Finance Assistant

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 employs thousands of staff members dedicated to improving agricultural productivity, enhancing nutrition, and promoting sustainable management of natural resources. FAO's strategic framework is aligned with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, focusing on transforming agrifood systems to be more efficient, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable. The organization is committed to environmental sustainability, which is integral to its operations and objectives, 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 Assistant position is a crucial role within the FAO Shared Services Centre (SSC) located in Budapest, Hungary. The incumbent will undertake finance-related support activities of medium complexity, ensuring quality, transparency, and consistency in financial processes. This role requires a deep understanding of financial policies, procedures, and practices, as the Finance Assistant will provide procedural guidance to other staff members as needed. The position demands a high degree of initiative, judgment, and responsibility, as the Finance Assistant will work autonomously while also being responsible for organizing their own work and providing guidance and training to junior colleagues and internal customers. The Finance Assistant will play a vital role in supporting the financial operations of the organization, contributing to the overall efficiency and effectiveness of the finance team.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The Finance Assistant will be responsible for a variety of key functions, including but not limited to: reviewing source documents for completeness, accuracy, and validity; extracting transaction details from the integrated financial system for analysis and verification; investigating errors and taking corrective actions; supporting continuous improvement efforts by participating in testing and implementation of new financial process automations; assisting in monitoring transactions to ensure due diligence is performed; preparing worksheets and assisting in report preparation by compiling and consolidating data from various sources; 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 staff and training junior finance support staff; and performing other duties as required. The incumbent's work will directly impact the efficiency, effectiveness, accuracy, and timeliness of the services provided by the finance team, playing a proactive role in achieving the unit's mandate.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must meet the following minimum requirements: a secondary school education is required, along with four years of relevant experience in finance, accounting, cash management, and/or asset management-related support work. A working knowledge (proficiency - level C) of English is mandatory, and candidates should possess very good knowledge of MS Office applications, internet, and office technology equipment. Additionally, candidates must 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 educational background required for this position includes a minimum of secondary school education. This foundational education is essential for understanding the financial processes and policies that the Finance Assistant will be working with. Further education in finance, accounting, or a related field may be beneficial but is not explicitly required for this role.

Experience:
The position requires a minimum of four years of relevant experience in finance, accounting, cash management, and/or asset management-related support work. This level of experience is necessary to ensure that the Finance Assistant can effectively handle the medium complexity of the finance-related support activities and contribute to the overall efficiency of the finance team.

Languages:
A working knowledge (proficiency - level C) of English is mandatory for this position. Additionally, it is desirable for candidates to have intermediate knowledge (intermediate proficiency - level B) of another FAO official language, which includes Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian, or Spanish. This multilingual capability can enhance communication within the organization and with external stakeholders.

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 and reside within commuting distance of the duty station at the time of application. The role is expected to be full-time, and candidates will be assessed based on their qualifications and experience relevant to the duties and responsibilities outlined in the job description. The FAO offers a collaborative work environment and is committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace.