Senior Finance Associate (Quality Assurance) GS-7, Service Quality Management Section, Global Shared Services Centre, Budapest, Hungary

The Senior Finance Associate (Quality Assurance) is responsible for strengthening the quality of Master Data Management (MDM) processes within the GSSC, to ensure that the MDM services are performed efficiently, continuous quality improvement is in place, and processes are in compliance with UNICEF policies, procedures and internal standard operation procedures (SOPs).

UNICEF works in over 190 countries and territories to save children’s lives, defend their rights, and help them fulfill their potential, from early childhood through adolescence.

At UNICEF, we are committed, passionate, and proud of what we do. Promoting the rights of every child is not just a job – it is a calling.

UNICEF is a place where careers are built: we offer our staff diverse opportunities for personal and professional development that will help them develop a fulfilling career while delivering on a rewarding mission. We pride ourselves on a culture that helps staff thrive, coupled with an attractive compensation and benefits package.

Visit our website to learn more about what we do at UNICEF.

For every child, results.

We are committed, passionate, and proud of what we do. Promoting the rights of every child is not a job, it’s a calling.

UNICEF's Global Shared Services Centre (GSSC) in Budapest, Hungary provides services to UNICEF offices globally in the areas of Finance, Human Resources, Payroll and Information Technology. For more information about GSSC please visit our webpage at Global Shared Services Centre (GSSC)  and check this YouTube.

How can you make a difference?

The Senior Finance Associate (Quality Assurance) is responsible for strengthening the quality of Master Data Management (MDM) processes within the GSSC, to ensure that the MDM services are performed efficiently, continuous quality improvement is in place, and processes are in compliance with UNICEF policies, procedures and internal standard operation procedures (SOPs). 

As part of the quality assurance role, the incumbent will run quality checks and issue reports on data and process quality based on data analysis and will design and manage quality deep dives on specific risky areas, monitor processes, follow up on suspicious transactions and raise awareness of potential risk of fraud in the area of MDM and in intra-stream QA assignments. 

Compliance

• Perform quality reviews on MDM transaction processing, ensuring compliance with Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).
• Ensure timely preparation and visibility of monthly analytical and compliance reports and provide findings and recommendations on identified issues.
• Perform periodic testing of key controls along with proper documentation and sign offs.
• Evaluate process and system improvements, providing input from internal control and quality perspective.
• Ensure that identified issues are timely resolved by partnering with relevant stream contacts.
• Participate in the development and design of reports and checks to perform quality assurance assignments.
• Ensure that working papers for compliance assignments are properly maintained and archived for future references.

Detective Reporting

• Utilize data analytics methods for root cause analysis and identifying unexpected anomalies requiring further investigation.
• Conduct risk assessment and fraud prevention review, to determine areas for close monitoring.
• Produce detective control reports and facilitate discussion with work stream contacts regarding report results and follow-up actions required.
• Create fraud risk awareness utilizing advisory and training methods.
• Work closely with stakeholders keeping them informed of findings and follow up actions required.
• Provide recommendations for strengthened controls that are deemed necessary from transactional reviews.

Quality Assurance Initiatives

• Lead quality assurance initiatives which may include any or all: collaborating with other team members, identifying areas of interest, referencing good practices, coordinating efforts to achieve a defined outcome, escalating issues that may hinder the successful completion of the initiative.

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…

• Completion of secondary education (i.e. high school diploma)
• Seven years of relevant hands-on work experience in MDM or master data-related roles. A completed university degree from an accredited institution in accounting and finance or data management will be counted toward the minimum work experience requirements: minimum 4 years of relevant experience is required for candidates holding bachelor’s degree in relevant fields. A relevant master’s degree may replace additional 2 years.
• Experience of working in SAP environment
• Strong analytical, data extraction, data cleaning and reporting skills
• Experience in using data analytics techniques and tools
• Initiative, proactivity, and ability to work independently with minimum supervision
• Fluency in English
• Very good communication skills with a proactive and open-minded approach
• A natural curiosity and a “big picture” mentality

