Finance Assistant, GS-5, Montevideo, Uruguay

Overview

Provide finance functions to support UNICEF's mission

You have:

• Completion of secondary education is required.
• Professional/university level courses in Accounting, Finance and Business Administration is considered as an asset.
• A minimum of 5 years of clerical experience in the area of finance and accounting is required.
• Fluency in Spanish and English is required.
• Experience in an international organization and/or large corporation is an asset.
• Experience in database packages, web-based management systems and ERP systems (preferably SAP financial modules) is an asset.
• Developing country work experience and/or familiarity with emergency situations is an asset.

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.

Salary

The salary for this job should be more than 4,664 USD.

Please keep in mind that the salary displayed here is an estimation by UN Talent based on the location and the type of contract. It may vary depending on the organization. The recruiter should be able to inform you about the exact salary range. In case the job description contains another salary information, please refer to this one.

UNICEF works in over 190 countries and territories to save children’s lives, defend their rights, and help them fulfill their potential, from early childhood through adolescence.

At UNICEF, we are committed, passionate, and proud of what we do. Promoting the rights of every child is not just a job – it is a calling.

UNICEF is a place where careers are built: we offer our staff diverse opportunities for personal and professional development that will help them develop a fulfilling career while delivering on a rewarding mission. We pride ourselves on a culture that helps staff thrive, coupled with an attractive compensation and benefits package.

Visit our website to learn more about what we do at UNICEF.

For every child, a future

UNICEF has been present in Uruguay since 1992. Since then, it has provided technical cooperation and financial assistance to the Government and to the society in different areas to promote the rights of children and adolescents and generate opportunities for all of them to achieve the full development of their abilities. UNICEF work is based on a cooperation program that is agreed with the government every five years. A new cooperation program between UNICEF and Uruguay's Government started in March 2021.

UNICEF provides technical assistance and advice for monitoring, supporting and promoting children's rights on the following areas within the country:

• Support policies to reduce levels of poverty affecting children with special focus on early child development.
• Prevention of non-communicable diseases on children under five.
• Improve graduation rates in upper secondary education.
• Guarantee the access of children with disabilities to inclusive education.
• Reduce the number of children and adolescents living in institutional care.
• Prevention of violence against girls and boys.
• Empower adolescents to participate in decision making processes.
• Improve alternatives to deprivation of liberty for adolescents in conflict with the law.
• Raise awareness about child rights among Uruguay's general public and the engagement of the private sector, civil society organizations (CSOs) and academic institutions in promoting, protecting and monitoring child rights.

How can you make a difference?

Under the direct supervision of the Finance Officer, the Finance Assistant will be responsible for providing a variety of finance functions, requiring thorough knowledge of UNICEF financial procedures, processes and policies.

Key functions, accountabilities and related duties/tasks:

1. Assists in all aspects related to preparation of reports, compilation of data and answering queries on pledges recorded, funds received, adjustments made to ensure financial compliance, accuracy and completeness of data for its inclusion into statement of accounts and adjustment of budgets. Advises units on discrepancies and assists in resolving differences in their records.

2. Submits invoices to GSSC (via Service Gateway) for payment processing, ensuring good record maintenance, accuracy and compliance by checking the documents. If required, initiates correspondence to verify data and obtains additional information on invoice submitted by requesting units. Responds to GSSC and relevant stakeholders on returned cases or queries.

3. Maintains financial records and monitoring systems to record and reconcile expenditures, balances, payments, statements and other data for day-to-day transactions and reports.

4. Enters data from a wide variety of documents, verifying and ensuring accuracy by checking sources, making necessar y calculations and assuring inclusion of all relevant data.

5. Prepares recurring reports as schedules and special reports, as required for budget preparation, audits or other reasons. Ensures organization and proper documentation of financial transactions and statements of internal control.

6. Provides support in the monthly and year-end account closure and assists in the preparation of year-end reports related to accounts receivable, accounts payable, prepayment, advances, and deposits.

7. Assists international staff, experts and consultants on aspects related to allowances, salary advances, travel claims and other financial matters, and processes authorized payments due for claims and services.

8. Initiates correspondence to verify data, answers queries and obtains additional information on accounts and financial transactions, as required.

9. Maintains liaisons with officials of local banks to obtain day-to-day information on exchange and interest rates, changes in procedures and regulations, and matters pertaining to maintenance of office bank accounts. This includes preparing recurring reports and bank reconciliations.

10. Contributes in the preparation of detailed cost estimates, and participates in budget analysis and projects, as required.

11. Performs other duties, as required.

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…

Minimum requirements:

• Education: Completion of secondary education is required. Professional/university level courses in Accounting, Finance and Business Administration is considered as an asset.
• For this position a bachelor’s degree from a recognized academic institution in a relevant field of: Finance, Accounting or Administration may replace three years of experience.
• Work Experience: A minimum of 5 years of clerical experience in the area of finance and accounting is required.
• Language Requirements: Fluency in Spanish and English is required.

Desirables:

• Experience in an international organization and/or large corporation is an asset.
• Experience in database packages, web-based management systems and ERP systems (preferably SAP financial modules) is an asset.
• Developing country work experience and/or familiarity with emergency.

For every Child, you demonstrate...

UNICEF’s Core Values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust and Accountability and Sustainability (CRITAS) underpin everything we do and how we do it. Get acquainted with Our Values Charter: UNICEF Values

The UNICEF competencies required for this post are…

(1) Builds and maintains partnerships

(2) Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness

(3) Drive to achieve results for impact

(4) Innovates and embraces change

(5) Manages ambiguity and complexity

(6) Thinks and acts strategically

(7) Works collaboratively with others

Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels.

UNICEF is here to serve the world’s most disadvantaged children and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, or any other personal characteristic.

We offer a wide range of measures to include a more diverse workforce, such as paid parental leave, time off for breastfeeding purposes, and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF strongly encourages the use of flexible working arrangements.

UNICEF does not hire candidates who are married to children (persons under 18). UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority, and discrimination. UNICEF is committed to promoting the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference and background checks and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check.

UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance. Issuance of a visa by the host country of the duty station is required for IP positions and will be facilitated by UNICEF. Appointments may also be subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid). Should you be selected for a position with UNICEF, you either must be inoculated as required or receive a medical exemption from the relevant department of the UN. Otherwise, the selection will be canceled.

Remarks:

As per 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.

Government employees who are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally required to resign from their government positions before taking up an assignment with UNICEF. UNICEF reserves the right to withdraw an offer of appointment, without compensation, if a visa or medical clearance is not obtained, or necessary inoculation requirements are not met, within a reasonable period for any reason.

UNICEF does not charge a processing fee at any stage of its recruitment, selection, and hiring processes (i.e., application stage, interview stage, validation stage, or appointment and training). UNICEF will not ask for applicants’ bank account information.

UNICEF shall not facilitate the issuance of a visa and working authorization for candidates under consideration for positions at the national officer and general service category.

All UNICEF positions are advertised, and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process. An internal candidate performing at the level of the post in the relevant functional area, or an internal/external candidate in the corresponding Talent Group, may be selected, if suitable for the post, without assessment of other candidates.

Additional information about working for UNICEF can be found here.

Potential interview questions