Chief of Payroll, P3 – ECA

Posting Title: Chief of Payroll, P3
Job Code Title: CHIEF FINANCE OFFICER
Department/Office: Economic Commission for Africa
Duty Station: ADDIS ABABA
Deadline  28 November 2021
Job Opening Number: 21-Finance-ECA-165361-R-Addis Ababa (G)
Staffing Exercise N/A
United Nations Core Values: Integrity, Professionalism, Respect for Diversity

Org. Setting and Reporting 

ECA’s mission is to deliver ideas and actions for an empowered and transformed Africa; informed by the 2030 Agenda and Agenda 2063.

The mission will be guided by ECA’s five new strategic directions, which are: advancing ECA’s position as a premier knowledge institution that builds on its unique; position and privilege to bring global solutions to the continent’s problems and take local solution to the continent; developing macroeconomic and structural policy options to accelerate economic diversification and job creation; designing and implementing innovative financing models for infrastructure, and for human, physical and social assets for a transforming Africa; contributing solutions to regional and transboundary challenges, with a focus on peace security and social inclusion as an important development nexus; advocating Africa’s position at the global level and developing regional responses as a contribution to global governance issues.

This position is located in the Finance and Budget Section, Division of Administration, United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The incumbent will report to the Chief of Finance and Budget Section.

Responsibilities

Under the supervision of the Chief of Finance and Budget Section, the Chief of the Payroll and Disbursement Unit will be responsible for the following duties:

Payroll
•Manages, administers and approves ECA payroll by managing the administration of salaries, and reviewing the results to ensure accuracy, completeness and reason-ability;
•Manages insurance premiums, approves salary advances, rental advances and separation entitlements;
•Reviews and approves yearly pension participant reconciliation exception reports;
•Reviews and approves separation notifications upon the expiration of staff contracts;
•Liaises with Human Resources on a continuous basis to ensure that staff members records are complete and correct;
•Provides advice and guidance concerning the United Nations Financial Rules and Regulations, Accounting Instructions, Staffing Rules and Regulations and related administrative policies and practices;
•Coordinates and supervises the processing of payroll, vendor and travel claims, and other payments;
•Defines requirements and works with systems units with respect to production of relevant financial reports;
•Serves as local process experts in Umoja for payroll and staff benefit related modules and its troubleshooting.

Disbursement
•Manages, administers and approves daily subsistence allowance (DSA) payments to participants directly or through the use of conference payment master;
•Process accurately payment to travel agencies after reviewing the related travel authorizations;
•Verifies the correctness of DSA requested; approves the related expense reports;
•Approves/confirms proposed obligations or expenditure for services, facilities supply and equipment expenses, as well as those pertaining to personnel, are in accordance with the Financial Rules and Regulations, Staffing Rules and Regulation of the UN, relevant appropriations and staffing tables and corresponding approved allotments;
•Ensures that accurate and complete accounting, reporting and internal control systems are functioning and that all relevant records are maintained;
•Manages and improves the procedures and controls in relation to the timely processing of payment and settlement related to expense reports;
•Manages and improves the procedures and controls in relation to the timely processing of payment and settlement related Individual contradictors/Consultant payment;
•Manages and improves the procedures and controls in relation to the timely processing of vendor payment, advance payment, transfer of funds to UN agencies;
•Manages and improves the operation of vendor and travel claims ensuring timely and error free processing of claims and approves related AP documents in Umoja;
•Reviews request for settlement of invoices, special service agreements, individual contractor’s fees and approves related payment;
•Monitors, analyses, and manages open items related to AP; monitors and reports status of open items to supervisor;
•Regularly runs MRRL Batch for CIC payments;
•Serves as Local Process Expert in Umoja Financial report, travel module and other payment modules including troubleshooting;
•Assist all clients in the processing of expense reports and other payments;
•Keeps abreast of and provides guidance on the United Nations related Umoja functionalities.

General
•Participates in administrative and staff management; organizes and distributes work assignments amongst staff; prepares job descriptions; identifies staff development needs and encourages staff participation in development and learning activities; serves and participates as focal person in AP and Payroll related global network through regular VC and other modes of networking;
•Monitors and evaluates staff performance and provides objective performance appraisal reports;
•Participates in staff selection and staffing arrangements; participates in meetings representing the Section/Team; responds to audit and other queries as appropriate;
•Participates in the AP-related BI reports development and its fine-tuning;
•Organizes team meetings to exchange information, updates staff and agrees on what needs to be done with regard to areas for improvement and celebrates achievements; works closely with the Global Netting team to clear longstanding receivables and other open items;
•Participates in Ad hoc assignments – represents management in the UN Inter-Agency Standing Committee on DSA Survey as coordinator and other staff benefit related surveys;
•Responds to internal/external audit observations and implement successfully audit recommendation;
•Provides appropriate and relevant information needed to respond to audit findings;
•Performs other related duties as required.

Competencies

Professionalism:
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.

Planning and Organizing:
Develops clear goals that are consistent with agreed strategies. Identifies priority activities and assignments; adjusts priorities 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.

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

An advanced university degree (Master’s or Doctorate degree, or equivalent) in business administration, finance, accounting or related fields is required. A first-level degree (Bachelor’s degree or equivalent) in the specified fields of studies with two additional years of relevant work experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree. Certification as a Certified Public Accountant (CPA), Chartered Accountant (CA) is desirable.

Job – Specific Qualification

Certification as a Certified Public Accountant (CPA), Chartered Accountant (CA) is desirable.

Work Experience

A minimum of five years of progressively responsible professional experience in accounting, finance, budget, administration and accounts payable is required.

Knowledge of any ERP/SAP system or equivalent is desirable.

Knowledge of payroll is desirable.

Languages

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

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.

Pursuant to section 7.11 of ST/AI/2012/2/Rev.1, candidates recruited through the young professionals programme who have not served for a minimum of two years in the position of their initial assignment are not eligible to apply to this position.

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.

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.

For this position, applicants from the following Member States, which are unrepresented or underrepresented in the UN Secretariat as of 30 April 2021, are strongly encouraged to apply: Afghanistan, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Bahrain, Belize, Brunei Darussalam, Cabo Verde, Cambodia, China, Comoros, Cuba, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Djibouti, Dominica, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Grenada, Guinea-Bissau, Japan, Kiribati, Kuwait, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Monaco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nauru, Norway, Oman, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Russian Federation, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Sudan, Suriname, Timor-Leste, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, United Arab Emirates, United States of America, Vanuatu, Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela.

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.