Finance Associate (G-6) - Panama City, Panama

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.

Salary

The salary for this job should be more than 2,706 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 some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. To save their lives. To defend their rights. To help them fulfill their potential.

Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone. And we never give up.

For every child, a champion

The general objective of the UNICEF programme 2021-2025 is to support the Government so that, from early childhood to adolescence, opportunities are created in an equitable manner and without violence, allowing children and adolescents to grow and develop fully, with no left one behind.

The UNICEF programme for Panama will prioritize: (a) Early childhood development; (b) Adolescent development and participation; (c) Protection of children and adolescents.

Purpose for the Job:

Under the supervision of the Operations Officer, the Finance Associate will be responsible for providing a variety of specialized tasks in finance functions, ensuring accurate and timely delivery in compliance with UNICEF financial rules and regulations, whilst demonstrating the capacity to research and evaluate irregular cases, and to recommend improvements to process delivery and design. At the G-6 level, the below tasks are expected to be carried out with a high level of independence.

How can you make a difference?

Key functions, accountabilities and related duties/tasks:

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

□ Full compliance with rules and regulations of financia! processes, financia! records and reports and audit follow up; implementation of the effective interna! control framework.

□ CO Finance business processes mapping and elaboration of the content of interna! Standard Operating Procedures in Finance in consultation with the direct supervisor and office management.

□ Preparation of cost sharing/attribution for allocation of operating expenses

2. Ensures Financia! Reporting and peñorms quality assurance

□ Advise and assist on all aspects related to preparation of reports, compilation of data and answering queries on pledges recorded, funds received, adjustments made to ensure financia! compliance, accuracy and completeness of data for its inclusion into statement of accounts and adjustment of budgets.

□ Advise units of discrepancies and assist to resolve differences in their records. Selects and enters data from a wide variety of documents, verifying and ensuring accuracy by checking sources, making necessary calculations and assuring inclusion of all relevant

data

3. Ensures accuracy and timely maintenance of accounts

□ Maintain financia! records and monitoring systems to record and reconcile expenditures, balances, payments, statements and other data for day-to-day transactions and reports.

□ lnitiate correspondence to verify data, answers queries and obtains additional information on accounts and financia! transactions, as required.

□ Close year-end account and assist in the preparation of year-end reports related to accounts receivable, accounts payable, prepayment, deposits, NEP and leave balances, etc.

4. Ensures Dashboards and Peñormance Reports are within agreed benchmarks

□ Prepare recurring reports as schedules and ad hoc reports, as required for budget preparation, audits or other reasons.

□ Follow up lnSight dashboards and Closure of Accounts status, flags discrepancies and seeks prompt resolution

5. Supports staff on entitlements calculations and payments

□ Advise and assists staff, experts and consultants on all aspects of allowances, salary advances, travel claims and other financia! matters, and calculate and prepare payments due for claims and services.

6. Ensures effective relations with GSSC, banking officials and vendors

□ 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 prepares recurring reports and bank reconciliation.

□ Liaises with the GSSC to follow up on requests related to finance (general accounting and invoicing and payments).

□ Prepare monthly cash flow based on inputs from the different sections of the office.

7. Peñorms casting and budgeting calculations

□ Prepares detailed cost estimates, and participates in costing, budget formulation and analvsis exercises as required.

8. Facilitates knowledge building and knowledge sharing

□ Organization of learning sessions for staff on Finance.

□ Systematic capturing of lessons learnt and good practices in Finance to share among LACR COs communities of practitioners.

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

• Education:
  • Completion of secondary education is required with professional/university level courses in Accounting and Finance/Business administration considered as an asset.
• Work Experience:
  • A minimum of six years of experience in finance and accounting is requiered. Solid experience with ERP'S (SAP, Oracle) and Microsoft standard office suit (Excel, Word, PowerPoint medium Level).
• Language Proficiency
  • Fluency in Spanish and English is required.
  • Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Portuguese) is an asset.

For every Child, you demonstrate...

UNICEF’s Core Values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust and Accountability (CRITA) underpin everything we do and how we do it. Get acquainted with Our Values Charter: https://uni.cf/UNICEFValues

UNICEF competencies required for this post are…

The functionalcompetencies required for this post are:

• Analyzing [II]
• Applying technical expertise
• Following Instructions and Procedures
• Planning and organizing

During the recruitment process, we test candidates following the competency framework. Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels: competency framework here.

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization.

We offer a wide range of benefits to our staff, including paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF strongly encourages the use of flexible working arrangements.

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 also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles. All selected candidates will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles and will therefore undergo rigorous reference and background checks. 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.

Remarks:

UNICEF’s active commitment towards diversity and inclusion is critical to deliver the best results for children. UNICEF encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization.

General Service Staff are recruited locally. Candidates must be in possession of an existing work permit or resident/citizen of Panama to be considered eligible for this post. Please note that General Service (GS) staff are locally recruited staff and therefore, candidates are personally responsible for any travel and accommodation arrangements.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.

UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance. Issuance of a visa by the host country of the duty station, which will be facilitated by UNICEF, is required for IP positions. Appointments are also be subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid). Government employees that are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally required to resign from their government 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.