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
Accounts/ Vendors Payments:
* Assist in the closing of monthly accounts and preparation of financial statements for submission to Headquarters.
* Reconcile and review suspense account and approve the clearance procedures. Receives and records Invoices in Umoja system for vendors and third parties and ensures timely submission of approved documents for payment process.
* Assist with the monitoring of expenditures to ensure they remain within authorized levels.
* Prepare vouchers to replenish petty cash accounts.
* Process payments and prepare vouchers for various accounting entries, including payments for vendors, other missions or agencies and other creditors, and communicating any discrepancies to supervisors.
* Process payment for travel tickets and ensure conformity adherence to relevant financial regulations and rules, ST/AI issuances or practices and SOPs.
* Follow up on recovery charges from Customer Vendors and submission of report with outstanding balances to SAU for their review and follow up.
* Support the Finance Officer in extracting information and generating expenditure reports from computerized information system databases; assist in preliminary analyses of the extracted information and the reports generated, and highlight areas of concern for the attention of the Finance Officer

Claims:
* Verifies and prepares less complex payments to third parties, commercial entities, and individuals, with respect to settlement of certified death and disability, contingent-owned equipment, stores, pay and allowances, and letters of assist claims.

Treasury/Cashier:
* Reviews incoming payment instructions with regard to banking details and sources of funds.
* Prepares payments for final disbursement by Cashier.
* Dispatches payment instructions and cheques to banks.
* Creates receipts and deposits for all incoming funds.
* Notifies payees of status of payments.
* Assists staff members, Fund Management Officers and donors regarding queries on payment and deposit-related issues.
* Identifies and annotates bank account movements.
* 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 financial principles and practices. Ability to
independently conduct research and analysis, formulate options and present
conclusions and recommendations. 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.

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.

Planning and 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.
Education
High school diploma or equivalent is required.
Job - Specific Qualification
Technical or vocational certificate in accounting, finance or related fields
is desirable.

Certification or Training in Systems Applications and Products (SAP) or
Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) software is desirable
Work Experience
At least six (‎6) years of progressively responsible experience at the national
or international level in accounting, budgeting or financial management is
required.

Three (‎3) years of experience in the use of the financial module of an
Enterprise Resource System (ERP) is required.

Three (‎3) years of experience in invoice processing, including check the
accuracy of the invoices and documentations submitted for payment and verify
mathematical computations is desirable.

Two (‎2) years of experience in a UN Peacekeeping Mission, special Political
Mission or similar setting is desirable.

Three (‎3) years of experience working in a service center is desirable.
Languages
English and French are the working languages of the United Nations
Secretariat. For the position advertised, fluency in English is required.
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
Previously rostered candidates are not subject to any further assessment and
as such, will not be invited for such an assessment.
Special Notice
This "Recruit from Roster" job opening is only open to roster applicants who
are already placed on pre-approved rosters, following a review by a United
Nations Central Review Body. Only roster applicants who were placed on rosters
with similar functions at the same level are considered to be eligible
candidates. Eligible applicants receive an email inviting them to apply.
Rostered applicants are encouraged to apply only if they are interested and
available to take up the position at the duty station/s specified in the Job
Opening. Applying to this job opening carries an expectation to accept the
offer, if selected.

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

Reasonable accommodation may be provided to applicants with disabilities upon
request, to support their participation in the recruitment process.

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.