Country: Poland
Closing date: 01 May 2017
Background:
This is an extra-budgetary position.
The initial contract will be for one year, renewable until the project ends. The expected duration of the project is until 31 March 2019 and the selected candidate should commit to being available for the duration of the project.
The Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) is the principal institution of the OSCE responsible for the human dimension. The ODIHR’s activities are implemented in 57 participating States in accordance with the ODIHR’s political mandate. Among the ODIHR’s main fields of activity is election observation as well as a large number of assistance projects in the areas of democratic institution building, the rule of law and human rights.
In line with its mandate, ODIHR commences a multi-pronged, medium-term project to address, in a human rights-focused way, a number of security threats and challenges in OSCE participating States in the Western Balkans, Eastern Europe, South Caucasus and Central Asia. The objective of the initiative is to increase human security through enhanced respect for human rights, diversity and democratic inclusiveness.
Under the guidance of ODIHR's Human Rights Department this project is implemented by programmatic staff from three departments (Human Rights, Democratization and Elections) supported by a dedicated team of staff funded from extra-budgetary sources. The team, consisting of three members, is led by an Associate Project Officer based in the ODIHR office in Warsaw, who is responsible for co-ordinating project activities. In addition, the project team consists of one Budget Assistant one Administrative Assistant located in OSCE/ODIHR in Warsaw.
Tasks and Responsibilities:
Under the direct supervision of the Finance Officer, the Budget Assistant provides accurate financial information to enable timely and correct project management decisions. The Budget Assistant also applies and interprets the OSCE and ODIHR financial rules and regulations in the context of the ODIHR operating environment. In particular, the incumbent performs the following functions for the project:
• BUDGET RELATED tasks, including:
- Assisting project staff in preparing budgets for project components in accordance with OSCE procedures and donor requirements; verifying expenditures to ensure that they remain within planned, authorized and available allotments;
- Recommending to Associate Project Officer and other programmatic staff in a timely manner the reallocation of funds as necessary within the framework of the project in conformity with OSCE procedures and donor requirements;
- Producing detailed budget and expenditure reports using IRMA/Oracle and cost forecasts on a monthly basis and as requested; drafting budget and expenditure reports for donors; comparing accounting and budgeting records and investigating discrepancies with project and financial staff;
• PROGRAMME RELATED tasks, including:
- Identifying financial management problems and proposing corrective action to Associate Project Officer in relation to implementation of ODIHR project activities; providing advice and guidance on OSCE and ODIHR budgetary and financial policies and procedures so as to promote project progress;
- Liaising with project staff and Finance Unit to ensure follow-up action on budget implementation and reporting; ensuring the integrity of financial data and OSCE Common Management Regulatory System (CRMS) compliance;
- Designing and implementing financial reporting oversight tools such as checklists, updated cash-flow projection, instructions and reporting forms;
• FINANCE RELATED tasks, including:
- Ensuring compliance of project expenditures with OSCE/ODIHR and donor budgetary and financial policies and procedures, in particular with the contribution agreements governing the project;
- Reviewing Official Travel Authorizations; requests for representation funds; requests for operational advances; financial conditions in Special Service Agreements; Implementing Partner Agreements and other purchasing requisitions and contracts to ensure compliance with OSCE and ODIHR budgetary and financial policies and procedures, as well as donor requirements;
- Monitoring procurement requisitions and purchase orders related to project activities;
- Providing advice on OSCE and ODIHR policies and decisions, in addition to procedures and donor requirements, for the use of project staff working at ODIHR and in the field;
• Carrying out any other duties as required by the Supervisor.
Necessary Qualifications:
• Completed secondary education, supplemented by formal specialised training in the area of Budget preparation, project management, business planning or accounting;
• Minimum 4 years of work experience in budget/accounting duties, preferably in an international environment;
• Good understanding of the procedures and requirements for project budgeting;
• Experience of donor procedures and rules applicable to funding received from large institutional donors is desirable;
• Experience of budgeting and controlling for a large volume project would be a significant asset;
• Computer literate with practical experience in Microsoft applications.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills in English and in the local language;
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relations with people of different national, ethnic and cultural backgrounds;
• Demonstrated gender awareness and sensitivity, and an ability to integrate a gender perspective into tasks and activities.
Remuneration:
Monthly remuneration, subject to social security deductions, is approximately PLN 6,900. OSCE salaries are exempt from taxation in Poland.
Social security will include participation in the Cigna medical insurance scheme (current approximate deduction for a staff member is 45 Euro) and OSCE Provident Fund. The Organization contributes an additional amount equivalent to 15% of the employee's salary to this pension-style fund while the employee contributes 7.5%. Other allowances and benefits are similar to those offered under the United Nations Common System for general services employees.
Appointments are made at step 1 of the applicable OSCE salary scale.
How to apply:
If you wish to apply for this position, please use OSCE’s online application link found underhttp://www.osce.org/employment.
The OSCE retains the discretion to re-advertise 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 the OSCE on-line applications will be accepted and short-listed applicants contacted.
The OSCE is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages qualified female and male candidates from all national, religious, ethnic and social backgrounds to apply to become a part of the Organization.
Please note that vacancies in the OSCE are open for competition only amongst nationals of participating States, please see http://www.osce.org/states.
No application fees or information with respect to bank account details are required by OSCE for our recruitment process.
Please note that in the event of invitation for interview, the OSCE is unable to reimburse costs incurred.