Finance Assistant

Under the guidance and supervision of the Finance Officer, the Finance Assistant supports the provision of financial services within the support services function, ensuring high quality, accuracy and consistency of work. The Finance Assistant promotes a client-oriented approach consistent with UNOPS rules and regulations.

The Finance Assistant works in close collaboration with the Programme, Project and Support Services colleagues in the local office as well as the UNOPS HQ colleagues, to exchange information and ensure consistent service delivery.

Summary of Key Functions:

• Implementation of operational strategies and procedures
• Accounting and administrative support
• Knowledge building and sharing

Ensure implementation of operational strategies and procedures, focusing on achievement of the following results:

• Full compliance of financial processes and financial records with UNOPS rules, regulations, policies and strategies.

Provides accounting and administrative support, focusing on achievement of the following results:

• Assist timely review of the payments in creating the batch and file for approval in the TMS (treasury management system) platform.
• Assist communicates and coordinates with system support team and bank focal points, ensuring the timely processing of payments.
• Response to payment inquiries submitted on BSSC’s payment inquiries JIRA ticket.
• Assist the team members with their daily tasks and issues.
• Ensures that the remittance adheres to its service level agreement (SLAs).
• Follow-up with field finance users, UN entities and financial institutes for information relating to payments and invoices.
• Prepare routine correspondence following standard operating procedures.
• Maintain the proper digital filing system for financial records and documents.
• Help improve controls and systems to help capture financial information.
• Maintain accurate online records of all relevant documents for easy reference and retrieval.
• Assist BSSC by performing ad hoc administrative duties, as needed, to support the office operations.
• Support external and internal audits as required; assist in preparing materials requested by external auditors.
• Assist on the payment rejection by liaising with the bank to get the additional information and inform the initiator for necessary action.
• Escalate payments issue from the TMS platform to the direct supervisor.
• Assist in providing payment information to the field offices as per the request.
• Escalate to the treasury to replenish the account if the bank balance is insufficient funds before sending the payment file.
• Assist in obtaining from bank representative to get additional information for payment rejection from the beneficiary bank.

Ensures facilitation of knowledge building and knowledge sharing, focusing on achievement of the following results:

• Participation in the Finance-focused trainings.
• Contributions to knowledge networks and communities of practice.

Impact of Results:

• The key results have an impact on the overall execution of the UNOPS financial services.  Accurate data entry and presentation of financial information and a client-oriented approach enhances UNOPS’ capability to effectively and efficiently manage financial resources.

Education/Experience/Language requirements

Education:

• Completion of secondary school or equivalent is required.
• A Bachelor’s Degree or Master’s Degree, preferably in Finance, Accounting or related fields is desirable, and may substitute some of the required years of work experience.
• Specialized training in finance desirable.

Experience:

• With a completion of secondary school, at least 4 years of relevant accounting and financial experience at national level is required.
• Experience in the usage of computers and office software packages (MS Office 2003 and/or newer versions) and knowledge of spreadsheet and database packages is desirable.
• Experience in handling of web-based management systems is desirable.

Language Requirements:

• Fluency in written and oral English is required.
• Knowledge of second UN working language is desirable.

Source: https://jobs.unops.org/Pages/ViewVacancy/VADetails.aspx?id=29686#1