Finance Specialist

Job Posting Organization:
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) is an agency that leads international efforts to defeat hunger and improve nutrition and security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">food security. Established in 1945, FAO works in over 130 countries worldwide, employing thousands of staff members dedicated to achieving the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The organization focuses on transforming agrifood systems to be more efficient, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable, ensuring that no one is left behind in the pursuit of better production, better nutrition, a better environment, and a better life.

Job Overview:
The Finance Specialist position is integral to the operations of the FAO, specifically within the Shared Services Centre (SSC). This role is primarily focused on delivering financial services to FAO Decentralized Offices, ensuring that financial administration is conducted efficiently and effectively. The Finance Specialist will be responsible for a variety of tasks that support the financial operations of the organization, including invoice processing, transaction monitoring, and data verification. The position requires a proactive approach to problem-solving and a commitment to continuous improvement in financial processes. The Finance Specialist will work closely with the Finance Officer and the Finance Unit team, contributing to the overall financial health of the organization and enhancing service delivery through process standardization and automation.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The Finance Specialist will have a diverse set of responsibilities, including acting as a point of contact for the Central Support Facility (CSF) and Decentralized Offices regarding invoice booking. The role involves performing routine financial administration support and transaction processing tasks, which include calculating, inputting, and checking information for accuracy, as well as communicating any discrepancies to supervisors. The Finance Specialist will monitor the workload of the Finance Team, track task progress, and report updates to supervisors. Additionally, the role requires verifying data accuracy, investigating errors, and taking corrective actions as necessary. The Finance Specialist will extract transaction details from the accounting system to support analysis and verification, participate in continuous improvement initiatives, ensure smooth processing of invoices and payments, draft correspondence to respond to queries, create and maintain standard operating procedures, and provide procedural guidance to managers and staff.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess a minimum of Secondary School Education and have at least four years of relevant experience in finance, accounting, cash management, or asset management support work. A working knowledge (level C) of both English and French is required, along with being a national of Hungary or a resident with a valid work permit. The role also demands a strong understanding of financial rules and regulations, accounting policies, and practices, as well as familiarity with ERP corporate financial systems and MS Office applications.

Educational Background:
The educational requirement for this 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 of Finance Specialist.

Experience:
The position requires a minimum of four years of relevant experience in finance, accounting, cash management, or asset management-related support work. This experience is crucial for the candidate to effectively manage the financial tasks and responsibilities associated with the role, ensuring that they are well-versed in the necessary processes and procedures.

Languages:
A working knowledge (level C) of English and French is mandatory for this position. Additionally, knowledge of another FAO official language such as Arabic, Chinese, Russian, or Spanish would be considered an asset, enhancing the candidate's ability to communicate within the diverse international environment of the FAO.

Additional Notes:
The position is based in Budapest, Hungary, and is likely to be a full-time role. Candidates must be nationals of Hungary or residents with a valid work permit. The FAO emphasizes the importance of teamwork, communication, and building effective relationships, which are core competencies expected from candidates. The organization also values knowledge sharing and continuous improvement, which are essential for the Finance Specialist's role in enhancing financial processes.