Senior Finance Assistant

Contract

This is a G-7 contract. This kind of contract is known as General Service and related categories. It is normally only for nationals. It usually requires 7 years of experience, depending on education. More about G-7 contracts.

Org. Setting and Reporting This post is in the Department of Management Strategy, Policy and Compliance (DMSPC), Office of Programme Planning, Finance and Budget (OPPFB), Finance Division (FD), Financial Risk Management Service (FRMS). The Senior Finance Assistant reports to the Finance and Budget Officer.

Responsibilities The duties and responsibilities of the incumbent include the following and will be assigned to the incumbent based on the exigencies of the office:

•Reviews incoming payment instructions regarding banking details and sources of funds. •Prepares payments for final disbursement. •Releases payment instructions to banks including the financial transaction settlements. •Creates receipts and deposits for all incoming funds. •Notifies beneficiaries of status of payments. •Ensures that all non-electronic receipts are recorded and deposited at the bank. •Assists staff members, Reconciliation and Fund Management Officers, financial counterparty and donors regarding queries on payment and deposit-related issues. •Identifies and annotates bank account movements. Monitors House Bank account balances worldwide. •Assists Cashier in multi-currency cash management and investment issues, including cash requirement forecasts and to ensure that all the House Bank accounts are appropriately replenished. •Liaises with banks worldwide regarding outstanding items and payment instructions. •Investigates complaints on non-receipts. •Monitors cheque stock and orders new stock as required. •Reviews inter and intra-unit processes with aim to optimize workflow and customer orientation. •Monitors/reviews payment methods used to remit payments including maintaining corresponding banking (also called bank chain) required to route disbursements. •Assists in preparation of periodical reports: cash management, contributions and cash collection and other reports as required. •Follows-up on audit recommendations. •Follows-up on fraud cases. •Assists cashier in the daily operation of the Cashier’s Unit responsible for the transmittal of payments worldwide. •Files and archives as required. •Keeps up-to-date on documents/reports/guidelines that have a bearing on matters related to programme and/or peacekeeping budgets, ensuring compliance with intergovernmental recommendations and decisions as well as with United Nations policies and procedures. •Drafts or prepares correspondence to respond to enquiries in respect to relevant financial matters. •Provides guidance, training and daily supervision to other general service staff in the area of responsibility. •Performs other related duties, as assigned. •Keeps up to date on current financial regulations/professional publications and accepted principles.

Competencies PROFESSIONALISM: Knowledge and application of relevant financial regulations and rules and procedures. Ability to manage processes, maintains accurate records, interpret a wide variety of data, and identify data discrepancies and activity problems. Familiarity with the operations and objectives of the related organizational units. Solid computer skills and knowledge of relevant software. 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.

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 ten years experience in finance, budget, accounting, administrative, banking, treasury or related area is required. Experience in financial reporting and financial transaction analysis and review is required. Experience in ERP (for example SAP) or payment systems (for example SWIFT and banking-proprietary systems) is required. Experience with payment processes, rules and practices both within an international organization and the banking system is desirable. Experience with local and global payment regulation, global sanctions and watchlist screening is desirable.

Languages English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the position advertised, fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official United Nations language is an advantage.

Assessment Evaluation of qualified candidates may include a written assessment exercise which may be followed by competency-based interview.

Special Notice This position is financed by extrabudgetary funding. The appointment or assignment and renewal thereof are subject to the availability of the post or funds, budgetary approval or extension of the mandate.

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 in the country or within commuting distance of each office, irrespective of their nationality and of the length of time they may have been in the country. A staff member subject to local recruitment shall not be eligible for the allowances or benefits exclusively applicable to international recruitment.

Passing the Global General Service Test (GGST) is a prerequisite for recruitment consideration in the General Services and related categories in the United Nations Secretariat. Applicants who have not passed the GGST at the time of application may be invited for the test after submitting an application. Staff members who were granted a fixed-term, continuing or permanent appointment as a result of having passed a predecessor test recognized by the Office of Human Resources, and who have continuously held such appointments, are not required to take the new test.

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.

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.