Fixed term: Operations Associate, GS-6, Islamabad/Pakistan

Overview

Support the Travel Desk with administrative and operational tasks.

You have:

• Completion of secondary education is required, preferably supplemented by technical or university courses related to the work of the organization.
• A minimum of 6 years of progressively responsible Finance Accounts work experience is required.
• Relevant experience in a UN system agency or organization is considered as an asset.
• Developing country work experience and/or familiarity with emergency is considered an asset.
• Fluency in English is required.
• Knowledge of another official UN language or a local language is an asset.

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 977 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, Hope!

Pakistan was the sixth country in the world to sign and ratify the Convention on the Rights of the Child, less than one year after it was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in 1989. However, children and adolescents living in Pakistan still face acute challenges.

UNICEF supports the Government of Pakistan to accelerate progress for children, work to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and help children realize their rights under the Convention on the Rights of Children. This will be made through, among other things, strong partnerships with provincial authorities, teachers and health professionals, frontline workers and social mobilisers, communities and families, and of course the children and adolescents themselves.

In particular, UNICEF will work so that:

• Every child survives and thrives -- being in good health, immunized, protected from polio and accessing nutritious food.
• Every child learns.
• Every child is protected from violence and exploitation and registered at birth.
• Every child lives in a safe and clean environment, with access to safe drinking water and adequate sanitation.

To learn more about UNICEF work in Pakistan, please visit the country website www.unicef.org/pakistan and videos on YouTube and Vimeo

Under the supervision and guidance of the supervisor, the Operations associate will support the section-Travel Desk through providing a range of procedural, administrative, and operational support in developing, implementing , executing and monitoring their country programme, ensuring effective and timely delivery that is consistent with UNICEF rules and regulations. Under the general supervision of his/her supervisor, the incumbent performs a variety of data information gathering, input and manipulation, report generation and dissemination using VISION

To make a difference, the incumbent shall be responsible for following key strategic functions, accountabilities and related duties/ tasks;

• Act as Focal Perso****n of Trav****e****l Desk for time****l****y and effective user support is provided on Vision :

• Act as focal person for review the travel request and raising vision TA on a timely manner.

• Review the open items and remind staff members for timely certification and closing of TA.
• Timely process the travel invoice on a weekly basis. Reconcile monthly ticket invoices and follow up with travel agent.
• Coordinate with travel agent for getting the quotation on a competitive process.
• Monitors status of submitted Finance requests through completion, using vision vendor balance.
• Be responsible for submitting travel claim to GSSC quality information and properly verified documentation, in order to minimize the risk of errors and prevent submission of incorrect or fraudulent requests.
• Assist in ensuring that cases submitted by the local office and returned by the GSSC for clarification or additional information are promptly responded.
• Monitor timely submission of requests to the GSSC, in an effort to minimizing delays in: (a) the time a vendor financial document is received in the local office to the time when it's being submitted to the GSSC for processing; and (b) the time a request spends in the LFP Releaser dashboard before submission, or in the LFP dashboard tray when returned.
• Swiftly responds to incoming request and communicate with staff members if there is any query.
• Local Focal Person (LFP) t****o Sub****mi****t the Vi****s****i****on Tr****ansactio****n Request to GSSC through Service Gateway****:
• Act as the main liaison between the local office and the GSSC. The LFP bears the responsibility of submitting complete, correct and genuine requests for processing.
• Submits Finance requests to the GSSC using Service Gateway.
• Communicates with the GSSC, if required, to provide additional or clarifying information, using Service Gateway.
• Monitors status of submitted Finance requests through completion, using Service Gateway.
• Follows up with the GSSC using Service Gateway when a request is in progress, follows escalation procedures within GSSC if the request is delayed beyond SLA time response, or resolved unsatisfactorily.

• Be responsible for submitting to GSSC quality information and properly verified documentation, in to minimize the risk of errors and prevent submission of incorrect or fraudulent requests.

• Assist in ensuring that cases submitted by the local office and returned by the GSSC for clarification or additional information are promptly responded.

• Monitor timely submission of requests to the GSSC, in an effort to minimizing delays in: (a) the time a vendor financial document is received in the local office to the time when it's being submitted to the GSSC for processing; and (b) the time a request spends in the LFP Releaser dashboard before submission, or in the LFP dashboard tray when returned.
• Receives documentation to be submitted to the GSSC (e.g. invoices, vendor credit memos, emails requesting reversals of invoices processed, approved PSB minutes, etc.)
• Ensures accuracy and completeness of information required to submit a request to the GSSC, using the applicable SOP which specifies mandatory information and list of attachments for each type of request
• Checks with the requesting unit or operations section before submission to GSSC, if there is any un-clarity or doubt upon correctness, eligibility, or genuine nature of request. Resolve any issues involving operations or finance unit from the local office in case of doubt that policy due diligence was followed.
• Accesses appropriate action input menu and completes the established input procedures.
• Retrieves monitoring reports, in accordance with established timelines and procedures.
• Analyzes problems, identifies alternatives, tests and recommends solutions.
• P****e****rfo****rmance m****onit****o****rin****g a****n****d assess****m****e****nt i****s r****eg****u****l****arl****y co****n****d****u****c****t****ed fo****r serv****i****ce im****p****r****ovement :
• Ensure application/compliances of Financial Policies and Guidelines, established process and procedures by all team members.

• Provides detailed metrics periodically on VISION transactions, provide analysis and issues, and defines training needs, for improvement in the service provided to users.

• Esca****l****atio****n i****s prope****rly d****ir****ec****t****e****d in a tim****e****ly m****a****nn****e****r****:

• Assist and consolidate service calls where immediate support is not possible, in a timely manner, to the
• Liaises with GSSC and program focal person
• Develop and implement effective staff learning and development programme activities for the Finance team.
• Coo****rdi****na****ti****o****n a****nd Exec****uti****o****n****:
• Ensure regular and proactive communication and follow up with all relevant sections and units who utilize the services of the Finance section.
• Participate in periodic Finance Units meeting. Contribute to the planning and review of work processes for the smooth functioning of the Finance.
• Respond/answer/telephonic/e-mail requests/queries in relation to VISION transactions handled by the center promptly.

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

• Completion of secondary education is required, preferably supplemented by technical or university courses related to the work of the organization.
• A minimum of 6 years of progressively responsible Finance Accounts work experience is required. Relevant experience in a UN system agency or organization is considered as an asset.
• Developing country work experience and/or familiarity with emergency is considered an asset.
• Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language or a local language is an asset.

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: https://uni.cf/UNICEFValues

UNICEF competencies required for this post are…

The UNICEF competencies required for this post are Demonstrates Self Awareness and Ethical Awareness (1), Works Collaboratively with others (1), Builds and Maintains Partnerships (1), Innovates and Embraces Change (1), Thinks and Acts Strategically (1), Drive to achieve impactful results (1), Manages ambiguity and complexity (1)

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

Life at UNICEF

Working at UNICEF is highly rewarding. With attractive remuneration package encompassing competitive pay and benefits, a culture that helps staff thrive and diverse opportunities for personal and professional development, we aim to help you maintain a fulfilling life both at and outside the office.

We make sure you and your loved ones receive the resources and care that you need to thrive. We offer a wide range of benefits to our staff, including reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. Our contracts, wellbeing policies and initiatives ensure that you are well equipped to effectively deliver for children such as;

• Tax exemption, family allowances, hardship benefits, 10 UN holidays and annual leave allowance, maternity, paternity, adoption leave, medical and dental insurance, pension etc.
• Career support, staff wellbeing programme, breastfeeding policy, flexible work arrangements, childcare room, family support, policies & initiatives, security etc.
• UNICEF strongly encourages the use of flexible working arrangements.

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.

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:

• Verified educational certificates/ HEC Attested Degrees are a pre-requisite for employment at UNICEF. During the recruitment process candidates will be required to present HEC attested degrees/certificates.
• Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.
• UNICEF’s active commitment towards diversity and inclusion is critical to deliver the best results for children. For this position, eligible and suitable female candidates will be prioritized.
• Appointments are also 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.
• This post is open to all internal/external applicants

Potential interview questions