UNON; Coordinating and finalizing responses to external and internal auditors’ observations on matters relating to the Accounts Section; Managing professional and general service staff of the Section, inculcating in them UN values and principles, setting jointly with them objectives and standards, managing the performance appraisal system in the Section and facilitating a harmonious working environment of open communication, high productivity and team work.
• Ensuring consistent application and observance of the UN Financial Regulations and Rules and Instructions by: Analyzing the financial reporting requirements and coordinating preparation of financial statements based on International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSAS); Interpreting the Financial Regulations and Rules in the administration of the UN regular and extra-budgetary funds and reviewing accounting policies and practices, as appropriate; Implementing financial decisions of the governing bodies, financial instructions from UNHQ and audit recommendations; Managing and reviewing delegated financial authority within the Accounts Section.
• Providing strategic advice and guidance on financial management issues by: Analyzing complex financial issues and making appropriate recommendations through the Chief, Budget and Financial Management System (BFMS); Maintaining liaison with ICSC and Department of Management Policy Strategic and Compliance (DMSPC) on financial accounting and payroll matters; Maintaining close contacts with counterparts in other UN organizations to discuss issues of common concern, encourage consensus and negotiate support for UNEP, UNON and UN-HABITAT position on issues of financial accounting.

Competencies

• Professionalism: Demonstrate professional competence in and in-depth 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. Takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work.
• Communication: Speaks and writes clearly and effectively; listens to others, correctly interprets messages from others and responds appropriately; asks questions to clarify, and exhibits interest in having two-way communication; tailors language, tone, style and format to match audience; demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed.
• Teamwork: Works collaboratively with colleagues to achieve goals. Solicits input by genuinely valuing others' ideas and expertise; is willing 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.
• Leadership: Serves as a role model that other people want to follow; 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; drives for change and improvement; does not accept the status quo; shows the courage to take unpopular stands.
  Education
• Advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent) in Accounting, Finance or related area. 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.

Work Experience

• A minimum of 10 years of progressively responsible professional experience in accounting, finance or related area is required.
• Working experience with International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSAS) and financial statement preparation is required.
• Working experience with an Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) and financial systems such as Oracle or SAP is required.
• Working experience in a supervisory capacity with proof of performance management is required.
• Working experience in trust fund accounting is desirable.

Languages

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this position, fluency in oral and written English is required. A good working knowledge of French is desirable.

Assessment

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

Special Notice

Appointment against this post is for an initial period of one year and may be subject to extension. Staff members of the United Nations Secretariat must fulfill the lateral move requirements to be eligible to apply for this vacancy. Staff members are requested to indicate all qualifying lateral moves in their Personal History Profile (PHP) and cover letter.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 is Secretariat is committed to achieving 50/50 gender balance in its staff. Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply for this position.

For this position, applicants from the following Member States, which are unrepresented or underrepresented in the UN Secretariat as of 28 February 2018, are strongly encouraged to apply: Afghanistan, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Bahrain, Belarus, Belize, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Cabo Verde, Cambodia, Central African Republic, China, Comoros, Cyprus, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Dominica, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Grenada, Guinea-Bissau, Indonesia, Islamic Republic of Iran, Japan, Kiribati, Kuwait, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Monaco, Mozambique, Nauru, Norway, Oman, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Russian Federation, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Solomon Islands, South Sudan, Suriname, Syrian Arab Republic, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, United Arab Emirates, United States of America, Vanuatu, Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela and Viet Nam.

Internal Applicants – when completing the PHP, ensure ALL fields, ALL professional experience and contact information are completed and up to date. This information is the basis for the hiring manager to assess your eligibility and suitability for the position and to contact you.

Individual contractors and consultants who have worked within the UN Secretariat in the last six months, irrespective of the administering entity, are ineligible to apply for professional and higher temporary or fixed-term positions and their applications will not be considered.

All applicants are strongly encouraged to apply on-line as soon as possible after the job opening has been posted and well before the deadline stated in the job opening. On-line applications will be acknowledged where an email address has been provided.If you do not receive an e-mail acknowledgement within 24 hours of submission, your application may not have been received. If the problem persists, please seek technical assistance through the Inspira "Need Help?" link.

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.

Applicants are urged to follow carefully all instructions available in the online recruitment platform, inspira. For more detailed guidance, applicants may refer to the Manual for the Applicant, which can be accessed by clicking on “Manuals” hyper-link on the upper right side 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.