Business Support Assistant / Finances

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 a pathway to peace, stability, and prosperity for people recovering from conflict, disasters, and the impacts of climate change. WFP operates in over 120 countries and territories, focusing on providing vital assistance in emergencies while promoting sustainable livelihoods and resilience to ensure a world free from hunger. WFP is committed to diversity and inclusion, ensuring equal employment opportunities for all employees, and encourages qualified candidates from various backgrounds to apply. The organization values integrity, collaboration, commitment, humanity, and inclusion, and aims to create a healthy and inclusive work environment for its diverse workforce. WFP has received the Nobel Peace Prize in 2020, highlighting its significant contributions to humanitarian efforts worldwide. For more information about WFP, visit their official website and follow them on social media platforms for updates and news.

Job Overview:
The Business Support Assistant / Finances position is crucial for the effective execution of financial transactions that support the management of the World Food Programme. The role focuses on providing high-quality customer-oriented support and accounting services, optimizing resources, and ensuring the smooth operation of financial and administrative services. The assistant will be responsible for recording and interpreting financial and budgetary information, which is essential for informed decision-making. The position requires a proactive approach to financial management, ensuring compliance with WFP policies and procedures while contributing to the overall mission of the organization. The assistant will work closely with the Finance Associate and other team members to ensure that financial operations are conducted efficiently and effectively, ultimately supporting WFP's humanitarian objectives.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The Business Support Assistant will have a variety of key responsibilities, including but not limited to:

• Performing bank reconciliations for WFP accounts and petty cash.
• Assisting the Administration and Finance Officer with initiating payments through the GPS system.
• Producing and compiling various data and reports to provide accurate information for decision-making and effective management.
• Executing beneficiary payments as part of the Cash-Based Transfer (CBT) program using applications such as Ecobank Omni, MTN, and Orange.
• Providing procedural and technical support to staff in financial matters to ensure compliance with WFP financial policies, rules, and regulations.
• Supporting the development and implementation of financial policies and procedures, and assisting in establishing appropriate accounting procedures, systems, and internal controls.
• Monitoring daily cash flow to optimize the use of surplus cash and manage forecasts effectively.
• Overseeing the centralized registry system (ITS and GPS) to ensure timely processing of internal staff payments and external vendor invoices in accordance with WFP standards.
• Contributing to the preparation, implementation, and monitoring of budgets, tracking expenditures and budget forecasts to ensure future funding needs are met. 1
• Ensuring adherence to standard emergency preparedness practices to meet immediate emergency requirements for additional service at the office and field. 1
• Monitoring account balances and processing financial transactions accurately and promptly to avoid overdrafts. 1
• Addressing financial queries within the GSMT system, such as requests for operational advances and their justifications, and payment requests without purchase orders. 1
• Compiling data from WFP databases and systems to assist in generating and analyzing financial reports on a monthly basis. 1
• Performing any other tasks as required to achieve WFP objectives.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess a minimum of a Bachelor's degree (Bac + 3) or an equivalent diploma in fields such as Finance, Business Administration, Management, Economics, or Audit. Additionally, candidates should demonstrate a solid understanding of financial principles and practices, including internal controls, risk management, and monitoring mechanisms. The ability to support activity planning initiatives and establish basic budgets and forecasts is essential, as is the capacity to integrate information from various sources to track key performance indicators. Candidates should also have a basic understanding of program/project principles, implementation, and supply chain structures, as well as proficiency in office equipment and software such as Microsoft Office and management software.

Educational Background:
A minimum of a Bachelor's degree (Bac + 3) or an equivalent qualification in Finance, Business Administration, Management, Economics, or Audit is required for this position. This educational background provides the foundational knowledge necessary for understanding financial operations and supporting the financial management processes within WFP.

Experience:
Candidates should have at least four (4) years of progressively responsible professional experience in relevant fields, with a minimum of two (2) years in financial or related areas within a project/program context, either in the public or private sector. This experience should demonstrate increasing levels of responsibility and a solid understanding of financial management practices.

Languages:
Fluency in French, both spoken and written, is mandatory for this position. Knowledge of English is considered an asset and may enhance a candidate's profile, particularly in a multicultural and international work environment.

Additional Notes:
The position is a Service Contract (SC4) with a duration of six (6) months, based in Conakry, Guinea. WFP offers an attractive compensation package and emphasizes the importance of a diverse and inclusive work environment. The organization is committed to providing reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities throughout the recruitment process. All applications must be submitted through WFP's online recruiting system, and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for the next stages of the recruitment process. WFP does not charge any fees in connection with the application or recruitment process.