Accountant (Grants)

This position is located in the Finance Section, Financial Resources Management Service (FRMS) at United Nations Office in Geneva. This position involves a variety of tasks which include the maintenance and validation of various operations with respect to extra budgetary fund accounting, resolution of queries from staff and other UN units, and the preparation of financial statements and bank reconciliation statements. The Accountant will report to the Head of the Unit.

**Responsibilities**:
Within delegated authority, the Accountant will be responsible for the following duties:

- Analyses extra budgetary accounts and reviews/evaluates regular financial reports.
- Identifies problem transactions and irregularities in related accounts, resolving them in a timely and effective manner.
- Approves/Confirms that proposed obligations or expenditure for services, facilities supplies and equipment expenses, as well as those pertaining to personnel, are in accordance with the Financial Regulations and Rules of the UN, relevant appropriations and staffing tables and corresponding approved allotments.
- Reviews and approves payments to implementing partners to ensure they are according to UN financial rules and signed agreements.
- Ensures grant master data entered in Umoja SAP is in accordance with signed donor agreements.
- Performs grant billing in accordance with IPSAS recognition criteria for revenue, assets and liabilities.
- Reviews refunds to donors and reviews expired grants for closure.
- Performs year-end accruals for voluntary contributions and grants out to implementing partners.
- Ensures that accurate and complete accounting, reporting and internal control systems are functioning and that all relevant records are maintained.
- Assists, prepares or consolidates financial statements for inclusion in the UN Financial Statements to be audited.
- Provides advice and guidance concerning the United Nations’ Financial Regulations and Rules and Accounting Instructions.
- Provides authoritative interpretation of requirements for handling transactions relating to Grants/Extra budgetary resources.
- Coordinates and supervises the processing of IOV’s, payroll, government and vendor claims, travel, and billing of government accounts.
- Monitors, analyses, and approves diverse finance transactions, specifically in the area of grants management for entry into the ERP system.
- Keeps abreast and provides guidance on the United Nations on billings related to the Enterprise Resources Planning System (Umoja) procedures.
- Defines requirements and works with systems units with respect to the production of relevant financial reports.
- Participates in the development of accounting policies.
- Provides information needed to respond to audit findings.
- Performs other related duties as required.

Competencies

TEAMWORK: Works collaboratively with colleagues to achieve organizational goals; solicits input by genuinely valuing others’ ideas and expertise; is willing to learn from others; places team agenda before personal agenda; supports and acts in accordance with final group decision, even when such decisions may not entirely reflect own position; shares credit for team accomplishments and accepts joint responsibility for team shortcomings.

CLIENT ORIENTATION: Considers all those to whom services are provided to be “clients” and seeks to see things from clients’ point of view; establishes and maintains productive partnerships with clients by gaining their trust and respect; identifies clients’ needs and matches them to appropriate solutions; monitors ongoing developments inside and outside the clients’ environment to keep informed and anticipate problems; keeps clients informed of progress or setbacks in projects; meets timeline for delivery of products or services to client.

Education
Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in business administration, finance, accounting or related field. A first-level university degree in combination with 2 years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Job - Specific Qualification
Certification as a Certified Public Accountant (CPA), Chartered Accountant (CA) or equivalent is desirable.

Work Experience
A minimum of five years of progressively responsible professional experience in accounting, finance, budget, administration is required.

A minimum of two years of experience in the area of grants is required.

Experience with Enterprise Resources Planning (ERP), such as SAP is desirable.

Experience of working within the UN Common System is desirable.

Experience in auditing financial statements is desirable.

Languages
English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the position advertised, fluency in English is required. Knowledge of French is desirable.

Assessment

Special Notice

At the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the recruitment and employment of