Overview
The Finance Officer (S2) will lead the Finance Unit, overseeing the Office’s financial operations and ensuring compliance with OSCE rules and regulations. The role involves developing and monitoring financial reporting systems, managing budgets, and advising on financial matters.
Key Responsibilities
- Leading the Finance Unit, including Accounts, Treasury and Budget, maintaining overall control of the Office’s financial operations in compliance with OSCE rules, regulations, procedures, and CRMS, including examining and approving high-value payment vouchers;
- Developing, implementing, and monitoring financial reporting systems, including monthly reconciliation of Asset, Liability, and Clearing accounts; designing regular reporting mechanisms for budget implementation; assisting in preparing the Office’s budget for the unified OSCE UB proposal; monitoring expenditures; reviewing additional resource requests; coordinating budgetary matters with the OSCE Secretariat, including handling Extra-Budgetary Contributions (ExB); and serving as Focal Point for Performance-Based Programme Budgeting (PBPB) and alternate to CFA for accounts and obligating documents;
- Preparing draft responses to internal and external audit inquiries and ensuring corrective actions are implemented; analyzing financial risks; developing risk management guidelines; and ensuring compliance with national legislation and internal control requirements, in close collaboration with the Vienna Secretariat to apply best practices from other OSCE missions;
- Supervising Finance Department staff, including Budget, Treasury, and Accounts Units; monitoring performance; establishing workflows; providing guidance and ad hoc training; and addressing complex issues to ensure efficiency, client orientation, and professional development;
- Advising on banking arrangements, cash replenishment, and cash-flow management; ensuring timely authorization and processing of cash and bank transactions, including salaries and transfers; and overseeing cashier services to guarantee accuracy, timeliness, and compliance with internal controls;
- Preparing draft reports and documents for submission to policy-making organs; providing guidance to Programme Office staff on financial matters; evaluating subordinate performance; and ensuring effective information exchange and support for decision-making on financial operations.
Required Experience
- Supervisory and management experience;
- Strong interpersonal, analytical and organizational skills;
- Good oral and written communication skills.
- Knowledge and experience working with computerized financial systems, including word processing, spreadsheets, and database software;
- Experience providing guidance to staff and advising management on financial operations and risk management.
- Minimum of six (four years with a relevant second-level degree) years of progressively responsible professional experience in administration, budget, accounting, or finance, including experience in an international organization;
- Experience in the use of computer applications, including word processing, spreadsheets, and database software;
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills;
- Knowledge and experience of using enterprise financial management applications (e.g., Oracle, SAP).
- Proven experience in managing financial operations, including budgeting, treasury, accounts, and reporting, in compliance with established rules, regulations, and internal control systems;
- Experience supervising and guiding finance staff, including performance monitoring, workflow management, and capacity-building activities;
- Ability to prepare, analyze, and review financial reports, budget proposals, and reconciliations accurately and in a timely manner;
- Ability to operate ERP systems and standard Windows applications, including Word processing and email;
- Cultural sensitivity and sound judgment;
- Demonstrated gender awareness and sensitivity, and an ability to integrate a gender perspective into tasks and activities;
- Demonstrated ability and willingness to work effectively as a member of a team with people of different cultural and religious backgrounds, gender, and diverse political views while maintaining impartiality and objectivity.
- Previous international field experience;
- Leadership skills.
- Previous experience in an international environment or operational missions, in a management position;
- Experience using enterprise financial management systems such as Oracle, SAP, or equivalent;
- Experience of working in the Central Asian region and/or knowledge of the region.
Qualifications
- First-level university degree in finance and accounting, business administration, or economics, supplemented by additional courses in finance/accounting;
- Certification from a recognized professional accountancy institution, such as Certified Public Accountants (CPA) or Chartered Accountants (CA), would be considered an asset.
