Org. Setting and Reporting

UNRWA, the largest United Nations operation in the Middle East with over 30,000 staff working across five areas of operation, is looking for highly committed personnel wishing to make a change. If you are looking for a rewarding opportunity to make a tangible difference for one of the most vulnerable communities in the world, UNRWA would like to hear from you. The Manager Financial Accounting and General Ledger reports to the Deputy Director of Finance and Chief Accounts Division.

Responsibilities

Provides leadership to ensure efficient functioning of General Accounts Section and Asset Management team and manages day-by-day operations; plans, leads, monitors, and evaluates the General Accounts section staff performance; provides technical guidance and ensures that the staff are sufficiently trained to perform their functions. Is responsible for preparation of Agencywide Financial statements, chapters, and Note to Accounts, in compliance with IPSAS. Manage the UNBOA comments and observations in the preparation of financial statements and resolve until the final submission to the General Assembly. Initiates, reviews, and coordinates amendments to various reports, Financial Policies and Finance Technical Instructions Agency-wide; coordinates implementation and compliance of International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSAS), and financial policies in cooperation with senior staff in Finance Department, at HQs and Fields, and other relevant departments. Act as a primary agency focal point for the UNBOA audits; receives audit queries, observations and recommendations; reviews, analyses and coordinates to collect inputs and responses including managing the status of various recommendations and reports to various stakeholders on periodic basis in coordination with senior staff in HQs and Fields. Is responsible for managing the General ledger, accounting for property, plant and equipment (PPE), intangible assets and assets under construction; is responsible for month-end and year-end closure of accounts including issuing instructions, policies, and procedures. authorizes vouchers and other transaction documents; assists, as required, in the examination and authorization of claims for and against the Agency. Works as Finance Department’s focal point on accounting and financial issues such as those in the agenda of the United Nations’ Finance and Budget Network, Chief Executive Bord (CEB), Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions (ACABQ) and Task Force; provides guidance on complex accounting issues requiring professional judgment, including review of various reports to meet UN HQ reporting needs and manages communications and escalation including field coordination for the purpose of resolving matters related to the functions. Assists her/his supervisor with a variety of special assignments requiring extensive research, data analysis and communications as required; represents the department in committees and forums as assigned, contribute to department’s initiatives and other assignments of relevance including officiating for the supervisor in his/her absence.

Competencies

UN Core Values of Integrity, Professionalism and Respect for Diversity, and Core Competencies of Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results apply by default. Default managerial competencies may apply. Planning and Organizing Leading and Supervising Relating and Networking Deciding and Initiating Action Analyzing For guidance on how to prepare for competency-based interviews: https://careers.un.org/lbw/home.aspx?viewtype=AYI

Education

Advanced university degree (Master’s or equivalent) from an accredited educational institution in accountancy, business administration or related field.

Job – Specific Qualification

Membership in a professional body of accountants (e.g., Institute of Chartered Accountants, Institute of Certified Public Accountants) is required.

Work Experience

At least seven years of progressively responsible and relevant professional experience in finance, accounting or business administration is required. At least our years of relevant experience in a senior supervisory position in a large international, governmental or commercial organisation in areas of financial accounting, experience working with contemporary ERP system is required. Unless already serving as an international staff member in the UN Common System, a candidate for an international post must have at least two continuous years of relevant international experience outside UNRWA, and outside the country(s) of which the candidate is a national or holds citizenship, a passport, or a national identity number is required. Advanced university degree (Master’s or equivalent) from an accredited educational institution in accountancy, business administration or related field is required. Working experience with either International Public Service Accounting Standards(IPSAS) or International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) is desirable.

Languages

Excellent command of written and spoken English.

Assessment

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

Special Notice

This is a UN Regular Budget post. Type of Contract and duration: 2 years, with the possibility of further extension. Only applications that have been fully completed in UNRWA’s online e-recruitment system inspira will be considered and no late applications will be accepted. The Personal History Profile (PHP) should be completed with full work experience under the experience tabs as per the requirements in the Job Opening. UNRWA welcomes applications from qualified candidates with disabilities. A roster may be created from the selection exercise, and successful candidates may become eligible for appointment to the same post or a similar post. Join our eco-friendly organization dedicated to environment sustainability and targeting to be plastic free by 2025. Equivalency: A first level university degree in combination with additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of an advanced university degree. NB: work experience alone or formal qualifications with no relevant work experience are not considered an acceptable combination. UNRWA is funded almost entirely by voluntary contributions from UN member states, regional bodies, business foundations and individual contributions. The mission of UNRWA is to help Palestine refugees achieve their full potential in human development under the difficult circumstances in which they live. For more details on UNRWA, please visit: https://www.unrwa.org/

United Nations Considerations

Staff members are subject to the authority of the Commissioner-General of UNRWA and to assignment by him or her. UNRWA is committed to achieving gender parity at all levels of staffing under the current UN-wide gender agenda and strongly encourages applications from qualified applicants from under-represented groups. At UNRWA, the paramount consideration in the recruitment and employment of staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence and integrity, with due regard to geographic diversity. All employment decisions are made on the basis of qualifications and organizational needs. UNRWA is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment of mutual respect. Reasonable accommodation for applicants with disabilities may be provided to support participation in the recruitment process when requested and indicated in the application. UNRWA Considerations UNRWA staff are expected to uphold the highest standards of efficiency, competence, neutrality, impartiality and integrity. This includes respect for and commitment to human rights, diversity and non-violent means of dealing with all kinds of conflict. Only persons who fully and unconditionally commit to these values should consider applying for UNRWA jobs. Candidates will not be considered for employment with UNRWA 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. Candidates who have committed crimes other than minor traffic offences may not be considered for employment. The Agency may disqualify applicants who have separated for reason of misconduct, who left a UN Agency while misconduct processes were pending, or who appear on the UN Sanctions List. UNRWA is a non-smoking work 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.

No Fee

THE UNITED NATIONS RELIEF AND WORKS AGENCY FOR PALESTINE REFUGEES IN THE NEAR EAST (UNRWA) DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE OR REQUEST MONEY FROM CANDIDATES AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT AND ONBOARDING PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING, ONBOARDING). UNRWA DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.