Org. Setting and Reporting

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.