Org. Setting and Reporting

UNRWA, the largest United Nations operation in the Middle East with over 30,000 staff working across five areas of operation, is looking for highly committed personnel wishing to make a change. If you are looking for a rewarding opportunity to make a tangible difference for one of the most vulnerable communities in the world, UNRWA would like to hear from you. The Audit and Verification Specialist reports to the Deputy Director of Finance and Chief, Accounts Division.

Responsibilities

Acts as a focal point for the Agency in coordinating verification missions across the Fields; provides technical leadership at strategic and operational levels in support of the missions, with a particular focus on planning and leading interactions and coordination of UNRWA activities and information with multiple levels; including understanding the terms and reference of the verification, providing guidance to External Relations Department (ERD), Communications Department (CD) and Field leads on verification queries, review of responses, coordination of responses with Field, Department of Legal Affairs (DLA), ERD and CD, and follow up on post verification actions. Assesses approach of internal audits and verifications for consistency with the techniques and standards of the profession and audit best practices, as well as applicable Accounting Standards, Financial Regulations and Instructions of the Agency; ensures the findings are in line with the terms of references agreed with the mission and the audit/verification; identifies issues and trends and makes recommendations to improve the Agency’s timeliness and quality of data provided in response of audit and verification missions; reviews the submission of documents as required for verification missions, to ensure accuracy and completeness of supporting documents; highlights risk areas and takes the lead in coordinating corrective actions; performs proper reconciliations. In coordination with main UNBOA focal point of the Agency, manages the interim and final audit by UN Board of Auditors (UNBoA), including engagement with department/field directors, preparation of plan, entrance and exit meetings with the management team, communication including; collecting, interpreting and dissemination of audit requests, observation and recommendations; develops and leads the functioning of Agency-wide mechanism for data collection and consolidation to oversee and control the collection, review, consolidation and submission of responses from department /field directors after due verification and quality control in coordination with the department directors; coordinates with concerned parties to ensure timely responses to audit queries and observations, drafts management responses to audit queries; backfills main UNBOA focal point of the Agency as necessary. Provides support in managing the timely implementation of UNBoA, internal audits, donor verification recommendations by proper tracking and monitoring; ensures audit recommendations implementation rate meets the required benchmark; takes the lead in implementing initiatives with respect to system, tools, policies, guidance to improve audit recommendations tracking and implementation. Acts as the focal point in Finance Department for Department of Internal Oversight Services (DIOS) audits, Advisory Committee of Internal Oversight (ACIO) visits and coordinating other inspections including planning the timing of audits, coordination and collection of data within Finance department and submission to the relevant bodies. Acts as the focal point in Finance Department in coordinating responses to donor requests on financial matters; reviews and comments on donor agreements and issues raised by ERD and DLA in relation to donor agreements; ensures terms and conditions of donor agreements will be supported by UNRWA systems, regulatory framework, and relevant accounting standards; provides authoritative interpretation of requirements for handling transactions with respect to donor reports; plans, leads, monitors and evaluates staff performance; provides technical guidance and ensures that the staff are sufficiently trained to perform their functions; supervises or conducts training sessions as required. Acts as Finance Department’s focal point on Inter-Agency coordination, European Union meetings, etc. on matters relating to Donor Reporting, European Commission, Financial and Administrative Framework Agreement, etc.; attends meetings with donors and addresses their queries. Analyses any problems and issues; formulates options, strategies and policies, recommends solutions to systematically address any existing and potential issues with respect to compliance, audit, verification and donor reporting; takes the lead in the implementation of such strategies and policies in the areas of responsibility. Performs other duties as may be assigned by the supervisor.

Competencies

UN Core Values of lntegrity, Professionalism and Respect for Diversity, and Core Competencies of Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results apply by default. Default managerial competencies may apply. Functional i. Relating and Networking ii. Applying Technical Expertise iii. Planning and Organizing Leadership (as applicable) i. Leading and Supervising ii. Delivering Results

Education

Advanced university degree (Master’s or equivalent) from an accredited educational institution in accounting, finance, business administration or related field.

Job - Specific Qualification

Not available.

Work Experience

At least seven years of progressively responsible and relevant experience in the application of the knowledge acquired accounting, finance, business administration or related field is required. At least three years at the international level, in a large multinational, governmental, or non-profit organization in the areas of budgeting, accounting, financial management or related work, using computer-based financial systems is required. Unless already serving as an international staff member in the UN Common System, a candidate for an international post must have a minimum of two continuous years of relevant international experience outside UNRWA, and outside the country(s) of which the candidate is a national or holds citizenship, a passport or a national identity number is required. Advanced university degree (Master’s or equivalent) from an accredited educational institution in accounting, finance, business administration or related field is required. Indicate your current involvement in any outside activities, as it is required. Including but not limited to employment, independent contractor/freelance consultant, board member (corporate, academic, etc), expert group, lobby, public speaking/writing (article, book, blog, social media etc), teaching, conferences, training, press statement, voluntary work, political activity, fundraising/donation for non-UNRWA entity, running for public office, role in political party or orgs, owning business, work for gov./NGO/private company/charity, UNRWA partner/vendor, full/part-time, paid or not. A “yes” answer doesn’t necessarily lead to exclusion from future work at UNRWA, yet misrepresentation in providing accurate/complete info can lead to disqualification/termination of appointment, if hired. Experience in budget or finance office of an organization in the UN common system is desirable. Membership in a professional body of accountants (e.g. Institute of Chartered Accountants, Institute of Certified Public Accountants) is desirable. Basic knowledge of Arabic is desirable.

