Org. Setting and Reporting
This is a vacancy in the General Service category for which local recruitment procedures shall apply, in accordance with the Staff Regulations of the International Bureau of the Universal Postal Union. Candidates shall be solely responsible for any travel or other expenses incurred in order to participate in the recruitment process or, upon selection, take up the appointment. Staff members subject to local recruitment shall not be eligible for the allowances and benefits exclusively applicable to international recruitment. With its 192 member countries, the Universal Postal Union (UPU), a specialized agency of the United Nations, is the primary forum for cooperation between postal sector players. It helps to ensure a truly universal network of up-to-date products and services.
Responsibilities
Control and monitor the financial performance of a programme, project group or operational area. Evaluate budget requests and write budget proposals, prepare financial reports, manage billing and ayments. Provide the secretariat for the programme, including the POC subgroup. 1 Budget – Review, analyze and assist in the finalization of cost estimates and budget proposals. – Ensure compliance with the programme plan and other legislative mandates. – Elaborate on resource requirements for budget submissions. – Provide input in the preparation of allotments/appropriations, including the redeploy¬ment of funds when necessary, and ensure appropriate expenditure. – Prepare and update monitoring reports on expenditure and budgets. – Recommend the reallocation of funds as necessary. – Review requisitions for goods and services to ensure: a correct objects of expenditure have been charged; and b availability of funds. – Monitor extrabudgetary resources, including the review of agreements and cost plans, and ensure compliance with regulations and rules and established policies and procedures. – Finalize budget performance reports, analyzing variations between approved budgets and actual expenditure. – Ensure consistency across various fund databases. – Check the accuracy of input data, ensuring the consistency of data between previous allotments/appropriations and new allotments/appropriations issued. – Liaise with other finance and budget staff on related issues when preparing budget reports. 2 Finance – Process and track invoices, expenses and payments. – Make financial accounting recommendations to various stakeholders. – Review and reconcile clearing accounts to ensure appropriate balances. – Investigate erroneous/invalid entries and take appropriate corrective accounting action. – Propose solutions and manage the accounting follow-up system. – Review and analyze the programme budget/financial implications statements in the light of additional mandates. – Draft business requirement changes for finance processes. – Monitor various accounting transactions, e.g., payroll, travel claims, final payments, income tax returns, travel claims, etc., to ensure correct disbursement computations and adherence to relevant internal rules (financial regulations). – Prepare financial statements for various funds, e.g., the Quality of Service Fund, Union, the Voluntary Fund, revenue and other special accounts. – Provide financial and administrative support to clients, including the preparation of travel, procurement actions, and consultant/individual contractor agreements. – Regularly consult and liaise with the UPU Finance Directorate and the Quality of Service Fund on all budgetary and finance matters related to the ongoing project. 3 Procurement – Draft requests for proposal. – Prepare or assist in the preparation of agreements. – Assist in the purchasing process by preparing purchase orders, obtaining quotes from vendors and tracking delivery timelines. – Assist with contract management by tracking expiration dates and renewals, and ensuring compliance with terms and conditions. – Collaborate with the Legal Affairs Directorate to ensure that procurement processes align with internal rules. – Ensure compliance with procurement policies and procedures, and maintain up-to-date records and documentation. 4 Administration – Prepare various written outputs, e.g. draft background papers, analysis, sections of reports and studies, inputs for publications, talking points, articles, etc., using graphic design and data visualization techniques, etc. – Provide substantive support for consultations, meetings and conferences by prepar¬ing documents and presentations, etc. – Research, analyze and present information gathered from diverse sources.
Competencies
1. Demonstrable knowledge of the principles of accountancy and information technology in order to extract information promptly and accurately from financial databases 2. Knowledge of, and the ability to apply, financial rules, regulations and procedures 3. Possession of the knowledge, skills and ability to extract, interpret, analyze and format data across all finance and budget functions, including programme development, database management, claims and treasury operations 4. Ability to identify and resolve data discrepancies and operational problems 5. Ability to work independently and manage multiple tasks simultaneously 6. Ability to work under stress and manage priorities 7. Speak and write clearly and effectively, listen to others, correctly interpret messages from others and respond appropriately 8. Work collaboratively with colleagues to achieve organizational goals 9. Ensure confidentiality and discern sensitive data
Education
High school diploma or equivalent, with training in the area of finance and/or accounting
Job – Specific Qualification
A minimum of five years’ experience in accounting, finance, budgeting, business administration or a related area, with a progressive increase in responsibility is required Demonstrable knowledge of the principles of accountancy and information technology in order to extract information promptly and accurately from financial databases is required Demonstrable knowledge of Microsoft Excel is required Knowledge of, and the ability to apply, financial rules, regulations and procedures is required Possession of the knowledge, skills and ability to extract, interpret, analyze and format data across all finance and budget functions, including programme development, database management, claims and treasury operations is required Ability to identify and resolve data discrepancies and operational problems is required Ability to work independently and manage multiple tasks simultaneously is required Ability to work under stress and manage priorities is required Speak and write clearly and effectively, listen to others, correctly interpret messages from others and respond appropriately is required Work collaboratively with colleagues to achieve organizational goals is required Ensure confidentiality and discern sensitive data is required
Work Experience
A minimum of five years’ experience in accounting, finance, budgeting, business administration or a related area, with a progressive increase in responsibility is required
Languages
English or French (Knowledge of the other language would be an advantage)
Assessment
Candidates will be contacted directly if they are selected for the written test.
Special Notice
Annual salary: (net of tax) : 86’236 CHF Contract type: Fixed-term appointment (Core) Contract duration: Three years Starting date: As soon as possible French is the official language of the UPU. English and French are the working languages of the UPU International Bureau. Candidates may be considered for other similar positions (for a period not exceeding one year). Candidates must ensure that they provide relevant contact details so that they can be contacted at any time. Candidates must ensure that they can be contacted at any time, to avoid exclusion from the selection process. The UPU is committed to encouraging diversity among its staff. Interested candidates from minority and/or disabled groups are encouraged to apply. Interested candidates from disabled groups are encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated equally and in the strictest confidence.
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. Reasonable accommodation may be provided to applicants with disabilities upon request, to support their participation in the recruitment process. By accepting a letter of appointment, staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General, who may assign them to any of the activities or offices of the United Nations in accordance with staff regulation 1.2 (c). Further, staff members in the Professional and higher category up to and including the D-2 level and the Field Service category are normally required to move periodically to discharge functions in different duty stations under conditions established in ST/AI/2023/3 on Mobility, as may be amended or revised. This condition of service applies to all position specific job openings and does not apply to temporary positions. Applicants are urged to carefully follow all instructions available in the online recruitment platform, inspira, and to refer to the Applicant Guide by clicking on “Manuals” in the “Help” tile 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.
No Fee
THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.