Org. Setting and Reporting

The position is located in the Payroll and Accounts Payable Section, Income Tax Unit of the Division of Administration (DA) in the Department of Operational Support (DOS). The Department of Operational Support was established to provide operational advisory services to operating entities across the Secretariat, including other departments, offices away from headquarters, field missions, and regional commissions. The Payroll and Accounts Payable Section processes global payroll and payments, provides policy advise and operational guidance, testing and implementation of enhancements. The Income Tax Unit provides analysis and technical direction for planning, implementing, guidance and supporting financial information, provide day-to-day problem-solving services regarding tax process/systems to clients. The Accountant will report to the Chief of the Income Tax Unit.

Responsibilities

Within delegated authority, the Accountant will be responsible for the following duties: Tax: • Provide advice and guidance, including training, to headquarters and field staff on tax reimbursement process, policies, and procedures, including making necessary actions for accurate reimbursement and protection of the TEA Fund. • Provide analytical research and information to tax returns and other tax such as IRS trans and provide an understanding to other parts of the Organization such as in Management Advice and Evaluation Section cases. • Plan, supervise, coordinate, and participate in all phases of the system development tax process particularly with the UN Tax Portal and yearly testing of the UN in-house tax system. • Provide simplified explanation of complex tax matters to clients. • Provide and evaluate tax cases with an excellent understanding of immigration status as it relates to an International Organization. • Provide and coordinate with HR partners the importance processes such as Waiver sign dates, change of immigration status, and the monetary impact on the budget. • Undertake and participate in working with other colleagues to review workbooks such as the International Civil Service Commission (ICSC) related to certain tax benefits such as the Child Tax credit, the limited time repeal of the dependent exemption and other areas where benefits are impacted. • Interact with Information Systems Officers in Umoja; OICT, HR OPS; Payroll Finance and several UN Agency Partners. Finance and Budget • Provide input for the business analysis and technical direction for planning, implementing, and supporting financial information systems for the UN Income Tax Unit, including Tax system (STARS), Umoja (SAP ERP), and Tax Portal. • Provide input for analysis of industry best practice in business processes, and design and manage the implementation of new methods of work with departmental or organizational scope that increase the efficiency and effectiveness of financial operations. • Provide input for the evaluation of existing systems and identify the need for new systems (or modifications to existing systems). • Provide input for select options for solving system and workflow problems and propose the most suitable solutions based upon functional and economic considerations. • Provide input and participate in all phases of the systems development lifecycle, through the negotiation and development of design change tion. • Assist in test plans and testing methodologies. • Provide day-to-day problem-solving services for complex tax systems issues to clients. • Document system problems and prioritize them. • Identify problems and irregularities in Umoja (SAP ERP), tax operations and completed transactions, resolving them in a timely and effective manner. • Propose resolutions and data fixes following best practice where data has been corrupted. • Write work procedures for systems and/or specific business events. General • Provides advice and guidance, including training, to headquarters and field staff on budgetary and financial policies and procedures and tax issues. • Ensure the integrity of financial and management systems and the controls that underpin them. • Represent PAPS/ITU or division in inter and intra-departmental meetings. • Plan, organize, manage, and supervise the work of the Tax Unit.

Competencies

Professionalism: Knowledge of financial and budgetary principles and practices, budget development and financial administration of resources. Ability to develop budgetary policies, procedures and new programmes. Ability to formulate new strategies and technical approaches to budgetary matters. Show pride in work and in achievements; demonstrate professional competence and mastery of subject matter; is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results; is motivated by professional rather than personal concerns; shows persistence when faced with difficult problems or challenges; remains calm in stressful situations. Takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work. Planning and Organizing: Develops clear goals that are consistent with agreed strategies; identifies priority activities and assignments; adjusts priorities as required; allocates appropriate amount of time and resources for completing work; foresees risks and allows for contingencies when planning; monitors and adjusts plans and actions as necessary; uses time efficiently. Accountability: Takes ownership of all responsibilities and honours commitments; delivers outputs for which one has responsibility within prescribed time, cost and quality standards; operates in compliance with organizational regulations and rules; supports subordinates, provides oversight and takes responsibility for delegated assignments; takes personal responsibility for his/her own shortcomings and those of the work unit, where applicable.

Education

Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in taxation, accounting, information technology, business administration, finance, or related field is required. A first-level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Job - Specific Qualification
Not available.

