Assistant Finance Officer

Contract

This is a NO-1 contract. This kind of contract is known as National Professional Officers. It is normally only for nationals. It's a staff contract. More about NO-1 contracts.

Org. Setting and Reporting The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is the leading global environmental authority that sets the global environmental agenda, promotes the coherent implementation of the environmental dimension of sustainable development within the United Nations system and serves as an authoritative advocate for the global environment. The UNEP/Latin America and the Caribbean Office helps to implement UNEP's programs by initiating, coordinating and catalyzing regional and sub-regional cooperation and action in response to environmental, challenges, opportunities and emergencies. This post is located in the UNEP/Latin America and the Caribbean Office, at the Panama duty station. Under the general supervision of the Finance Management Officer and the direct supervision of the Administrative Officer (Finance and Human Resources), the incumbent will be responsible for the following duties:

Responsibilities 1. Project Implementation: - Approves and manages Umoja related financial functions and processes acting as a certifying officer for finance, implementing partner agreements, and other financial related document in the system. - Contributes to the providing of guidance to functional units on financial accountability within programme responsibilities and on the effective use of programme resources. - Supports the Fund Management Officer (FMO) to monitor and ensure that financial resources are utilized to implement activities in accordance with work plans and cost plans. - Monitors obligations and expenditures in line with approved cost plans. - Contributes to prepare and revise project budgets in line with work plans and financial rules and regulations and ensures that costs are reasonably estimated. - Assists in the preparation of financial reports to donors and liaise with headquarters for approval. - Supports in the review of financial reports and audit reports from implementing partners, identifies the existence of illegible expenses and if necessary prepares the communication to request the reimbursement of the funds to the implementing partner. - Verifies inter-office vouchers (IOVs) prepared by UNDP to confirm accuracy of accounts and to allow for reconciliation with UNON's accounting system. - Prepares periodical reports with Business Intelligence (BI) information for project monitoring.

2. Finance: - Assists in the to review, analysis and certification of payments to third-parties, commercial entities, implementing partners and individuals and follows up with UNON for disbursement. - Certifies bank accounts from third-parties, commercial entities, implementing partners and individuals. - Notifies payees of status of payments. - Assists Programme Officers, Project Managers and Administrative Assistants regarding queries on payment and deposit-related issues. - Investigates complaints on non-receipts. - Prepares periodical reports: project cash balance and contributions, etc.

3. Budget preparation: - Reviews and analyses data with respect to ROLAC budget and elaborates the office budget proposal for review by the Finance Management Officer and submission to Headquarter. - Provides support to review project budgets and budget revisions.

4. Budget administration: - Supports the FMO to provide input into the preparation of allotments, including redeployment of funds when necessary, ensuring appropriate expenditures. - Monitors budget implementation and expenditures.

5. General: - Maintains a central filing system ensuring consistent use and appropriate archiving of official finance documents ensuring that information is complete and updated. - Monitors and supervises the work of subordinate staff as required. - Performs other related duties, as assigned.

6. Liaison and Coordination on Host Country Relations: - Assists through business process review in the UNEP Panama office as well as possible future inter-organizational collaboration with other UN Agencies, Programmes and Funds present in Panama on matters pertaining to Host Country Relations in financial issues. - Assists in the discussions, negotiations and deliberations with the Host Country in financial and budget matters that affect the status of Panama office. - Supports the focal point in discussions with the relevant government entities with regard to host country financial support for the office. - Assists the FMO in maintaining liaison with the Host Country and facilitates discussions between UNEP/Panama office, Host Government and other UN agencies at local level on issues noted in the host country agreement in order to provide pertinent information, guidelines, advice and arrangements as necessary. - Supports the FMO in assessing, on an ongoing basis, the relevance and suitability of the terms of the Host Country Agreement. - Contributes to and ensures effective and efficient provision of liaison with the Host Government in order to provide financial and administrative support services to UNEP Panama Office.

7. House Bank Panama Office: - Monitors bank transactions related to ROLAC house bank account. - Issues local payments to vendors and reconciles with bank account. - Coordinates and liaises with bank colleagues, confirms transactions, or any other transaction required with the bank. - Files banking documentation ensuring that information is complete and updated.

Competencies •PROFESSIONALISM: Knowledge of financial principles and practices. Ability to independently conduct research and analysis, formulate options and present conclusions and recommendations. 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. Takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work. •TEAMWORK: Works collaboratively with colleagues to achieve organizational goals; solicits input by genuinely valuing others’ ideas and expertise; is willing to learn from others; places team agenda before personal agenda; supports and acts in accordance with final group decision, even when such decisions may not entirely reflect own position; shares credit for team accomplishments and accepts joint responsibility for team shortcomings. •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.

