Org. Setting and Reporting
This position is located in the Regional Office for West and Central Africa (ROSEN), Division for Operations (DO), United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), with duty station in Dakar, Senegal. The Finance Assistant will work under the overall guidance of the UNODC Representative, ROSEN, and the direct supervision of the Finance Officer and the additional supervision of the Operations Officer.
For more information on UNODC, please visit our website: www.unodc.org


Responsibilities
Within limits of assigned authority, the Finance Assistant will be responsible for the following duties:

• Initiate and follow up on the payment of vendors for delivered items and services for relevant procurement.
• Draft and maintain a financial task list in coordination with Programme Assistants to ensure proper monitoring of progress.
• Support the Finance/Budget Officers(s) 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/Budget Officer(s).
• Research/compile data and other information required by the Finance Budget Officer(s) in the review and analysis of relevant proposals.
• Assist in the reconciliation of eIOV for relevant financial commitment to the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
• Fully support responses to internal/external audit inquiries and the implementation of recommendations at functional levels.
• Draft routine correspondence with respect to enquiries related to relevant financial and budget matters.
• Assist with the collection and analysis of data as well as preparation of data presentations and reports for information sharing, responding to queries, knowledge management, planning and decision making.
• Keep 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.
• Assist with visualizations and updating information material such as web pages or brochures.
• Review incoming payment instructions with regard to banking details and sources of funds.
• Provide administrative support to the manager heading the organizational unit and/or Finance/Budget Officer(s), as required.
• Notify payees of status of payments.
• File and archive documentation as required.
• Perform other work-related duties as assigned.


Competencies
• Professionalism: Has knowledge of, and ability to apply financial rules, regulations, and procedures in the United Nations environment. Has knowledge of internal policies, processes, and procedures generally and in particular those related to programme/project administration, implementation and evaluation, technical cooperation, programming and budgeting. Is able to identify and resolve a range of issues/problems and to work well with figures, undertake basic research and gather information from standard sources. Has ability to perform analysis, modeling, and interpretation of data in support of decision-making. Demonstrates ability to apply good judgment in the context of assignments given. 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. Takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas 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.


Work Experience
• A minimum of five years of experience in finance, budget, accounting, including programme / project administration, administrative services or related area is required. The minimum number of years of relevant experience is reduced to three for candidates who possess a first-level university degree or higher.
• Experience in spreadsheet and word processing applications is required.
• Experience in working with an Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system is required.
• Experience in working with SAP/Umoja is desirable.
• Experience in grants, project, and fund management related modules in SAP/Umoja is desirable.
• Experience in working on technical cooperation projects is desirable.

Languages
English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the position advertised, fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another United Nations official language is desirable.


Assessment
Evaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise and a competency-based interview.

Special Notice
This is a project post. Filling of this position is subject to funding availability and the initial appointment will be for a period of one year. Extension of the appointment is subject to extension of the mandate and/or the availability of the funds.
This position is subject to local recruitment pursuant to staff rule 4.4 of the United Nations Staff Rules. Applicants for positions in the General Service and related categories must be authorized to work for the United Nations in the duty station where the position is located. Eligible applicants selected from outside the duty station are responsible for any expenses in connection with their relocation to the duty station. Staff members subject to local recruitment are not eligible for allowances or benefits exclusively applicable to international recruitment.

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 movement of staff members from the General Service and related categories to the Professional category in the United Nations Secretariat is exclusively allowed through the Young Professionals Programme competitive examinations. Only a few staff members pass the competitive examinations. Passing the competitive examinations does not guarantee movement to the Professional category. For further information, please visit https://careers.un.org/lbw/home.aspx?viewtype=GP


Org. Setting and Reporting
This position is located in the Regional Office for West and Central Africa (ROSEN), Division for Operations (DO), United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), with duty station in Dakar, Senegal. The Finance Assistant will work under the overall guidance of the UNODC Representative, ROSEN, and the direct supervision of the Finance Officer and the additional supervision of the Operations Officer.
For more information on UNODC, please visit our website: www.unodc.org


Responsibilities
Within limits of assigned authority, the Finance Assistant will be responsible for the following duties:

• Initiate and follow up on the payment of vendors for delivered items and services for relevant procurement.
• Draft and maintain a financial task list in coordination with Programme Assistants to ensure proper monitoring of progress.
• Support the Finance/Budget Officers(s) 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/Budget Officer(s).
• Research/compile data and other information required by the Finance Budget Officer(s) in the review and analysis of relevant proposals.
• Assist in the reconciliation of eIOV for relevant financial commitment to the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
• Fully support responses to internal/external audit inquiries and the implementation of recommendations at functional levels.
• Draft routine correspondence with respect to enquiries related to relevant financial and budget matters.
• Assist with the collection and analysis of data as well as preparation of data presentations and reports for information sharing, responding to queries, knowledge management, planning and decision making.
• Keep 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.
• Assist with visualizations and updating information material such as web pages or brochures.
• Review incoming payment instructions with regard to banking details and sources of funds.
• Provide administrative support to the manager heading the organizational unit and/or Finance/Budget Officer(s), as required.
• Notify payees of status of payments.
• File and archive documentation as required.
• Perform other work-related duties as assigned.

Competencies
• Professionalism: Has knowledge of, and ability to apply financial rules, regulations, and procedures in the United Nations environment. Has knowledge of internal policies, processes, and procedures generally and in particular those related to programme/project administration, implementation and evaluation, technical cooperation, programming and budgeting. Is able to identify and resolve a range of issues/problems and to work well with figures, undertake basic research and gather information from standard sources. Has ability to perform analysis, modeling, and interpretation of data in support of decision-making. Demonstrates ability to apply good judgment in the context of assignments given. 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. Takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas 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.



Work Experience
• A minimum of five years of experience in finance, budget, accounting, including programme / project administration, administrative services or related area is required. The minimum number of years of relevant experience is reduced to three for candidates who possess a first-level university degree or higher.
• Experience in spreadsheet and word processing applications is required.
• Experience in working with an Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system is required.
• Experience in working with SAP/Umoja is desirable.
• Experience in grants, project, and fund management related modules in SAP/Umoja is desirable.
• Experience in working on technical cooperation projects is desirable.

Languages
English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the position advertised, fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another United Nations official language is desirable.
Assessment
Evaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise and a competency-based interview.


Special Notice
This is a project post. Filling of this position is subject to funding availability and the initial appointment will be for a period of one year. Extension of the appointment is subject to extension of the mandate and/or the availability of the funds.

This position is subject to local recruitment pursuant to staff rule 4.4 of the United Nations Staff Rules. Applicants for positions in the General Service and related categories must be authorized to work for the United Nations in the duty station where the position is located. Eligible applicants selected from outside the duty station are responsible for any expenses in connection with their relocation to the duty station. Staff members subject to local recruitment are not eligible for allowances or benefits exclusively applicable to international recruitment.
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 movement of staff members from the General Service and related categories to the Professional category in the United Nations Secretariat is exclusively allowed through the Young Professionals Programme competitive examinations. Only a few staff members pass the competitive examinations. Passing the competitive examinations does not guarantee movement to the Professional category. For further information, please visit https://careers.un.org/lbw/home.aspx?viewtype=GP