RE-OPENING: Finance Specialist, Data Management Unit, Finance Branch, Division for Management Services, New York, P-4

NOTE: This vacancy has been re-opened. All applicants who applied previously need not re-apply.

The Position:

The Finance Specialist position is part of the Finance Branch of the Division for Management Services. The Finance Branch is responsible for global finance, including financial and data management, key financial policies and processes, accounting and treasury services; overseeing improvement efforts in areas of financial operations; and ensuring the ERP and related systems are configured to manage, monitor and report on key financial processes and information. The Branch also plays a key role in the custody and distribution of financial resources and the monitoring of expenditures. The incumbent of this position will supervise the staff and activities of the Data Management Unit and work in close collaboration with other units of the Finance Branch (Statutory Reporting, Revenue and Donor Reporting and the Global Monitoring and Advisory Team) as well as the Information Technology Solutions Office as a key partner. You will report directly to the Chief, Finance Branch.

How you can make a difference:

UNFPA is the lead UN agency for delivering a world where every pregnancy is wanted, every childbirth is safe and every young person's potential is fulfilled.  UNFPA’s strategic plan (2022-2025), reaffirms the relevance of the current strategic direction of UNFPA and focuses on three transformative results: to end preventable maternal deaths; end unmet need for family planning; and end gender-based violence and harmful practices. These results capture our strategic commitments on accelerating progress towards realizing the ICPD and SDGs in the Decade of Action leading up to 2030. Our strategic plan calls upon UN Member States, organizations and individuals to “build forward better”, while addressing the negative impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic on women’s and girls’ access to sexual and reproductive health and reproductive rights, recover lost gains and realize our goals.

In a world where fundamental human rights are at risk, we need principled and ethical staff, who embody these international norms and standards, and who will defend them courageously and with full conviction.

UNFPA is seeking candidates that transform, inspire and deliver high impact and sustained results; we need staff who are transparent, exceptional in how they manage the resources entrusted to them and who commit to deliver excellence in programme results.

Job Purpose:

The Data Management Unit is responsible for designing and maintaining IT system integrity of financial management, accounting and reporting processes; acting as the knowledge leader of the design and functioning of the ERP and related systems as it relates to finance; contributing to system and business process efficiencies and preparation of key Statutory Reports. 

You would be responsible for:

1. Strategic management and HR management 

• Propose activities and priorities of the Data Management Unit based on branch priorities for incorporation into the branch workplan and in line with the UNFPA Strategic Plan.
• Report progress of activities under DMU accountability in the Strategic Information System and branch workplan; ensure DMU actively engages in activities to which DMU contributes.
• Actively contribute to the strategic direction of the Finance Branch and broader DMS Management Team.
• Oversee and manage the DMU team, including performance management, career progression and professional growth of team members.

2. Partnerships, Knowledge management, Communication and Training

• Represent the Finance Branch in working level meetings for Quantum ERP Agencies.
• Maintain active and positive relationships with key partners for the Finance branch, including ITSO, the operations community and other business owners. 
• Perform the knowledge leader role for all IT systems related to financial management including the ERP+ system (referred to as Quantum Plus). 
• Lead training and knowledge transfer on ERP modules and other financial systems, including preparation of training materials, SOP and guidance notes.

3. Business process and systems efficiency 

• Lead Finance Branch inputs in the design of IT systems and system configurations including the ERP and dashboards/reports, with a focus on business efficiency.
• Working with the Chief of Accounts, the Statutory Reporting Unit and business owners, ensure the ERP is adapted for any new International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSAS) and internal/external audit recommendations.
• Lead the operationalization of the business process in the ERP system and draft new operating procedures for new system designs as appropriate.
• Ensure the Quantum plus environment is maintained, including legacy systems operating outside the ERP including integrations.
• Oversee the maintenance and updates of the financial master data in the ERP system.

4. Statutory Reporting, Period end and year end closure activities

Working with the Chief of Accounts: 

• Ensure periodic financial closure of all ERP modules is completed based on the monthly and year end schedules established.  
• Ensure system integrity through period end system reconciliations, with differences resolved.
• Run periodic systematic routines as necessary e.g., foreign exchange revaluations.
• Develop and/or maintain a library of exception reports/dashboards for review and investigation of abnormal transactions or balances.
• Prepare assigned Financial Statement schedules and notes, ensuring technical accuracy, compliance with UNFPA IPSAS policies and data integrity.
• Lead external data reporting such as for the UN Chief Executive Board, (CEB), Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and other external stakeholders.

5. Financial reporting system environment

• Identify gaps in financial and accounting management that would be improved through real-time reports, checklists and/ or dashboards; lead IT development and maintenance.
• Act as the focal point for development, testing and maintenance of routine financial reports for global and local financial management and accounting, including IPSAS compliant financial statements and related notes, and mandatory donor reporting.
• Ensure accuracy and completeness of reporting trees. 
• Ensure the ERP + system and legacy systems can produce the required data for Statutory Reports, Executive Board reports, UN Inter-agency reporting, donor reporting and transparency reporting, including adjustment to new standards (such as the UN Data Standards, IPSAS or IATI).
• Oversee the provision of quality assured data and data sets as required.

Other

• Carry out any other duties as may be required by your supervisor and/or UNFPA leadership. 

Qualifications and Experience: 

Education:  

Advanced university degree in Information Systems, Finance or Accounting, or closely related field, is required.  

Knowledge and Experience: 

• 7 years progressively responsible experience in financial information systems design, implementation and/or management, financial business process design and financial statement preparation at the national and international level.
• Progressively responsible experience of supervision of professional staff and positive engagement and relationship management with business focal points in an IT change management environment.
• Experience in maintaining and managing ERP system applications, preferably Oracle.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills. Able to listen to client feedback, design business processes to balance control needs and efficiency and to translate business requirements into logical systems specifications.

Languages: 

Fluency in English is required; knowledge of other official UN languages, preferably French and/or Spanish, is desirable. 
 

Required Competencies: 

Values:

• Exemplifying integrity, 
• Demonstrating commitment to UNFPA and the UN system, 
• Embracing cultural diversity, 
• Embracing change

Core Competencies: 

• Achieving results,
• Being accountable,
• Developing and applying professional expertise/business acumen,
• Thinking analytically and strategically,
• Working in teams/managing ourselves and our relationships,
• Communicating for impact

Functional Competencies:

• Managing the organization’s financial resources
• Developing ICT applications
• Managing teams for performance

Compensation and Benefits:

This position offers an attractive remuneration package including a competitive net salary plus health insurance and other benefits as applicable.

UNFPA Work Environment:

UNFPA provides a work environment that reflects the values of gender equality, diversity, integrity and healthy work-life balance. We are committed to ensuring gender parity in the organization and therefore encourage women to apply. Individuals from the LGBTQIA+ community, minority ethnic groups, indigenous populations, persons with disabilities, and other underrepresented groups are highly encouraged to apply. UNFPA promotes equal opportunities in terms of appointment, training, compensation and selection for all regardless of personal characteristics and dimensions of diversity. Diversity, Equity and Inclusion is at the heart of UNFPA's workforce - click here to learn more.

Disclaimer:

Selection and appointment may be subject to background and reference checks, medical clearance, visa issuance and other administrative requirements. 

UNFPA does not charge any application, processing, training, interviewing, testing or other fee in connection with the application or recruitment process and does not concern itself with information on applicants' bank accounts. 

Applicants for positions in the international Professional and higher categories, who hold permanent resident status in a country other than their country of nationality, may be required to renounce such status upon their appointment.