Work Experience

A minimum of five years of progressively responsible experience in income taxes, budgeting, accounting, financial reporting, payroll, including complex budgetary and accounting operations, and preferably in both the public and private sector is required. At least 5 years of experience focused on transactional activities of US income tax process is required. Experience working with the United Nations or a large global Organization’s system and procedures are required. Experience in finance systems analysis and development is desirable Knowledge and experience in SAP crystal Reports is desirable. Experience with SAP, People Soft or similar ERP systems, specifically in the area of payroll and finance is desirable.

Languages

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this job opening, English is required. There are no additional desirable languages specified. The table below shows the minimum required level for each skill in these languages, according to the UN Language Framework (please consult https://languages.un.org for details).


Required Languages

Language Reading Writing Listening Speaking
English UN Level III UN Level III UN Level III UN Level III

Assessment

Evaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise which may be followed by a competency-based interview.

Special Notice

This temporary post is for an initial period of six months. Subject to the funding source of the position, the eligibility for this temporary job opening may be limited to candidates based at the duty station. While this temporary job opening may provide the successful applicant with an opportunity to gain new work experience, the selection for this position is for a limited period and has no bearing on the future incumbency of the post. An external candidate selected for this position is bound by the prevailing condition of the staff selection system under ST/AI/2010/3, as amended, and ST/AI/2010/4/Rev.1. A current staff member who holds a fixed-term, permanent or continuing appointment may apply for temporary positions no more than one level above his or her current grade. However, a current staff member who holds an appointment at the G-6 or G-7 level may also apply to temporary positions in the Professional category up to and including the P-3 level, subject to meeting all eligibility and other requirements for the position. A staff member holding a temporary appointment shall be regarded as an external candidate when applying for other positions and may apply for other temporary positions at any level, subject to section 5.7 below and staff rule 4.16 (b) (ii). Therefore, a staff member holding a temporary appointment in the General Service or related categories may only apply to positions within those categories. For full information on eligibility requirements, please refer to section 5 of ST/AI/2010/4 Rev.1 on Temporary Appointments. Pursuant to section 7.11 of ST/AI/2012/2/Rev.1, candidates recruited through the young professionals programme who have not served for a minimum of two years in the position of their initial assignment are not eligible to apply to this position. If the selected candidate is a staff member from the United Nations Secretariat, the selection will be administered as a temporary assignment. The United Nations Secretariat is committed to achieving 50/50 gender balance in its staff. Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply for this position. This temporary job opening may be limited to "internal candidates," who have been recruited through a competitive examination administered according to staff rule 4.16 or staff selection process including the review of a central review body established according to staff rule 4.15. In accordance with ST/AI/1999/17 section 2.3, an SPA may only be granted to one level higher than the personal level of the staff member assigned to higher-level functions in his or her own category, whether the higher-level functions are one or several levels higher than the personal level of the staff member. Staff in the General Service and related categories temporarily placed against a post at the Professional level may receive an SPA to the P-1 or P-2 level. A staff member holding a temporary appointment who is recruited in the Professional and above categories on a temporary appointment and placed on a position authorized for one year or longer may not apply for or be reappointed to his/her current position within six months of the end of his/her current service. This provision does not apply to staff members holding temporary appointments and placed on positions authorized for one year or more in duty stations authorized for peacekeeping operations or special political missions. Staff members of the United Nations common system organizations who will reach the mandatory age of separation or retirement within the duration of the current temporary need period are not eligible to apply. Submitting an application or selection for the current temporary job opening does not delay or increase the mandatory age of separation. Retirees above the mandatory age of separation who wish to be considered for the current temporary job opening must indicate the reason for their last separation as "retirement." Such retirees shall not be employed by the Organization, unless (a) the operational requirements of the Organization cannot be met by staff members who are qualified and available to perform the required functions; and (b) the proposed employment would not adversely affect the career development or redeployment opportunities of other staff members and represents both a cost-effective and operationally sound solution to meet the needs of the service. At the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the recruitment and employment of staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence and integrity, with due regard to geographic diversity. All employment decisions are made on the basis of qualifications and organizational needs. The United Nations is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment of mutual respect. The United Nations recruits and employs staff regardless of gender identity, sexual orientation, race, religious, cultural and ethnic backgrounds or disabilities. Reasonable accommodation for applicants with disabilities may be provided to support participation in the recruitment process when requested and indicated in the application. The Staff Regulations, Staff Rules and administrative issuances governing staff appointments can be viewed at: http://www.un.org/hr_handbook/English.