Finance Assistant

Job Posting Organization:
The World Food Programme (WFP) is the world's largest humanitarian organization dedicated to saving lives in emergencies and using food assistance to build pathways to peace, stability, and prosperity for people recovering from conflict, disasters, and the impacts of climate change. Established in 1961, WFP operates in over 80 countries, employing thousands of staff members who are committed to the mission of alleviating hunger and improving nutrition. WFP's core values include Integrity, Collaboration, Commitment, Humanity, and Inclusion, which guide its operations and interactions with partners and beneficiaries. The organization has received numerous accolades for its work, including the Nobel Peace Prize in 2020, highlighting its significant contributions to global humanitarian efforts. WFP is dedicated to fostering a diverse and inclusive workforce, ensuring equal employment opportunities for all individuals regardless of their background or identity. For more information, visit the WFP website at https://www.wfp.org and follow their social media channels for updates on their initiatives and impact.

Job Overview:
The Finance Assistant position at WFP is designed to support the effective delivery of finance, budget, and administration services. This role is crucial for ensuring the transparent and efficient utilization of financial resources within the organization. The Finance Assistant will be responsible for providing procedural and technical support to staff in finance and budget areas, ensuring compliance with WFP's financial policies, rules, and regulations. The position requires monitoring monthly expenditure forecasts, preparing expenditure reports, and assisting in the financial assessment of service providers. The Finance Assistant will also play a key role in maintaining financial records, processing payments, and providing guidance and training to other support staff. This position offers an opportunity to contribute to WFP's mission of delivering humanitarian assistance while working in a dynamic and diverse environment.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The Finance Assistant will have a comprehensive set of duties and responsibilities, including:

• Providing procedural and technical support to staff in finance and budget areas to ensure compliance with WFP financial policies.
• Monitoring monthly expenditure forecasts and preparing expenditure reports to facilitate informed decision-making.
• Regularly monitoring sub-imprest bank and petty cash accounts to ensure adequate funds are available and disbursed appropriately.
• Verifying vendor claims, advances, and other receivables while adhering to procurement procedures to ensure timely payments to suppliers.
• Compiling information from various sources to prepare reports related to budgets, accounting, finance, and statistics.
• Retrieving, formatting, and validating information from financial information systems, addressing discrepancies with supervisors.
• Supporting financial assessments and due diligence of service providers, including financial service providers and retailers.
• Providing finance support to program activities, including cash, vouchers, and digital payments.
• Maintaining a web-based register for all invoices and payment transfers, ensuring compliance with WFP standards. 1
• Monitoring and recording expenses in line with the approved budget to ensure timely processing of payments. 1
• Offering guidance and on-the-job training to support staff to ensure consistent service delivery.

Required Qualifications:
The position requires the following qualifications:

• Completion of secondary school education is mandatory.
• A post-secondary certificate in a related functional area is desirable.
• A minimum of 5 years of experience in finance is required, with a focus on collecting and monitoring financial data, assessing financial health, and reporting findings to senior leaders.
• Strong client-oriented mindset with the ability to understand and respond to the needs of internal and external clients.
• Proficiency in using corporate systems and digital tools, including ERP systems and MS Office applications.
• Strong communication and coordination skills, with the ability to work effectively with diverse stakeholders.

Educational Background:
Candidates must have completed secondary school education, and while a post-secondary certificate in a related functional area is desirable, it is not mandatory. The educational background should ideally align with the finance and budgetary functions of the role, equipping candidates with the necessary knowledge and skills to perform effectively in the position.

Experience:
The Finance Assistant position requires a minimum of 5 years of relevant experience in finance. Candidates should have a proven track record of collecting and monitoring financial data on projects and programs, assessing financial health, and reporting findings to senior leaders. Experience in a humanitarian or international organization is an advantage, as it provides insight into the unique financial challenges faced in such environments.

Languages:
Fluency in both English (level C) and Arabic is mandatory for this position. Proficiency in additional languages may be considered an asset, enhancing communication with diverse stakeholders and beneficiaries.

Additional Notes:
The position is a Fixed Term contract at the G5 level, with a duration of 1 year. WFP is committed to providing an inclusive work environment and encourages applications from individuals with disabilities. The organization does not charge any fees during the application process and emphasizes the importance of submitting applications through their online recruiting system. Selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference and background checks as part of the recruitment process. WFP offers an attractive compensation package, details of which can be found in the Terms and Conditions section of the vacancy announcement.