Assistant Accounting Officer - Bank Reconciliation

H (no hardship)FamilyFamily NOANational Professional Officer

Reason

Regular > Regular AssignmentNo2025-02-01February 26, 2025

Assistant Accounting Officer

Organizational Setting and Work Relationships

The Global Financial Service (GFS) within UNHCR’s Division of Financial and Administrative Management (DFAM) of UNHCR is responsible for maintaining, monitoring, analyzing, and reporting on the statutory and management financial information recorded in UNHCR’s accounts and used in various reports, including UNHCR’s annual financial statements. GFS also provides transaction processing and payment services to an increasing number of operational locations with a view to further enhancing the speed and efficiency of the related processes.

The Central Accounting Unit (CAU) plays an essential role in ensuring that the Organization's financial statements comply with UN Financial Regulations, the UNHCR Financial Rules and International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSAS) and strives to strengthen the quality of financial management and control in UNHCR. 

The Accounts Receivable and Donor Reporting (ARDR) Unit processes incoming deposits and provides related technical support to the field operations, accounts for revenue adjustments, raises bills for miscellaneous income, coordinates the accounts closure and audit for AR and revenue, compiles financial reports to UNHCR’s donors, which requires active liaison with colleagues from the Division of External Relations (DER) and the respective field offices.

The Accounts Payable (AP) Unit processes AP vouchers and central payments for UNHCR and several field offices, provides related technical support to the Field and coordinates the accounts closure and audit for AP and expenses.

Under the general direction of the relevant Head of Unit, the incumbent manages and oversees global accounting processes within the Area of Responsibility (AoR) and contributes to analysing and reporting on the corporate-level accounting results of UNHCR in compliance with the UN Financial Regulations, UNHCR’s rules and IPSAS, as applicable. The incumbent supervises national professional and general service staff to achieve the overall deliverables of the unit. S/he frequently interacts with other functional units within and outside the GFS, e.g., in the Treasury Service of DFAM, the Personnel Administration Section (PAS) and the Global Payroll Section (GPS) of the Division of Human Resources (DHR) and other HQ divisions to ensure the accuracy and effectiveness of financial accounting and reporting at UNHCR and maintains frequent contact with managers and finance staff in field locations to advise them on accounting and financial reporting issues.

All UNHCR staff members are accountable to perform their duties as reflected in their job description. They do so within their delegated authorities, in line with the regulatory framework of UNHCR which includes the UN Charter, UN Staff Regulations and Rules, UNHCR Policies and Administrative Instructions as well as relevant accountability frameworks. In addition, staff members are required to discharge their responsibilities in a manner consistent with the core, functional, cross-functional and managerial competencies and UNHCR’s core values of professionalism, integrity and respect for diversity.

Duties

• Contribute to the design and implementation of accounting procedures in specified areas and facilitate the implementation of new accounting standards and policies.

• Oversee the recording of transactions and approve those.

• Facilitate the application of UNHCR's established accounting and financial reporting procedures, in compliance with IPSAS, UNHCR, and UN financial regulations and rules.

• Supervise a team of accountants as assigned.

• Establish procedures to monitor compliance by users in different entities with the relevant financial rules, regulations, and procedures and assist in enforcing quality assurance protocols, perform and facilitate regular reviews of transactions and the global accounts.

• Coordinate the provision of technical support to field offices, regional bureaux and HQ divisions, and provide answers and guidelines to accounting and finance-related matters.

• Present and coordinate the preparation of detailed accounting analysis, financial reports and audit documentation, and analyze data.

• Contribute to the periodic closure of UNHCR’s global accounts, the reconciliation of the general ledger to subledgers, enforce quality control, perform account reconciliations, and regularly review open transactions and suspense accounts within the area(s) of responsibility.

• Foster continuous learning, and make well-founded proposals for system, policy and process enhancements.

• Identify skill gaps within the team and globally based on systemic issues in the accounts and coordinate with the supervisor for training programs, and deliver trainings as assigned.

