FINANCE ASSISTANT

The Department of Operational Support (DOS) was established to provide end-to-
end operational support, advisory services and other solutions to operating
entities across the Secretariat, including departments, offices away from
headquarters, peace operations, and regional commissions. Under the strategic
guidance of the Department of Operational Support (DOS), the Kuwait Joint
Support Office provides efficient and client-oriented services with the goal
of moving transactional, non-location dependent administrative functions from
its client entities. These include transactional elements of human resources,
finance, travel and payroll.

This position is located in the United Nations Kuwait Joint Support Office
(KJSO). The incumbent will report to the Head of Unit under the general
guidance of the Chief Finance Officer.
Responsibilities
Within delegated authority, the Finance Assistant is responsible for the
following functions:

Accounts:
* Review and reconcile all open-item-managed (OIM) accounts and investigate erroneous/invalid entries to take appropriate corrective accounting action.
* Perform Bank reconciliation on daily basis and liaise with Cashier on any returned funds and record entries accordingly.
* Complete the monthly Reconciliation with UNDP-SCA accounts.
* Complete the monthly reconciliation of assets (PPE and inventory) including follow up actions with the client missions Engineering Section on pending Assets Under Construction projects.
* Extract details on income, expenditure, assets, and liability from accounting system to analyze and verify accuracy and validity and further to process various adjustments in the accounts.
* Generate reports, prepare worksheets, and assists with the preparation of financial statements.
* Perform the closure of monthly accounts and take actions on year-end financial closure as per guidelines and instructions from Finance Division.
* Review cost recovery transactions and process the billing documents for UN Agencies and liaise with counterparts on cost-recovery matters with UN entities, funds, programmes.
* Follow up on accounts receivables from UN agencies and various other UN entities on monthly basis.
* Scrutinize source documents for completeness, accuracy, and validity of charges.
* Review requests and record adjusting entries in ERP.
* Generate commitment reports. Review outstanding commitments and take necessary action to inform the concerned units/sections for appropriate action.

Payments:
* Complete accurate and timely processing of invoices according to instructions and established financial rules upon receipt of required and complete documentation.
* Verify accuracy of invoices and supporting documentation submitted for payment, ensure goods and services have been received, verify mathematical computations, and create payment document in ERP for approval.
* Process Petty Cash and Imprest replenishments for client missions.

Treasury:
* Reviews incoming payment instructions with regard to banking details and sources of funds.
* Creates receipts and deposits for all incoming funds.
* Notifies payees of status of payments.
* Release staff-related and vendor payments from a House Bank in the Umoja ERP.
* Prepare and disburse wire payments/cheques.
* Carry out other related duties as may be assigned.
* Files and archives documentation as required.

General:
* Keeps up-to-date on documents/reports/guidelines that have a bearing on matters related to programme budgets, ensuring compliance with intergovernmental recommendations and decisions as well as with United Nations policies and procedures.
* Drafts routine correspondence with respect to enquiries related to relevant financial and budget matters.
* Maintains and keep up-to-date files.
* Provides administrative support to the Head of the organizational unit and/or Finance/Budget Officer(s), as required.
* Performs other related duties, as assigned.
Competencies
Professionalism: Knowledge of, and ability to apply financial rules,
regulations and procedures in the UN environment. Ability to maintain accurate
records, review and interpret a wide variety of data. Ability to identify and
resolve data discrepancies and operational problems. Shows pride in work and
in achievements; demonstrates professional competence and mastery of subject
matter; is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing
deadlines and achieving results; is motivated by professional rather than
personal concerns; shows persistence when faced with difficult problems or
challenges; remains calm in stressful situations. Commitment to implementing
the goal of gender equality by ensuring the equal participation and full
involvement of women and men in all aspects of work.

Planning & Organizing: Develops clear goals that are consistent with agreed
strategies; Identifies priority activities and assignments; adjusts priorities
as required; Allocates appropriate amount of time and resources for completing
work; Foresees risks and allows for contingencies when planning; Monitors and
adjusts plans and actions as necessary; Uses time efficiently.

Teamwork: Works collaboratively with colleagues to achieve organizational
goals; solicits input by genuinely valuing others' ideas and expertise; is
willing to learn from others; places team agenda before personal agenda;
supports and acts in accordance with final group decision, even when such
decisions may not entirely reflect own position; shares credit for team
accomplishments and accepts joint responsibility for team shortcomings.
Education
High School Diploma or equivalent is required.
Job - Specific Qualification
A technical or vocational certificate in accounting, finance or related fields
is desirable.

A certification or Training in Systems Applications and Products (SAP) or
Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) software is desirable
Work Experience
A minimum of five (‎5) years of experience in finance, budget, accounting,
administrative services or related area is required.

