Finance Officer P3 (Head of Payment - Shared Service Centre) - Budapest, Hungary

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WFP celebrates and embraces diversity. It is committed to the principle of equal employment opportunity for all its employees and encourages qualified candidates to apply irrespective of race, colour, national origin, ethnic or social background, genetic information, gender, gender identity and/or expression, sexual orientation, religion or belief, HIV status or disability.

Are you interested in Finance, and in developing your professional experience in a Global Payments Centre? Would you like to contribute to ending global hunger? Are you passionate about helping those in need? Would you like to join a global organisation investing in its people? 

If so, an exciting & fulfilling career awaits you! Join our diverse and passionate team that works on varied and international projects directly contributing to saving & changing millions of lives around the globe.
 

DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS

Sunday, February 11, 2024

ABOUT WFP

The United Nations World Food Programme is the world's largest humanitarian agency fighting hunger worldwide.  The mission of WFP is to help the world achieve Zero Hunger in our lifetimes.  Every day, WFP works worldwide to ensure that no child goes to bed hungry and that the poorest and most vulnerable, particularly women and children, can access the nutritious food they need.

ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT

WFP is setting up a Global Business Service Centre in Budapest that will accommodate the new Global Payment Solution (GPS) shared services facility of the Corporate Finance Division. The GPS aims to consolidate WFP’s accounts payable function in Budapest to alleviate the workload of Country Offices in conducting routine tasks and allow them to focus on core mission activities. GPS is expected to deliver improved efficiency, enhanced data quality, and controls, as well as better service delivery.
 
Joining us means being part of a dedicated group of professionals working to improve our operations and contribute to positive change. As a member of the GPS team, you'll have opportunities for personal and professional growth, including training and career advancement. Your role in the GPS office will have a direct impact on WFP's ability to make a difference in the lives of those we assist worldwide by contributing to making payment processes more efficient and effective. 
 

JOB PURPOSE

As the incumbent reporting directly to the Head of GPS, you will be part of the core management team and manage on a day-to-day basis the Payment Processing Team, responsible for the comprehensive management of all payments of WFP’s offices globally. This position fulfills a pivotal role in the strategic setting of team priorities and work plans, covering a spectrum of critical tasks within payment processes and associated treasury activities.

Your managerial capacity will be instrumental in streamlining payables, ensuring smooth disbursements, managing bank reconciliations, and handling transfer rejections or returns efficiently. Beyond the day-to-day operations, you will champion compliance, offering crucial oversight of WFP offices’ payment processes, and ensuring alignment with WFP's policies, rules, and regulations through our shared services centre. This role represents an opportunity to contribute significantly to WFP's mission while optimizing our global payment systems. 
 

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES (not all-inclusive)

1. Take a leading role in the development of comprehensive policies and procedures for Global Payment Services (GPS) at both Headquarters and Field Offices, playing a vital role in shaping corporate finance and resource management strategies.
2. Actively contribute to key programmatic initiatives, ensuring financial assessments, reporting, and accounting practices adhere to the highest standards, with a special focus on promoting value for money.
3. Take charge of the implementation of GPS payment processes, leveraging the ServiceNow platform for efficient disbursement of all incoming cases from HQ and Field Offices. 
4. Uphold GPS standards, processes, and Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) to ensure a seamless and timely payment system.
5. Manage and coordinate the GPS Payment Processing Team, defining priorities and work plans, overseeing progress, and providing coaching and training for optimal performance. 
6. Oversee human resource functions related to staff benefits, local staff recruitment, and training initiatives.
7. Collaborate in the development of robust GPS policies, procedures, and KPIs for WFP’s offices globally, fostering alignment with sister agencies and encompassing all facets of payment processes and treasury activities.
8. Work collaboratively with the GPS Quality Assurance Unit to continually review processes and systems, enforce financial controls, and gain insights into GPS performance.
9. Conduct periodic risk and internal control assessments, ensuring services align with business objectives and proactively mitigating potential audit, compliance, or financial risks.
10. Monitor and analyze financial and accounting data, forecasting trends, identifying anomalies, and proposing solutions to management regarding the payment process. 
11. Conduct regular visits to WFP’s offices to enhance the proper application of GPS policies and procedures, offering comprehensive reports with improvement action plans. Facilitate training sessions when required.
12. Lead the delivery of accurate financial reporting and analyses by International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSAS), ensuring precision, meeting deadlines, and complying with accounting processes and corporate governance requirements.
13. Represent the unit at internal and external meetings, and events with UN agencies, banks, financial institutions, and other partners as required.
14. Any other duties that are consistent with the position.
     