• Support the rollout of new systems and processes, and contribute to testing, system development and deployment.

• Support the identification and management of risks and seek to seize opportunities impacting objectives in the area of responsibility. Ensure decision-making is risk-based in the functional area of work. Raise risks, issues and concerns to a supervisor or to a relevant functional colleague(s).

• Perform other related duties as required.

Minimum Qualifications

Years of Experience / Degree Level

For P1/NOA - 1 year relevant experience with Undergraduate degree; or no experience with Graduate degree; or no experience with Doctorate degree

Field(s) of Education

Accounting;          Finance;               Public Administration;        

Business Administration;    Economics or other relevant field.

Certificates and/or Licenses

Accounting;                                       Certified Public Accountant;

Chartered Accountant (CA);             Association of Certified Charted Accountants (ACCA)

(Certificates and Licenses marked with an asterisk* are essential)

Relevant Job Experience

Essential

Work experience in overseeing corporate level accounting processes and/or general ledger accounting. Good knowledge of, and experience in working with international accounting and auditing standards, with practical experience in the audit process and/or in financial statements preparation. Working experience with accrual accounting (such as IPSAS or IFRS). Experience with financial modules of a major Enterprise Resource Planning system (such as PeopleSoft, SAP or Oracle).

Desirable

Knowledge of UNHCR specific systems (such as Oracle Fusion Cloud ERP). Knowledge of United Nations financial rules and procedures.

Functional Skills

FI-Financial Accrual Accounting under internationally accepted standards (IFRS,IPSAS,etc)

FI-Financial Accounting - Modified cash-based accounting as per international standards

FI-ERP Financial Management (SAP, Oracle, PeopleSoft, Workday and other)

DM-Data Collection and Analysis

EL-Monitoring and Evaluation

(Functional Skills marked with an asterisk* are essential)

Language Requirements

For International Professional and Field Service jobs: Knowledge of English and the UN working language of the duty station if not English.

For National Professional jobs: Knowledge of English and UN working language of the duty station if not English and local language.

For General Service jobs: Knowledge of English and/or UN working language of the duty station if not English.

Competency Requirements

All jobs at UNHCR require six core competencies and may also require managerial competencies and/or cross-functional competencies. The six core competencies are listed below.

Core Competencies

Accountability

Communication

Organizational Awareness

Teamwork & Collaboration

Commitment to Continuous Learning

Client & Result Orientation

Managerial Competencies

Empowering and Building Trust

Managing Resources

Judgement and Decision Making

Cross-Functional Competencies

Analytical Thinking

Negotiation and Conflict Resolution

Planning and Organizing

All UNHCR workforce members must individually and collectively, contribute towards a working environment where each person feels safe, and empowered to perform their duties. This includes by demonstrating no tolerance for sexual exploitation and abuse, harassment including sexual harassment, sexism, gender inequality, discrimination, and abuse of power.

As individuals and as managers, all must be proactive in preventing and responding to inappropriate conduct, support ongoing dialogue on these matters and speaking up and seeking guidance and support from relevant UNHCR resources when these issues arise.

This is a Standard Job Description for all UNHCR jobs with this job title and grade level. The Operational Context may contain additional essential and/or desirable qualifications relating to the specific operation and/or position. Any such requirements are incorporated by reference in this Job Description and will be considered for the screening, shortlisting and selection of candidates.

The ideal candidate has the following extensive experience:
• Progressively responsible experience in finance, accounting, or related areas, with a strong background in accounts payable, accounts receivable, treasury and cash management processes.
• Expertise in bank reconciliation, including handling multiple currencies, international banking systems, and managing large volumes of transactions.
• Demonstrated experience in the design and implementation of reconciliation processes, internal controls, and financial workflows at an organizational or global level.
• Experience with preparation and presentation of detailed reports on finance processes to support operational effectiveness and decision-making.
• Experience in maintaining and managing ERP master data.
• Experience in testing and implementing seeded rules and automation solutions for bank reconciliation processes.
• Experience with bank reconciliation or finance processes in a UNHCR or UN System field environment, or a large international organization is desirable.
• Experience managing a team of finance staff is desirable.

