IPSAS Specialist

The Finance Group serves as a strategic partner and fiduciary advisor, ensuring transparent, accountable, and effective resource management across UNOPS. The Group defines financial strategy in alignment with organizational goals, establishes finance policies, systems, and processes, and leads corporate budgeting to enable full cost recovery and ensure long-term financial sustainability. Throughout the project lifecycle, the Finance Group provides expert guidance, oversight, and tailored financial solutions. Responsibilities include delivering comprehensive financial and corporate performance reporting, strengthening financial capacity across the organization, and continuously enhancing resource planning and allocation. In addition, the Finance Group prepares and oversees the implementation of finance-related policies, upholding the highest standards of financial stewardship and supporting UNOPS in achieving operational excellence and fiscal responsibility.

This is a roster replenishment, i.e. a call for applications for future function-specific opportunities, determined by emerging needs. The process is similar to a regular recruitment, but is not linked to a current vacancy. It can be used to hire into ICA and FT contracts, in Copenhagen or various duty stations.

The IPSAS Specialist reports to the Chief of Financial Statements and UNBOA Relations who provides broad supervision and guidance. The IPSAS Specialist is responsible for efficient financial reporting and the provision of accurate, thoroughly researched and documented financial policies compliant to accounting standards and support for preparation of the financial statement. He/she analyzes and interprets the financial rules and regulations and the applicable accounting standards (IPSAS) and provides solutions to a wide spectrum of complex financial issues including financial investments.

1. POLICY IMPLEMENTATIONS AND COMPLIANCE

• Develop and maintain financial reporting standards compliant to IPSAS standards.
• Support development of IPSAS compliant financial statements and management reports.
• Implement and operationalize new IPSAS standards and updates made to current standards and collaborate with related business process owners and IT Group for implementation of necessary measures.
• Analyze IPSAS exposure drafts and published standards, assess impact on business processes and ERP systems, recommend appropriate course of action.
• Coordinate comments on exposure drafts and other papers issued by IPSASB.
• Review existing and new business processes for compliance to IPSAS and coordinate with process owners for necessary improvements.
• Actively monitor and implement changes in accounting standards and regulatory requirements and offers good change management practices when required.
• Liaise with external auditors on audit queries related to accounting and reporting and compliance to accounting standards and UNOPS Financial Rules and Regulations.

2. FINANCIAL INVESTMENTS AND OVERSIGHT

• Update and maintain policy documents on financial reporting and recording of corporate financial investments.
• Exercise periodic monitoring over transactions and account balances to ensure recording and reporting in accordance with UNOPS Financial Rules and Regulations and IPSAS policies on financial instruments and other applicable Organizational Directives and Operational Instructions.
• Review and assess agreements for financial instruments and equity deals and devise accounting treatments in compliance to IPSAS and UNOPS Financial Rules and Regulations.
• Provide specialist support in establishing of necessary processes for derivatives valuations, hedge accounting and application of impairment models.
• Take a proactive approach in identifying issues related to data quality and liaise with related parties in the organization to ensure timely and necessary corrections.
• Maintain a log of issues identified, analyze data and draw a holistic action plan to improve processes and establish necessary controls based on lessons learned.
• Contribute to developing and maintaining a strong control environment around financial reporting and the integrity of data used for preparation of corporate financial statements.

3. CAPACITY BUILDING / SYSTEM IMPROVEMENT

• Develop training materials and guidance on relevant IPSAS standards.
• Conduct, webex and virtual trainings to relevant personnel and business community.
• Develop IPSAS awareness informative contents for internal communication.
• Become a subject matter expert for the Corporate Financial Reporting requirements, and IPSAS standards.
• Support business process owners in the development of training materials through a review of the contents for technical IPSAS accuracy for topics assigned.
• Collaborate and communicate with UNOPS departments in HQ and field on a regular basis.

Required

• Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) preferably in Finance, Accounting, Financial Management or a related field is required. with 7 years of relevant experience OR
• A Master's Degree (or equivalent) in any of the above disciplines with 5 years of relevant experience is required.
• Professional certification in accounting (CA, CPA, ACCA, ACA, etc.) or equivalent is required.

Desired

• Specialized certifications such as CIPFA (Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy) is considered an asset.

Required

• Relevant experience is defined as working experience within an international environment in the areas of financial reporting, audit and accounting
• A thorough knowledge of International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSAS) or International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) is required.
• Demonstrated experience in interpretation of international accounting standards and preparation of financial statements is required.

Desired

• Experience in areas of Financial Instruments and specialized knowledge in financial instruments (IPSAS 41, IFRS 9, IPSAS 47/48, IFRS 15) and their practical application is considered as a strong asset.
• Excellent computer skills and ability to use software tools to present data clearly and concisely is highly desirable.

• UNOPS does not accept unsolicited resumes.
• UNOPS will at no stage of the recruitment process request candidates to make payments of any kind.
• Applications to vacancies must be received before midnight Copenhagen time (CET) on the closing date of the announcement. Applications received after the closing date will not be considered.
• Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and invited to proceed to the next stage of the selection process, which may include various assessments.
• UNOPS embraces diversity and is committed to equal employment opportunity. Our workforce consists of a wide range of nationalities, cultures, languages, races, gender identities, sexual orientations, and abilities. We strive to sustain and strengthen this diversity, fostering an inclusive working environment where all personnel are treated with respect and have equal access to opportunities.
• UNOPS evaluates all applications based on the skills, qualifications and experience outlined in the vacancy announcement. We are committed to a fair and transparent selection process and welcome diverse perspectives, including those of women, indigenous and racialized communities, individuals of diverse gender identities and sexual orientations, and persons with disabilities.
• We are committed to enabling all candidates to perform at their best during the assessment process. If you are shortlisted and require support or reasonable accommodation to complete any assessment, please inform our human resources team upon receiving your invitation.
• UNOPS has zero tolerance for sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA), sexual harassment, and other forms of abusive conduct, including discrimination, abuse of authority, and harassment. To uphold these standards, background checks are conducted for all final candidates to help ensure that individuals with a history of such conduct are not hired. By applying for a position with UNOPS, candidates acknowledge and consent to these verification processes.
  

• For staff positions only, UNOPS reserves the right to appoint a candidate at a lower level than the advertised level of the post.
• For retainer contracts, you must complete a few mandatory courses (they take around 4 hours to complete) in your own time, before providing services to UNOPS. Refreshers or new mandatory courses may be required during your contract. Please note that you will not receive any compensation for taking courses and refreshers. For more information on a retainer contract here.
• For more details about the contract types, please click here.
• All UNOPS personnel are responsible for performing their duties in accordance with the UN Charter and UNOPS Policies and Instructions, as well as other relevant accountability frameworks. In addition, all personnel must demonstrate an understanding of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in a manner consistent with UN core values and the UN Common Agenda.
• It is the policy of UNOPS to conduct background checks on all potential personnel. Recruitment in UNOPS is contingent on the results of such checks.