Posting Title: Benefits Assistant, G5
Organization: OPPBA - Office of Programme Planning, Budget and Accounts
Country: United States
City: New York
Office: OPPBA New York
Closing date: Wednesday, 15 February 2017
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| Posting Title: | Benefits Assistant, G5 |
| Job Code Title: | BENEFITS ASSISTANT |
| Department/Office: | OFFICE OF PROGRAMME PLANNING, BUDGET AND ACCOUNTS |
| Duty Station: | NEW YORK |
| Posting Period: | 17 January 2017 - 15 February 2017 |
| Job Opening Number: | 17-Administration-DM OPPBA-72758-R-New York (O) |
Special Notice
This position is subject to local recruitment pursuant to staff rule 4.4 of the United Nations Staff Rules. All staff in the General Service and related categories shall be recruited in the country or within commuting distance of each office, irrespective of their nationality and of the length of time they may have been in the country. A staff member subject to local recruitment shall not be eligible for the allowances or benefits exclusively applicable to international recruitment.
Passing the Global General Service Test (GGST) is a prerequisite for recruitment consideration in the General Services and related categories in the United Nations Secretariat. Applicants who have not passed the GGST at the time of application may be invited for the test after submitting an application. Having passed the Administrative Support Assessment Test in English at the United Nations Headquarters, Economic Commission for Africa, Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia, United Nations Office at Geneva, United Nations Office at Vienna, International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda or International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia may be accepted in lieu of the GGST.
Staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General and to assignment by him or her. In this context, all staff are expected to move periodically to new functions in their careers in accordance with established rules and procedures.
Candidates will be required to meet the requirements of Article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter as well as the requirements of the position. The United Nations is committed to the highest standards of efficiency, competence and integrity for all its human resources, including but not limited to respect for international human rights and humanitarian law. Candidates may be subject to screening against these standards, including but not limited to whether they have committed, or are alleged to have committed criminal offences and/or violations of international human rights law and international humanitarian law.
The United Nations shall place no restrictions on the eligibility of men and women to participate in any capacity and under conditions of equality in its principal and subsidiary organs. (Charter of the United Nations - Chapter 3, article 8). The United Nations Secretariat is a non-smoking environment.
Applicants are urged to follow carefully all instructions available in the online recruitment platform, inspira. For more detailed guidance, applicants may refer to the At-a-Glance on "The Application Process" and the Instructional Manual for the Applicants, which can be accessed by clicking on “Manuals” hyper-link on the upper right side of inspira account-holder homepage.
Applications are pre-screened by the system according to the published requirements of the job opening on the basis of the information provided in the application. In relation to the requirements of the job opening, applicants must provide complete and accurate information pertaining to their qualifications, including their education, work experience, and language skills. Each applicant must bear in mind that submission of incomplete or inaccurate applications may render that applicant ineligible for consideration for the job opening. Initial screening and evaluation of applications will be conducted on the basis of the information submitted. Applications cannot be amended following submission. Candidates under serious consideration for selection will be subject to a reference-checking process to verify the information provided in the application.
Job openings advertised on the Careers Portal will be removed at midnight (New York time) on the deadline date.
Org. Setting and ReportingPassing the Global General Service Test (GGST) is a prerequisite for recruitment consideration in the General Services and related categories in the United Nations Secretariat. Applicants who have not passed the GGST at the time of application may be invited for the test after submitting an application. Having passed the Administrative Support Assessment Test in English at the United Nations Headquarters, Economic Commission for Africa, Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia, United Nations Office at Geneva, United Nations Office at Vienna, International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda or International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia may be accepted in lieu of the GGST.
Staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General and to assignment by him or her. In this context, all staff are expected to move periodically to new functions in their careers in accordance with established rules and procedures.
