Accounting Assistant, G7: Closing date: Friday, 6 March 2015

Closing date: Friday, 6 March 2015

Posting Title: Accounting Assistant, G7

Job Code Title: Senior Accounting Assistant

Department/ Office: United Nations Office at Geneva

Duty Station: GENEVA

Posting Period: 4 February 2015-6 March 2015

Job Opening number: 15-FIN-UNOG-40238-R-GENEVA (R)

United Nations Core Values: Integrity, Professionalism, Respect for Diversity

Special Notice

Passing the Administrative Support Assessment Test (ASAT) at Headquarters, ECA, ESCWA, UNOG, UNOV, ICTR or ICTY or the Global General Service Test (GGST) AND the United Nations Accounting test are prerequisites for recruitment consideration in the General Service category in the United Nations Secretariat. The terms and conditions applicable to General Service category contracts can be found on the International Civil Service Commission website (http://icsc.un.org/rootindex.asp). Candidates should familiarize themselves with these before applying.

Organizational Setting and Reporting

This position is located within the Accounts Unit, Finance Section, Financial Resources Management Service (FRMS), Division of Administration.

Responsibilities

Within delegated authority, the Accounting Assistant will be responsible for the following duties:

• Analyses complex and/or unusual accounting transactions and difficult claims for travel, tax, invoices, entitlements etc. Makes recommendations to Chief of Unit/Section on appropriate follow-up procedures.
• Reviews and reconciles various clearing accounts to ensure appropriate balances. Investigates erroneous/invalid entries and takes appropriate corrective accounting action.
• Audits various accounting transactions, e.g., payroll, education grants, final payments, income tax returns, travel claims, etc., to ensure correctness of disbursement computations and adherence to relevant staff rules, financial regulations, ST/AI issuances or practices.
• Reviews completeness of reports and consolidates the accounts of overseas offices on a periodic basis.
• Prepares worksheets and analyze accounts. Assists in the preparation of financial statements for various funds, e.g., general, peacekeeping, technical co-operation, trust fund, revenue and other special accounts.
• Approves payment and journal vouchers for various claims/payments, e.g., travel reimbursement, education grants, salary advances, etc., ensuring compliance with relevant rules and control procedures.
• Provides guidance and training (including the preparation of training materials) to staff with respect to transaction processing and the use of various systems such as IMIS, SAP (Umoja).
• Supervises other general service staff.
• Drafts/prepares memoranda and responds to queries by staff members, internal and external auditors and from their counterparts in offices away from Headquarters.
• Performs other duties as may be required.

Competencies

PROFESSIONALISM

• Detailed knowledge in the use and application of the UN financial regulations and rules or IPSAS, as well as accounting policies and practices.
• Ability to extract, interpret, and analyse a wide variety of data and to resolve data discrepancies and other problems.
• Shows pride in work and in achievements;
• demonstrates professional competence and mastery of financial matters;
• 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.

CLIENT ORIENTATION

• Considers all those to whom services are provided to be 'clients' and seeks to see things from clients' point of view;
• establishes and maintains productive partnerships with clients by gaining their trust and respect;
• identifies clients' needs and matches them to appropriate solutions;
• monitors ongoing developments inside and outside the clients' environment to keep informed and anticipate problems;
• keeps clients informed of progress or setbacks in projects;
• meets timeline for delivery of products or services to client.

MANAGING PERFORMANCE

• Delegates the appropriate responsibility, accountability and decision-making authority;
• makes sure that roles, responsibilities and reporting lines are clear to each staff member; accurately judges the amount of time and resources needed to accomplish a task and matches task to skills;
• monitors progress against milestones and deadlines;
• regularly discusses performance and provides feedback and coaching to staff; encourages risk-taking and supports creativity and initiative;
• actively supports the development and career aspirations of staff;
• appraises performance fairly.

Education

• High school diploma or equivalent.
• Training or higher qualifications in accounting or related subjects would be an advantage.

Work Experience

• At least 10 years of experience in accounting, finance or budget procedures and practices, of which preferably 5 within the United Nations.
• Some experience with ERP systems, preferably IMIS or Umoja (SAP) and Excel is required.

Languages

• English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat.
• For the post advertised, fluency in oral and written English is required.
• Knowledge of French is an advantage.

Assessment Method

• Evaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise which will be followed by competency-based interview.

United Nations Considerations

The United Nations shall place 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. (Charter of the United Nations - Chapter 3, article 8). The United Nations Secretariat is a non-smoking environment.

No Fee

THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, TRAINING OR ANY OTHER FEES). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON BANK ACCOUNTS.