Senior Payroll Officer

Deadline for Applications

October 17, 2025

Hardship Level

H (no hardship)

Family Type

Family

Family Type

Family

Residential location (if applicable)

Grade

PR4

Staff Member / Affiliate Type

Professional

Reason

Regular > Regular Assignment

Target Start Date

2025-11-01

Standard Job Description

Senior Payroll Officer

Organizational Setting and Work Relationships

The Senior Payroll Officer plays a key role in supporting the strategic delivery of payroll services to UNHCR staff worldwide, ensuring operational excellence, compliance, and continuous improvement.

The Senior Payroll Officer manages the Payroll Unit responsible for Education Grants and Rental Subsidies, and oversees the Section’s Business Intelligence functions, including data analysis, reporting, and system optimization. Acting as second-in-command, the incumbent provides technical guidance, supports risk management and internal controls, and contributes to the development of payroll policies and procedures.

The position requires close collaboration with internal stakeholders such as the Division of People Management (DPM) and the Personnel Administration Section (PAS), and external partners including the UN Pension Fund, ICSC, and other UN agencies.

The Senior Payroll Officer reports directly to the Chief of Global Payroll Section and, in the Chief’s absence, assumes full responsibility for the Section within UNHCR’s Global Shared Services (GSS).

All UNHCR staff members are accountable to perform their duties as reflected in their job description. They do so within their delegated authorities, in line with the regulatory framework of UNHCR which includes the UN Charter, UN Staff Regulations and Rules, UNHCR Policies and Administrative Instructions as well as relevant accountability frameworks. In addition, staff members are required to discharge their responsibilities in a manner consistent with the core, functional, cross-functional and managerial competencies and UNHCR’s core values of professionalism, integrity and respect for diversity.

Duties

• Manage the Payroll Unit responsible for Education Grants and Rental Subsidies, ensuring accurate and timely processing of related entitlements.
• Oversee the Section’s Business Intelligence functions, including the development and maintenance of dashboards, analytics tools, and reporting frameworks to support decision-making and operational efficiency.
• Ensure compliance with UNHCR and UN Financial Rules and Regulations and monitor adherence to IPSAS standards.
• Review and approve payroll transactions, including payment vouchers, journal vouchers, and reconciliation reports, ensuring accuracy and completeness.
• Support the Chief in managing payroll-related risks, internal controls, and audit responses; contribute to the development and implementation of audit recommendations.
• Lead initiatives to improve payroll systems and processes, including business analysis and testing of new modules in Workday.
• Provide guidance and advice on payroll exceptions and complex entitlements, in consultation with the Chief of PAS and within delegated authority.
• Monitor and enforce deadlines for payroll processing, year-end activities, and statutory reporting requirements.
• Coach and mentor Payroll Officers and other staff, fostering continuous learning and professional development.
• Liaise with internal and external stakeholders to resolve payroll-related issues and ensure effective communication and coordination.
• Contribute to the development of payroll policies, procedures, and operational guidelines.
• Ensure proper documentation and audit trails for all payroll transactions and maintain the integrity of payroll data.
• Represent the Global Payroll Section in inter-agency meetings, working groups, and task forces, and assume full responsibility for the Section in the absence of the Chief, as delegated.
• Lead risk assessments and discussions with team(s) to proactively manage risks and seize opportunities impacting objectives. Ensure that risk management principles are integrated in decision-making both at strategic and operational levels. Allocate resources for planned treatments with resource requirements in Strategic Plans. Ensure that risks are managed to acceptable levels and escalate, as needed. If a Risk Owner, designate the Risk Focal Point and certify that the annual risk review is completed and ensure that the risk register is updated during the year, as needed.
• Perform other related duties as required.

Minimum Qualifications

Years of Experience / Deg