Org. Setting and Reporting

This position is located in the Regional Office for Central Asia (ROCA) with duty station in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, Division for Operations (DO), United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). The Finance Assistant will work under the broad authority and guidance of the Regional Representative for ROCA and the direct supervision of the Associate Administrative Officer (Operations Manager). For more information on UNODC, please visit our website: www.unodc.org

Responsibilities

The Finance Assistant will provide support to the office operations performing a variety of standard finance and administrative processes ensuring high quality and accuracy of work. The Finance Assistant works in close cooperation with the operations, programme and projects’ personnel in the UNODC Regional Office for Central Asia and Programme Offices to exchange information and ensure consistent service delivery. Within assigned authority, the incumbent will perform the following specific duties: • Handle daily local bank operations in terms of preparing the payment orders, cash withdrawals and other relevant forms ensuring compliance with the local banking and UN procedures. • Act as a Cash Custodian. Ensure proper safe-keeping and processing of cash payments. • Maintain the cash flow monitoring files for the purpose of monitoring the daily opening and closing balance, maintain daily “cash in safe report”. • Monitor daily cash requirements and ensure availability of cash funds for smooth operational activities. • Be responsible for the issuance and control of Petty Cash Account, to ensure compliance with the UN Financial Rules and Regulations. • Perform monthly bank charges analysis for all operation bank accounts. • Investigate beneficiaries’ claims of non-receipt of payments, delays in payments and bank charges. • Download daily balance and transaction information for all operational bank accounts and prepare summary cash position. • Prepare supporting documents (narrative and supporting tables) with respect to finalization of cost estimates and budget proposals, in terms of staff and non-staff requirements, if required. • Assist managers in the elaboration of resource requirements for budget submissions, if required. • Provide assistance in issuing of financial documents, i.e. Request for Advance, overtime calculation, etc. both in cash and through bank transfer. • Assist in monitoring of expenditures and compare them with approved budget, prepare adjustments as necessary. • Review incoming payment instructions with regard to banking details and sources of funds. • Communicate irregularities and/or inconsistencies to supervisor helping to inform clients on initiated payments for amendment or cancelation. • Notify payees of status of payments. • Liaise with banks worldwide regarding outstanding items and payment instructions. • Draft or prepare correspondence to respond to enquiries in respect to relevant financial and budget matters. • Organize and maintain adequate filing for the released payments, cash related and other financial operations. • Provide support in process of adding/updating of bank details in Umoja. • Monitor integrity of various financial databases. Provide backstopping and technical support to Finance Team. • 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. • Assist with visualizations and updating information material such as web pages or brochures. • Perform other work-related duties, as required.

Competencies

Professionalism: Has knowledge in the use and application of the United Nations Financial Regulations and Rules as well as accounting policies and practices. Is able to extract, interpret, and analyze a wide variety of data and to resolve data discrepancies and other problems. Is able to perform analysis, modelling and interpretation of data in support of decision-makingShows 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 and 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. 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.

Education

High school diploma or equivalent is required.

Job - Specific Qualification

Not available.

Work Experience

A minimum of seven years of progressively responsible experience in finance, accounting, treasury or related area is required. The minimum number of years of relevant experience is reduced to five for candidates who possess a first-level university degree or higher. Work experience with an Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system is required. Work experience with SAP/Umoja is desirable. Work experience using advanced Microsoft Office applications and/or other databases is desirable. Work experience within the United Nations system or similar international organization is desirable.

Languages

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the position advertised, fluency in English and Russian, is required. Knowledge of Uzbek and other United Nations official languages, or Central Asian languages is an advantage.

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. 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. The United Nations Secretariat is committed to achieving 50/50 gender balance and geographical diversity in its staff. Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply for this position. Applicants, who successfully go through a competitive recruitment process and are recommended for selection and/or inclusion in the roster of pre-approved candidates for subsequent job openings at the same level and with similar functions, may have their application information and roster status shared with other UN Organizations. Such applicants may be contacted by other UN Organizations for similar job openings, subject to the confirmation of their interest. Placement on the roster is no guarantee of a future selection.

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. Reasonable accommodation may be provided to applicants with disabilities upon request, to support their participation in the recruitment process. By accepting a letter of appointment, staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General, who may assign them to any of the activities or offices of the United Nations in accordance with staff regulation 1.2 (c). Further, staff members in the Professional and higher category up to and including the D-2 level and the Field Service category are normally required to move periodically to discharge functions in different duty stations under conditions established in ST/AI/2023/3 on Mobility, as may be amended or revised. This condition of service applies to all position specific job openings and does not apply to temporary positions. Applicants are urged to carefully follow all instructions available in the online recruitment platform, inspira, and to refer to the Applicant Guide by clicking on “Manuals” in the “Help” tile 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.