Languages

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this job opening, English is required. Arabic is desirable. 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

Desirable Languages

Language	Reading	Writing	Listening	Speaking
Arabic	UN Level I	UN Level I	UN Level I	UN Level I

Assessment

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

Special Notice

This is a UN Regular Budget post. Type of Contract and duration: 1 year, with the possibility of further extension. Providing incorrect, incomplete or misleading information on an application form will result in the immediate disqualification of the candidate. UNRWA has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNRWA, including sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA), sexual harassment, racism/racial discrimination and other forms of conduct, including but not limited to discrimination, abuse of authority and harassment. To uphold these standards, background checks are conducted for all recommended candidates and those placed on a roster to help ensure that individuals with a history of such conduct are not hired. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s), employment history, ClearCheck and INTERPOL, as well as certification of non-conviction, where available. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check. By applying for a position with UNRWA, candidates acknowledge and consent to these verification processes. The Agency disqualifies applicants whose name appears on the UN Sanctions List or a UN database of staff separated for reason of misconduct or of staff who separated while a misconduct process was pending. UNRWA shares investigation and misconduct information with other UN Agencies, and past and prospective employers about staff members who have been separated for misconduct, or who have separated while an investigation and/or disciplinary process for misconduct was underway; and those individuals may be prohibited from employment with the United Nations. Only applications that have been fully completed in UNRWA's online e-recruitment system Inspira will be considered and no late applications will be accepted. The Personal History Profile (PHP) should be completed with full work experience under the experience tabs as per the requirements in the Job Opening. All university degrees must also be stated where applicable. UNRWA personnel must ensure adding their contract type and grade level. Given the large pool of applicants, only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for further assessment. Providing incorrect or misleading information on an application form will result in the immediate disqualification of the candidate. Advertisements published in English will only accept applications in English; other language submissions will not be considered. UNRWA is committed to achieving gender balance in its workforce. Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply. UNRWA welcomes applications from qualified candidates with disabilities. A roster may be created from the selection exercise, and successful candidates may become eligible for appointments to the same post or a similar post, when the need arises. Equivalency: A first level university degree in combination with additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of an advanced university degree. NB: work experience alone or formal qualifications with no relevant work experience are not considered an acceptable combination. The Agency disqualifies applicants whose name appears on the UN Sanctions List or a UN database of staff separated for reasons of misconduct or of staff who separated while a misconduct process was pending. UNRWA shares investigation and misconduct information with other UN Agencies, and past and prospective employers about staff members who have been separated for misconduct, or who have separated while an investigation and/or disciplinary process for misconduct is underway; and those individuals may be prohibited from employment with the United Nations. UNRWA is funded almost entirely by voluntary contributions from UN member states, regional bodies, business foundations and individual contributions. The mission of UNRWA is to help Palestine refugees achieve their full potential in human development under the difficult circumstances in which they live. For more details on UNRWA, please visit: https://www.unrwa.org/

United Nations Considerations

Staff members are subject to the authority of the Commissioner-General of UNRWA and to assignment by him or her. UNRWA is committed to achieving gender parity at all levels of staffing under the current UN-wide gender agenda and strongly encourages applications from qualified applicants from under-represented groups. At UNRWA, 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. UNRWA is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment of mutual respect. Reasonable accommodation for applicants with disabilities may be provided to support participation in the recruitment process when requested and indicated in the application. UNRWA Considerations UNRWA staff are expected to uphold the highest standards of efficiency, competence, neutrality, impartiality and integrity. This includes respect for and commitment to human rights, diversity and non-violent means of dealing with all kinds of conflict. Only persons who fully and unconditionally commit to these values should consider applying for UNRWA jobs. Candidates will not be considered for employment with UNRWA if they have committed violations of international human rights law, violations of international humanitarian law, sexual exploitation, sexual abuse, or sexual harassment, or if there are reasonable grounds to believe that they have been involved in the commission of any of these acts. Candidates who have committed crimes other than minor traffic offences may not be considered for employment. The Agency may disqualify applicants who have separated for reason of misconduct, who left a UN Agency while misconduct processes were pending, or who appear on the UN Sanctions List. UNRWA is a non-smoking work environment. Applicants are urged to follow carefully all instructions available in the online recruitment platform, inspira. For more detailed guidance, applicants may refer to the Manual for the Applicant, which can be accessed by clicking on “Manuals” hyper-link on the upper right side of the inspira account-holder homepage. The evaluation of applicants will be conducted on the basis of the information submitted in the application according to the evaluation criteria of the job opening and the applicable internal legislations of the United Nations including the Charter of the United Nations, resolutions of the General Assembly, the Staff Regulations and Rules, administrative issuances and guidelines. Applicants must provide complete and accurate information pertaining to their personal profile and qualifications according to the instructions provided in inspira to be considered for the current job opening. No amendment, addition, deletion, revision or modification shall be made to applications that have been submitted. Candidates under serious consideration for selection will be subject to reference checks to verify the information provided in the application. Job openings advertised on the Careers Portal will be removed at 11:59 p.m. (New York time) on the deadline date.

No Fee

THE UNITED NATIONS RELIEF AND WORKS AGENCY FOR PALESTINE REFUGEES IN THE NEAR EAST (UNRWA) DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE OR REQUEST MONEY FROM CANDIDATES AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT AND ONBOARDING PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING, ONBOARDING). UNRWA DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.

United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA)

Audit and Verification Specialist, P4