Finance and Budget Assistant

Job Posting Organization:
The position is located within the Payroll and Accounts Payable Section of the Division of Administration, Department of Operational Support (DOS) of the United Nations. The DOS was established to provide operational advisory services to various entities across the Secretariat, including departments, offices away from headquarters, field missions, and regional commissions. The Payroll and Accounts Payable Section is responsible for processing global payroll and payments, providing travel finance support, consultant payments, vendor payments, and offering policy advice and operational guidance. The section also engages in testing and implementing enhancements to improve operational efficiency.

Job Overview:
The Finance and Budget Assistant plays a crucial role in the Payroll and Accounts Payable Section, reporting directly to the Chief of the section. This position involves a variety of financial tasks, including the review and analysis of travel expense reports, training-related expenses, and the management of accounts payable and receivable items. The assistant is expected to ensure the accuracy and validity of financial transactions, assist in budget preparation, monitor expenditures, and provide guidance and training to colleagues. The role requires a strong understanding of financial regulations and procedures within the UN environment, as well as the ability to handle complex financial data and discrepancies. The assistant will also be involved in preparing financial statements and auditing various accounting transactions to ensure compliance with relevant rules and regulations.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The Finance and Budget Assistant will be responsible for a comprehensive set of duties, including but not limited to: reviewing and preparing payments related to travel claims and training expenses; analyzing and clearing old and recent open items in travel-related accounts; responding to client inquiries and providing training to new staff; scrutinizing source documents for accuracy; investigating erroneous charges; reconciling suspense accounts; extracting financial data for analysis; assisting in the preparation of financial statements; auditing accounting transactions; serving as an Approving Officer for disbursements; supporting budget preparation and monitoring; and providing guidance on payment methods and urgent projects within the section.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess a high school diploma or equivalent. A minimum of seven years of experience in finance, budget, accounting, or a related area is required. This experience requirement is reduced to five years for candidates with a first-level university degree or higher. Candidates should have substantial experience in analyzing and clearing accounts payable and receivable items, a solid understanding of General Ledger functions, and experience with Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems such as Umoja or SAP. Additionally, experience in processing travel disbursements and preparing accounting entries is essential. Familiarity with the United Nations' systems and procedures is desirable.

Educational Background:
The minimum educational requirement for this position is a high school diploma or equivalent. However, candidates with a first-level university degree or higher may have their relevant experience requirement reduced, indicating that higher education is valued and can enhance a candidate's eligibility.

Experience:
The position requires a minimum of seven years of relevant experience in finance, budget, accounting, or a related field. For candidates with a first-level university degree or higher, this requirement is reduced to five years. Candidates should have specific experience in analyzing and clearing accounts payable and receivable items, as well as a solid understanding of General Ledger functions. Experience with ERP systems and processing travel disbursements is also required, highlighting the need for a well-rounded background in financial operations.

Languages:
English is the mandatory working language for this position, with a required proficiency level of UN Level III in reading, writing, listening, and speaking. French is also a working language of the United Nations, but there are no additional desirable languages specified for this job opening.

Additional Notes:
The appointment for this position is for an initial period of one year, subject to the availability of the post or funds, and budgetary approval. This position is subject to local recruitment, meaning applicants must be authorized to work for the United Nations in New York. Those selected from outside the duty station will be responsible for their relocation expenses. Local recruits are not eligible for allowances or benefits exclusive to international recruitment. The United Nations emphasizes the importance of diversity and inclusion in its hiring practices and is committed to creating a respectful work environment. Reasonable accommodations may be provided for applicants with disabilities upon request.