OVERVIEW

Post Number : Associate Finance Officer (Accounts)

Grade : P-1/ P-2

Parent Sector : BUREAU OF FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT

Duty Station: Paris

Classification of duty station : Europe & NorthAmerica

Standard Duration of Assignement: 2 years, renewable

Job Family: Finances

Type of contract : Fixed Term

Duration of contract : 2 years, renewable

Recruitment open to : Internal and external candidates

Application Deadline (Midnight Paris Time) : 11-OCT-2025

UNESCO Core Values: Commitment to the Organization, Integrity, Respect for Diversity, Professionalism

OVERVIEW OF THE FUNCTIONS OF THE POST

The UNESCO Staff and Savings and Loan Service (USLS) is an integral part of UNESCO and has been set as a Fund-in-trust of the Organization. Its mission is to offer staff members savings and loan options in a mutualist spirit. The USLS has approximately 3,600 members who are UNESCO staff and retirees, or staff of UN agencies based in Paris. The USLS members can make deposits to their savings accounts up to the limit to their salary or pension amounts and get mortgage and ordinary loans.

Under supervision of the General Manager of USLS, the incumbent provides accounting and reporting activities of the unit. The incumbent is responsible for providing a range of services and tasks in the areas of back-office of investments, accounting and financial reporting of all the activities related to USLS. The incumbent ensures that all USLS accounting entries and financial operations/activities are compliant with the applicable UNESCO rules and USLS Rules & Regulations.

Long Description

The incumbent will be in charge of the following main tasks:

1. Member Services & Pension Processing

• Monitor posted members’ withdrawals requests, standing orders and ensure alignment with data registered in the IT system and payment files.
• Monitor monthly pension/payroll incoming credits on USLS bank accounts and reconcile with data in related files received from UNESCO Payroll and UN Pension Fund.
• Verify accounting postings related to members’ term deposits subscriptions, redemptions and interest payment.
• Monitor the posting of annual interest distributions on members’ savings accounts and reserve movements.

2. Banking & Treasury Operations

• Perform USLS bank accounts reconciliations on a daily basis and resolve discrepancies.
• Monitor investments related transactions and confirmations, USLS bank account replenishments and cash flows operations.
• Post foreign exchange transactions, monitor the postings of interest accruals and payables, related reversals, bank fees and adjustments.

3. Back-office Functions

• Manage investment confirmations in the Treasury Management System.
• Handle contractual documentation related to investments.
• Reconcile investment/replenishment transactions and promptly resolve discrepancies.
• Monitor the posting of investment interest coupons, liaising with counterparties as needed.

Long Description

4. Accounting & Internal Controls

• Process and analyze general ledger entries, ensuring compliance and accuracy with supporting elements.
• Conduct daily/monthly/quarter-end accounting controls and archive supporting documents.
• Verify members’ transactions, vendor payments, VAT entries, and related adjustments.
• Maintain updated general ledger coding plan and ensure compliance with internal control procedures.

5. Financial Reporting & Budget Monitoring

• Perform month- and quarter-end reconciliations, accruals/reversals/amortization postings.
• Update budget monitoring table and alert the General Manager of overspending risk on a budget line.
• Prepare draft investment reports and statistical/accounting variance reports.
• Ensure alignment between accounting system and Treasury Management System and formalize the month-end related controls.

6. Annual Accounts Closing & Audit Preparation

• Support interim and annual account closure in line with audit requirements, maintain annual closing schedule, monitor assigned tasks and related deadlines.
• Prepare IPSAS-compliant draft financial statements (per Fund and consolidated).
• Update the tables related to the Notes to financial statements and ensure alignment of the financial statements and notes in both French and English.
• Provide the first level information on accounting postings to external auditors and prepare accounting samples and documents for, and respond to questions raised by internal/external auditors as necessary.
• Prepare bank circularization letters and promptly track/review banks responses.
• Coordinate production of USLS Annual Reports in both languages; proofread reports, verify data/graphs, and liaise with the Document Production Unit.

7. Other functions

• Support discussions on accounting/reporting activities; suggest improvements to procedures, controls, and report presentations.
• Undertake reviews of processes to identify areas of improvement in the control environment. Make recommendations and propose any improvements in the areas of responsibility.
• Update accounting procedures and reports related to USLS new IT system. Participate in developments and modifications related to the accounting area.
• Contribute to improving service provided through knowledge sharing and be prepared to cover colleagues on general assignments if necessary; Provide logistic assistance for the USLS General Assembly and elections.

COMPETENCIES (Core / Managerial)

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REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

EDUCATION:

• Advanced university degree (Masters or equivalent degree) in Accounting, or Business/Management with majors in accounting or with a Certificate in financial accounting.

WORK EXPERIENCE:

• A minimum of two (2) years of relevant professional experience in accounting and back-office especially investments confirmations, of which preferably one (1) year acquired at international level.
• Proven experience in preparing financial statements and contributing substantively to work related to the preparation of Notes to financial statements.

LANGUAGES:

• Excellent level of English or French and good working level in the other language.

Long Description

SKILLS & COMPETENCIES REQUIRED:

• Good knowledge of IPSAS or IFRS accounting standards applicable to financial instruments and accounting posting rules for financial transactions.
• Proficiency in standard office software (e.g., MS Office, Outlook, Excel) with ability to compile data in spreadsheets including functions.
• Strong organizational, coordination and multitasking skills, with the capacity to manage competing priorities and tight deadlines.
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving abilities, with solid numerical skills, attention to details and commitment to accuracy, quality of work and compliance.
• Ability to draft clearly and concisely and make oral presentations in English and/or in French.
• Capacity to work independently, exercise sound judgment and prioritize tasks in alignment with organizational objectives and internal rules and regulations.
• Demonstrate flexibility and adaptability in responding to changing priorities and heavy workloads.
• High standards of professionalism, integrity and compliance, including adherence to data privacy and confidentiality requirements, combined with tact and diplomacy.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, team-oriented and culturally sensitive, with the ability to collaborate effectively with diverse internal/external stakeholders including active/retired USLS members.

DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS

EDUCATION:

• A professional accounting qualification/certification such as CIPFA or equivalent is an asset.

WORK EXPERIENCE:

• Experience in an international organization/institution or in the United Nations system.

SKILLS & COMPETENCIES:

• Knowledge of UNESCO’s general related policies and practices and USLS Rules and Regulations.

LANGUAGES:

• Good knowledge of another working language of the United Nations (Arabic, Chinese, Russian and/or Spanish).

BENEFITS AND ENTITLEMENTS

SELECTION AND RECRUITMENT PROCESS

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