Finance Assistant

Contract

This is a LICA-4 contract. This kind of contract is known as Local Individual Contractor Agreements. It is normally only for nationals. It's an external contract. It usually requires 4 years of experience, depending on education. More about LICA-4 contracts.

Background Information - UNOPS

UNOPS is an operational arm of the United Nations, supporting the successful implementation of its partners’ peacebuilding, humanitarian and development projects around the world. Our mission is to help people build better lives and countries achieve sustainable development.

UNOPS areas of expertise cover infrastructure, procurement, project management, financial management and human resources.

Working with us

UNOPS offers short- and long-term work opportunities in diverse and challenging environments across the globe. We are looking for creative, results-focused professionals with skills in a range of disciplines.

Diversity

With over 4,000 UNOPS personnel and approximately 7,000 personnel recruited on behalf of UNOPS partners spread across 80 countries, our workforce represents a wide range of nationalities and cultures. We promote a balanced, diverse workforce — a strength that helps us better understand and address our partners’ needs, and continually strive to improve our gender balance through initiatives and policies that encourage recruitment of qualified female candidates.

Work life harmonization

UNOPS values its people and recognizes the importance of balancing professional and personal demands.

Background Information - BSSC

The UNOPS Bangkok Shared Service Centre (BSSC) is a Shared Services Centre (SSC) unit established for the purpose of providing internal, global, cost-effective transactional services which enhance the operational capacity of UNOPS and standardize systems and procedures. The BSSC, among other functions, carries out high-quality transactional services within the area of personnel contract administration and payroll.

For young professionals, a job within UNOPS BSSC offers the opportunity to enter the United Nations system via crucial back office service delivery in an engaging and development-focused work environment as part of a dynamic and effective UN entity. BSSC jobs offer a platform of learning and exposure to UNOPS' operations and the greater UN system.

Background Information - Job-specific

Under the guidance and supervision of the Senior Finance Associate, the Finance Assistant supports the provision of financial services within the support services function, ensuring high quality, accuracy and consistency of work. The Finance Assistant promotes a client-oriented approach consistent with UNOPS rules and regulations.

The Finance Assistant works in close collaboration with the Programme, Project and Support Services colleagues in the local office as well as the UNOPS HQ colleagues, to exchange information and ensure consistent service delivery.

Functional Responsibilities

Summary of Key Functions:

• Implementation of operational strategies and procedures
• Accounting and administrative support
• Knowledge building and sharing

1. Ensures implementation of operational strategies and procedures, focusing on achievement of the following results:

- Full compliance of financial processes and financial records with UNOPS rules, regulations, policies and strategies.

2. Provides accounting and administrative support, focusing on achievement of the following results:

- Supports processing of application of funds and maintaining an internal control system by ensuring that application of the funds processed is matched and completed, transactions are correctly recorded and posted in oneUNOPs - Supports provision of information for reports on financial status, procedures, exchange rates, costs and expenditures and potential funding problems. - Follow-ups with field offices, donors and other United Nations agencies for information relating to account receivable. - Supports preparation of lists of pending and incoming funds reports following standard operating procedures. - Extracting, inputting, copying and filing data from various sources. - Maintains and updates the list of pending and incoming funds in HQ accounts daily - Coordinates with focal points in UNOPS offices to identify and apply incoming funds to appropriate cost distributions - Works closely with the field offices to follow up on unidentified funds due for an application - Timely attendance to routine enquiries related to project contributions and accounts receivables - Able to attend to a daily request for fund application of partners promptly - Attends regular weekly/monthly meetings of the unit - Reviews and processes UN Web Buy requests for payment (RFP) with relevant supplier and forwarder documents - Supports initiation of the RFP with indicated PO, receipt and amount on the invoice corresponding to the PO. - Assists and responds to the bank reconciliation team if any inquiries related to account receivable related transactions. - Works with the accounts verification team to record quarterly VAT refund payment - Collaborates with the insurance team to record medical insurance reimbursement

3. Ensures facilitation of knowledge building and knowledge sharing, focusing on achievement of the following results:

- Participation in the Finance-focused trainings - Contributions to knowledge networks and communities of practice.

Competencies

Treats all individuals with respect; responds sensitively to differences and encourages others to do the same. Upholds organizational and ethical norms. Maintains high standards of trustworthiness. Role model for diversity and inclusion.

Acts as a positive role model contributing to the team spirit. Collaborates and supports the development of others. For people managers only: Acts as positive leadership role model, motivates, directs and inspires others to succeed, utilizing appropriate leadership styles. Demonstrates understanding of the impact of own role on all partners and always puts the end beneficiary first. Builds and maintains strong external relationships and is a competent partner for others (if relevant to the role). Efficiently establishes an appropriate course of action for self and/or others to accomplish a goal. Actions lead to total task accomplishment through concern for quality in all areas. Sees opportunities and takes the initiative to act on them. Understands that responsible use of resources maximizes our impact on our beneficiaries. Open to change and flexible in a fast paced environment. Effectively adapts own approach to suit changing circumstances or requirements. Reflects on experiences and modifies own behavior. Performance is consistent, even under pressure. Always pursues continuous improvements. Evaluates data and courses of action to reach logical, pragmatic decisions. Takes an unbiased, rational approach with calculated risks. Applies innovation and creativity to problem-solving. Expresses ideas or facts in a clear, concise and open manner. Communication indicates a consideration for the feelings and needs of others. Actively listens and proactively shares knowledge. Handles conflict effectively, by overcoming differences of opinion and finding common ground.

Education/Experience/Language requirements

Education: - Completion of secondary school or equivalent. - A BA or MA degree may substitute required years of work experience. - Specialized training in finance is desirable.

Experience: With a high school diploma, 4 years of relevant accounting and financial experience at national level is required. Experience in the usage of computers and knowledge of google sheets and database packages, experience in handling of web-based management systems.

Language Requirements: Fluency in written and oral English and the language of the duty station required. Knowledge of the second UN working language is desirable.

Contract type, level and duration

Contract type: Local Individual Contractor Agreement Contract level: LICA-4 Contract duration: Open-ended, subject to organizational requirements, availability of funds and satisfactory performance.

For more details about the ICA contractual modality, please follow this link: https://www.unops.org/english/Opportunities/job-opportunities/what-we-offer/Pages/Individual-Contractor-Agreements.aspx

Additional Considerations

• Please note that the closing date is midnight Copenhagen time
• Applications received after the closing date will not be considered.
• Only those candidates that are short-listed for interviews will be notified.
• Qualified female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.
• UNOPS seeks to reasonably accommodate candidates with special needs, upon request.
• Work life harmonization - UNOPS values its people and recognizes the importance of balancing professional and personal demands. We have a progressive policy on work-life harmonization and offer several flexible working options. This policy applies to UNOPS personnel on all contract types
• For staff positions only, UNOPS reserves the right to appoint a candidate at a lower level than the advertised level of the post
• For retainer contracts, you must complete a few Mandatory Courses (around 4 hours) in your own time, before providing services to UNOPS.
• The incumbent is responsible to abide by security policies, administrative instructions, plans and procedures of the UN Security Management System and that of UNOPS.

It is the policy of UNOPS to conduct background checks on all potential recruits/interns. Recruitment/internship in UNOPS is contingent on the results of such checks.