Finance Assistant

Job Posting Organization:
The World Food Programme (WFP) is the world’s largest humanitarian organization, established to save lives in emergencies and to use food assistance as a means to build pathways to peace, stability, and prosperity for people recovering from conflict, disasters, and the impacts of climate change. WFP operates globally, with a mission to ensure that no one goes hungry, and it is committed to diversity and equal employment opportunities for all employees. WFP has a diverse workforce and is dedicated to creating an inclusive environment where all employees can thrive. The organization has received the Nobel Peace Prize in 2020, highlighting its significant contributions to humanitarian efforts worldwide. WFP's operations span numerous countries, addressing the needs of millions affected by crises and working collaboratively with various partners to deliver effective humanitarian assistance. To learn more about WFP, visit their official website and follow them on social media for updates on their initiatives and impact.

Job Overview:
The Finance Assistant position at WFP involves providing specialized and standardized policy and program-related processes and activities that support the effective design of assistance packages. The role is crucial in the finance unit of the country office, particularly in the context of Syria's ongoing humanitarian crisis. The Finance Assistant will be responsible for ensuring compliance with WFP financial policies, rules, and regulations while assisting in the procedural and technical support to staff within the finance and budget areas. This position requires a proactive approach to managing financial data, processing invoices, and maintaining accurate financial records to support the organization's mission of delivering humanitarian assistance effectively. The Finance Assistant will play a key role in monitoring financial transactions, preparing invoices, and ensuring that all financial documentation is maintained according to WFP standards. This position offers an opportunity to contribute to the humanitarian efforts in Syria, where the need for financial oversight and support is critical to the success of WFP's operations.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The Finance Assistant will have a comprehensive set of duties and responsibilities, including but not limited to: assisting in providing procedural and technical support to staff in finance and budget areas; maintaining a register for all invoices and payment transfers; ensuring timely processing of supplier invoices; monitoring and clearing day-to-day payments of unreconciled advances; raising and parking receipt vouchers for identified payments; performing reconciliations of customer and vendor accounts related to UNHAS services; reviewing various payment requests to ensure appropriate approvals and accuracy; updating customer payments in Takeflite Accounts; preparing proforma invoices for special flights; managing UNHAS funds, including fund reservation management and expenditure forecasts; issuing monthly invoices to agents based on booked tickets; costing flights on Takeflite; managing staff cash payments; coordinating monthly withdrawals; and assisting with other finance-related matters as required by the country office.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates for the Finance Assistant position must possess a completion of secondary school education, with a post-secondary certificate in a related functional area being desirable. Additionally, candidates should have at least 5 years of experience, which includes a minimum of 3 years in finance and 2 years in another field, preferably finance-related. The role requires strong knowledge and skills in collecting and monitoring financial data, assessing financial health, and reporting findings to senior leaders. Candidates should demonstrate proficiency in financial management and compliance with organizational policies.

Educational Background:
The educational background required for the Finance Assistant position includes a completion of secondary school education. A post-secondary certificate in a related functional area is considered desirable, indicating that candidates should have foundational knowledge in finance or a related discipline to effectively perform the duties associated with this role.

Experience:
The position requires a minimum of 5 years of relevant experience, which should include at least 3 years specifically in finance. The additional 2 years can be in any other field, although experience in finance is preferred. This level of experience is necessary to ensure that the candidate is well-equipped to handle the financial responsibilities and challenges that may arise in the context of WFP's operations in Syria.

Languages:
Fluency in both oral and written communication in English and Arabic is mandatory for this position. Proficiency in these languages is essential for effective communication within the organization and with external stakeholders, given the diverse environment in which WFP operates. Additional language skills may be considered an asset but are not explicitly required for this role.

Additional Notes:
The contract type for this position is a Service Contract (SC5), with a duration from the start date until 30 April 2026, subject to funding and position requirements. The duty station for this role is Damascus, Syria, and the organization is looking to fill one position. WFP emphasizes its commitment to providing reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities throughout the recruitment process. The organization also maintains a strict no-fee policy regarding applications and recruitment, ensuring that candidates are not charged any fees during the application process. WFP is dedicated to creating an inclusive work environment free from discrimination and harassment, and all selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference and background checks.