Job Description

About UN University (UNU)The United Nations University (UNU) is an international community of scholars engaged in policy-oriented research, capacity development and dissemination of knowledge, furthering the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations. UNUxe2x80x99s mission is to contribute, through research and capacity building, to efforts to resolve the pressing global problems that are the concern of the United Nations and its Member States.For the past four decades, United Nations University (UNU) has been a go-to think tank for impartial research on human survival, conflict prevention, sustainable development and welfare. With more than 400 researchers in 12 countries, UNUxe2x80x99s work spans the 17 Sustainable Development Goals, generating policy-relevant knowledge to effect positive global change. UNU maintains more than 200 collaborations with UN agencies and leading universities and research institutions across the globe. For more information, please visitAbout UNU-CENTREUNU Centre Administration is responsible for developing and implementing administrative policies governing the UNU and its global network of institutes and programmes. In addition, UNU Centre Administration provides services to internal clients in the areas of financial management, budgeting, human resources management, travel and procurement. It also oversees the joint inter-agency Oracle Cloud ERP platform, facilitating and supporting essential business processes. UNU Centre Administration is located in Tokyo, Japan, with a global services centre based in Putrajaya, Malaysia.ResponsibilitiesReporting to the Deputy Director of Administration, the Consultant will take the lead in implementing the Universityxe2x80x99s Statement of Internal Control. Working closely with stakeholders across the University, the Consultant will develop a comprehensive internal control framework and related policies, identify controls for critical business processes, ensure thorough documentation and support continuous improvements efforts. The Consultant will also establish a robust internal control self-assessment framework, prepare the Statement of Internal Control, and provide training to business process owners and personnel. Additionally, this role may contribute to other enterprise risk and or/finance initiatives.The Consultantxe2x80x99s responsibilities include, but are not limited to the following areas :Design an internal controls framework aligned with internationally recognized standards to support the University in mitigating risks, enhancing compliance, and improving the accuracy of financial reporting;Develop an Internal Control Policy and other necessary supplementary documents;Review and enhance ERP system controls, with a focus on segregation of duties and access controls, in consultation with process owners;Collaborate with stakeholders to document key business processes, risks, and controls; assess gaps against best practices, and recommend improvements to strengthen governance and control effectiveness;Develop and implement an Internal Control Self-Assessment (ICSA) framework, including tools, templates, and methodologies to ensure consistent self-assessment processes and reporting;Provide training to heads of offices and process owners on the ICSA framework, pilot it in select offices, gather feedback, and refine the tools and processes for full implementation;Deploy monitoring tools, including dashboards and KPIs, to track control effectiveness, and apply pragmatic solutions to drive continuous improvements and resolve issues;Develop user-friendly guides and training materials, and deliver training sessions to promote a culture of risk awareness, compliance, and enhance internal controls capabilities;Prepare the Statement of Internal Control (SIC), ensuring that the assertions are supported by evidence and that underlying controls are sufficiently reliable.Key performance indicatorsFinal versions of Internal Control Framework and related policiesDocumentation and implementation of the Internal Control Self-Assessment (ICSA) frameworkDelivery of user guides/materials and training sessionsFinal version of Statement of Internal ControlWeekly progress updates and milestone reviewsCompetenciesValues:Inclusion xe2x80x94 take action to create an environment of dignity and respect for all, regardless of age, culture, disability, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, gender expression, geography, grade, language, nationality, racial identity, religion, sex, sex characteristics, sexual orientation, social origin or any other aspect of identityIntegrity xe2x80x94 act ethically, demonstrating the standards of conduct of the United Nations and taking prompt action in case of witnessing unprofessional or unethical behaviour, or any other breach of UN standardsHumility xe2x80x94 demonstrate self-awareness and willingness to learn from othersHumanity xe2x80x94 act according to the purposes of the United Nations: peace, dignity and equality on a healthy planetBehaviours:Connect and collaborate xe2x80x94 build positive relationships with others to advance the work of the United Nations and work coherently as One UNAnalyse and plan xe2x80x94 seek out and use data from a wide range of sources to understand problems, inform decision-making, propose evidence-based solutions and plan actionDeliver results with positive impact xe2x80x94 hold oneself and others accountable for delivering results and making a positive difference to the people and causes that the United Nations servesLearn and develop xe2x80x94 pursue own learning and development and contribute to the learning and development of othersAdapt and innovate xe2x80x94 demonstrate flexibility, agility and the ability to think and act in novel ways1) Education and certificationMasterxe2x80x99s Degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration or related discipline;A first-level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree2) Required skills and experience7 years of progressively responsible professional experience in audit, internal control or risk management rolesHands-on experience in identifying risks, evaluating the adequacy of controls, and recommending process improvements in accordance with international standards such as the COSO frameworkAbility to work independently with strong organizational and project management skills.Excellent communication and interpersonal skills and able to work effectively across cultureProficient in MS Office Suite (MS Word, MS Excel, MS PowerPoint, etc). Experience with analytical tools such as Power BI is an asset.3) Language RequirementsFluency in English is requiredKnowledge of another UN official working language is an assetDurationThe successful candidate will be retained under a Consultant Contract (CTC). Consultants engaged by UNU may not provide services for more than twenty-four (24) months in a thirty-six (36) month period.UNU is not liable for any taxes that may be levied on the remuneration you receive under this contract. Payment of any such taxes remains the sole responsibility of CTC holders.RemunerationThe consultant will work home-based on a full-time basis (20 days per month). Remuneration will be commensurate with experience and based on a daily rate to be submitted as part of the application procedure.This contract carries no entitlement to paid annual leave nor sick leave.Travel considerationsShould xe2x80x9cmission travelxe2x80x9d be required, UNU will pay for travel. However, this will be subject to the following prerequisites: Medical Clearance, Security Clearance through the Travel Request Information Process (TRIP) system, completion of the BSAFE online course, travel Visa, and liability waiver. Trip prerequisites will be met at the expense of the consultant.Travel cost will be calculated based on economy class travel, regardless of the length of travel. Costs for accommodation, meals and incidentals must not exceed applicable daily subsistence allowance (DSA) rates, as promulgated by the International Civil Service Commission (ICSC at ).Expected start date1 March 2025 or earlierHow to ApplyTo apply to UNU, you will not need an account. Instead, we ask that you:Apply via the apply link;fill out the (please avoid using similar forms provided by other United Nations organisations);provide a motivation statement (in the P11 form); andanswer a few questions that are tailored to the position.You may wish to refer to the for more information.Application Deadline26 January 2025AssessmentEvaluation of qualified candidates may include a desk review and/or a competency-based interview, background checks and references.Special noticeUNU does not sponsor a working visa for this position.Consultants do not hold international civil servant status nor are they considered a xe2x80x9cstaff memberxe2x80x9d as defined in the United Nations Staff Rules and Regulations.UNU is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities to apply. Applications from developing countries, and from women are strongly encouraged.UNU has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNU, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination.If you have supervisory function you need to have awareness on gender related issues.Information about UNU rostersUNU reserves the right to select one or more candidates from this vacancy announcement. We may also retain applications and consider candidates applying to this post for other similar positions with UNU.Scam warningUNU does not charge any application, processing, training, interviewing, testing or other fee in connection with the application or recruitment process. Should you receive a solicitation for the payment of a fee, please disregard it. Furthermore, please note that emblems, logos, names and addresses are easily copied and reproduced. Therefore, you are advised to apply particular care when submitting personal information on the web.

United Nations University