Finance Assistant (G5)

Background:

The work of the Programme Office in Bishkek (POiB) focuses on a range of security issues, including countering terrorism, border security and transnational threats such as human trafficking, to developing the country’s regions, strengthening efforts to combat corruption on all levels, as well as supporting the reform of the justice sector, implementation of election reform, gender equality and building open and resilient societies. 

The post is located in the Finance section within the Fund Administration Unit (FAU) of the POiB. The Finance section is responsible for the budgeting, accounting and treasury activities of the POiB. It ensures all transactions are processed and recorded in accordance with the OSCE Financial Rules and Regulations and Common Regulatory Management System. The section’s activities include overseeing and managing the cash needs of POiB and all disbursements from POiB bank accounts.

Main purpose:

1. To implement administrative and financial matters in the POiB by performing a variety of operational and technical activities fundamental to controlling, processing, and monitoring all financial operations/transactions related to the POiB's programmatic activities. This includes overseeing the work of implementing partners and exchanging finance-related information. The position is mobile, with a certain amount of in-country travel.

2. Working with limited supervision and substantial independence, the Finance Assistant provides technical advice on project budgets, financial transactions within the approved budget, and project financial activities. The Finance Assistant responds to queries from program staff and implementing partners regarding project finance-related questions. 

Work relationships:

1. The Finance Assistant reports directly to the National Finance Officer, while the Chief of Fund Administration acts as the second-level supervisor. 
2. Internal contacts are mainly with the FAU and other programmatic departments and units of the POiB to obtain and clarify information related to project administration and to obtain approval of project documents, correspondence and expenditure, as well as to make administrative/financial arrangements for the implementation of project activities. External contacts mainly include suppliers/contractors, implementing partners (IP), tax department, and external experts/consultants to answer finance-related queries and make administrative/financial arrangements for project activities' implementation.

Tasks and Responsibilities:

Under the overall supervision of the National Finance Officer, the successful candidate will be tasked with the following duties:

1. Processing the bills from suppliers and entitlements for the mission members in an accurate and timely manner;
2. Conducting scheduled and Ad-hoc monitoring visits of IPs in the roster in all regions of the country, preparing monitoring visit reports, evaluating the IPs' financial capacity, reviewing and analyzing financial reports submitted by IPs. Conducting financial training for the IPs;
3. Preparing VAT submissions, responding to vendors/suppliers on questionable VAT items, and communicating with the tax authorities on questionable VAT claims;
4. Registering suppliers in ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning). Communicating with local suppliers with whom the POiB has Local Window Contracts (LWC) for clarification on the provided financial supporting documents;
5. Verifying the correctness of information and its proper recording to ensure the accuracy and completeness of the General Ledger (GL) inputs to ensure compliance with the relevant Financial Rules. Examining the correctness of GL entries regularly;
6. Attending meetings upon request to answer queries related to her/his areas of responsibility, briefing local and international mission members on the application and interpretation of Financial Regulations, Financial Instructions, and finance-related processes in EPR;
7. Acting as a back-stopper for the Finance Assistant and Treasury Assistant in case of their absence.

For more detailed information on the structure and work of the OSCE Programme Office in Bishkek, please see: https://www.osce.org/programme-office-in-bishkek.

Necessary Qualifications:

• Completed secondary education, supplemented by specialized training or formal studies in accounting, finance or related fields;
• Minimum four years of working experience in accounting, finance or treasury, part of which in an international organization; 
• Proven finance-related analytical and quantitative skills;
• Digital literacy and proficient use of Microsoft Office (Outlook, Word, Excel and PowerPoint) and the Internet. Experience with ERP software is an asset;
• Excellent spoken and written communication skills in English and local languages (Russian/ Kyrgyz);
• Demonstrated gender awareness and sensitivity, and an ability to integrate a gender perspective into tasks and activities;
• Ability and willingness to work as a member of team, with people of different cultural, and religious backgrounds, different gender, and diverse political views, while maintaining impartiality and objectivity;

Remuneration Package:

Monthly remuneration, subject to social security deductions is 899.66 Euro/month. Social benefits will include Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe participation in the Cigna medical insurance scheme and the OSCE Provident Fund. Appointments are normally made at step 1 of the applicable OSCE salary scale. At the discretion of the appointing authority a higher step may be approved up to a maximum of step 3 subject to specific conditions

If you wish to apply for this position, please use the OSCE's online application link found under https://vacancies.osce.org/.

The OSCE retains the discretion to re-advertise/re-post the vacancy, to cancel the recruitment, to offer an appointment at a lower grade or to offer an appointment with a modified job description or for a different duration. 

Only those candidates who are selected to participate in the subsequent stages of recruitment will be contacted.

Please note that vacancies in the OSCE are open for competition only amongst nationals of participating States, please see https://www.osce.org/participating-states.

The OSCE is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce and encourages qualified female and male candidates from all religious, ethnic and social backgrounds to apply to become a part of the Organization.

Candidates should be aware that OSCE officials shall conduct themselves at all times in a manner befitting the status of an international civil servant. This includes avoiding any action which may adversely reflect on the integrity, independence and impartiality of their position and function as officials of the OSCE. The OSCE is committed to applying the highest ethical standards in carrying out its mandate. For more information on the values set out in OSCE Competency Model, please see https://jobs.osce.org/resources/document/our-competency-model.

Please note that for this position the OSCE does not reimburse expenses such as travel in connection with interviews, tests, visas and relocation.

Please be aware that the OSCE does not request payment at any stage of the application and review process.

The mandatory retirement age at the OSCE is 65 years for contracted positions at the general service, professional and director level. The Organization shall apply an age limit of 63 years at the time of appointment as the incumbent selected is normally expected to carry out the contractual obligation of two years.