Duties and Responsibilities

The Finance Specialist is responsible for the management and implementation of the financial functions listed below, including but not limited to:

Supports the management of payroll accounting functions and reporting of employee benefits and employee liabilities for all personnel in the HCM module of Atlas.

Monitors transactions related to employee payroll expense and balance sheet accounts to ensure compliance with IPSAS and UNDP's policies and procedures.

Supports the development of appropriate oversight systems and mechanisms for the processing of HR and payroll transactions by the Global Shared Services Centre in the clustered environment.

Assists with the design and development of appropriate tools, financial models, dash boards and system changes to enhance the efficiency and capacity of the payroll finance oversight function.

Respond to issues relating to usage and functionality of the eServices tool for Staff Advances. Tracks aged receivables and provides regular reports and support to offices with clearing these

Contributes to the formulation of policy and procedures for recognition of payroll expenses, inter-agency receivables/payables, third party payables, tax reporting, long-term employee benefits, pension reporting and reconciliation for all UNDP/UNDP administered staff, for audit review for end of service payments, inter-agency transfer of employee liabilities, reimbursable loan agreements, staff receivables, and leave management.

Supports various activities related to year-end accounting and preparation of financial statements, including: Reconciliation and adjustment in the value of key employee liability accrual and reserve accounts (End of Service, ASHI, Annual Leave, Home Leave, Tax, Ed Grant, etc.) Preparation of Notes to the financial statements Adjusting journal entries to correct transactional errors or attribution of expenses to corporate operating units and departments Data, reports and other information requests by the UNBOA.

Oversees activities, including communication with country offices, related to ongoing MIP ASHI authorization and premium billing via the pension fund.

Manages the consolidation and quality control needed to prepare the Census Data for annual actuarial estimate of UNDP's ASHI and other End of Service (EOS) liabilities.

Supports the management of payroll accounting functions and reporting of employee benefits and employee liabilities for all personnel in the HCM and Contingency worker modules of Atlas (Close to 30,000 personnel).

Provides principal financial accounting monitoring and review support for employee benefit expense and liability accounts, maintenance and update of corporate employee benefits accounts. Provide assurance on the IPSAS compliance of employee benefits financial transactions.

Oversees the accounting aspects of the international and local payrolls and ensures that transactions are reflected accurately and in compliance with the adopted financial accounting standards.

Develops accounting and business processes of payroll operations to deliver superior value to UNDP internal and external clients.

Contributes to the formulation/development of policy and procedures for recognition of payroll expenses, inter-agency receivables/payables, third party payables, tax reporting, long-term employee benefits, pension reporting and reconciliation for all UNDP/UNDP administered staff, for audit review for end of service payments, financial clearance, inter-agency transfer of employee liabilities, reimbursable loan agreements, staff receivables, and absence management (for international staff).

Proposes and influences future developments in Atlas HCM functional requirements with emphasis on international payroll accounting for improved business results, simplification of transaction and reporting processes and improved client services.

Providing corporate oversight to the HR Finance functions executed by the Global Shared Services Centre.

Develops and maintains appropriate oversight systems and mechanisms for the centralized/decentralized processing of entitlements.

Ensures accurate and timely posting of the expenditures to the General Ledger and oversees reconciliation of the employee benefits and related GL balance sheet accounts. Assist with other services and financial oversight functions provided by OFRM and the GSSC.

Supports CFRA Unit on year-end accounting processes for the closure of accounts on payroll accounting matters including actualization.

Review and undertake revaluation, year-accrual for earned but unpaid benefits and reconciliation of employee benefits liability accounts

Supports the preparation of notes to the financial statements and supports provisioning of employee benefits and related expense and liabilities supporting schedules to internal and external auditors.

Supports payroll monthly audit/review processes and responds to corporate internal and external audit observations.

Coordinate with OFRM, Financial Reporting Unit on issues related to inter-module reconciliation.

Monitor categorization of expenses charged directly to employee benefits accounts in general ledger by OFRM.

Identify the need for adjusting journal entries to correct transactional errors or attribution of expenses to corporate operating units and departments.

Support the development of relevant operational and year-end operational and financial closure guidance.

Validate bad debt provisions for staff receivable accounts.

Review periodic payroll accruals for adequate funding of centrally managed budgets including post-employment benefits and centrally managed funded reserves.

Support the development of appropriate dash boards and performance management matrices.

Competencies

Core
Innovation Ability to make new and useful ideas work Leadership Ability to persuade others to follow People Management Ability to improve performance and satisfaction Communication Ability to listen, adapt, persuade and transform Delivery Ability to get things done while exercising good judgement Technical/Functional Accounting (General) Knowledge of accounting concepts, principles, regulations, and policies and ability to apply to strategic and/or practical situations Audit Ability to examine and verify accounts and records Financial Reporting and Analysis Ability to evaluate financial data, derive relevant findings and present them in a meaningful manner Leadership and Self-Management Demonstrates openness to change and ability to manage complexity and has ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously, prioritize issues and handle potentially stressful situation. Operational Efficiency Ability to identify and execute opportunities to improve operational efficiency Problem Solving Accurately accumulating information and its analysis; forecasting potential problems and planning; allowing for alternative, creative solutions and identifying most reasonable solutions Knowledge Management Ability to capture, develop, share and effectively use information and knowledge

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Advanced (Masters) University Degree in Finance or Accounting, or a professional accounting qualification from an internationally accredited institute of accountancy. Those with professional accounting qualifications from an internationally accredited institute of accountancy will have a distinct advantage.

Long-listed candidates may be required to undergo the UNDP Advanced Accountancy & Finance Test.

Experience:

2 years of relevant experience in financial accounting.

Experience in the usage of computers and MS Office packages. Advanced knowledge of spreadsheet and database packages.

Experience in handling of web-based management systems.

Hands-on experience with Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP), preferably with ATLAS (PeopleSoft) is desirable.

Experience of IPSAS and/or IFRS is required for external candidates.

Language Reqruirements:

Proficiency in English. Working knowledge of other UN language is desirable.

Disclaimer

Important applicant information

All posts in the GS categories are subject to local recruitment.

Internal mobility at GSSU is strongly encouraged and we reserve the right to reassign the newly appointed staff members with similar skillset and educational qualifications for similar functions and job categories at the same level in GSSU. The internal lateral movements will be determined based on the needs of the organization while allowing the newly recruits to broaden their skills, build networks and gain fresh experience and to better align their profiles with the jobs.

Applicant information about UNDP rosters

Note: UNDP reserves the right to select one or more candidates from this vacancy announcement. We may also retain applications and consider candidates applying to this post for other similar positions with UNDP at the same grade level and with similar job description, experience and educational requirements.

Workforce diversity

UNDP is committed to achieving diversity within its workforce, and encourages all qualified applicants, irrespective of gender, nationality, disabilities, sexual orientation, culture, religious and ethnic backgrounds to apply. All applications will be treated in the strictest confidence.

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