FINANCE OFFICER, CHIEF PAYROLL UNIT

The Department of Operational Support (DOS) was established to provide end-to-
end operational support, advisory services and other solutions to operating
entities across the Secretariat, including departments, offices away from
headquarters, peace operations, and regional commissions.

Under the strategic guidance of the Department of Operational Support (DOS),
the Kuwait Joint Support Office (KJSO) provides efficient and client-oriented
services with the goal of moving transactional, non-location dependent
administrative functions from its client entities. These include transactional
elements of human resources, finance, travel and payroll.

The Finance Officer / Chief Payroll Unit will be based in Kuwait and directly
report to the Deputy Chief, KJSO while providing relevant advice to the Chief
KJSO.
Responsibilities
Within delegated authority, the Finance Officer will carry out the following
duties:
Accounts:
* Reviews and verifies the closing of monthly accounts and preparation of financial statements for submission to Headquarters.
* Verifies the data reported in the financial statements.
* Scrutinizes source documents for completeness, accuracy and validity of charges.
* Reviews and approves various vouchers and accounting transactions, e.g., payroll, payment of staff entitlements, final payments, travel claims, vendor invoices, agencies, field missions, etc., to ensure adherence to relevant staff rules, financial regulations and rules, guidelines or practices.
* Investigates erroneous charges and takes appropriate corrective accounting actions.
* Reviews and reconciles suspense accounts and ensure proper clearance procedures have been followed.
* Reviews and verifies bank reconciliations on a monthly basis.
* Examines details of income, expenditure, assets and liability from accounting system in order to analyze and verify accuracy and validity.
* Examines the validity of requests for increases in petty cash levels; approve disbursement vouchers to replenish petty cash accounts.
* Serves as Approving Officer for the Finance Section.
* Supervises other General Service or Field Service staff as required.
* Responds to queries from staff members and third parties.

Payroll/Cashier:
* Oversees the processing of monthly payrolls and final pay for National Staff and Individual Uniform Personnel (IUPs). Performs approval of off cycle and release for National Staff and IUPs.
* Performs approval of off cycle approval of relocation grant and settling-in-grant for International Staff. Performs approval of travel expense reports for KJSO's full service client mission.
* Processes Individual Contractor and Consultant payments for KJSO's full service client missions.
* Overseas the reissuance of rejected & returned payroll deposits for National Staff and IUPs.
* Monitors/reviews methods used to remit payments and supervises investigation of non-receipt of payments.
* Responsible for monitoring the transmittal of payments worldwide.
* Reviews incoming payment instructions with regard to banking details and sources of funds.
* Prepares payments for final disbursement by Cashier.
* Monitors the dispatch of payment instructions and cheques to banks.
* Verifies receipts and deposit slips for all incoming funds.
* Assists staff members regarding queries on payment and deposit-related issues.
* Identifies and annotate bank account movements.
* Assists the Chief of Unit/Section in cash management, including preparing cash flow forecasts.
* Investigates complaints of non-receipt.
* Monitors cheque stock and cash receipt vouchers and requests for new stock as required.
* Ensures that cash in the vault are accounted for on a daily basis.
* In the absence of a Chief Cashier, oversee the daily operation of the Cashier's Unit including the transmittal of payments.

General:
* Lead the KJSO Payroll Unit by drafting and implementing the team Balance Scorecard, work plan and key performance indicators as well as empowering staff.
* Keeps up-to-date on documents/reports/guidelines that have a bearing on matters related to programme, ensuring compliance with intergovernmental recommendations and decisions as well as with United Nations policies and procedures.
* Provides guidance and training (including preparation of training materials) to junior staff with respect to transaction processing and the use of ERP system (Umoja).
* Drafts/verifies memoranda and/or cables relevant to financial and budget matters to various offices, departments and missions.
* Performs other related duties, as assigned.
Competencies
• Professionalism: Knowledge of accounting, finance and budget functions,
payroll processing and administration. Ability to analyse and apply data
across the full range of finance, payroll and accounting functions.
Demonstrated use of initiative and ability to make appropriate linkages in
work processes and anticipate next steps showing skills and ability to analyse
and interpret financial data. Shows pride in work and in achievements;
demonstrates professional competence and mastery of subject matter; is
conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and
achieving results; is motivated by professional rather than personal concerns;
shows persistence when faced with difficult problems or challenges; remains
calm in stressful situations. Takes responsibility for incorporating gender
perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all
areas of work.

• 
  

  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.

  
  


• 
  

  Managing performance: Delegates the appropriate responsibility, accountability and decision-making authority. Makes sure that roles, responsibilities and reporting lines are clear to each staff member. Accurately judges the amount of time and resources needed to accomplish a task and matches task to skills. Monitors progress against milestones and deadlines. Regularly discusses performance and provides feedback and coaching to staff. Encourages risk-taking and supports creativity and initiative. Actively supports the development and career aspirations of staff. Appraises performance fairly.
  Education
  High school diploma or equivalent is required. Technical or vocational
  certificate in accounting, finance, budget or related fields is required.
  Work Experience
  A minimum of ten (‎10) years of progressively responsible experience within the
  United Nations system or in the private sector at the national or
  international level in accounting, budgeting or financial management is
  required. The minimum years of relevant experience is reduced to ‎5 years for
  candidates who possess a first level University Degree.

  
  

A minimum of four (‎4) years of experience in running payroll in an ERP system
is required.

A minimum of four (‎4 years) of experience in payroll administration for
national and international staff members and uniformed personnel is desirable.

A minimum of three (‎3) years of experience working within a Shared Service
Center is desirable.
Languages
For the position advertised, fluency in English is required.

Note: "Fluency" equals a rating of 'fluent' in all four areas (speak, read,
write, and understand) and "Knowledge of" equals a rating of 'confident' in
two of the four areas.
Assessment
Evaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise which
may be followed by competency-based interview.
Special Notice
At the United Nations, 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. The United Nations is committed to creating a diverse
and inclusive environment of mutual respect. The United Nations recruits and
employs staff regardless of gender identity, sexual orientation, race,
religious, cultural and ethnic backgrounds or disabilities. Reasonable
accommodation for applicants with disabilities may be provided to support
participation in the recruitment process when requested and indicated in the
application.

Appointment or assignment against this position is for an initial period of
one year. The appointment or assignment and renewal thereafter is subject to
the availability of the post or funds, budgetary approval or extension of the
mandate.

The United Nations Secretariat is committed to achieving ‎50/‎50 gender balance
and geographical diversity in its staff. Female candidates are strongly
encouraged to apply for this position.

Staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General and to
assignment by him or her. In this context, all staff are expected to move
periodically to new functions in their careers in accordance with established
rules and procedures.
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.

The paramount consideration in the appointment, transfer, or promotion of
staff shall be the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency,
competence, and integrity. By accepting an offer of appointment, United
Nations staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General
and assignment by him or her to any activities or offices of the United
Nations in accordance with staff regulation ‎1.2 (c). In this context, all
internationally recruited staff members shall be required to move periodically
to discharge new functions within or across duty stations under conditions
established by the Secretary-General.

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 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.