Org. Setting and Reporting

The Department of Field Support (DFS) works with UN and non-UN partners to plan, mobilize and sustain operations in the world’s most complex environments. The Department’s services range from budget, finance, human resources and technology to supply chain, facility and asset management (https://peacekeeping.un.org/en/department-of-field-support). 

The Field Budget and Finance Division (FBFD) provides financial expertise in managing funds and resources of field operations and facilitates timely reimbursement of participating nations. (https://peacekeeping.un.org/en/department-of-field-support).

This position is located in the Memorandum of Understanding and Claims Management Section (MCMS) of the Field Budget and Finance Division (FBFD), Department of Field Support (DFS). The Finance Officer reports to the Chief of Section.

Responsibilities

Within delegated authority, the Finance Officer will be responsible for the following duties: 

-Provides guidance and analysis to the Section Chief to support the preparation of Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) with contributing countries, in conjunction with input from across DFS and the Department of Peacekeeping Operations (DPKO), to support the deployment of military and police contingents to United Nations field missions.
-Plans and oversees the activities of a team of 6-9 staff in ensuring the accurate and timely calculation of reimbursements payable to Member States for the lease and deployment of equipment and other items needed to sustain the operations of military and police contingents in United Nations field missions. 
-Provides substantive support to relevant intergovernmental and expert bodies.
-Assesses claims from Member States for compensation for the death or disability of military or police personnel deployed to United Nations field missions, coordinating input as needed from medical and legal sources. 
-Manages, supervises and carries out the work programme of a small unit by maintaining and updating detailed processes and procedures; prioritizing, assigning and guiding individual responsibilities; developing needed expertise and knowledge; evaluating performance; and identifying opportunities for improvement.
-Prepares and provides guidance and other information as needed on payment of death and disability compensation and reimbursement of equipment costs in discussions with representatives of countries contributing military and police contingents to United Nations field missions.
-Drafts reports for intergovernmental bodies and for management on budgetary issues, and correspondence.
-Ensures detailed calculations are accurate and acts as a Certifying Officer under Financial Rule 110.4 to ensure that proposed payments are in accordance with approved funding allotments and UN Regulations and Rules.
-Ensures the integrity of financial and management systems and the controls that underpin them.
-Represents division in inter and intra-departmental meetings.
-May plan, organize, manage and supervise the work of the Unit/Section assigned.
-Incumbents may be asked to perform other related duties.

Competencies

Professionalism: Proven analytical skills and ability to provide advice in a complex organizational setting. Demonstrated capacity to undertake complex negotiations and engage other stakeholders in discussing military and police equipment and other capabilities. Experience in developing and administering policies and procedures in calculating significant payments and analyzing related 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. Takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work.

Planning and Organizing: Develops clear goals and procedures that are consistent with agreed strategies and deadlines; identifies priority activities and assignments, and adjusts as required; allocates appropriate amount of time and resources for completing work; foresees risks and allows for contingencies when planning; monitors and adjusts plans and actions as necessary; uses time efficiently.

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 degree) in business or public administration, accounting, finance, logistics or related field. A first-level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Work Experience

A minimum of seven years of progressively responsible experience in finance, accounting, financial transactional processing, or related area is required. Experience in military or police planning operations and associated equipment and concepts is required. Experience working in or in support of peacekeeping or similar field operations is desirable. Experience in processing complex claims based on negotiated multi-stakeholders agreements is desirable.

Languages

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the post advertised, fluency in English is required. Knowledge of French is desirable. Knowledge of another UN official language is an advantage.

Assessment

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

Special Notice

This post is financed by the Support Account for Peacekeeping Operations.

Appointment against this position is for an initial period of one year.

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 procedure.

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

Applicants from troop- and police-contributing countries who are found most suitable and recommended for selection will be given due consideration for positions in a peacekeeping operation or Headquarters support account funded positions in the Department of Peacekeeping Operations and the Department of Field Support, taking into account their contribution to United Nations peacekeeping, in accordance with General Assembly resolutions 66/265 and 67/287.

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.