STANDARD MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Education: 

• Advanced University degree in Finance, Business Administration, Accounting or related fields, or First University degree in the same subject(s) with additional years of related work experience. 

Experience:

• At least 5 years of experience in financial management, in particular payment processes and related treasury activities, such as consolidating payables into cycles, verifying disbursement, performing bank reconciliation, and managing transfer rejection or returns.
• In-depth technical knowledge of all SAP or other similar ERP financial modules, in particular Accounts Payables, Treasury, Bank Communication Manager, their integration with Travel, Procurement, HR modules and other satellite systems. 
• Experience with business process mapping, reengineering, and assessment ideally in international and/or non-governmental organizations.
• Experience in a shared services centre in a global context is highly desirable.

Language:     

• Fluency (level C) in the English language. Intermediate knowledge (level B) of a second official UN language: Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian, Spanish, and/or Portuguese (a WFP working language).  
   

ADDITIONAL EXPERIENCES FOR ENTRY INTO THE ROLE

• Exceptional customer service skills, demonstrating the ability to effectively engage with clients, address inquiries, and ensure a positive and satisfactory experience.
• Customer capacity needs assessment and conduction of training and drafting of learning material.
• Experience in setting strategy and implementation. 
• Experience of managing large volumes of payments in complex contexts. 
• Excellent overall technical and analytical skills, critical reasoning, and strong problem-solving skills.
• Proven experience in leading diverse and multicultural teams, fostering an inclusive work environment, and promoting cultural sensitivity. A demonstrated commitment to diversity and inclusion in all aspects of leadership.
• Demonstrated ability to lead teams effectively, setting clear objectives and fostering a results-oriented culture. 
• Proven experience in achieving and exceeding performance targets in dynamic and challenging environments.
• The ability to uphold the highest standards of integrity, transparency, and accountability in your role. 
• Solid communication skills with the ability to articulate a compelling vision, engage diverse audiences, and influence key stakeholders. Proven success in effective communication both internally and externally.
• Experience in making well-informed and timely decisions in complex and uncertain environments.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

Mobility is and continues to be, a core contractual requirement in WFP. The selected candidate will be employed on a fixed-term as well as a rotational contract with a probationary period of one year.

WFP offers an attractive compensation and benefits package in line with ICSC standards (http://icsc.un.org) including basic salary, post adjustment, relocation entitlement, visa, travel and shipment allowances, 30 days’ annual leave, home leave, an education grant for dependent children, a pension plan, and medical insurance.

Please note that this position is based in Budapest, Hungary and that should you be selected for the position, you would be expected to relocate.

REMINDERS BEFORE SUBMITTING YOUR APPLICATION

• We strongly recommend that your profile is accurate, complete and includes your employment records, academic qualifications, language skills and UN Grade (if applicable)
• Once your profile is completed, please apply, and submit your application
• Please make sure you upload your professional CV in the English language
• Kindly note the only documents you will need to submit at this time are your CV and Cover Letter
• Additional documents such as passport, recommendation letters, academic certificates, etc. may potentially be requested at a future time
• Please contact us at wfprecruitment@wfp.org in case you face any challenges with submitting your application
• Only shortlisted candidates will be notified

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WFP has a zero-tolerance approach to conduct such as fraud, sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination. All selected candidates will be expected to adhere to WFP’s standards of conduct and will therefore undergo rigorous background verification internally or through third parties. Selected candidates will also be required to provide additional information as part of the verification exercise. Misrepresentation of information provided during the recruitment process may lead to disqualification or termination of employment

WFP will not request payment at any stage of the recruitment process including at the offer stage. Any requests for payment should be refused and reported to local law enforcement authorities for appropriate action.