Finance Associate

Job Posting Organization:
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations that leads international efforts to defeat hunger. Established in 1945, FAO has a mission to achieve security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">food security for all and ensure that people have regular access to enough high-quality food to lead active, healthy lives. The organization operates in over 130 countries and has a workforce of more than 12,000 employees. FAO's work is guided by the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, which aims to end hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition, and promote sustainable agriculture. The organization is committed to environmental sustainability and works towards transforming agrifood systems to be more efficient, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable.

Job Overview:
The Finance Associate position is a critical role within the FAO Shared Services Centre located in Budapest, Hungary. The incumbent will undertake high-level and specialized finance-related support activities, leading and coordinating the financial support work of the unit. This role requires a deep understanding of financial policies, procedures, and practices, as well as the ability to provide procedural guidance to managers and staff within the organization. The Finance Associate will work autonomously, demonstrating a high degree of initiative and judgment, while also supervising and training other finance support staff. The position is essential for ensuring the quality, transparency, and consistency of financial processes, which directly impacts the efficiency and effectiveness of the services provided by the team.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The Finance Associate will be responsible for a variety of key functions, including reviewing transactions, investigating errors, taking corrective actions, reconciling and reviewing accounts, and ensuring proper clearance procedures are followed. The incumbent will extract transaction details from the corporate finance and accounting system to analyze and verify their accuracy and validity. Additionally, the Finance Associate will assist in monitoring transactions to ensure they remain within authorized levels, prepare worksheets, and assist in the preparation of reports by compiling and consolidating data from various sources. The role also involves participating in continuous improvement efforts by acting as a focal person for the analysis, testing, and implementation of new financial process automations. The Finance Associate will ensure smooth processing of electronic payments, liaise with FAO's corporate banks regarding payment issues, and act as an alternate approver for high amount invoices. Furthermore, the incumbent will draft and prepare correspondence, respond to queries, evaluate ongoing financial support requirements, and adapt service provision to meet changing needs while solving operational problems as required.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess a secondary school education and have a minimum of five years of relevant experience in finance, accounting, and budget-related support work. A working knowledge (proficiency - level C) of English is mandatory, along with very good knowledge of MS Office applications and office technology equipment. The position requires candidates to be nationals of Hungary or possess an existing visa/work permit and reside within commuting distance of the duty station at the time of application.

Educational Background:
The minimum educational requirement for the Finance Associate position is a secondary school education. This foundational education is essential for understanding the basic principles of finance and accounting, which are critical for the role.

Experience:
Candidates are required to have a minimum of five years of relevant experience in finance, accounting, and budget-related support work. This level of experience is necessary to ensure that the incumbent can effectively manage the financial support activities and provide guidance to other staff members.

Languages:
A working knowledge (proficiency - level C) of English is mandatory for this position. Additionally, having intermediate knowledge (intermediate proficiency - level B) of one of the other working languages of the Organization, such as Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian, or Spanish, is considered desirable and beneficial for the role.

Additional Notes:
The position is classified under the General Service Staff category, which means that candidates must be nationals of Hungary or possess an existing visa/work permit. The role is expected to be full-time, and candidates must reside within commuting distance of the duty station at the time of application. This requirement ensures that staff members can travel daily between their place of work and their residence. The Finance Associate will be expected to demonstrate competencies such as results focus, teamwork, communication, building effective relationships, and knowledge sharing and continuous improvement. Technical skills required include thorough knowledge of financial rules and regulations, accounting policies, and practices, as well as familiarity with ERP corporate financial systems.