A minimum of three (‎3) years of experience in carrying out finance and
accounting related tasks in compliance with International Public Sector
Accounting Standards (IPSAS) and financial rules and regulations of
international organizations is desirable.

A minimum of three (‎3) years of experience in advanced Microsoft Excel, Word,
PowerPoint, Power BI and workflow tracker is desirable.

Experience in data analysis and management is desirable
Languages
English and French are the working languages of the United Nations
Secretariat.
For this position, fluency in English is required.
Knowledge of Arabic is desirable.

Note: "Fluency" equals a rating of 'fluent' in all four areas (speak, read,
write, and understand) and "Knowledge of" equals a rating of 'confident' in
two of the four areas.
Assessment
Evaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise which
may be followed by competency-based interview.
Special Notice
This position is subject to local recruitment pursuant to staff rule ‎4.4 of
the United Nations Staff Rules. All staff in the General Service and related
categories shall be recruited in the country or within commuting distance of
each office, irrespective of their nationality and of the length of time they
may have been in the country. A staff member subject to local recruitment
shall not be eligible for the allowances or benefits exclusively applicable to
international recruitment. Selected candidates/staff members and their family
members will have to relocate at their own expense to Kuwait. The office may
only assist in visa arrangements if required.

The United Nations Secretariat is committed to achieving ‎50/‎50 gender balance
in its staff. Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply for this
position.

Staff Members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General and to
assignment by him or her. In this context, all Staff are expected to move
periodically to new functions in their careers in accordance with established
rules and procedures.

At the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the recruitment and
employment of staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of
efficiency, competence and integrity, with due regard to geographic diversity.
All employment decisions are made on the basis of qualifications and
organizational needs. The United Nations is committed to creating a diverse
and inclusive environment of mutual respect. The United Nations recruits and
employs staff regardless of gender identity, sexual orientation, race,
religious, cultural and ethnic backgrounds or disabilities. Reasonable
accommodation for applicants with disabilities may be provided to support
participation in the recruitment process when requested and indicated in the
application.

The appointment against this position is limited to Kuwait Joint Support
Office.
United Nations Considerations
According to article ‎101, paragraph ‎3, of the Charter of the United Nations,
the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of
securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity.
Candidates will not be considered for employment with the United Nations if
they have committed violations of international human rights law, violations
of international humanitarian law, sexual exploitation, sexual abuse, or
sexual harassment, or if there are reasonable grounds to believe that they
have been involved in the commission of any of these acts. The term "sexual
exploitation" means any actual or attempted abuse of a position of
vulnerability, differential power, or trust, for sexual purposes, including,
but not limited to, profiting monetarily, socially or politically from the
sexual exploitation of another. The term "sexual abuse" means the actual or
threatened physical intrusion of a sexual nature, whether by force or under
unequal or coercive conditions. The term "sexual harassment" means any
unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature that might reasonably be expected or be
perceived to cause offence or humiliation, when such conduct interferes with
work, is made a condition of employment or creates an intimidating, hostile or
offensive work environment, and when the gravity of the conduct warrants the
termination of the perpetrator's working relationship. Candidates who have
committed crimes other than minor traffic offences may not be considered for
employment.

Due regard will be paid to the importance of recruiting the staff on as wide a
geographical basis as possible. The United Nations places no restrictions on
the eligibility of men and women to participate in any capacity and under
conditions of equality in its principal and subsidiary organs. The United
Nations Secretariat is a non-smoking environment.

The paramount consideration in the appointment, transfer, or promotion of
staff shall be the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency,
competence, and integrity. By accepting an offer of appointment, United
Nations staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General
and assignment by him or her to any activities or offices of the United
Nations in accordance with staff regulation ‎1.2 (c). In this context, all
internationally recruited staff members shall be required to move periodically
to discharge new functions within or across duty stations under conditions
established by the Secretary-General.

Applicants are urged to follow carefully all instructions available in the
online recruitment platform, inspira. For more detailed guidance, applicants
may refer to the Manual for the Applicant, which can be accessed by clicking
on "Manuals" hyper-link on the upper right side of the inspira account-holder
homepage.

The evaluation of applicants will be conducted on the basis of the information
submitted in the application according to the evaluation criteria of the job
opening and the applicable internal legislations of the United Nations
including the Charter of the United Nations, resolutions of the General
Assembly, the Staff Regulations and Rules, administrative issuances and
guidelines. Applicants must provide complete and accurate information
pertaining to their personal profile and qualifications according to the
instructions provided in inspira to be considered for the current job opening.
No amendment, addition, deletion, revision or modification shall be made to
applications that have been submitted. Candidates under serious consideration
for selection will be subject to reference checks to verify the information
provided in the application.

Job openings advertised on the Careers Portal will be removed at ‎11:59 p.m.
(New York time) on the deadline date.
No Fee
THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT
PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED
NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS' BANK ACCOUNTS.