Candidates will be required to meet the requirements of Article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter as well as the requirements of the position. The United Nations is committed to the highest standards of efficiency, competence and integrity for all its human resources, including but not limited to respect for international human rights and humanitarian law. Candidates may be subject to screening against these standards, including but not limited to whether they have committed, or are alleged to have committed criminal offences and/or violations of international human rights law and international humanitarian law.
The United Nations shall place no restrictions on the eligibility of men and women to participate in any capacity and under conditions of equality in its principal and subsidiary organs. (Charter of the United Nations - Chapter 3, article 8). The United Nations Secretariat is a non-smoking environment.
Applicants are urged to follow carefully all instructions available in the online recruitment platform, inspira. For more detailed guidance, applicants may refer to the At-a-Glance on "The Application Process" and the Instructional Manual for the Applicants, which can be accessed by clicking on “Manuals” hyper-link on the upper right side of inspira account-holder homepage.
Applications are pre-screened by the system according to the published requirements of the job opening on the basis of the information provided in the application. In relation to the requirements of the job opening, applicants must provide complete and accurate information pertaining to their qualifications, including their education, work experience, and language skills. Each applicant must bear in mind that submission of incomplete or inaccurate applications may render that applicant ineligible for consideration for the job opening. Initial screening and evaluation of applications will be conducted on the basis of the information submitted. Applications cannot be amended following submission. Candidates under serious consideration for selection will be subject to a reference-checking process to verify the information provided in the application.
Job openings advertised on the Careers Portal will be removed at midnight (New York time) on the deadline date.
This position is located in the Health & Life Insurance Section of the Insurance & Disbursement Service of the Accounts Division of the United Nations Office of Programme Planning, Budget and Accounts (OPPBA). The incumbent reports to a Benefits Officer.
Responsibilities
Insurance:
•Determines eligibility for enrolment in, and processes applications for medical dental and life insurance schemes offered for active staff members at the New York Headquarters and internationally, the After-Service Health Insurance programme (ASHI), and the After-Service Life Insurance programme (ASLI).
•Reviews/processes applications for enrolment in the After-Service Health Insurance programme (ASHI) and After-Service Life Insurance programme (ASLI).
•Advises staff members on details pertaining to the UN medical, dental and life insurance programmes and provides necessary information to (prospective) participants in the ASHI and ASLI programmes.
•Assists with the Annual Insurance Enrolment Campaign.
•Reviews/processes and calculates the contributions of direct billing subscribers and ensures that payments received offset receivables.
•Prepares certificates of insurance coverage and drafts memoranda/letters/faxes to carriers and subscribers on insurance matters.
•Performs reconciliations and other basic accounting functions.
•Corresponds with beneficiaries, attorneys, the insurer, and other UN officials about routine life insurance matters in order to secure documents necessary for claims to go forward.
•Instructs insurance carrier regarding payment of benefits and forwarding of benefit cheques.
•Maintains the integrity of the insurance subscriber’s data in the UN ERP System.
•Keeps other plan participant files or records organized and up to date at all times and ensures that these files contain proper documentation of actions taken.
•Performs other related duties, as assigned.
Competencies•Determines eligibility for enrolment in, and processes applications for medical dental and life insurance schemes offered for active staff members at the New York Headquarters and internationally, the After-Service Health Insurance programme (ASHI), and the After-Service Life Insurance programme (ASLI).
•Reviews/processes applications for enrolment in the After-Service Health Insurance programme (ASHI) and After-Service Life Insurance programme (ASLI).
•Advises staff members on details pertaining to the UN medical, dental and life insurance programmes and provides necessary information to (prospective) participants in the ASHI and ASLI programmes.
•Assists with the Annual Insurance Enrolment Campaign.
•Reviews/processes and calculates the contributions of direct billing subscribers and ensures that payments received offset receivables.
•Prepares certificates of insurance coverage and drafts memoranda/letters/faxes to carriers and subscribers on insurance matters.
•Performs reconciliations and other basic accounting functions.
•Corresponds with beneficiaries, attorneys, the insurer, and other UN officials about routine life insurance matters in order to secure documents necessary for claims to go forward.
