Finance Officer (P3)

Background:

The OSCE has a comprehensive approach to security that encompasses politico-military, economic and environmental, and human aspects. It therefore addresses a wide range of security-related concerns, including arms control, confidence- and security-building measures, human rights, combating human trafficking, national minorities, democratization, policing strategies, counter-terrorism and economic and environmental activities. All 57 participating States enjoy equal status, and decisions are taken by consensus on a politically, but not legally binding basis.

The OSCE Secretariat in Vienna assists the Chairmanship in its activities, and provides operational and administrative support to the field operations, and, as appropriate, to other institutions. 

The Department of Management and Finance (DMF) is responsible for managing the material and financial resources of the Organization. The objective of DMF is to provide efficient and effective management of non-staff resources in support of OSCE programmatic activities. It provides policy guidance on the management of OSCE financial and material resources and develops and maintains OSCE Financial Regulations and Rules and Financial Administrative Instructions. DMF consists of Budget and Finance Services, Mission Support Section, Information and Communication Technology Section and the Information Security and Co-ordination Unit.  

The Budget and Finance Services Section is responsible for co-ordinating and supporting the programme planning and budgeting process in general, including providing policy guidance and support to the Secretariat, OSCE Institutions and Field Operations. The Budget and Finance Services Section consists of the Accounts Unit, Budget Unit and Treasury and Extra-budgetary Unit.
 

Tasks and Responsibilities:

Under the supervision of the Chief of Accounts Unit, as Finance Officer, you will perform the following duties:

1. Preparing annual Financial Statements in accordance with the International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSAS) and organizational directives and deadlines; 
2. Keeping abreast of changes in accounting standards and their interpretations, as well as applications of IPSAS standard by UN system entities; 
3. Exercising judgment in the preparation of year-end adjustment journals and in the application of complex accounting standards;
4. Co-ordinating the accounting closure process, maintaining the overall integrity of the Organization's budgetary and reporting general ledgers and corresponding sub-ledgers; 
5. Preparing financial reports in accordance with both IPSAS standards and the Organization's budget documents and treatments; preparing draft reports and documents for submission to policy-making organs; analyzing and evaluating regular financial reports, explaining exceptions and variances and producing related reports and correspondence;
6. Verifying accounts payable and accounts receivable transactions up to a certain limit; 
7. Managing human and financial resources, preparing and discussing with staff individual work programmes, and evaluating performance against set objectives;
8. Participating in special projects within DMF by providing inputs to support policy decisions, suggestions for the technical implementation in the ERP system and other related tasks as needed;
9. Responding to queries from auditors, devising and implementing corrective action as required;
10. Providing authoritative interpretations of requirements for handling transactions; providing advice and guidance on the interpretation and application of the Organizational financial rules and regulations; ensuring consistent implementation of accounting policies and procedures, and recommending changes for improvement;
11. Performing other duties as assigned, including revising accounting manuals, procedures and instructions, and preparing and delivering training on accounting-related matters. 

For more detailed information on the structure and work of the OSCE Secretariat, please see https://www.osce.org/secretariat 
 

Necessary Qualifications:

• First-level university degree in accounting, finance, business administration or related;
• Professional accounting certification obtained from an internationally recognized accounting institution (chartered accountant);
• At least six years work experience as a chartered accountant;
• Experience of IPSAS or IAS/IFRS (International Accounting Standards/International Financial Reporting Standards) and their application to a complex international organization or corporation; 
• Computer literate with practical experience in Microsoft applications and with complex computerized ERP systems;
• Professional fluency in English with excellent communication (both oral and written) skills; knowledge of another OSCE official language is desirable; 
• Demonstrated gender awareness and sensitivity, and an ability to integrate a gender perspective into tasks and activities;
• Ability and willingness to work as a member of team, with people of different cultural, and religious backgrounds, different gender, and diverse political views, while maintaining impartiality and objectivity.

Remuneration Package:

Monthly remuneration is around EUR 6,400, with the actual monthly salary depending on post adjustment and family status. OSCE salaries are exempt from taxation in Austria. Social benefits will include possibility of participation in the Cigna medical insurance scheme and the OSCE Provident Fund. Other allowances and benefits are similar to those offered under the United Nations Common System.

Please note that appointments are normally made at step 1 of the applicable OSCE salary scale.
 

If you wish to apply for this position, please use the OSCE's online application link found under https://jobs.osce.org/vacancies. 

The OSCE retains the discretion to re-advertise/re-post the vacancy, to cancel the recruitment, to offer an appointment at a lower grade or to offer an appointment with a modified job description or for a different duration. 

Only those candidates who are selected to participate in the subsequent stages of recruitment will be contacted.

Please note that vacancies in the OSCE are open for competition only amongst nationals of participating States, please see https://www.osce.org/participating-states.

The OSCE is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages qualified female and male candidates from all religious, ethnic and social backgrounds to apply to become a part of the Organization.

Candidates should be aware that OSCE officials shall conduct themselves at all times in a manner befitting the status of an international civil servant. This includes avoiding any action which may adversely reflect on the integrity, independence and impartiality of their position and function as officials of the OSCE. The OSCE is committed to applying the highest ethical standards in carrying out its mandate. For more information on the values set out in OSCE Competency Model, please see https://jobs.osce.org/resources/document/our-competency-model.

The OSCE is a non-career organization committed to the principle of staff rotation, therefore the maximum period of service in this post is 7 years.

Please be aware that the OSCE does not request payment at any stage of the application and review process.