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, a calling

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 and check this Global Shared Services Centre (GSSC) and check this YouTube video.

 The Finance Section of the GSSC oversees global processing of Finance and Master Data Management transactions to ensure cost effective and secure operations consistent with the organization’s goals, strategy and objectives. Our finance professionals work in units dedicated to General Accounting, Payments, Invoice Processing and Master Data Management.

Initial duration of this Temporary Appointment is 6 months with the possibility of extension to 364 days based on satisfactory performance.

Lien-on post is applicable for internal candidates subject to approval.

How can you make a difference? 

Under the guidance of the Finance Manager, the Finance Officer is responsible as team lead for ensuring quality of work, performance delivery, service excellence and compliance of the responsible technical unit. The efficiency and efficacy of the support provided by the Finance Officer results in the timely and accurate management of financial services globally in compliance with UNICEF policies and procedures, which in turn strengthens the GSSC’s capacity in supporting UNICEF offices in delivering programmes which help the most vulnerable women and children across the world.

1. People Management

• Ensure achievement of team performance optimization to meet Key Performance Indicator targets set for the unit.
• Ensure team is adequately staffed and trained to delivery on their job responsibilities.
• Lead team and develop staff through coaching and mentoring.
• Provide technical support, feedback and on the job training to team members and ensure team cross-functional collaboration.
• Support and advise staff and management as appropriate to improve relations, achieve consensus and resolve issues.
• Monitor performance parameters, critical indicators and evaluate staff performance.
• Promote management excellence and work life balance in the unit.
• Support a culture of honest and continuous feedback and performance management.

2. Service Delivery

• Lead and supervise service delivery of unit in order to meet organizational performance, productivity goals, compliance requirements and customer satisfaction levels.
• Develop technically sound work practices and business process for finance department in accordance with UNICEF’s policies and procedures.
• Influence and evaluate the impact of changes in policies, regulations on internal controls and advise management accordingly.
• Ensure timely preparation and presentation of monthly financial reports to senior management.
• Ensure proactive coordination with other team leads and other streams for timely resolution of issues and concerns.
• Perform root cause analysis and deliver improvement initiatives on business process bottlenecks.
• Design and develop work programmes for suspicious transaction monitoring, detective reporting and transaction level monitoring.
• Ensure Risk Management matrices are updated and follow-up on the implementation of mitigation measures.
• Ensure close and positive client service relationships with the offices being supported, issues are resolved positively and proactively.
• Assist supervisor during internal/external audits and in ensuring recommendations are implemented on time.

3. Stakeholder Coordination and Partnership

• Ensure proactive coordination with all stream leads and sections in GSSC for timely resolution of issues.
• Effectively collaborate and negotiate with key stakeholders. Present unit deliverables to stream leads with solid technical justifications.
• Address and respond to customer feedback on a timely basis.
• Communicate effectively with vertical and horizontal authorities within UNICEF.

4. Projects and Innovation

• Support projects to ensure GSSC process compliance to organizational policies and procedures and the achievement of efficiency initiatives.
• Provide advisory support in various projects in order to enhance internal controls efficiency and productivity in business process across all finance streams, including the issuance of process instructions.
• Maintain constant innovative approach to enhance productivity, sound internal controls and minimize transactional time/cost.
• Provide technical support on projects dedicated to technology integration, robotics and process automation etc.
• Initiate and lead projects for process improvement in units and across units where required.

5. Knowledge Sharing, Training and Updates

• Remain current and knowledgeable to ensure all changes in UNICEF rules and regulations applicable to GSSC are implemented to ensure compliance.
• Evaluate the impact of changes in regulations on internal controls and advise management accordingly.
• Keep abreast of latest advancements in GSSC financial management/industry and ensure that team is trained and updated.
• Help design and deliver training programmes to address compliance needs, latest financial management advancements, fraud awareness, risk management, internal controls and related technical subjects for Finance Team.

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

Minimum requirements:

• Education:  A first university degree (Bachelor’s Degree) in accounting, business administration, economics, financial management or another relevant field is minimum requirement.  Master’s degree in a relevant field is an asset
• Work Experience:
• Minimum of 2 years of relevant Financial transactional experience and/or other directly related technical fields is required.
• Minimum of 1 year experience in a shared service center or consulting/audit environment. Additional years of experience in shared service is desirable.
• Proven supervisory and people management experience including developing and maintaining high performing teams is desirable.
• Experience in a UN system agency or organization some of which served in a developing country is considered as an asset.
• Advanced knowledge of Microsoft Office, especially Excel required.
• Knowledge of UN/UNICEF'S rules, regulations and procedures is an asset.
• Language Requirements: Fluency in both spoken and written English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) is an asset.

• Other additional considerations:
• Membership in an internationally recognized professional finance body, such as ACCA/ ICAEW/ CIMA/ CIPFA/ CPA/ACT is considered as an asset.
• Experience with IPSAS and/or IFRS is considered as an asset.

Desirables:

Internal applicants from 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 salary starting net HUF 1,401,446.00 per month. Please check SalCalcLocal (undp.org) for simulation.
• Holidays and leave, including 1.5 days of annual leave per month
• 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 GSSC does not facilitate MFA accreditation for locally recruited staff, applicants must be holders of acceptable permits already at the time of application. Please attach a copy of your work permit (if applicable) and also does not facilitate the issuance, maintenance, renewal, extension, or conversion of the candidate's residency and/or work permit for employment purposes.

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 committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious or ethnic background, and persons with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization. To create a more inclusive workplace, UNICEF offers paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks, and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF strongly encourages the use of flexible working arrangements. Click here to learn more about flexible work arrangements, well-being, and benefits.

According to the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD), persons with disabilities include those who have long-term physical, mental, intellectual, or sensory impairments which, in interaction with various barriers, may hinder their full and effective participation in society on an equal basis with others. In its Disability Inclusion Policy and Strategy 2022-2030, UNICEF has committed to increase the number of employees with disabilities by 2030. At UNICEF, we provide reasonable accommodation for work-related support requirements of candidates and employees with disabilities. Also, UNICEF has launched a Global Accessibility Helpdesk to strengthen physical and digital accessibility. If you are an applicant with a disability who needs digital accessibility support in completing the online application, please submit your request through the accessibility email button on the UNICEF Careers webpage Accessibility | UNICEF.

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 based on gender, nationality, age, race, sexual orientation, religious or ethnic background or disabilities. UNICEF is committed to promote the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will, therefore, 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, and selected candidates with disabilities may be requested to submit supporting documentation in relation to their disability confidentially.

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. For this position, eligible and suitable are encouraged to apply.

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.