•Instructs insurance carrier regarding payment of benefits and forwarding of benefit cheques.
•Maintains the integrity of the insurance subscriber’s data in the UN ERP System.
•Keeps other plan participant files or records organized and up to date at all times and ensures that these files contain proper documentation of actions taken.
•Performs other related duties, as assigned.
Professionalism:
-Knowledge of health and life insurance procedures, including relevant contractual/financial provisions of group plans and the rules governing participation in the various insurance schemes, their benefit structures and claim settlement provisions.
-Ability to extract, interpret, and analyze a wide variety of data to resolve data discrepancies and other problems
-Demonstrated use of initiative and ability to make appropriate linkages in work processes and anticipate next steps
-Knowledge of UN systems and procedures as they relate to Staff Rules and Regulations and other related Financial regulations, rules and procedures
-Shows pride in work and in achievements
-Demonstrates professional competence and mastery of subject matter
-Is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results
-Is motivated by professional rather than personal concerns
-Shows persistence when faced with difficult problems or challenges
-Remains calm in stressful situations
Planning & Organizing:
-Develops clear goals that are consistent with agreed strategies, identifies priority activities and assignments; adjusts priorities as required
-Allocates appropriate amount of time and resources for completing work
-Foresees risks and allows for contingencies when planning
-Monitors and adjusts plans and actions as necessary
-Uses time efficiently.
Client Orientation:
-Considers all those to whom services are provided to be “clients” and seeks to see things from clients’ point of view
-Establishes and maintains productive partnerships with clients by gaining their trust and respect
-Identifies clients’ needs and matches them to appropriate solutions
-Monitors ongoing developments inside and outside the clients’ environment to keep informed and anticipate problems
-Keeps clients informed of progress or setbacks in projects
-Meets timeline for delivery of products or services to client
Education-Knowledge of health and life insurance procedures, including relevant contractual/financial provisions of group plans and the rules governing participation in the various insurance schemes, their benefit structures and claim settlement provisions.
-Ability to extract, interpret, and analyze a wide variety of data to resolve data discrepancies and other problems
-Demonstrated use of initiative and ability to make appropriate linkages in work processes and anticipate next steps
-Knowledge of UN systems and procedures as they relate to Staff Rules and Regulations and other related Financial regulations, rules and procedures
-Shows pride in work and in achievements
-Demonstrates professional competence and mastery of subject matter
-Is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results
-Is motivated by professional rather than personal concerns
-Shows persistence when faced with difficult problems or challenges
-Remains calm in stressful situations
Planning & Organizing:
-Develops clear goals that are consistent with agreed strategies, identifies priority activities and assignments; adjusts priorities as required
-Allocates appropriate amount of time and resources for completing work
-Foresees risks and allows for contingencies when planning
-Monitors and adjusts plans and actions as necessary
-Uses time efficiently.
Client Orientation:
-Considers all those to whom services are provided to be “clients” and seeks to see things from clients’ point of view
-Establishes and maintains productive partnerships with clients by gaining their trust and respect
-Identifies clients’ needs and matches them to appropriate solutions
-Monitors ongoing developments inside and outside the clients’ environment to keep informed and anticipate problems
-Keeps clients informed of progress or setbacks in projects
-Meets timeline for delivery of products or services to client
High school diploma or equivalent is required.
Work Experience
A minimum of five years of experience in employee benefits administration or related finance areas such as staff benefits and entitlement calculation is required. Experience in both employee benefits administration and related finance areas such as staff benefits and entitlements accounting is desirable. Experience in the UN’s ERP (Umoja), Atlas, SAP or similar information systems is desirable. Experience in the application of UN Staff Regulations and Rules or those of a similar international body is desirable. Experience in servicing clients involving the use of a customer relationship management system e.g., iNeed or similar is an advantage.
Languages
English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this post, fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another UN official language is desirable.
Assessment
Evaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise which may be followed by a competency-based interview.