Associate Finance Officer (P2)

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, Accounts Unit, as Associate Finance Officer, you will be contributing to the monitoring of the operational efficiency of the accounts, ensuring overall integrity of the Organization's general ledgers and corresponding sub-ledgers, and ensuring the accuracy of accounting information for property, plant and equipment, intangible assets and inventory. You will be preparing draft financial statements and explanatory notes for submission to the supervisor, ensuring proper internal controls are in place and actively proposing suggestions for improvement; and providing input to special projects, such as upgrades of the ERP system, introduction of Robotic Process Automation (RPA) and implementation of changes in accounting policies. Furthermore, you will be training staff and providing interpretative guidance in all related accounting matters. 

More specifically, as Associate Finance Officer, you will be tasked with the following:

1. Monthly reconciliations of OSCE property, plant and equipment (PP&E) and Intangible Assets, and UNSAS/IPSAS ledgers, ensuring discrepancies and other issues are dealt with in a timely manner;
2. Monthly reconciliation of the Secretariat's receivable and liability accounts, and Credit Card statements, with follow up action on any outstanding items;
3. Assisting in ensuring the OSCE Financial Statements are issued in a timely manner and to the highest of standards, incorporating any opportunities for improvement;
4. Contributing to the year-end closure activities and IPSAS compliant adjustments related to accruals, provisions, employee benefits and others;
5. Promptly resolving audit queries on areas of responsibility and ensure that any audit recommendations resolved and implemented;
6. Assisting with enhancement of the accounting systems at the OSCE, improving accuracy, compliance and/or efficiency;
7. Progressing implementation of an ERP based solution for recognition and control of the Organizations inventory and assets purchased for donation;
8. Participating in special projects within DMF, such as robotisation of accounts payable functions;
9. Continued review and refinement of the Organizations accounting treatment and working procedures in order to ensure full IPSAS compliance;
10. Ensuring the Asset Management working procedures are maintained in line with OSCE Financial and Administrative Instructions and any amendments to the IPSAS standards;
11. Providing timely input for the review and revision of Financial and Administrative Instructions, policy and working procedures, in line with the deadlines set out by the Chief, Accounts Unit;
12. Performing other related duties as assigned.

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 other related field;
• Certification from an internationally recognized professional accountancy institution would be highly desirable;
• A minimum of four years of professional experience in accounting or finance in an international, governmental or commercial organization;
• Experience in the asset and finance modules of internationally recognized enterprise resource planning software (ERP) such as Oracle, SAP, PeopleSoft;
• Computer literate with practical experience in Microsoft applications and computerized accounting systems;
• Experience in preparing financial statements would be an asset;
• Professional fluency in English with good drafting skills; working knowledge of other OSCE official languages would be an asset;
• Excellent oral and written communication skills;
• Demonstrated gender awareness and sensitivity, and ability to integrate a gender perspective into tasks and activities;
• Ability to establish and maintain effective and constructive working relationships with people of different national and cultural backgrounds while maintaining impartiality and objectivity.

Remuneration Package:

Monthly remuneration is around EUR 5,300, 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://vacancies.osce.org/. 

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.