UNITED NATIONS RELIEF AND WORKS AGENCY
FOR PALESTINE REFUGEES IN THE NEAR EAST
UNRWA
UNRWA is a United Nations agency established by the General Assembly in 1949
and is mandated to provide assistance and protection to a population of some
5 million registered Palestine refugees. Its mission is to help Palestine refugees in
Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, West Bank and the Gaza Strip to achieve their full
potential in human development, pending a just solution to their plight. UNRWA’s
services encompass education, health care, relief and social services, camp
infrastructure and improvement, microfinance and emergency assistance.
UNRWA is funded almost entirely by voluntary contributions. UNRWA is the largest
UN operation in the Middle East with more than 30,000 staff. For its international
team, UNRWA is seeking to employ a qualified:
Financial Accounting and Systems Officer
Vacancy Announcement Number
Grade
Deadline for Applications
Duty Station
13-HQ-AM-01
P-4
6 February 2013
HQ Amman
The Financial Accounting and Systems Officer will have two key areas of
responsibility, comprising: a) ensuring Policy and operational adherence to
International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSAS) or International Financial
Reporting Standards (IFRS) and b) be a key focal point from Finance to work with
ERP staff in ensuring the planned new ERP system is IPSAS compliant.
As UNRWA both reports and budgets according to IPSAS, the incumbent will be
responsible for : a) interpretation of all IPSAS Standards, b) ensure all Budget,
Finance and Treasury Technical Instructions comply with the relevant IPSAS
Standards, c) act as focal point for resolving any accounting interpretation and
reporting issues to ensure that UNRWA is and remains IPSAS compliant and d) will
be the key Finance focal point working with the ERP team as required, ensuring
that the new ERP system and sub ledgers are IPSAS compliant.
This incumbent will supervise a moderate size professional, technical, and clerical
staff in Headquarters and will provide technical guidance to related activities in the
Fields. In accordance with the established Agency policy and procedures, the
incumbent will:
Primary Duties and Responsibilities
 Interpret all IPSAS standards and act as a focal point to resolve any accounting
interpretation and reporting issues to ensure that UNRWA is and remains IPSAS
compliant;
 Interpret reporting requirements under IPSAS with reference to UNRWA’s
circumstances; play a lead role in the development and maintenance of
UNRWA IPSAS compliant financial statements and reports;
 Provide a lead role in liaison with the ERP team in testing and proving that the
accounting treatment of transactions in the “to be” developed new ERP
solution is in all functional respects, IPSAS compliant;
 Provide a lead role is collating finance department requirements and take
primary responsibility in data conversion, training and support activities in the
implementation of new ERP system;
 Coordinate implementation of new accounting standards and financial
policies and systems in cooperation with senior staff in Finance Department and
Head Field Finance Officers (HFFOs);
 Provide financial accounting guidance and training to finance staff regarding
IPSAS compliance;
 Maintain regular dialogue on IPSAS matters with internal and external auditors
as well as UN stakeholders;
 Prepare notes, guidelines and replies relating to or arising from implementation
of Accounting Standards.
Professional Knowledge and Experience
 Advanced university degree in accounting, finance, public or business
administration, or related field;
 Membership in a professional body of accountants (e.g., Institute of Chartered
Accountants, Institute of Certified Public Accountants);
 Eight years of experience in the application of the knowledge acquired,
including at least five years at a senior supervisory level in a financial
accounting division in a large commercial, governmental or international
organization;
 Excellent command of written and spoken English.
Competencies
 Thorough knowledge of financial accounting standards, computerized
finance and procurement systems;
 Ability to develop and implement appropriate finance policies and technical
instructions;
 Ability to develop and maintain productive relationships with staff and clients
of the Finance Department; including the ability to operate effectively across
organizational boundaries and in multiple locations;
 Demonstrated experience in assisting in the development and testing of an
IPSAS/IFRS compliant ERP solution;
 Ability to take initiative, coordinate and integrate multiple inputs to generate
common approaches or frameworks;
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Ability to apply conceptual, analytical and evaluative skills in accounting
operations;
Ability to conduct independent research and analysis, identify issues,
formulate options and make conclusions and recommendations;
Demonstrated experience in interpretation of international accounting
standards and preparation of financial statements within an ERP
environment.
Desirable Qualifications
 Working experience with either IPSAS or IFRS;
 Working experience with large contemporary ERP systems.
Additional Information:
The incumbent will be required to travel in the Agency's area of operations in the
Middle East.
Equivalency
When the minimum requirements are not fully met, the Human Resources
Department may substitute part of the unmet requirements under UNRWA’s
equivalency determination guidelines with a combination of relevant academic
qualification, additional professional training and/or progressive relevant work
experience. Note: Work experience alone or formal qualifications with no relevant
work experience are not considered sufficient for an equivalency determination.
Additional Information
The incumbent will be required to travel in the Agency's area of operations in the
Middle East.
Conditions of Service
UNRWA offers an attractive compensation package including annual salary
starting at $72,467 net tax free with dependants or $67,483 single, plus post
adjustment of 44.1%. Other benefits, subject to eligibility, include education grant,
dependency allowance, home leave, pension fund, health insurance and 6 weeks
annual leave. All UNRWA duty stations (with the exception of Gaza and Syria) are
family duty stations. Initial contract is for one year, with the possibility of further
extensions subject to the availability of funds and the continuing need for the post.
How to Apply
To start the application process, applicants are required to register at
http://jobs.unrwa.org by creating a personal profile and completing UNRWA
Personal History Form. Please note that UNRWA only accepts degrees from
accredited educational institutions. Only applications received through
http://jobs.unrwa.org will be considered. Due to the large number of applications
received for UNRWA vacancies, only applicants short-listed for interview will be
contacted.
UNRWA does not charge a fee at any stage in the recruitment process.
General Information
UNRWA encourages applications from qualified and experienced women.
UNRWA welcomes applications from qualified candidates with disabilities.
UNRWA is a United Nations organization whose staff are expected to uphold the
highest standards of integrity, neutrality and impartiality. This includes respect for
human rights, for diversity, and for non-violent means of dealing with all kinds of
conflict. UNRWA staff are expected to uphold these values at all times, both at
work and outside. Only persons who fully and unconditionally commit to these
values should consider applying for UNRWA jobs. UNRWA is a non-smoking work
environment.
Date of issue: 7 January 2013/LF