Finance Assistant at United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)

United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) helps developing countries attract and use aid effectively. In all our activities, we encourage the protection of human rights, capacity development and the empowerment of women.

We are recruiting to fill the position of:

Job Title: Finance Assistant

Location : Abuja, Nigeria

Type of Contract : FTA Local
Post Level : GS-5
Languages Required : English
Duration of Initial Contract : Initial duration of one year

Background
Under the overall guidance of the DCD (Operations) and direct supervisor of the Finance Specialist, the Finance Assistant provides financial services ensuring high quality, accuracy and consistency of work. The Finance Assistant promotes a client-oriented approach consistent with UNDP rules and regulations.

The Finance Assistant works in close collaboration with the operations, programme and projects’ staff in the Country Office (CO) and with UNDP HQs staff to exchange information and ensure consistent service delivery.

The Finance Assistant ensures that all cheques issued are processed and disbursed in a timely manner while also maintaining an effective and efficient record filing system for cheques and electronic payments. He or She will ensure that customer compliant related to disbursement are resolved in in a proactive manner and also act as the CO cash custodian.

Duties and Responsibilities
Summary of Key Functions:

• Implementation of operational and financial management strategies
• Accounting and administrative support
• CO cash management
• Knowledge building and knowledge sharing

Ensures implementation of operational strategies focusing on achievement of the following results:

• Full compliance of financial processes and financial records with UN/UNDP rules, regulations, policies and strategies.
• Input to the CO business processes mapping and elaboration of the content of internal Standard Operating Procedures in Finance in consultation with the direct supervisor and office management.

Provides accounting and administrative support to the Finance Unit focusing on achievement of the following results:

• Proper control of the supporting documents for payments and financial reports for NIM projects, CO management projects and all agencies
• Maintenance of proper filing system for finance records and documents.
• Approval of vendors in Atlas
• Printing of cheques
• Tracking of CO workshop retirements
• Dispatch processed cheques of non-resident agencies to their official places
• Ensure that customer compliant related to disbursement are resolved in in a proactive manner

Ensures proper CO cash management system functioning focusing on achievement of the following results:

• Serves as focal person for all cheque release (Dollar and Naira)
• Management of cash/cheque receipts
• Serves as the CO petty cash custodian
• Serves as the focal person for confirming cheque issued to banks
• Raises bank drafts instructions as appropriate
• Liaises with the bank for cash in transit transactions

Supports knowledge building and knowledge sharing in the CO focusing on achievement of the following results:

• Participation in the trainings for the operations/ projects staff on Finance.
• Contributions to knowledge networks and communities of practice.

Impact of Results

• The key results have an impact on the execution of the CO financial services management in terms of quality and accuracy of work. Accurate data entry and presentation of financial information and a client-oriented approach enhances UNDP’s capability to effectively and efficiently manage financial resources.

Competencies
Functional Competencies:

• Building Partnerships
• Maintaining information and databases
• Tracks and reports on mobilized resources
• Promoting Organizational Learning And Knowledge Sharing
• Basic research and analysis
• Identifies and communicates opportunities to promote learning and knowledge sharing

Job Knowledge/Technical Expertise

• Fundamental knowledge of processes, methods and procedures
• Understands the main processes and methods of work regarding to the position (financial resources management)
• Possesses basic knowledge of organizational policies and procedures related to the financial resources management and applies them consistently in work tasks
• Strives to keep job knowledge up-to-date through self-directed study and other means of learning
• Demonstrates good knowledge of information technology and applies it in work assignments

Promoting Organizational Change and Development

• Presentation of information on best practices in organizational change
• Demonstrates ability to identify problems and proposes solutions

Design and Implementation of Management Systems

• Data gathering and implementation of management systems
• Uses information/databases/other management systems
• Makes recommendations related to work procedures and implementation of management systems

Client Orientation

• Maintains effective client relationships
• Reports to internal and external clients in a timely and appropriate fashion
• Organizes and prioritizes work schedule to meet client needs and deadlines
• Responds to client needs promptly

Promoting Accountability and Results-Based Management

• Gathering and disseminating information
• Maintains databases
• Prepares timely inputs to reports

Core Competencies:

• Demonstrate corporate knowledge and sound judgment
• Self-development, initiative-taking
• Acting as a team player and facilitating team work
• Facilitating and encouraging open communication in the team, communicating effectively
• Creating synergies through self-control
• Managing conflict
• Learning and sharing knowledge and encourage the learning of others. Promoting learning and knowledge management/sharing is the responsibility of each staff member.
• Informed and transparent decision making

Required Skills and Experience
Education:

• Secondary Education with specialized certification in Accounting and Finance.
• University Degree in Finance, Business or Public Administration desirable, but it is not a requirement.

Experience:

• 5 years of relevant finance experiences required. Experience in the usage of computers and office software packages (MS Word, Excel, etc) and knowledge of spreadsheet and database packages, experience in handling of web based management systems. Experience with ERP financials, preferably PeopleSoft, desirable.
• Knowledge of IPSAS desirable

Language Requirements:
Fluency in the UN and national language of the duty station.

Application Closing Date
14th July, 2014

Method of Application
Interested candidates should
Click here to apply