Finance Assistant

Contract

This is a G-6 contract. This kind of contract is known as General Service and related categories. It is normally only for nationals. It usually requires 6 years of experience, depending on education. More about G-6 contracts.

Org. Setting and Reporting This post is in located in the Cashier's Office of Financial Risk Management Service (FRMS), Finance Division (FD), Office of Programme Planning, Finance and Budget (OPPFB), Department of Management Strategy, Policy and Compliance (DMSPC). The incumbent reports to the Chief Cashier.

The Cashier's Office is responsible for managing the cash of the Organization which includes investing excess balances, replenishing its bank accounts around the globe in various currencies, manage the currency and country risks as well as execute the disbursements of the payments of the Organization.

Responsibilities Cash Management: run the daily payment process and prepare the cash management spreadsheets; replenish the United Nations House Bank (HB) accounts worldwide (about 150 HB accounts); create the Foreign Exchange (FX) requests to replenish the none US Dollar HB accounts; match and confirm the FX transactions in the Bloomberg System FXGO; Assign the Standing Settlement Instructions (SSI) to the matched and confirmed FX transactions; record the FX transactions in Umoja; create the US Dollar replenishment requests in the Umoja system; calculate the same day due date payments in the Umoja and add the calculated amounts to the respective HB account replenishments; ensure that excess daily cash is added to the investment pool; request funds from the investment pool when there is a fund shortage to replenish the operation HB account.

Monitoring of the house bank account replenishments: monitor the deposit HB accounts and ensure that all deposited funds are considered in the daily cash management report; ensure that the requested and recorded FX are settled on the settlement due date; ensure that all the US Dollar replenishments requests are executed on the due date; ensure that all SWIFr transactions are release in SWIFf Alliance; resolve any replenishment, FX and SWIFf payment issues.

Payroll processing and other staff member benefit payments: liaise with the payroll and travel units and batch all the payroll and benefit payments for the approval of the bank signatory; monitor payroll and benefit payments.

Payment processing: assign the payment proposals to the payment-lists of the respective business areas; review and verify payment proposals, payment method and payment destination for accuracy; amend payments that have fallen into the exception payment-list. Ensure that payments are released to the corresponding bank for execution, ensure that the bank completed the execution of the released payment instructions, correct the SWIFT messages that have fallen into a modification queue; process the assigned payments and create payment batches for the bank-signatory's approval and disbursements.

Payment investigations: upon request or as deemed necessary, take a stop-payment or recall-payment action with the house banks; review inquiry messages received from house banks related to the released payments and take follow-up actions; communicate with banks to correct payment issues using appropriate SWIFT messages; review responses received from the banks; answer queries from the beneficiaries regarding the status of payments; open investigation cases with the house banks to follow up on the non-receipt fund claims.

Bank reconciliation follow-up: review outstanding items in the bank reconciliation and assist bank reconcilers to reconcile the house bank accounts; support the Treasury cash management team to appropriately fund the disbursing house bank accounts.

Maintenance of banking details records: as per the established procedures, receive and review banking details form requests and input into Umoja for approval; answer queries regarding the banking details entered in the Umoja system; assist vendors, third-parties and individuals with completin2 the bankin2 details form requests.

Other tasks: process other cashier related tasks, such as vendor payment processing and supporting bank reconcilers as required.

Competencies Professionalism: Knowledge and application of relevant financial regulations and rules and procedures. knowledge of cash management and how payments are processed, how banking systems function, and how the country-specific payment infrastructures operate. Have the ability to investigate payment issues. 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. Commitment to implementing the goal of gender equality by ensuring the equal participation and full involvement of women and men in all aspects of work.

Planning and 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 High school diploma or equivalent.

Work Experience A minimum of seven years experience in finance, banking, treasury or related area is required

Experience working with Microsoft Excel spreadsheet is required

Experience in ERP( for example SAP) or payment systems (for example SWIFT and banking- proprietary systems) is required.

Experience with payment processes, rules and practices both within an international organization and the banking system is desirable.

Experience with local and global payment regulation, global sanctions and watchlist screening is desirable.

Languages English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the position advertised, fluency in English is required; Knowledge of another official United Nations language is an advantage.

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

Special Notice This post is financed by the regular budget. The appointment and renewal thereof are subject to the availability of the post or funds, budgetary approval or extension of the mandate.

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.

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.

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.

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.