Org. Setting and Reporting

This position is located in the Provident and Insurance Group of International Officials (GPAFI), Geneva. The Administrative Officer reports to the Committee of GPAFI.

Responsibilities

Within limits of delegated authority, the incumbent will be responsible for the following duties:

Finance:
• Prepares, manages and monitors the budget; prepares financial reports and supporting documentation.
• Develops investment regulation and policy to ensure safety and optimum performance; ensures that GPAFI has sufficient funding in to meet its obligations at all time.
• Controls financial flows, cash-flow and investment returns.
Accounting:
• Assumes the responsibility of finance operations, account keeping and related matter; implements compliance with the IPSAS (International Public Sector Accounting Standards); monitors
monthly and year-end closure of accounts, bank reconciliations, Balance Sheet and P&L; ensures that accurate and complete accounting, reporting and internal control systems are
functioning and that all relevant records are maintained.
Strategy, Development & Marketing:
• Makes call for tender from insurance companies; conducts negotiations to obtain the best benefits and services for the members; proposes to the Committee collective contracts.
• Establishes strategic cooperation and partnership with international organizations and insurance companies.
• Develops and maintains contacts with international organizations,
administrations, human resources and medical services, staff health insurances and staff representative.
• Identifies and anticipates client needs, foresees trends, reviews and analyses the market, evaluates new products and provides insurance schemes which are the best suited to the United Nations system.
• Promotes GPAFI to international organizations to ensure its growth in the interest of its members; develops and implements a strategic marketing and communication plan.
• Organizes frequent meetings with the partners to keep a high level of benefits and services; initiates and organizes information sessions.
Organizing:
• Organizes and prepares meetings with the Committee and provides input, documents, position papers, briefing notes, financial reports, records, statistics and background documentation.
• Develops procedures and workflow process as well as technical documentation.
Human Resources:
• Assumes the responsibility of the secretariat; plans, organizes, manages and supervises the work of the staff; establishes and coordinates the individual work plans, controls the respect of deadlines, assures that all targets are attained and manages performance.
• Motivates the staff, promotes a culture of high performance, encourages the promotion and continuing training and education. 
Information Technology:
• Plans and directs all IT project; supervises,coordinates and oversees the development and implementation of applications by contractors and software companies.
• Ensures continuity in the system of document scanning and electronic archiving; examines all new IT developments and evaluates those that are of interest to GPAFI.

Competencies

PROFESSIONALISM: 
Extensive knowledge of health systems and especially of the basic plans of international organizations; ability to negotiate with insurance companies to influence the conditions of the contracts, in terms of premiums, benefits and services. Very good knowledge of the different insurance schemes in the UN system. Demonstrated ability to conduct clear and pertinent presentations, to make and defend recommendations. 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. 

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.

TECHNOLOGICAL AWARENESS: 
Keeps abreast of available technology; understands applicability and limitation of technology to the work of the office; actively seeks to apply technology to appropriate tasks; shows willingness to learn new technology. Strong computer skills including Microsoft software (Word, Excel, PowerPoint), accounting system and website software. 

LEADERSHIP: 
Serves as a role model that other people want to follow: empowers others to translate vision into results; is proactive in developing strategies to accomplish objectives; establishes and maintains relationships with a broad range of people to understand needs and gain support; anticipates and resolves conflicts by pursuing mutually agreeable solutions; drives for change and improvements; does not accept the status quo; shows the courage to take unpopular stands. Provides leadership and takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work; demonstrates knowledge of strategies and commitment to the goal of gender balance in staffing.

VISION: 
Identifies strategic issues, opportunities and risks; clearly communicates links between the Organization’s strategy and the work unit’s goals; generates and communicates broad and compelling organizational direction, inspiring others to pursue that same direction; conveys enthusiasm about future possibilities.

Education

Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent degree) in business administration, finance, accounting or related field. A first-level university degree in combination with two additional years of relevant work experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree. Certification in the field of accounting, finance or insurance is desirable.

Work Experience

At least seven years of progressively responsible experience in accounting, finance, budget, business administration, management or related area is required. Experience in the field of insurance, preferably within the UN Common System is desirable. Experience in IPSAS (International Public Sector Accounting Standards) is an advantage.

Languages

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

Assessment

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

Special Notice

This temporary position is intended to fill the functions for a limited duration, for a period of 364 days. The duration of the appointment is subject to availability of funds. Appointment to this post is limited to service within the Provident and insurance group of international officials (GPAFI). 

• Upon separation from service, including, but not limited to, expiration or termination of, or resignation from, a fixed-term, continuing or permanent appointment, a former staff member will be ineligible for re-employment on the basis of a temporary appointment for a period of 31 days following the separation. In the case of separation from service on retirement, a former staff member will be ineligible for re-employment for a period of three months following the separation. This equally applies, mutatis mutandis, with respect to a former or current staff member who has held or holds an appointment in another entity applying the United Nations Staff Regulations and Rules and who applies for a temporary position with the Secretariat.

• Retirees above the mandatory age of separation who wish to be considered for the current temporary job opening must indicate the reason for their last separation as “retirement.” Such retirees shall not be employed by the Organization, unless (a) the operational requirements of the Organization cannot be met by staff members who are qualified and available to perform the required functions; and (b) the proposed employment would not adversely affect the career development or redeployment opportunities of other staff members and represents both a cost-effective and operationally sound solution to meet the needs of the service.

• Subject to the funding source of the position, this temporary job opening may be limited to candidates based at the duty station.

• While this temporary assignment may provide the successful applicant with an opportunity to gain new work experience, the selection for this position is for a limited period and has no bearing on the future incumbency of the post. An external candidate selected for this position is bound by the prevailing condition of the staff selection system under ST/AI/2010/3, as amended, and ST/AI/2010/4/Rev.1. A staff member holding a temporary appointment who is recruited in the Professional and above categories on a temporary appointment, and placed on a position authorized for one year or longer may not apply for or be reappointed to his/her current position within six months of the end of his/her current service. This provision does not apply to staff members holding temporary appointments and placed on positions authorized for one year or more in duty stations authorized for peacekeeping operations or special political missions.

• The expression “Internal candidates”, shall mean staff members who have been recruited after a competitive examination under staff rule 4.16 or after the advice of a central review body under staff rule 4.15.

• Please note that candidates will be required to meet the requirements of Article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter as well as the requirements of the position. The United Nations is committed to the highest standards of efficiency, competence and integrity for all its human resources, including but not limited to respect for international human rights and humanitarian law. Candidates may be subject to screening against these standards, including but not limited to whether they have committed, or are alleged to have committed criminal offences and/or violations of international human rights law and international humanitarian law.

• For information on special post allowance, please refer to ST/AI/1999/17. For more details on the administration of temporary appointments please refer to ST/AI/2010/4/Rev.1.

• The Staff Regulations, Staff Rules and administrative issuances governing staff appointments can be viewed at: http://www.un.org/hr_handbook/English

• Staff members of the United Nations common system organizations who will reach the mandatory age of separation or retirement within the duration of the current temporary need period are not eligible to apply.

• Staff members are not eligible to apply for the current temporary job opening if they are unable to serve the specified duration of temporary need before reaching the mandatory age of separation. Submitting an application or selection for the current temporary job opening does not delay or increase the mandatory age of separation.

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 or sexual abuse, or crimes other than minor traffic offences, 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.

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.

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.