Desirable:

• Three years of relevant hands-on work experience in compliance, auditing, assurance or risk analysis
• Subject matter expertise in MDM area, including SOP and transactional review
• Knowledge of and experience with UNICEF MDM transaction processes
• Work experience in the quality assurance area
• Work experience in risk assessment/risk management area
• Work experience in change management/project management
• Work experience with a development organization
• Work experience in shared service centre context
• Certifications in internal auditing/information system auditing/fraud risk management/quality assurance
• Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish)
• Traits of professional skepticism

Internal applicants from the GSSC are required to complete the Learning Path corresponding to their current level before applying for another position. Additionally, they must attach a snapshot of the completed path to their applications. Applications that do not meet these two minimum requirements will not be considered. For further details on learning paths, please visit the L&D Portal Learning in the GSSC (sharepoint.com).    

As an advocate for every child, you will receive

• UNICEF offers an attractive remuneration package including a tax-free annual net base salary starting HUF 854,234 per month. Please check SalCalcLocal (undp.org) for simulation.
• Holidays and leave, including 30 days of annual leaves per year
• Parental leave
• Dependency allowance
• United Nations sponsored medical insurance plan
• Pension plan
• Optional life insurance plan
• Access to professional development and learning programs, online learning and learning path
• Access to staff well-being support
• Access to career development support

Please visit Compensation and Benefit site on UNICEF Career page

Applicants must be nationals of Hungary or other EU/Schengen country OR in the possession of a valid long-term Hungarian residency and work permit. Temporary and/or sponsored visas are not accepted. UNICEF does not facilitate MFA accreditation for locally recruited staff. UNICEF shall not accept responsibility or liability to act as a sponsor or to otherwise facilitate the issuance, maintenance, renewal, extension, or conversion of the candidate's residency and/or work permit for employment with UNICEF. Please attach a copy of your work permit to your application submission (if applicable).

For every Child, you demonstrate...

UNICEF’s Core Values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust and Accountability and Sustainability (CRITAS) underpin everything we do and how we do it. Get acquainted with Our Values Charter: UNICEF Values

The UNICEF competencies required for this post are…

(1) Builds and maintains partnerships

(2) Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness

(3) Drive to achieve results for impact

(4) Innovates and embraces change

(5) Manages ambiguity and complexity

(6) Thinks and acts strategically

(7) Works collaboratively with others 

Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels.

UNICEF is here to serve the world’s most disadvantaged children and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, or any other personal characteristic.

We offer a wide range of measures to include a more diverse workforce, such as paid parental leave, time off for breastfeeding purposes, and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF strongly encourages the use of flexible working arrangements.

UNICEF does not hire candidates who are married to children (persons under 18). UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority, and discrimination. UNICEF is committed to promoting the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will 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) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check.

UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance.  Issuance of a visa by the host country of the duty station is required for IP positions and will be facilitated by UNICEF. Appointments may also be subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid). Should you be selected for a position with UNICEF, you either must be inoculated as required or receive a medical exemption from the relevant department of the UN. Otherwise, the selection will be canceled.

Remarks:

As per Article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity.

UNICEF’s active commitment to diversity and inclusion is critical to deliver the best results for children. 

Government employees who are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally required to resign from their government positions before taking up an assignment with UNICEF. UNICEF reserves the right to withdraw an offer of appointment, without compensation, if a visa or medical clearance is not obtained, or necessary inoculation requirements are not met, within a reasonable period for any reason. 

UNICEF does not charge a processing fee at any stage of its recruitment, selection, and hiring processes (i.e., application stage, interview stage, validation stage, or appointment and training). UNICEF will not ask for applicants’ bank account information.

All UNICEF positions are advertised, and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process. An internal candidate performing at the level of the post in the relevant functional area, or an internal/external candidate in the corresponding Talent Group, may be selected, if suitable for the post, without assessment of other candidates.

Additional information about working for UNICEF can be found here.