The ideal candidate will also demonstrate:
• Ability to address complex reconciliation issues, identify root causes, and develop solutions that enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of financial operations.
• A strong service mentality towards (internal or external) the unit’s clients and stakeholders;
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to interact effectively with stakeholders at various levels, both internally and externally.
• Strong interpersonal skills with the capacity to work collaboratively across different departments and geographical locations, fostering teamwork and a positive working environment.
• Ability to operate in a dynamic, fast-paced environment and adapt to changes while maintaining a high level of accuracy and attention to detail.
• Focus on process improvement and new IT system implementations.

International candidates with valid Hungarian residence permit are eligible to apply.

Additional information:
Candidates must be legally present in Hungary at the time of application, recruitment and hire.

Remuneration:
In case of appointment, a competitive compensation and benefits package is offered.

Benefits:
Annual leave: UNHCR staff members holding a temporary appointment will accrue annual leave at the rate of 2.5 working days for each full calendar months of service (i.e. 30 working days per year).

Pension system: Staff members holding a fixed-term appointment will become participants in the United Nations Joint Staff Pension Fund (UNJSPF).

Health insurance plan: locally recruited staff members in Budapest will be enrolled in the Medical Insurance Plan (MIP). The coverage is also optionally available for eligible family members.

Shortlisted candidates may be required to sit for a test. No late applications will be accepted. UNHCR is committed to diversity and welcomes applications from qualified candidates regardless of disability, gender identity, marital or civil partnership status, race, colour or ethnic and national origins, religion or belief, or sexual orientation. UNHCR does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process (application, interview meeting, processing, training or any other fees).English

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Operational context

Occupational Safety and Health Considerations:

To view occupational safety and health considerations for this duty station, please visit this link: https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel

Nature of Position:

The Bank Reconciliation Unit (BRU) is an integral part of the Finance Shared Services Section (FSSS) within the Global Finance Service (GFS) of the Division of Financial and Administrative Management (DFAM) at UNHCR. The Unit is responsible for ensuring timely and accurate reconciliation of UNHCR’s bank accounts globally in strict accordance with Financial Rules and Regulations.

Under the general supervision of the Chief of the Bank Reconciliation Unit (BRU), the Assistant Accounting Officer plays a key role in ensuring the accurate and timely reconciliation of UNHCR bank accounts, and contributing to the broader success of the Global Finance Services through safeguarding UNHCR’s financial accountability. The incumbent is expected to ensure that reconciliation tasks are completed within set deadlines while maintaining the integrity and accuracy of financial data. The incumbent maintains frequent contact with finance staff in field operations to resolve bank reconciliation issues and exceptions, and contributes to the delivery and continuous improvement of the bank reconciliation function, supporting the design and implementation of global bank reconciliation processes, including mapping of process flows, testing automation rules, and enforcing internal controls.

Living and Working Conditions:

Additional Qualifications

Skills

DM-Data Collection and Analysis, EL-Monitoring and Evaluation, FI-ERP Financial Management (SAP, Oracle, PeopleSoft, Workday and other), FI-Financial Accounting - Modified cash-based accounting as per international standards, FI-Financial Accrual Accounting under internationally accepted standards (IFRS,IPSAS,etc)Bachelor of Arts (BA): Accounting, Bachelor of Arts (BA): Business Administration, Bachelor of Arts (BA): Economics, Bachelor of Arts (BA): Finance, Bachelor of Arts (BA): Public Administration

Certifications

Accounting - Other, Business Administration - Other, Economics - Other, Finance - Other, Public Administration - Other

Competencies

Accountability, Analytical thinking, Client & results orientation, Commitment to continuous learning, Communication, Empowering & building trust, Judgement & decision making, Managing resource, Negotiation & conflict resolution, Organizational awareness, Planning & organizing, Teamwork & collaboration

https://icsc.un.org/Home/SalaryScales

Compendium

Additional Information

This position requires Functional Clearance