Finance Associate

Job Advertisement

Position Title: Finance Associate
Location: Budapest
Country: Hungary
Deadline Date:

Job Details

Job Posting Organization:
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) is an agency 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 commitment to environmental sustainability is integral to its strategic objectives and operations, aligning with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Job Overview:
The Finance Associate position is a critical role within the FAO Shared Services Centre located in Budapest, Hungary. This position is designed for individuals who possess high-level and specialized finance-related skills. The Finance Associate will lead and coordinate the financial support activities of the unit, ensuring that all processes are executed with quality, transparency, and consistency. The role requires a deep understanding of financial policies, procedures, and practices, as well as the ability to provide procedural guidance to managers and staff. The incumbent will work autonomously, demonstrating initiative and judgment while supervising other finance support staff. This position is essential for maintaining the efficiency and effectiveness of the financial operations within the organization, contributing to the overall mission of FAO.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The Finance Associate will be responsible for a variety of key functions, including reviewing financial transactions, investigating errors, and taking corrective actions. The incumbent will reconcile and review accounts, ensuring proper clearance procedures are followed. They will extract transaction details from the corporate finance and accounting system to analyze and verify accuracy and validity. Additionally, the Finance Associate will assist in monitoring transactions to ensure compliance with authorized levels and prepare worksheets and reports by consolidating data from various sources. The role also involves participating in continuous improvement efforts, acting as a focal point for the analysis, testing, and implementation of new financial process automations. The Finance Associate will ensure smooth processing of electronic payments and liaise with corporate banks regarding payment issues. They will act as an alternate approver for high-value invoices and provide guidance and training to other finance support staff. Other duties may be assigned as required, all of which contribute to the overall impact of the work unit's mandate.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess a secondary school education and have a minimum of five years of relevant experience in finance, accounting, and budget-related support work. A working knowledge of English at proficiency level C is mandatory. Additionally, candidates should have very good knowledge of MS Office applications and office technology equipment. It is important for candidates to be nationals of Hungary or possess a valid visa/work permit and reside within commuting distance of the duty station at the time of application.

Educational Background:
The minimum educational requirement for this position is a secondary school education. This foundational education is essential for understanding the basic principles of finance and accounting that will be applied in the role of Finance Associate.

Experience:
Candidates are required to have at least five years of relevant experience in finance, accounting, and budget-related support work. This level of experience is crucial for ensuring that the incumbent can effectively manage the financial support activities and provide the necessary guidance to other staff members.

Languages:
A working knowledge of English at proficiency level C is mandatory for this position. Additionally, having intermediate proficiency (level B) in one of the other FAO official languages, such as Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian, or Spanish, is considered a desirable qualification that can enhance the candidate's profile.

Additional Notes:
The position is classified under the General Service Staff category, which means that candidates must be nationals of Hungary or possess a valid visa/work permit. The role is expected to be performed on a full-time basis, and candidates should reside within commuting distance of the duty station. This ensures that staff members can travel daily between their residence and the workplace. The FAO emphasizes the importance of local recruitment, which aligns with its commitment to supporting the communities in which it operates.