Finance Specialist

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Description

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The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) contributes to the achievement of the 2030 Agenda through the FAO Strategic Framework by supporting the transformation to MORE efficient, inclusive, resilient and sustainable agrifood systems, for better production, better nutrition, a better environment, and a better life, leaving no one behind. 

The Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific (RAP) is responsible for leading FAO’s response to regional priorities for food security, agriculture and rural development through the identification, planning and implementation of FAO’s priority activities in the region. It oversees the network of Country Offices and the Subregional Office for the Pacific Islands (SAP). It ensures a multidisciplinary approach to programmes, identifies priority areas of action for the Organization in the region, and, in collaboration with Divisions, Offices and Centres at headquarters, develops, promotes and oversees FAO’s strategic response to regional priorities and the implementation of the Organization’s strategies through programmes and projects across the region. The Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific leads the preparation of the Regional Conferences and the Statutory Bodies in the region.

The Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific supports the formulation and implementation of the Country Programmes and Projects, including Country Programming Frameworks (CPFs), and their contribution to the FAO Strategic Framework and the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF) at the country level, advising Decentralized Offices on corporate priorities such as the Strategic Framework and on the incorporation of regional priorities into the Organization’s Programme of Work and Budget. The Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific develops and maintains relations with region-wide institutions, including the Regional Economic Integration Organizations (REIOs), and participates in the United Nations Regional Architecture, such as UN Regional Forums on Sustainable Development and UN Regional Collaborative Platforms and related mechanisms.

The position is located in the Finance Unit, Administrative Services Group at the Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific (RAP) in Bangkok, Thailand. 

The incumbent performs a large variety of routine financial and administrative transactions, and support to internal control oversight and risk management functions contributing to the smooth and efficient running of the work unit.

The incumbent reports directly to the Finance Officer under the overall guidance of the Senior Administrative Officer, Admin Service Group in RAP.  He/she acts independently in routine matters.  Supervision received is focused on the quality of the work performed and provides for on-the-job learning.

The incumbent usually interacts with wide variety of colleagues within the work unit and with immediate clients within the Organization, providing routine administrative, financial and internal control oversight support services.

Responsibilities:

• •    Support the oversight on the full compliance of financial activities, financial recording/reporting system and audit follow up with FAO rules, regulations, policies and strategies for RAP region
• •    Support the implementation of the effective internal control, proper design and functioning of the second line monitoring mechanism in RAP region.
• •    Routinely monitor financial and internal control exception reports for unusual balances and activities and investigates anomalies or unusual transitions. Informs supervisors and FAOR of the results of the investigation when satisfactory answers are not obtained.
• •    Facilitate knowledge management, knowledge building and knowledge sharing, which includes support the training.
• •    Work closely with the Finance Officer in consultation with module leaders, FAOR network, Administrative Service-related functional teams (such as, Finance, Procurement, Human Resources, IT, Security, etc.) to mainstream risk assessment and mitigation in the project cycle and business processes.
• •    Draft and prepare correspondence and respond to queries.
• •    Evaluate ongoing financial support requirements, adapt service provision to meet changing needs and solve operational problems as required
• •    Retrieve, enter, select and analyse data from a wide variety of sources, including FAO’s corporate system and data bases; verify accuracy of data documents; make necessary calculations.
• •    Assemble and review supporting documentation for processing Non-Staff Human Resource (NSHR), Travel or Financial actions in FAO’s corporate systems, while ensuring compliance with FAO’s rules and regulations.
• •    Maintain imprest accounts; reconcile expenditures, balances, payments, statements and other data; assist in the preparation of recurring and special reports by preparing and editing data in appropriate format as requested; monitor project, programme and general office accounts.
• •    Maintain detailed records of budget estimates, obligations and available balances; record receipts and disbursements (ledgers, cash books, vouchers, etc.); make disbursements from petty cash fund and balance accounts.
• •    Prepare routine correspondence of administrative nature; draft correspondence to verify data, answer queries, and obtain additional information on transactions and financial matters, as required.
• •    Maintain local inventory records with responsibility for proper recording of assets, their maintenance and safeguard.
• •    Maintain a filing system of administrative and financial documents.
• •    Maintain liaison with local banks and financial institutions to keep up to date with financial and regulatory information (exchange and interest rates, procedures and rules, maintenance of bank accounts, etc.).
• •    Support the administration of personnel and equipment as well as protocol-related issues.
• •    Perform other related duties as required.

Minimum Requirements:    

• •    Secondary school education preferably with technical certification in Finance, Accounting, Business Administration, Public Administration, or related field.
• •    A minimum of three years of relevant experience at the national or international level in providing financial management services and/or operational system.
• •    Working knowledge (proficiency – level C) of English.
• •    Experience in the usage of computers and office software packages (MS Word, Excel, etc), advance knowledge of spreadsheet and database packages, and proficient in handling of enterprise resources planning (ERP) system.
• •    National of Thailand or resident of the country with valid work permit.

Selection Criteria:

• •    Knowledge of UN or FAO corporate computerized Financial systems, administrative procedures and policies.
• •    Able to independently carry out assigned tasks and successfully bring them to completion.
• •    Mother Tongue or working knowledge (proficiency – level C) of Thai.
• •    Good communication skills (both oral and written) in English and willing to work with diverse team and background.
• •    Be able to learn new knowledge, skills and adaptable to changes and new work environment.

Source:  https://jobs.fao.org/careersection/fao_external/jobdetail.ftl?job=2501227

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