Traineeship - Finance and Budget Section

Area of specialization:

Financial management and financial accounting

Overview:

The United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) is a training arm of the United Nations. It equips individuals, governments and organizations with the knowledge and skills needed to address contemporary global challenges effectively.

UNITAR’s Finance and Budget Section oversees the organization’s finance and budget functions. It supports programme delivery across assigned portfolios and provides centralized financial services. Its core responsibilities include travel administration and the related financial and accounting processes.

UNITAR’s traineeship programme gives young professionals the opportunity to apply and develop their skills while making a practical contribution to the work of the United Nations.

Purpose of the Traineeship:

This traineeship will support the Finance and Budget Section in financial operations, travel-related programme support, data analysis, year-end accounting, financial statement preparation and external audit coordination.

Responsibilities:

The trainee will:

• Review and process individual and group travel requests, including verification of project budgets and available cash balances, in accordance with UNITAR’s internal policies.
• Process travel claims and close completed travel cases accurately and promptly.
• Keep the travel database accurate, complete and up to date.
• Register participants for group travel and load prepaid cards through the Swiss Bankers system, ensuring that all requests are processed accurately and promptly.
• Monitor prepaid card inventory and maintain accurate, up-to-date records to support timely replenishment.
• Contribute to the year-end accounts closure by preparing supporting financial documentation, recording accounting entries and ensuring compliance with UNITAR’s internal policies.
• Support the coordination of external audits by compiling evidence, preparing requested information and following up on action points concerning UNITAR’s travel operations.

Learning Objectives:

Through the assigned projects and activities, the trainee will:

• Develop a thorough understanding of accounting, budgeting and travel processes within a UN organization, including key workflows, tools and enterprise resource planning systems.
• Gain hands-on experience in the year-end accounts closure and the preparation of organization-wide financial statements in accordance with applicable UN standards and timelines.
• Learn to interpret and apply the UN Financial Regulations and Rules and relevant policies and procedures in daily work.

Measurable Outputs and Deliverables:

• Travel-related financial and accounting transactions are processed accurately and on time, in compliance with applicable policies, rules and regulations.
• Group travel registrations and prepaid card requests are completed accurately and within agreed timelines.
• Sufficient prepaid card stock is maintained, with cards available when needed to process group travel.

Performance Indicators:

• Internal administrative procedures are completed within established deadlines.
• Financial documents are processed in the ERP system within established internal deadlines.
• Financial transactions comply fully with applicable UN and UNITAR policies, procedures and guidelines.
• No non-compliance issues attributable to the trainee’s work are identified during supervisory or performance reviews.
• Programmes report a high level of satisfaction with the trainee’s client-focused service.
• Communications requiring action are answered within agreed timeframes.
• Calculations, information, draft correspondence and documents are accurate, as confirmed through supervisory review or quality-control checks.
• Financial transactions and communications require minimal correction due to errors.
• Issues are addressed promptly or escalated and resolved within agreed timeframes.

Reporting Structure:

The trainee will report directly to the Chief, Finance and Budget Section, and will work closely with the Finance and Budget Officers, Finance and Budget Assistants and Travel Unit colleagues.

Dates and duration:

Start date: As soon as possible

Duration: Six months

Miscellaneous fee: CHF 900 / month

Minimum requirements

Eligibility Criteria:

Applicants must be enrolled in an undergraduate/graduate/postgraduate degree (within either Accounting, Finance, Budget, Business Administration, or a related field) or be a recent graduate of the aforementioned (if selected, they must commence the traineeship within two years of graduation). Candidates should demonstrate knowledge of financial accounting principles and budgeting processes. Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications, particularly Excel, Word and PowerPoint and familiarity with financial software or ERP systems (e.g., Oracle, SAP) is a plus. Candidates should have a strong attention to detail and accuracy in handling financial data, demonstrate an analytical thinking and problem-solving skill and able to work independently and as part of a team. 

Languages:

Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of French is desirable. Knowledge of another language is an asset. 

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