Education Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in business administration, finance, or related field. A first-level university degree in combination with two years qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Work Experience A minimum of two years of progressively responsible experience in accounting, finance, human resources, administration or related fields is required. Work experience with the Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) is required. Experience with financial report in Power BI systems/finance modules is desirable. Work experience with an international organization or another comparable large organization and its administrative and financial rules and regulation is desirable.

Languages English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the post advertised, fluency in English and Spanish is required. Knowledge of another official United Nations language is desirable.

NOTE: "fluency equals a rating of "fluent" in all four areas (read, write, speak, understand) and "Knowledge of" equals a rating of "confident" in two of the four areas.

Assessment Evaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise which may be followed by competency-based interview.

Special Notice This position is open for recruitment for an initial period of one year and may be subject to extension. 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. The United Nations Secretariat is committed to achieving 50/50 gender balance in its staff. Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply for this position.

Pursuant to section 7.11 of ST/AI/2012/2/ Rev.1, candidates recruited through the young professionals programme who have not served for a minimum of two years in the position of their initial assignment are not eligible to apply to this position.

At the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the recruitment and employment of staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence and integrity, with due regard to geographic diversity. All employment decisions are made on the basis of qualifications and organizational needs. The United Nations is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment of mutual respect. The United Nations recruits and employs staff regardless of gender identity, sexual orientation, race, religious, cultural and ethnic backgrounds or disabilities. Reasonable accommodation for applicants with disabilities may be provided to support participation in the recruitment process when requested and indicated in the application.

Internal Applicants – when completing the PHP, ensure ALL fields, ALL professional experience and contact information are completed and up to date. This information is the basis for the hiring manager to assess your eligibility and suitability for the position and to contact you.

Individual contractors and consultants who have worked within the UN Secretariat in the last six months, irrespective of the administering entity, are ineligible to apply for professional and higher temporary or fixed-term positions and their applications will not be considered.

All applicants are strongly encouraged to apply on-line as soon as possible after the job opening has been posted and well before the deadline stated in the job opening. On-line applications will be acknowledged where an email address has been provided. If you do not receive an email acknowledgement within 24 hours of submission, your application may not have been received. In such cases, please resubmit the application, if necessary. If the problem persists please seek technical assistance through the Inspira "Need Help?" link.

United Nations Considerations According to 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. Candidates will not be considered for employment with the United Nations if they have committed violations of international human rights law, violations of international humanitarian law, sexual exploitation, sexual abuse, or sexual harassment, or if there are reasonable grounds to believe that they have been involved in the commission of any of these acts. The term “sexual exploitation” means any actual or attempted abuse of a position of vulnerability, differential power, or trust, for sexual purposes, including, but not limited to, profiting monetarily, socially or politically from the sexual exploitation of another. The term “sexual abuse” means the actual or threatened physical intrusion of a sexual nature, whether by force or under unequal or coercive conditions. The term “sexual harassment” means any unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature that might reasonably be expected or be perceived to cause offence or humiliation, when such conduct interferes with work, is made a condition of employment or creates an intimidating, hostile or offensive work environment, and when the gravity of the conduct warrants the termination of the perpetrator’s working relationship. Candidates who have committed crimes other than minor traffic offences may not be considered for employment.

Due regard will be paid to the importance of recruiting the staff on as wide a geographical basis as possible. The United Nations places 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. The United Nations Secretariat is a non-smoking environment.

The paramount consideration in the appointment, transfer, or promotion of staff shall be the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity. By accepting an offer of appointment, United Nations staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General and assignment by him or her to any activities or offices of the United Nations in accordance with staff regulation 1.2 (c). In this context, all internationally recruited staff members shall be required to move periodically to discharge new functions within or across duty stations under conditions established by the Secretary-General.

Applicants are urged to follow carefully all instructions available in the online recruitment platform, inspira. For more detailed guidance, applicants may refer to the Manual for the Applicant, which can be accessed by clicking on “Manuals” hyper-link on the upper right side of the inspira account-holder homepage.

The evaluation of applicants will be conducted on the basis of the information submitted in the application according to the evaluation criteria of the job opening and the applicable internal legislations of the United Nations including the Charter of the United Nations, resolutions of the General Assembly, the Staff Regulations and Rules, administrative issuances and guidelines. Applicants must provide complete and accurate information pertaining to their personal profile and qualifications according to the instructions provided in inspira to be considered for the current job opening. No amendment, addition, deletion, revision or modification shall be made to applications that have been submitted. Candidates under serious consideration for selection will be subject to reference checks to verify the information provided in the application.

Job openings advertised on the Careers Portal will be removed at 11:59 p.m. (New York time) on the deadline date.

No Fee THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.