Finance Assistant

Job Posting Organization:
The Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) is one of the five regional commissions of the United Nations, established in 194

• Its mission is to contribute to the economic and social development of the region by designing, monitoring, and evaluating public policies, providing advisory services, expertise, and training to governments, and supporting regional and international cooperation and coordination activities. ECLAC operates in various countries across Latin America and the Caribbean, focusing on sustainable development and social inclusion. For more information, visit www.eclac.org.

Job Overview:
The Finance Assistant position is situated within the Administration Division of ECLAC, reporting directly to the Chief of the Financial Section. The role is crucial for ensuring the smooth processing of payments and financial transactions as a service provider to other regional UN entities. The Finance Assistant will be responsible for monitoring payment requests, processing payment documents, and ensuring timely payments. Additionally, the role involves recovering costs incurred by ECLAC, approving expense reports, and coordinating travel requests. The Finance Assistant will also engage in various administrative functions, including organizing meetings, preparing communications, and assisting with payroll preparation. This position requires a proactive approach to data collection and analysis, contributing to knowledge management and decision-making processes within the organization.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The Finance Assistant will perform a variety of duties, including:

• Monitoring requests for payments from other regional UN entities and ensuring all necessary information is provided.
• Processing payment documents and tracking workflow to guarantee timely payments.
• Preparing quarterly cost recovery reports using UMOJA and UMOJA Analytics.
• Approving expense reports in accordance with UN Travel Policies.
• Responding to inquiries regarding travel rules and coordinating finance-related events.
• Providing administrative support, including organizing meetings and managing team attendance.
• Assisting with payroll preparation and client support.
• Collecting and analyzing data for reports and presentations.
• Updating information materials such as web pages and brochures. 1
• Performing additional duties as assigned by the Chief of Section.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess a high school diploma or equivalent. Additionally, university courses in Finance, Business Administration, Accounting, or a related field are desirable. A minimum of five years of experience in finance, accounting, or administrative services is required, with a reduction to three years for candidates holding a first-level university degree or higher. Experience with Enterprise Resource Planning systems, particularly SAP, is essential, along with at least one year of experience in data analytics or a related area being desirable.

Educational Background:
The educational background required for this position includes a high school diploma or equivalent. Candidates are encouraged to indicate their completion of high school in their Applicant Profile. Furthermore, university-level coursework in Finance, Business Administration, Accounting, or related fields is preferred, enhancing the candidate's qualifications for the role.

Experience:
The position requires a minimum of five years of relevant experience in finance, accounting, administrative services, or a related area. This requirement is reduced to three years for candidates who possess a first-level university degree or higher. Additionally, candidates must have at least two years of experience using Enterprise Resource Planning systems such as SAP, and experience in data analytics is considered an asset.

Languages:
Fluency in both English and Spanish is mandatory for this position, as English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat, while Spanish is specifically a working language of ECLAC. Proficiency in additional languages may be beneficial but is not required.

Additional Notes:
This position is temporarily available until December 31, 2025, and is funded through extrabudgetary resources, meaning that the extension of the appointment will depend on the availability of funds. The recruitment for this position is conducted on a local basis, and applicants must be authorized to work in Chile. The United Nations emphasizes the importance of gender equality and encourages female candidates to apply. The organization also offers flexible working arrangements, although these are subject to organizational needs and mutual agreement between staff members and supervisors. Applicants should be aware that the United Nations does not charge any fees during the recruitment process and that all employment decisions are made based on qualifications and organizational needs.