COMPLETE JOB OUTLINE
PRINCIPAL FUNCTIONS
under the general supervision of the Section Head, the incumbent serves as a principal assistant providing leadership and expertise to develop and administer procedures and practices to ensure the accurate recording and disbursement of expenditure across the OPCW, including its payroll.
Participates in and supervises a variety of tasks, such as:
- Reviews the calculations and payment of salaries, allowances, travel claims and other payments to staff members, experts and consultants, vendors and other claimants;
- Maintains ledgers and accounting records for recording of financial transactions, and for the reconciliation of accounts and preparation of recurring or special reports;
- Uses judgment in the preparation, approval, recording and disbursement of OPCW spending, including its monthly payroll;
- Performs clearance of all advance accounts pertaining to the operations of the Section;
- Provides timely written and verbal advice to other staff members of the Branch and Secretariat regarding financial processes and policies;
- Identifies problems and inefficiencies in financial systems used by the OPCW, and proposes solutions and improvements regarding financial policies, procedures, the use of existing computerized financial systems, and the implementation of new computerised financial systems;
- Develops and implements new initiatives in support of the continuous improvement of key disbursement and other financial operations policies and procedures;
- Liaises with internal and external auditors in a productive and responsive manner;
- Acts as an alternate approving officer and deputy to the Section Head; and
- Supervises, trains and evaluates the work of 8 or more general service staff members of the Disbursements Section while providing leadership and management to achieve a positive working environment and culture.
RECRUITING PROFILE:
Education (Qualifications):
Essential:
- High school diploma or equivalent diploma of secondary education;
- Formal training in accounting, finance or related field, or professional development with a national accounting body would be an advantage;
Desirable:
Experience:
Essential:
- At least nine years of progressively responsible and related experience in the area of accounts payable and/or payroll management;
- Work experience in an international organisation would be an asset.
Skills and Abilities (key competencies):
- Demonstrated experience in applying contemporary accounts payable and other accounting practices, including an attention to detail and accuracy;
- Ability to handle a large volume of work in an efficient and timely manner;
- Ability to plan and organise the work in a logical manner;
- Ability to analyse issues and propose solutions;
- Good inter-personal and communication skills with ability to present information clearly and logically both in writing and verbally;
- Ability to lead a small team and to establish and maintain effective working relationships with people of different national and cultural backgrounds;
- Computer literacy, including knowledge and experience of sophisticated financial information systems.
Language Requirements: Fluency in English is essential and a good working knowledge of one of the other official languages (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian, and Spanish) is desirable.
