Finance Associate

Job Posting Organization:
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) is an agency that leads international efforts to defeat hunger. Established in 1945, FAO has been at the forefront of global efforts to improve nutrition, increase agricultural productivity, and promote sustainable agricultural practices. With a mission to achieve security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">food security for all, FAO operates in over 130 countries and employs thousands of staff members who work collaboratively to support the transformation of agrifood systems. The organization is committed to the principles of sustainability and inclusivity, ensuring that no one is left behind in the pursuit of better production, better nutrition, a better environment, and a better life. FAO's Shared Services Centre (SSC) plays a crucial role in managing quality assurance activities and improving service delivery across its operations, focusing on efficiency and customer satisfaction.

Job Overview:
The Finance Associate position is a critical role within the FAO Shared Services Centre located in Budapest, Hungary. This position involves undertaking high-level and specialized finance-related support activities, which are essential for the effective functioning of the unit. The Finance Associate is responsible for leading and coordinating financial support work, ensuring that all processes are executed with quality, transparency, and consistency. The role requires a deep understanding of financial policies, procedures, and practices, as the incumbent will provide procedural guidance to managers and staff throughout the organization. The Finance Associate will also supervise and train other finance support staff, ensuring that the team operates efficiently and effectively. This position is designed for individuals who can work autonomously, demonstrating initiative and sound judgment while meeting client requirements and facilitating service delivery.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The Finance Associate will have a comprehensive set of duties and responsibilities, including but not limited to: reviewing transactions and investigating errors, taking corrective actions as necessary; reconciling and reviewing accounts to ensure proper clearance procedures are followed; extracting transaction details from the corporate finance and accounting system to analyze and verify their accuracy and validity; assisting in monitoring transactions to ensure compliance with authorized levels; preparing worksheets and assisting in the preparation of reports by compiling and consolidating data from various sources; participating in continuous improvement efforts by acting as a focal person for the analysis, testing, and implementation of new financial process automations; ensuring the smooth processing of electronic payments, returns, and payment rejections; liaising with FAO's corporate banks in case of payment issues; acting as an alternate approver to review and validate high-amount invoices within the delegation of authority; drafting and preparing correspondence and responding to queries; evaluating ongoing financial support requirements and adapting service provision to meet changing needs; providing procedural guidance to managers and staff; supervising, guiding, and training other finance support staff; and performing other duties as required. The impact of the Finance Associate's work is significant, directly influencing the efficiency, effectiveness, accuracy, and timeliness of the services provided by the finance team.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must meet several minimum requirements to be considered for the Finance Associate position. These include having a secondary school education and a minimum of five years of relevant experience in finance, accounting, and budget-related support work. Additionally, candidates must possess a working knowledge (proficiency - level C) of English and demonstrate very good knowledge of MS Office applications, internet, and office technology equipment. It is important for 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, as General Service Staff are recruited locally.

Educational Background:
The educational background required for the Finance Associate position includes a secondary school education. This foundational education is essential for understanding the financial principles and practices that will be applied in the role. Candidates with further education in finance, accounting, or related fields may have an advantage, but the minimum requirement remains a secondary school education.

Experience:
The level of experience required for this position is five years of relevant experience in finance, accounting, and budget-related support work. This experience should demonstrate the candidate's ability to handle financial transactions, understand financial policies, and provide support in a finance-related environment. Candidates should be able to showcase their expertise in managing financial processes and ensuring compliance with regulations and policies.

Languages:
The mandatory language requirement for this position is a working knowledge (proficiency - level C) of English. Additionally, it is desirable for candidates to have intermediate knowledge (intermediate proficiency - level B) of one of the other working languages of the Organization, which include Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian, or Spanish. This multilingual capability can enhance communication and collaboration within the organization and with its diverse stakeholders.

Additional Notes:
The Finance Associate position is a full-time role based in Budapest, Hungary. Candidates must be nationals of Hungary or possess a valid visa/work permit to be eligible for this position. The role is classified under the General Service Staff category, which means that recruitment is conducted locally. The position may involve a contract duration that aligns with the organization's needs and the successful candidate's performance. Compensation and benefits will be in accordance with FAO's policies and the local labor market standards.