Accounting Officer, P-2, New York Tuesday 30, AUGUST 2011

Purpose:

Under the guidance of the Accountant, you will be responsible for ensuring that the newly-acquired, constructed or donated Property Plant and Equipment, Intangibles, Other Receivables and Other Assets are recorded and valued accurately, and that Leases are classified and accounted for correctly.

Qualification:

University degree in Accounting, Finance, banking or related technical field. Professional Accounting such as Chartered Accountant, Certified Public Accountant or an Advanced degree in Accounting is an asset.

• At least two years of work experience in positions of increasing responsibility in the field of accounting. Some experience of supervising is preferred.
• Strong IT skills, including MICROSOFT Excel and Word software
• Experience working with International Financial Accounting Standards (IFRS) or International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSAS)
• Experience working with enterprise resources management (ERP) systems; SAP highly desirable.
• Knowledge of the UN system
• Fluency in English and another UN language.

Key Expected Results:

1. Perform lease accounting. In consultation with the Accountant, review premises arrangements (globally) and other leases (HQ), determine their proper accounting treatment, and ensure that they are recorded accurately. Monitor the capitalization of capital and leasehold improvements, and the recording and use of restoration costs.
2. Perform accounting for Property, Plant and Equipment. Ensure the completeness and accuracy of the PPE recorded. Review capital expenditure for eligibility of recognition as Assets Under Construction/ Property, Plant and Equipment. Review results of stock counts, impairment testing and amounts of impairment losses, and book resulting accounting adjustments.
3. Ensure the accuracy and transparency of other accounts receivables (including cash transfers), other assets and exchange revenue. In consultation with the Accountant, review contacts and agreements to determine appropriate accounting, review bills and follow up on outstanding amounts. Monitor miscellaneous unapplied receipts.
4. Perform accounting for Intangible Assets. Review and analyze development costs for eligibility of recognition as intangibles under development. Ensure that all relevant costs are captured, and make relevant accounting entries. Review results of impairment testing, and update records accordingly.
5. Review and process approved global write-off requests related to UNICEF’s assets, once approved by the Comptroller, according to UNICEF’s policies and procedures. Ensure that assets are accurately valued.
6. Provide technical guidance to field office and HQ staff. Identify and provide feedback and suggestions to management related to improvements to UNICEF’s policies, procedures, processes and financial systems and related programs.
7. Perform periodic processing activities including making adjusting entries, reviewing data, and other activities, as needed.

Competencies:

Communicates effectively. - Sets high levels of quality and productivity for self. - Able to work effectively in a multi-cultural environment. - Accepts changes in circumstances when presented with them. - Analyzes and integrates verbal, numerical and other types of data. - Demonstrates and shares detailed technical knowledge and expertise. - Ensures that team or department follows relevant company policies and procedures. - Sets clearly defined objectives and plans activities for self, own team or department.

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages qualified female and male candidates from all national, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of our organisation. If you want a challenging career while improving the lives of children around the world UNICEF, the leading children’s rights organization, would like to hear from you.

Visit us at www.unicef.org/about/employ to register in our new e-Recruitment system and apply to this and other vacancies, quoting E-VN-2011-001421. Applications must be received by 9 September 2011. Please note that only candidates who are under serious consideration will be contacted.

In the selection of its staff, UNICEF is committed to gender balance and diversity without distinction as to race, sex or religion, and without discrimination of persons with disabilities: well qualified candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.