Chief, Accounts and Treasury Unit (P4)

Background:

The OSCE has a comprehensive approach to security that encompasses politico-military, economic and environmental, and human aspects. It therefore addresses a wide range of security-related concerns, including arms control, confidence- and security-building measures, human rights, combating human trafficking, national minorities, democratization, policing strategies, counter-terrorism and economic and environmental activities. All 57 participating States enjoy equal status, and decisions are taken by consensus on a politically, but not legally binding basis.

The OSCE Secretariat in Vienna assists the Chairpersonship in its activities, and provides operational and administrative support to the field operations, and, as appropriate, to other institutions. 

The Department of Management and Finance (DMF) is responsible for managing the material and financial resources of the Organization. The objective of DMF is to provide efficient and effective management of non-staff resources in support of OSCE programmatic activities. It provides policy guidance on the management of OSCE financial and material resources and develops and maintains OSCE Financial Regulations and Rules and Financial Administrative Instructions. DMF consists of Budget and Finance Services, Mission Support Section, Information and Communication Technology Section and the Information Security and Co-ordination Unit.

The Budget and Finance Services Section is responsible for co-ordinating and supporting the programme planning and budgeting process in general, including providing policy guidance and support to the OSCE Secretariat, Institutions and Field Operations, and for management of the Organization's finances. The Budget and Finance Services Section consists of the Accounts and Treasury Unit and Integrated Resource Management Unit.

Tasks and Responsibilities:

As Chief, Accounts and Treasury Unit, you will work with all executive structures to oversee and co-ordinate accounting and treasury policy and operations; work with Secretariat departments and other Vienna-based OSCE organizations to strengthen financial compliance and provide an efficient payment service; foster good working relationships with delegations and the Advisory Committee on Management and Finance (ACMF), especially with respect to Assessed Contributions and Scales of Contribution; act as the OSCE focal point for external audit.

You will report to the Principal Deputy Director DMF, Head of Budget and Finance Section and your second level supervisor will be the Director of Management and Finance. 

Your key functions will be the following:

1.  Preparing and consolidating the OSCE annual accounts and preparing financial statements on a quarterly basis and at year-end;
2. Supervising the maintenance of the General Ledger and verifying the integrity of all related financial transactions, including managing the structure of the Chart of Accounts;
3. Supervising/managing Accounts Payable, Accounts Receivable and Treasury functions, to include operational, transactional and policy aspects of these functions;
4. Ensuring continued compliance with International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSAS), keeping abreast of changes in accounting standards and best practices;
5. Responsible for the monthly and yearly closure of the accounts and analysing all assets, liability, income and expenditure accounts of the OSCE executive structures on a monthly basis;
6. Drafting Accounting Instructions and Procedures for application OSCE-wide, ensuring continued compliance with IPSAS standards keeping abreast of changes in accounting standards and best practices;
7. Liaising with the Internal and External Auditors and assisting them with their audits and providing written responses to their audit observations;
8. Performing other related duties as assigned.

For more detailed information on the structure and work of the OSCE Secretariat, please see https://www.osce.org/secretariat 

Necessary Qualifications:

• Second-level university degree in accounting, business administration, finance or other related field; a first-level university degree in combination with two years of additional qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the second-level university degree;
• Professional Accounting Certification from a recognized international professional accountancy body (i.e. CPA);
• A minimum of eight years in the area of finance and accounting, of which five years are in a senior financial management position, preferably in the public sector or an international organization;
• Excellent oral and written communication skills in English; knowledge of another OSCE official language is desirable;
• Computer literate with extensive experience of computer applications, particularly Microsoft Excel spreadsheets;
• Extensive experience with ERP systems;
• Demonstrated gender awareness and sensitivity, and an ability to integrate a gender perspective into tasks and activities;
• Ability and willingness to work as a member of team, with people of different cultural, and religious backgrounds, different gender, and diverse political views, while maintaining impartiality and objectivity.

Remuneration Package:

Monthly remuneration is around EUR 8,800, with the actual monthly salary depending on post adjustment and family status. OSCE salaries are exempt from taxation in Austria. Social benefits will include possibility of participation in the Cigna medical insurance scheme and the OSCE Provident Fund. Other allowances and benefits are similar to those offered under the United Nations Common System.

Please note that appointments are normally made at step 1 of the applicable OSCE salary scale.

If you wish to apply for this position, please use the OSCE's online application link found under https://vacancies.osce.org/. 

The OSCE retains the discretion to re-advertise/re-post the vacancy, to cancel the recruitment, to offer an appointment at a lower grade or to offer an appointment with a modified job description or for a different duration. 

Only those candidates who are selected to participate in the subsequent stages of recruitment will be contacted.

Please note that vacancies in the OSCE are open for competition only amongst nationals of participating States, please see https://www.osce.org/participating-states.

The OSCE is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages qualified female and male candidates from all religious, ethnic and social backgrounds to apply to become a part of the Organization.

Candidates should be aware that OSCE officials shall conduct themselves at all times in a manner befitting the status of an international civil servant. This includes avoiding any action which may adversely reflect on the integrity, independence and impartiality of their position and function as officials of the OSCE. The OSCE is committed to applying the highest ethical standards in carrying out its mandate. For more information on the values set out in OSCE Competency Model, please see https://jobs.osce.org/resources/document/our-competency-model.

The OSCE is a non-career organization committed to the principle of staff rotation, therefore the maximum period of service in this post is 7 years.

The mandatory retirement age at the OSCE is 65 years for contracted positions at the general service, professional and director level. The Organization shall apply an age limit of 63 years at the time of appointment as the incumbent selected is normally expected to carry out the contractual obligation of two years. 

Please be aware that the OSCE does not request payment at any stage of the application and review process.