Finance Assistant

Contract

This is a G-5 contract. This kind of contract is known as General Service and related categories. It is normally only for nationals. It usually requires 5 years of experience, depending on education. More about G-5 contracts.

OBJECTIVES OF THE PROGRAMME

The Division of Country Health Policies and Systems (CPS) assists countries in the Region with the design and implementation of appropriate health policies and systems to strengthen universal health coverage. It works to strengthen data-driven, evidence-informed, contextually tailored health policy development and implementation at national, regional and local levels, taking an inclusive approach across the life course.

The Division advocates strengthening of public health leadership, focusing on implementing people-centred policies, promoting health, preventing illness, and addressing the social and economic determinants of health, while fostering leadership on equity, human rights and gender mainstreaming in health. It focuses on building capacity for health systems innovation to enable the sustainable delivery of high-quality primary health and community services that are effectively linked to hospitals, mental health, public health and social care services. To do so, CPS supports country efforts to facilitate access to leave nobody behind, improve financial protection, strengthen the health workforce, increase access to affordable medicines and technologies, and promote the uptake and implementation of digital technology.

The Health Workforce for Service Delivery (HWD) unit provides strategic direction, technical assistance and tailored support to countries to improve access and quality of health and long-term care services delivered by a competent and sustainable workforce. It engages with professional bodies and patients to support the design and transformation of services which are geared to improve: patient experience of care across the health and social sector; health of the population, health care efficiency and the experience and engagement of the health and care workforce. To deliver these objectives aligned with the European Programme of Work and GPW 13 the unit supports countries through the development of policies, strategies, tools and capacities in the areas of the health workforce, (including nursing and midwifery and the public health workforce) to improve working conditions, retain and motivate the existing workforce; and align the education, training and production of the future workforce with population health needs, promote integration in service delivery to better bridge the divide between health systems and social care across the whole continuum of care, as well as supporting Member States efforts to put people at the centre of services.

The WHO Country Office supports the Member State to shape its health policy in line with WHO’s principles and values and advocates for an integrated approach to health development. By means of a single, unified and functionally integrated country representation, WHO facilitates the implementation of the BCA with the Member State and its corresponding country work plan. WHO helps the country to improve its health system and provides technical support as necessary.

The Recovery and Resilience Plan (RRP) for Romania was approved by the European Council to support the implementation of sustainable reforms. The Ministry of Health (MoH) is the national agency responsible for the implementation of the reforms related to health care. Within the RRP, WHO is responsible for the provision of technical assistance to the 3.2 component that addresses Romania’s country-specific recommendation for improving healthcare access and cost-efficiency, including through the shift to outpatient care. It also focuses on strengthening the health system’s resilience, including in the areas of health workers and medical products, and improving access to health services.

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES

Within the specific context of the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (RRP) for Romania component 3.2 “Increasing capacity for health management and human resources in health”, and as part of the WHO RRP Project Management team, as part of a team, the incumbent performs a variety of financial, administrative, coordinating and monitoring services to ensure the efficient daily running of the Country Office and in support of project/programme activities. Specific duties in support of the RRP project: • Maintains financial records for the Country Office, including running of the Imprest account; prepares and submits financial reports to WHO Regional Office for Europe (EURO); completes cash/advance reconciliations; manages the Country Office petty cash; prepares monthly Imprest accounts and other related financial statements and reports.

• Using online management systems, monitors aspects of the implementation of country activities and availability of funds for project/programme budget levels and financial expenditures, according to the approved country work plan. Assembles, jointly with the Administrative Assistant, draft background for planning, monitoring and evaluation (including mini/review) exercises.

• Assists in the organization of meetings held in the country (working groups, seminars/courses, workshops, and symposia), i.e.: makes general financial preparations of required documents (purchase orders, agreement for performance of work, etc).

• Establishes and maintains the filing system of financial documents and correspondence. Creates background files and compiles reference material as appropriate. Responsible for sending finance information to WHO/EURO on a regular basis. Provides Registry archives with purged master files containing key financial documents for official record purposes.

