The Position:

The Accounts Analyst position is located within the Statutory Reporting Unit (SRU), Finance Branch of the Division for Management Services, under the overall supervision of the Chief, Finance Branch.

The Finance Branch is responsible for global finance and accounting including providing guidance and oversight for financial management to country, regional and headquarters offices. The Branch advances and owns key financial policies and processes, statutory and donor reporting, treasury services, ensuring the ERP and related systems are configured to implement, manage, and report on key financial processes, and that the organisation reports based on the International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSAS). The incumbent will report to the Head of SRU.

The SRU is responsible for the establishing and operationalizing the IPSAS environment within UNFPA, including strengthening policies and systems for IPSAS compliance. The unit coordinates annual accounts closure, prepares IPSAS-compliant financial statements and other statutory reports and liaises with auditors on finance related matters.

Under the overall supervision of the head of the SRU, the Accounts Analyst supports continuous strengthening of UNFPA compliance with IPSAS, supports the transition to new IPSASs through policy, systems and operational processes and the preparation of UNFPA’s financial statements and other statutory and management reports.

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:

Under the overall supervision of the head of the SRU, the Accounts Analyst supports the adoption of new and updated IPSASs, researches IPSAS impacts, develops gap analysis, identifies system modifications and supports the transition to the new standards at the policy, system and operational levels. This function supports the preparation of UNFPA’s financial statements and other statutory and management reports related to current and future IPSAS adoption and implementation.

You would be responsible for:

IPSAS compliance 

• Research new IPSAS standards and exposure drafts, and analyse for potential impacts based on UNFPA’s current accounting policies, systems and reports;
• Draft technical analysis papers to communicate potential impacts from IPSAS adoption
• Engage with colleagues in sister UN Agencies for common UN system wide approaches to IPSAS adoption for specific standards;
• Support background materials for the UN Task Force on Accounting Standards;
• Support the development of a transition plan for IPSAS adoption of new standards;
• Develop new and/or update accounting policies, procedures and guidance documents to ensure ongoing compliance with IPSAS; perform research and analysis to determine appropriate IPSAS-compliant financial disclosures associated with any accounting policy changes;
• Working with other units in the Finance Branch, support the business process owners on the introduction of the new revenue and transfer expense IPSAS standards and other standards as they are announced;
• Working with the Revenue and Donor Reporting team, prepare select financial analysis and reconciliations to identify adjustments, and quality assure data from implementing the new standard
• Working with business process owners, support review of system configurations to identify system changes to automate new accounting data required for IPSAS compliance;
• Complete periodic account reconciliations, valuation and aging; data collection and validation; oversight over transactions originated by different business units and initiation of corrections for assigned areas.

Accounts closure and preparation of statutory and management reporting

• Participate in the preparation of UNFPA’s financial statements; draft assigned statements, notes and schedules, ensuring the data agrees to the ERP and is adequately supported;
• Liaise with external and internal auditors and prepare responses to their queries and recommendations; prepare responses to audit observations;
• Implement quality assurance activities over information included in the financial statements before, during and after the closure of accounts for the adoption of new IPSASs. This includes periodic enquiry of high risk areas / transactions, follow-up on lessons learnt, support of business units in clean-up activities and developing measures for minimizing user errors;
• Support the preparation of other statutory and external reports such as the statistical and financial review report for the Executive Board and financial section of the UNFPA annual report.

Implementation of new systems and tools and capacity building

• Actively participate in business processes design, development of detailed specifications, development of system prototypes, data migration, user acceptance testing, training of users and other related activities as it relates to the adoption of new IPSAS standards.
• Participate in the design, development, testing and implementation of system-generated statutory and financial performance monitoring reports.
• Provide support, guidance and training to users in business units on financial management matters related to IPSAS and accounts closure.
• Perform other duties as required by the Supervisor or UNFPA leadership

Qualifications and Experience: 

Education:

• Advanced university degree in accounting / financial reporting, or related fields is required.
• A professional accounting qualification designated by an internationally recognised accounting body (Chartered Accountant, Certified Public Accountant etc.) is a distinct advantage.

Knowledge and Experience:

• Minimum 2 years of experience in accounting / financial reporting;
• Demonstrated experience in preparation of financial statements, financial data analysis and account reconciliations;
• Sound understanding of IPSAS or IFRS;
• Experience with financial modules of ERP systems, preferably Oracle-based product/s;
• Strong analytical and problem solving skills; able to translate business requirements into logical systems specifications;
• Strong presentation and writing skills;
• Experience in drafting accounting policies is a significant advantage.

Languages:

Fluency in English is required; knowledge of other official UN languages, preferably French, 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:

• Business acumen
• Initiative and coordination
• Client orientation
• Innovation and innovative use and marketing of new approaches
• Organization and UN system awareness

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.

Level of Education: Bachelor Degree

Work Hours: 8

Experience in Months: No requirements