SPECIAL NOTE:
Applicants applying for UNFPA General Service posts located in New York must have a valid G-4 visa or U.S. Permanent Residency or U.S. Citizenship at the time of their application.

Additionally, applicants must have passed the UN Clerical Test (GGST/ASAT) in order to be eligible to be appointed to this position.

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The Position:

The Finance Associate position is part of the Finance Branch of the Division for Management Services. The Finance Branch is responsible for global finance and accounting including providing guidance and oversight for financial management to country, regional and headquarters offices. The Branch advances and owns key financial policies and processes, statutory and donor reporting, treasury services, and ensuring the ERP and related systems are configured to implement, manage, and report on key financial processes. The incumbent of this position will work in the Accounting and Payments Unit (APU) and work in close collaboration with other units of the Finance Branch as well as providing guidance and support to country and regional offices, and payment services to headquarters units. The position reports to the Finance Specialist, Accounts and Payments Unit under the overall guidance of the Chief, Finance Branch.

How you can make a difference:

UNFPA is the lead UN agency for delivering a world where every pregnancy is wanted, every childbirth is safe and every young person’s potential is fulfilled. UNFPA’s strategic plan (2022-2025), reaffirms the relevance of the current strategic direction of UNFPA and focuses on three transformative results: to end preventable maternal deaths; end unmet need for family planning; and end gender-based violence and harmful practices. These results capture our strategic commitments on accelerating progress towards realizing the ICPD and SDGs in the Decade of Action leading up to 2030. Our strategic plan calls upon UN Member States, organizations and individuals to “build forward better”, while addressing the negative impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic on women’s and girls’ access to sexual and reproductive health and reproductive rights, recover lost gains and realize our goals.

In a world where fundamental human rights are at risk, we need principled and ethical staff, who embody these international norms and standards, and who will defend them courageously and with full conviction.

UNFPA is seeking candidates that transform, inspire and deliver high impact and sustained results; we need staff who are transparent, exceptional in how they manage the resources entrusted to them and who commit to deliver excellence in programme results.

Job Purpose:

The Accounting and Payments Unit (APU) is responsible for the execution and handling of requests for global accounting adjustments, knowledge leader in the Accounts Payable (AP) and supplier management business processes (including execution of AP for headquarters and liaison offices) and implementing the financial aspects of UNFPA’s Administrative Agent function. The APU is comprised of three staff positions and functions under the oversight of the Chief, Accounts.

You would be responsible for:

1. Partnerships, Knowledge management, Communication and Training

• Actively participate in Finance Branch and team meetings
• Maintain active and positive relationships with key partners for APU, including HQ units and liaison offices (providing business continuity support) and field offices (for guidance on AP requirements).
• Provide financial training and facilitate knowledge transfers with the global community based on financial/operations procedures or guidance notes, which may be delivered remotely or in the field.
• Contribute to the global financial management community facilitated by the Finance Branch

2. Business continuity activities

• Review payment requests from HQ and liaison offices, function, for compliance to UNFPA policy and prepare supplier invoices (payment vouchers) for approval; resolve invoice related issues.
• Work with UNDP Treasury to ensure payments are made as scheduled based on the invoice (voucher)
• Review payment requests as part of the global Administrative Agent function for compliance to UNFPA and UNSDG policy; prepare supplier invoices (payment vouchers) for approval.
• Review payroll adjustments requested by offices, prepare adjustment entries for approval.

3. Support and guidance to offices on financial management

• Respond to Global Service Desk cases assigned to the APU team, within the purview of the role.
• Provide guidance, support and instructions on the Accounts Payable process and Supplier set up and maintenance functions to colleagues in Headquarters and Country Offices.
• Reconcile Global Payroll with general ledger payroll accounts.
• Provide support globally to enable UNFPA offices to correct payroll and payroll related charges.
• Provide support in the reconciliation of staff-related receivables.

4. Accounting, period end and year end closure activities

• Analyze and correct general ledger accounts concerning payables, perform ongoing data correction activities as part of the periodic and year end closure process.

5. Reporting and information management including Statutory and Donor Reporting

• Review system generated reports for completeness, accuracy to underlying ERP records and any issues to be resolved prior to issuance.
• Prepare standard reports and datasets as part of the Administrative Agent function.

6. Business process and systems efficiency

• Analyse system generated reports to monitor for delayed payments or duplicate payments.

7. Carry out any other duties as may be required by UNFPA leadership.

• Provide support to the Chief, Finance Branch on administrative and monitoring activities for the branch.

Qualifications and Experience:

Education:

Completion of secondary education with experience in accounting.

Knowledge and Experience:

• 6 years finance-related work experience – accounts payable, general ledger maintenance, etc. Experience in the application of IPSAS or IFRS would be advantageous.
• Proficiency in use of spreadsheets, word processing and computerized accounting systems (preferably Oracle Cloud computing).
• Strong written and oral communications skills.
• Ability to organize effectively, work under pressure with attention to detail, precision, and accuracy.

Languages:

Fluency in English; knowledge of other official UN languages, preferably French and/or Spanish, is desirable.

Required Competencies:

Values:

• Exemplifying integrity,
• Demonstrating commitment to UNFPA and the UN system,
• Embracing cultural diversity,
• Embracing change

Core Competencies:

• Achieving results,
• Being accountable,
• Developing and applying professional expertise/business acumen,
• Thinking analytically and strategically,
• Working in teams/managing ourselves and our relationships,
• Communicating for impact

Functional Competencies:

• Client orientation
• Communication
• Managing the organisation’s resources
• Accounting

Compensation and Benefits:

This position offers an attractive remuneration package including a competitive net salary plus health insurance and other benefits as applicable.

Disclaimer:

UNFPA does not charge any application, processing, training, interviewing, testing or other fee in connection with the application or recruitment process. Fraudulent notices, letters or offers may be submitted to the UNFPA fraud hotline http://www.unfpa.org/help/hotline.cfm

In accordance with the Staff Regulations and Rules of the United Nations, persons applying to posts in the international Professional category, who hold permanent resident status in a country other than their country of nationality, may be required to renounce such status upon their appointment.