Organizational Setting

The Shared Services Centre (SSC) recommends and administers process management and procedures that need to be executed effectively; ensures the management of quality assurance activities associated with the transactional processes and implementation of service delivery; continuously improves the satisfaction of its customers, internal or external, while pursuing a continuous improvement agenda that will drive up service excellence while driving down the costs of service delivery through process standardization, process automation and self-service capabilities.

The Payroll and Benefits Officer (Head of Payroll Services) leads FAO’s global payroll operations within the Shared Services Centre (SSC) in Budapest. The incumbent ensures strategic oversight, compliance and continuous improvement of global payroll services for staff, affiliated personnel (NSHR), and retirees (After Service Medical Coverage (ASMC)), guaranteeing timely and accurate delivery of entitlements in line with FAO rules and UN Common System standards.

The position plays a key role in strengthening controls, safeguarding financial integrity, managing payroll‑related risks, and driving process optimization across FAO’s Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) and related systems.

The incumbent manages a team of payroll professionals and fosters collaboration with the Human Resources Division (CSH), the Finance Division (CSF), the Digital FAO and Agro-Informatics Division (CSI), regional and country offices, external partners such as the UN Joint Staff Pension Fund (UNJSPF) and Insurance providers and inter‑agency networks.

The Payroll and Benefits Officer (Head of Payroll Services) will have overall responsibility for the following teams and functional areas:

• Staff Member Payroll: Ensure timely and accurate processing of payroll for FAO staff worldwide, in compliance with FAO Rules and Regulation as well as the UN Common System standards.

• Affiliate Workforce Payroll: Guarantee timely and accurate payroll results for FAO’s affiliate workforce, ensuring smooth operations across global locations.

• After Service Medical Coverage (ASMC): Manage the administration and financial integrity of ASMC for retirees, including coordination with insurance providers, other UN Organizations and the UN Joint Staff Pension Fund (UNJSPF).

• Employee Receivables: Oversee the management of all employee receivables, ensuring timely and accurate calculation of recoveries, reconciliation, and reporting of outstanding amounts across various entitlement categories.

This position is located in the FAO Shared Services Centre (SSC) and based in Budapest, Hungary.

Reporting Lines

The Payroll and Benefits Officer (Head of Payroll Services) reports to the Chief of the Shared Services Centre (SSC), with a functional reporting line to the Human Resources Division in Headquarters.

Technical Focus

Strategic, compliant and efficient delivery of global payroll services; quality assurance; ERP functional leadership; risk management; policy interpretation; continuous improvement.

Key Results

The delivery of global payroll and benefits-related services and monitoring of the day-to-day activities ensuring accuracy, timeliness, compliance, strong internal controls, and improved service efficiency.

Key Functions

• Leads global payroll operations, ensuring high quality, timely and accurate processing of payroll and benefits for staff, affiliate workforce (NSHR) and retirees under the ASMC, while fostering a client focused, service oriented culture.

• Implements and operationalizes payroll related policies, rules and procedures, ensuring consistent interpretation, compliance and standardized service delivery across duty stations.

• Provides strategic, technical and managerial leadership to the Payroll and Benefits Team, strengthening capabilities, and promoting a culture of continuous improvement, accountability and operational excellence.

• Leads payroll risk management activities, including controls design, audit responses, and resolution of exceptions and incidents.

• Ensures effective integration of payroll with corporate systems, coordinating data flows between HR, Financials, Insurance, Pension Fund, and other related modules, to safeguard data integrity and internal controls.

• Ensures compliance with FAO Financial Rules and Regulations, International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSAS) requirements and HR policy frameworks, adjusting payroll processes to meet evolving operational, regulatory and audit expectations.

• Collaborates with the Human Resources Division (including the Social Security Branch, the Finance Division, the Digital FAO and Agro-Informatics Division and other internal partners, to resolve issues and support cross functional coordination, ensuring an accurate and timely payroll outcomes for all categories of personnel.

• Participates in inter-agency and internal forums, contributing payroll expertise, supporting cross-agency harmonization efforts, and monitoring emerging trends in global payroll management.

• Manages and coaches the team, setting clear work objectives and fostering strong performance. Ensures sound internal controls and appropriate segregation of duties are maintained.

• Performs other related duties as required to support SSC objectives and organizational priorities.

   

Specific Functions

• Ensures the correct application of salary scales, pay factors, post adjustments and payroll parameters; validates system configurations and updates in coordination with the Digital FAO and Agro-Informatics Division.

• Certifies payroll-related financial transactions ensuring robust controls through reconciliation activities, exception monitoring, validating payment files and ensuring secure, compliant disbursement processes.

• Leads optimization of payroll services, including process improvement, automation initiatives, workflow optimization and strengthening of internal controls to improve accuracy, timeliness and compliance.

• Drives functional enhancements, including business analysis, testing, validation and deployment of payroll-related system updates in collaboration with the Digital FAO and Agro-Informatics Division and policy owners.

• Establishes and monitors Service Level Agreements (SLAs) and Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for payroll services, providing performance reports, trend analysis, risk indicators and recommendations for continuous improvement.

• Delivers strategic reports, cost analyses, and trend data to senior management; leverages business intelligence tools for decision-making.

• Ensures effective knowledge management by maintaining up to date standard operating procedures (SOPs), reference materials and targeted training initiatives for more effective and efficient payroll related processes across the SSC and offices worldwide.

• Liaises with external entities, including insurance providers and the UN Joint Staff Pension Fund ensuring effective coordination and problem solving.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

• Advanced University Degree (Master's degree or equivalent) in Business Administration, Accounting, Finance, Human Resources or related field.

• Seven years of relevant experience in finance, human resources and / or payroll - benefits administration.

• Working knowledge (proficiency - level C) of English and intermediate knowledge (intermediate - level B) of another official FAO language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish).

Competencies

• Results Focus

• Teamwork

• Communication

• Building Effective Relationships

• Knowledge Sharing and Continuous Improvement

   

Technical/Functional Skills

• Extent and relevance of experience in global, multi-currency payroll management, ideally within the UN Common System or comparable international organizations.

• Demonstrated experience with ERP payroll modules (preferably Oracle), including workflow, configuration validation and system testing.

• Extent and relevance in business process reengineering, automation and continuous improvement initiatives.

• Experience ensuring IPSAS compliant payroll accounting, internal controls and risk management.

• Extent and relevance in interpreting and applying administrative, HR and financial rules in a complex operational environment.

• Strong analytical skills, including use of Business Intelligence/reporting tools to support decision-making.

• Work experience in more than one location or area of work, particularly in field settings, is desirable.