• Advises local staff on all aspects of allowances, salary advances, travel claims and other financial matters. Reviews all financial documents prior to payment and effects correct and timely payments. Makes regularly a cash count (custodian of cash and bank balances).

• Controls paying the contractual partners (hotels, travel agencies, printing companies, etc) and monitors that all supporting documents (invoices, contract, act of acceptance, etc) are attached and properly signed, stamped an in-accordance with the delegation of authority, before making any payments.

• Monitors income and expenditure recording, reconciles outstanding advances, receives and distributes funds to WHO counterparts, makes accounts reconciliation within the Country Office and with EURO. Organizes vendor payments, processes and monitors all requests for payments (travel advances and claims, payment requests, payment orders, internal commitments, etc) against provided allotments and approved obligations.

• Monitors financial transactions between the relevant bank/s and WHO CO and makes regular cash and bank transfer reconciliations. Maintain regular contacts with national banks and other financial institutions to obtain day-to-day information on exchange rates, changes in procedures and regulations.

• Performs other duties as it may be required by Head of Country Office and Administrative Assistant.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education

Essential: Completion of secondary school or equivalent technical or commercial school. Desirable: Higher education degree. Specialized training preferably in finance / administration /management related fields.

Experience

Essential: At least 5 years of progressively responsible experience in the finance/administrative field. Bookkeeping experience (minimum 2 years). Desirable: Experience in an international environment or institution. Relevant experience in WHO or in the UN.

Skills

Proficiency in the use of standard office computer software, note taking and operation of computerized systems and databases. Sound interpersonal skills and flexibility. Ability to adapt to competing priorities. Ability to work in a fast-paced environment. Emotional intelligence: Ability to identify and manage one’s own emotions, as well as helping others to do the same. Desirable: Demonstrated financial/accounting skills.

WHO Competencies

Teamwork Respecting and promoting individual and cultural differences Communication Producing results Ensuring the effective use of resources

Use of Language Skills

Essential: Expert knowledge of English. Intermediate knowledge of Romanian. Desirable: Intermediate knowledge of French.

REMUNERATION

WHO offers staff in the General Services category an attractive remuneration package, which for the above position includes an annual net base salary starting at RON 82,461 (subject to mandatory deductions for pension contributions and health insurance, as applicable) and 30 days of annual leave.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

• This vacancy notice may be used to fill other similar positions at the same grade level

• Only candidates under serious consideration will be contacted.

• A written test may be used as a form of screening.

• In the event that your candidature is retained for an interview, you will be required to provide, in advance, a scanned copy of the degree(s)/diploma(s)/certificate(s) required for this position. WHO only considers higher educational qualifications obtained from an institution accredited/recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED), a list updated by the International Association of Universities (IAU)/United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The list can be accessed through the link: http://www.whed.net/. Some professional certificates may not appear in the WHED and will require individual review.

• Any appointment/extension of appointment is subject to WHO Staff Regulations, Staff Rules and Manual.

• For information on WHO's operations please visit: http://www.who.int.

• WHO is committed to workforce diversity.

• WHO prides itself on a workforce that adheres to the highest ethical and professional standards and that is committed to put the WHO Values Charter into practice.

• WHO has zero tolerance towards sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA), sexual harassment and other types of abusive conduct (i.e., discrimination, abuse of authority and harassment). All members of the WHO workforce have a role to play in promoting a safe and respectful workplace and should report to WHO any actual or suspected cases of SEA, sexual harassment and other types of abusive conduct. To ensure that individuals with a substantiated history of SEA, sexual harassment or other types of abusive conduct are not hired by the Organization, WHO will conduct a background verification of final candidates.

• WHO has a smoke-free environment and does not recruit smokers or users of any form of tobacco.

• This post is subject to local recruitment and will be filled by persons recruited in the local commuting area of the duty station.