Senior Finance Associates (Quality Assurance), GS-7 UNICEF Global Shared Services Centre, Budapest, Hungary

The Senior Finance Associate (Quality Assurance) is responsible for strengthening oversight over the internal processing at the GSSC Finance, to ensure financial services are performed efficiently in compliance with UNICEF policies, procedures and internal standard operation procedures (SOPs).

UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. To save their lives. To defend their rights. To help them fulfill their potential.
Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone. 
And we never give up.

For every child, results.
UNICEF's Global Shared Services Centre (GSSC) in Budapest, Hungary supports UNICEF operations globally in the areas of Finance, Human Resources, Payroll and Information Technology.

How can you make a difference?
The Senior Finance Associate (Quality Assurance) is responsible for strengthening oversight over the internal processing at the GSSC Finance, to ensure financial services are performed efficiently in compliance with UNICEF policies, procedures and internal standard operation procedures (SOPs). 
In addition to the role of internal compliance, the incumbent will also monitor processes, follow up on suspicious transactions, issue reports on trends from data analysis and raise awareness of potential fraud risk. 

This is an office based post.

Compliance

• Participate in the development and design of work programs to perform quality assurance assignments.
• Perform quality and compliance reviews on transaction processing, ensuring compliance with SOPs.
• Ensure that working papers for compliance assignments are properly maintained and archived for future references.
• Ensure timely preparation and visibility of monthly analytical and compliance reports and provide recommendations on identified issues.
• Ensure that identified issue are timely resolved by partnering with relevant stream contacts.
• Evaluate process and system improvements, providing input from internal control and quality perspective.
• Perform periodic testing of key controls along with proper documentation and sign offs.

 Detective Reporting

• Conduct Risk Assessment and Fraud Prevention review, to determine areas for close monitoring.
• Create fraud risk awareness in streams utilizing advisory and training methods.
• Utilize data analytics methods.  Detective control analysis such as variance analysis and verification procedures (completeness and accuracy) to validate fluctuation in data is reasonable.  Highlight unexpected anomalies requiring further investigation.
• Produce detective control reports. Facilitate discussion with work stream contacts regarding report results and follow-up actions required.
• Work closely with stakeholders keeping them informed of findings and follow up actions required.
• Provide recommendations for strengthened controls that are deemed necessary from transactional reviews.

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…

• Completion of secondary education (i.e. high school diploma)
• Seven years of relevant hands on work experience in various roles. A completed university degree from an accredited institution in accounting and finance will be counted toward the minimum work experience requirements
• Work experience in both corporate and consulting/audit fields (including various companies)
• Strong analytical, data extraction and reporting skills
• Experience of working in SAP environment
• Experience in using data analytics and data mining tools and techniques
• Fluency in English is required
• Very good communication skills with a proactive and open minded approach

Desirable:

• Three years of relevant hands on work experience in compliance, auditing, assurance or risk analysis
• Subject matter expertise in a transactional processing area, including SOP and transactional review
• Experience in planning and executing assurance and compliance assignments
• Work experience in Quality Assurance area
• Work experience with a development organization
• Experience in operational role for process changes / project management
• Work experience in Risk Assessment / Risk Management area
• Work experience in shared service centre context
• Certifications in internal auditing/ Information system auditing/Fraud risk management / Quality Assurance
• Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish
• Initiative, proactivity and ability to work independently with minimum supervision
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills
• Acts independently, impartially and objectively
• Prudent in the use and protection of information acquired in the course of duties
• Traits of professional skepticism

Applicants must be nationals of EU countries or in possession of a valid work permit. Please attach a copy of your work permit to your application submission.
General Service (GS) staff are locally recruited staff and therefore, candidates are personally responsible for any travel and accommodation arrangements. UNICEF does not facilitate MFA accreditation for locally recruited staff.

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF’s core values of Commitment, Diversity and Integrity and core competencies in Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results

View our competency framework at: http://www.unicef.org/about/employ/files/UNICEF_Competencies.pdf

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization.

UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination. UNICEF also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles.