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 TThe Department of Operational Support (DOS) was established to provide end-to-end operational support, advisory services and other solutions to operating entities across the Secretariat, including departments, offices away from headquarters, peace operations, and regional commissions. Under the strategic guidance of the Department of Operational Support (DOS), the Kuwait Joint Support Office provides efficient and client-oriented services with the goal of moving transactional, non-location dependent administrative functions from its client entities. These include transactional elements of human resources, finance, travel and payroll.

This position is located in the United Nations Kuwait Joint Support Office (KJSO). The incumbent will report to the Chief of the Payroll Unit. The payroll Unit process payroll, travel claims and consultant and contractor payments.

Responsibilities Within delegated authority, the Finance and Budget Assistant will be responsible for the following duties:

Accounts - Scrutinize source documents for completeness, accuracy and validity of charges. - Review and reconcile all open-item-managed (OIM) accounts and investigate erroneous/invalid entries to take appropriate corrective accounting action. - Generate reports, prepare worksheets and assists with the preparation of financial statements. - Liaise with counterparts on cost-recovery matters with UN entities, funds, programmes. - Review transactions and submit for approval. - Review and follow up of accounts receivables of UN agencies and offices on monthly basis. - Review requests for adjusting entries and record in ERP. - Generate commitment reports for review, including prior and current budget period commitments, and approval by supervisor.

Payments/Payroll - Analyze payroll results, process, and approve final pay release, verify payroll recoveries, approve travel claims, off cycle payments, contractor payments and consultancy payments. - Reviews and approves various vouchers and accounting transactions, e.g., payroll, payment of staff entitlements, final payments, travel claims, vendor invoices, agencies, field missions, etc., to ensure adherence to relevant staff rules, financial regulations and rules, guidelines, or practices. - Oversees the processing of monthly payrolls and final pay for National Staff and Individual Uniform Personnel (IUPs). - Provides guidance and training (including preparation of training materials) to junior staff with respect to transaction processing and the use of ERP system (Umoja). - Performs approval of off cycle approval of relocation grant and settling-in-grant for International Staff. Performs approval of travel expense reports for KJSO's full-service client mission. - Scrutinizes source documents for completeness, accuracy and validity of charges. - Investigates erroneous charges and takes appropriate corrective accounting actions as part of the review of rejected payments in the payroll liability account and rejected GL. - Communicates with field offices regarding missing documentation or any other issues related to discrepancies between their accounts and those maintained at Headquarters. - Consolidates the review, the monthly global payroll vendor account posting and update the payment details prior to disbursement. - Assists with the monitoring and review of the open items in the payroll accounting GL accounts. - Investigates and processes the relevant journal voucher to clear the open items in these accounts. - Complete accurate and timely processing of invoices according to instructions and established financial rules upon receipt of required and complete documentation. - Verify accuracy of invoices and supporting documentation submitted for payment, ensure goods and services have been received, verify mathematical computations, and create payment document in ERP for approval

Cashier - Review incoming payment instructions with regard to banking details and sources of funds. - Notify payees of status of payments. - Carry out other related duties as may be assigned.

Competencies •PROFESSIONALISM: Knowledge of, and ability to apply financial rules, regulations and procedures in the UN environment. Knowledge, skills and ability to extract, interpret, analyze and format data across the full range of finance and budget functions, including programme development and database management, claims and treasury operations. Ability to identify and resolve data discrepancies and operational problems. 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.

• COMMUNICATION: Speaks and writes clearly and effectively; listens to others, correctly interprets messages from others and responds appropriately; asks questions to clarify, and exhibits interest in having two-way communication; tailors language, tone, style and format to match audience; demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed.

•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 is required.

Work Experience A minimum of seven (7) years of progressively responsible experience in finance, budget, accounting, administrative services or related area is required.

A minimum of three (3) years of experience in the payroll process in an ERP system is required.

Experience working with the UN Staff Rules and Financial Regulations of the United is desirable.

A minimum of three (3) years of experience working within a Shared Service Center is desirable.

Experience using a Customer Relationship Management tool such as iNeed is desirable.

Three (3) years of experience using Microsoft Excel and excel related formulas is desirable.

Languages English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the position advertised, fluency in English is required.

Note: "Fluency" equals a rating of 'fluent' in all four areas (speak, read, write, and 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 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 from anywhere, irrespective of their nationality and of the length of time they may have been in the country or outside the country. A staff member subject to local recruitment shall not be eligible for the allowances or benefits exclusively applicable to international recruitment. Selected candidates/staff members and their family members will have to relocate at their own expense to Kuwait. The office may only assist in visa arrangements if required.

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.

The United Nations Secretariat is committed to achieving 50/50 gender balance and geographical diversity in its staff. Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply for this position.

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.