Finance and Accounts Assistant

Job Posting Organization:
UNICEF, established in 1946, operates in over 190 countries and territories with a mission to save children's lives, defend their rights, and help them fulfill their potential. The organization is committed to promoting the rights of every child and offers diverse opportunities for professional and personal development. UNICEF is known for its strong focus on community support and humanitarian response, particularly in complex and fragile contexts like Venezuela.

Job Overview:
The Finance and Accounts Assistant plays a crucial role in executing a variety of budget and financial tasks within UNICEF. This position requires a thorough understanding of UNICEF's financial procedures and policies, as the assistant will be responsible for ensuring the quality of financial processes and maintaining the organization's reputation as a reliable service provider. The role is particularly important in the context of ongoing humanitarian challenges in Venezuela, where the assistant will support the Finance and Budget team in delivering essential services and operations. The position involves processing financial transactions, providing administrative support for budgets and grants, managing payroll and personnel costs, and ensuring data quality in financial records. The assistant will also be involved in emergency finance support and year-end operations, making this role vital for the effective functioning of UNICEF's financial operations in a challenging environment.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The Finance and Accounts Assistant will be responsible for a range of duties including:

• Processing financial transactions accurately and efficiently to ensure timely payments and compliance with UNICEF's financial policies.
• Providing administrative support for budget and grant management, including tracking expenditures and preparing financial reports.
• Assisting with payroll processing and managing personnel costs to ensure staff are compensated accurately and on time.
• Maintaining financial data management systems to ensure the integrity and quality of financial records.
• Supporting emergency finance operations, particularly in response to humanitarian crises, by ensuring that financial resources are allocated effectively.
• Assisting with year-end financial operations, including preparing necessary documentation and reports for audits and evaluations.
• Collaborating with other team members and departments to ensure a coordinated approach to financial management and reporting.

Required Qualifications:
To qualify for this position, candidates must meet the following requirements:

• Completion of secondary education, with preference given to those who have completed technical or university courses related to finance, administration, budgeting, or accounting.
• A bachelor's degree in finance, administration, budgeting, or accounting from a recognized institution may substitute for three years of relevant work experience.
• A minimum of four years of progressively responsible experience in finance, accounting, budgeting, administration, or related fields is required.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel, Word, and Outlook is essential, along with strong attention to detail and the ability to maintain accurate records under pressure during emergency operations.

Educational Background:
Candidates should have completed secondary education, with additional technical or university-level courses in finance, administration, budgeting, or accounting being highly desirable. A bachelor's degree in a relevant field can replace three years of work experience, highlighting the importance of formal education in this role.

Experience:
The position requires a minimum of four years of progressively responsible experience in finance, accounting, budgeting, administration, or related areas. This experience should demonstrate the candidate's ability to handle financial transactions, manage budgets, and support administrative functions effectively, particularly in challenging environments such as humanitarian contexts.

Languages:
Fluency in Spanish is mandatory for this position, as it is essential for communication within the organization and with local stakeholders. Additionally, working knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian) is desirable, and a basic level of English is also considered an asset.

Additional Notes:
This position is a temporary appointment for a duration of six months, reflecting the urgent need for support in the Finance and Budget team due to the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Venezuela. The role is full-time and requires candidates to be adaptable and ready to work in a high-pressure environment. UNICEF promotes a diverse and inclusive workplace and encourages applications from all qualified candidates, including those with disabilities. The organization offers a comprehensive benefits package, including paid parental leave and reasonable accommodations for staff with disabilities. Candidates should be aware that UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy regarding misconduct and is committed to safeguarding children and vulnerable populations.