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Finance Specialist, (P-3), TA (6 Months), # 129078, Finance, PFP, Geneva, Switzerland

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Job no: 573017

Contract type: Temporary Appointment

Duty Station: Geneva

Level: P-3

Location: Switzerland

Categories: Financial Management

UNICEF works in over 190 countries and territories to save children’s lives, defend their rights, and help them fulfill their potential, from early childhood through adolescence.

At UNICEF, we are committed, passionate, and proud of what we do. Promoting the rights of every child is not just a job it is a calling. UNICEF is a place where careers are built, we offer our staff diverse opportunities for personal and professional development that will help them develop a fulfilling career while delivering on a rewarding mission. We pride ourselves on a culture that helps staff thrive, coupled with an attractive compensation and benefits package.

Visit our website to learn more about what we do at UNICEF.

UNICEF’s Private Fundraising and Partnerships (PFP) Division works to deliver income, influence, and brand recognition for UNICEF globally. Within the PFP Division, the Financial Services Unit (FSU) is responsible for overseeing the complete, accurate and timely recording of accounting transactions relating to the Division of Private Fundraising and Partnerships and reporting on PFP’s results to the UNICEF Executive Board. The Unit manages corporate reporting from UNICEF National Committees and country offices and advises on financial processes related to all aspects of private sector fundraising operations.

For every child, a Champion

Under the overall guidance of the Finance Manager (Financial Services), the incumbent of this appointment will be responsible for the implementation of the risk-based approach to contracting with digital fundraising providers, Payment Service Providers (PSPs), and Alternative Payment Methods, due to the importance of diversifying private sector fundraising sources.

How can you make a difference?

1. Review current processes, suggest and implement recommendations for their strengthening in line with conditions set out by DFAM

• In close cooperation with the relevant PFP teams and UNICEF country offices, review current process of contracting and working with Payment Service Providers (PSPs) and Alternative Payment Methods (APMs) with a purpose to suggest changes to this process to respond to the recommendations and conditions set out by the Division of the Financial and Administrative Management (DFAM).
• Develop clear documentation of the updated process including required templates and checklists, visual workflows, videos, flowcharts, guidance manuals, online forms, etc. Make information easily accessible using internal channels such as Intranet, Sharepoint, etc.

2. Create and inventory of the existing Payment Service Providers (PSPs) and Alternative Payment Methods (APMs)

• In close cooperation with UNICEF country offices, produce a list of all active PSPs (Payment Services Provider) and APM providers (PSPs and APMs Inventory), attested to by Deputy Representatives of Operations, along with copies of executed legal documentation. Prepare the collected information for sharing with other relevant UNICEF teams including the analysis of all the related terms and conditions of such arrangements and recommendations of further actions.
• Actively participate in working on the new arrangements with PSPs and APMs making sure that all the financial and other relevant conditions are properly covered and approved. Maintain the PSPs’ and APMs’ Inventory
• Providing regular (quarterly) internal updates on it including for cases when existing global PSPs agreements were extended to new territories.

3. Develop various monitoring mechanisms for the new process of contracting and working with PSPs and APM providers

• In close collaboration with PFP Finance and Operations and DFAM, develop effective sub-processes to set-up monitoring activities as outlined by the conditions received from DFAM and as recommended by internal controls best practices.
• When possible, offer self-service tools via online reporting solutions (i.e. MS Forms) to reduce manual work, facilitate automation and increase efficiencies.

4. Provide guidance, support and training to UNICEF country offices and other relevant stakeholders

• Develop training materials and participate in capacity building sessions for/with UNICEF country offices related to different aspects of the financial and overall management of PSPs and APM providers, including but not limited to monitoring of fees, account balances and transfers, preparation of reconciliations, establishment of proper segregations of duties. Prepare the workflow to contract PSPs and manage them after the contracting stage. Assist UNICEF country offices in ongoing monitoring and regular clearance of the PSPs and APM providers.

5. Other

• Perform other tasks as requested by the Supervisor, in the domain of digital fundraising for UNICEF.

DELIVERABLES:

• Documentation and workflow of the updated business processes to contract and manage PSPs and APM providers are created and agreed on, including but not limited to templates, checklists and flowcharts as required for the updated process, with publishing it on the Intranet as applicable.
• The PSPs and APMs Inventory is created and maintained.
• Business processes in relation to the work with PSPs and APMs, including efficient monitoring mechanisms, is followed and/or updated as required.
• Training materials for UNICEF country offices in relation to their work with PSPs and APMs providers are prepared/updated and the respective training sessions are conducted.
• Internal communication flows are optimally set up ensuring that all the relevant stakeholders are timely informed.

Estimated Duration of the contract

• 6 Months

Reporting To:

• The Finance Manager (Financial Services Unit)

Working Place:

• Geneva, Switzerland is the official duty station. (Flexible work arrangements may be applied if there is a need).

To qualify as a Champion for every child you will have…

Education:

• An advanced university degree in Accounting, Finance, Procurement Business Administration, or another relevant technical field is required.
• An accounting designation such as CIPFA, ACCA, CA with a relevant operations experience will be considered in lieu of an Advanced University Degree

Experience:

• A minimum of five years of relevant professional experience in financial management, procurement, audits, or other related field in an international organization and/or large corporation is required.
• Proven experience in the domain of digital fundraising and/or with Payment Service Providers and Alternative Payment Methods is an asset.
• Experience in working with UN procurement is an asset.
• Prior experience in knowledge management and building intranet sites is an asset.
• Prior experience in review of agreements/contracts with financial service providers is an asset.
• Proficiency in the use of standard MS Office applications (MS Forms, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint) is an asset.

Language requirements:

• Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian, or Spanish) or a local language is an asset.

For every Child, you demonstrate...

UNICEF’s Core Values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust and Accountability and Sustainability (CRITAS) underpin everything we do and how we do it. Get acquainted with Our Values Charter: UNICEF Values

The UNICEF competencies required for this post are...

• Demonstrates Self Awareness and Ethical Awareness (1)
• Works Collaboratively with others (1)
• Builds and Maintains Partnerships (1)
• Innovates and Embraces Change (1)
• Thinks and Acts Strategically (1)
• Drives to achieve impactful results (1)
• Manages ambiguity and complexity (1) are required.

During the recruitment process, we test candidates following the competency framework. Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels: our competency framework.

UNICEF is here to serve the world’s most disadvantaged children and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, or any other personal characteristic.

We offer a wide range of benefits to our staff, including paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks, and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF strongly encourages the use of flexible working arrangements.

UNICEF does not hire candidates who are married to children (persons under 18). UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority, and discrimination. UNICEF is committed to promoting the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference and background checks and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check.

UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance. Issuance of a visa by the host country of the duty station is required for IP positions and will be facilitated by UNICEF. Appointments may also be subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid). Should you be selected for a position with UNICEF, you either must be inoculated as required or receive a medical exemption from the relevant department of the UN. Otherwise, the selection will be canceled.

Remarks:

As per 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.

UNICEF’s active commitment to diversity and inclusion is critical to deliver the best results for children.

UNICEF does not charge a processing fee at any stage of its recruitment, selection, and hiring processes (i.e., application stage, interview stage, validation stage, or appointment and training). UNICEF will not ask for applicants’ bank account information.

All UNICEF positions are advertised, and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process. An internal candidate performing at the level of the post in the relevant functional area, or an internal/external candidate in the corresponding Talent Group, may be selected, if suitable for the post, without assessment of other candidates.

Additional information about working for UNICEF can be found here.

Advertised: W. Europe Daylight Time

Deadline: W. Europe Daylight Time