Background:

The OSCE has a comprehensive approach to security that encompasses politico-military, economic and environmental, and human aspects. It therefore addresses a wide range of security-related concerns, including arms control, confidence- and security-building measures, human rights, combating human trafficking, national minorities, democratization, policing strategies, counter-terrorism and economic and environmental activities. All 57 participating States enjoy equal status, and decisions are taken by consensus on a politically, but not legally binding basis.

The OSCE Secretariat in Vienna assists the Chairpersonship in its activities, and provides operational and administrative support to the field operations, and, as appropriate, to other institutions.

The OSCE Secretariat's Department of Management and Finance (DMF) is responsible for managing the material and financial resources of the Organization. The objective of DMF is to provide efficient and effective management of non-staff resources in support of OSCE programmatic activities. It provides policy guidance on the management of OSCE financial and material resources and develops and maintains OSCE Financial Regulations and Rules and Financial Administrative Instructions. DMF consists of Budget and Finance Services, Mission Support Section, Information and Communication Technology Section and the Information Security and Co-ordination Unit.

DMF consists of the Budget and Finance Services Section, Mission Support Services Section, Information and Communication Technology Services Section, and the Risk Management, Internal Controls, and Information Security Unit. The Budget and Finance Services (BFS) Section is comprised of two units, the Integrated Resource Management (IRM) Unit, and the Accounts and Treasury (A&T) Unit. BFS holds an OSCE-wide mandate for policy guidance, budget and finance process leadership, and the provision of services to clients across the Organization and among the participating States.

Tasks and Responsibilities:

As Principal Deputy Director and Head, Budget and Finance, you will lead the overall OSCE budgetary, extrabudgetary, and finance activities, including managing the Unified Budget cycle process and preparation of its deliverables. You will oversee the implementation of budgets and other financial resources and provide authoritative advice and guidance to leaders and managers across the Organization on all budget and finance matters.

Furthermore, you will provide critical financial management services to clients, through overseeing the budgeting, accounts, treasury, and extrabudgetary functions of the OSCE. You will ensure strategic communication and representation of the OSCE’s budgetary policies, strategies and plans vis-à-vis participating States and internal stakeholders, in particular in the context of the budget cycle with the Advisory Committee on Budget and Finance (ACMF).

As the incumbent of the post, you will report directly to the Director for Management and Finance, who assigns work, sets general objectives, priorities, and deadlines for DMF, while the Secretary General serves as your second-level supervisor. You will directly supervise the Chief of Integrated Resource Management Unit and Chief of Accounts and Treasury Unit, and indirectly supervise a Section of approximately 25 staff members.

More specifically, you will be tasked with the following:


For more detailed information on the structure and work of the OSCE Secretariat, please see https://www.osce.org/secretariat

Necessary Qualifications:

• Second-level university degree in business administration, finance, economics, or a related field; a first-level university degree in combination with two years of additional qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the second-level university degree;
• A minimum of ten years of relevant professional-level experience in budgeting and financial management in the public sector, preferably in an international organization context;
• A minimum of five years of management experience, including experience organizing and delegating work and supervising staff;
• Established ability to advise on financial resource policy, budgeting, and other complex financial matters, including to senior leadership;
• Knowledge of practical application of programme budgeting and current financial management theory and best practices;
• Experience formulating organization-wide processes and plans in a decentralized environment;
• Excellent analytical abilities, negotiation skills, and presentation skills;
• Effective interpersonal skills, able to influence effectively and build partnerships and consensus, in teams and with stakeholders;
• Excellent oral and written communication skills in English;
• Knowledge of another official OSCE language, namely French, German, Italian, Spanish or Russian, will be considered an advantage;
• Knowledge of International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSAS) is an asset;
• Experience interacting with international governance bodies/committees is an asset;
• Experience working with Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems is an asset;
• Knowledge of Results Based Management (RBM) and budgeting is an asset;
• Ability and willingness to work as a member of team, with people of different cultural, and religious backgrounds, different gender, and diverse political views, while maintaining impartiality and objectivity;
• Demonstrated gender awareness and sensitivity, and an ability to integrate a gender perspective into tasks and activities;
• Digital literacy and proficient use of Microsoft Office (Outlook, Word, Excel and Power Point), internet.

Remuneration Package:

Monthly remuneration is around EUR 11,200, with the actual monthly salary depending on post adjustment and family status. OSCE salaries are exempt from taxation in Austria. Social benefits will include possibility of participation in the Cigna medical insurance scheme and the OSCE Provident Fund. Other allowances and benefits are similar to those offered under the United Nations Common System.

Please note that appointments are normally made at step 1 of the applicable OSCE salary scale.

The OSCE retains the discretion to re-advertise/re-post 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 those candidates who are selected to participate in the subsequent stages of recruitment will be contacted.

Candidates interviewed and found suitable in the recruitment process for this vacancy notice will be placed on a roster of suitable candidates (valid for three years) for fixed-term posts, should a suitable opportunity arise. The placement on a roster does not guarantee a future appointment or assignment.

Please note that vacancies in the OSCE are open for competition only amongst nationals of participating States

The OSCE is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages qualified female and male candidates from all religious, ethnic and social backgrounds to apply to become a part of the Organization.

Candidates should be aware that OSCE officials shall conduct themselves at all times in a manner befitting the status of an international civil servant. This includes avoiding any action which may adversely reflect on the integrity, independence and impartiality of their position and function as officials of the OSCE. The OSCE is committed to applying the highest ethical standards in carrying out its mandate. For more information on the values set out in OSCE Competency Model,

The OSCE is a non-career organization committed to the principle of staff rotation, therefore the maximum period of service in this post is 5 years.

The mandatory retirement age at the OSCE is 65 years for contracted positions at the general service, professional and director level. The Organization shall apply an age limit of 63 years at the time of appointment as the incumbent selected is normally expected to carry out the contractual obligation of two years.

Please be aware that the OSCE does not request payment at any stage of the application and review process.