Internship - Finance and Contributions, Rome, Italy

World Food Programme

Internship - Finance

Contributions Accounting and Donor Financial Reporting Branch

Finance Division, Rome, Italy.

The mission of WFP is to end global hunger. Every day, WFP works worldwide to ensure that no child goes to bed hungry and that the poorest and most vulnerable, particularly women and children, can access the nutritious food they need.

In emergencies, WFP gets food to where it is needed, saving the lives of victims of war, civil conflict and natural disasters. After an emergency, WFP uses food to help communities rebuild their shattered lives. Present in nearly 80 countries, the organization has the global footprint, deep field presence and local knowledge and relationships necessary to provide access to nutritious food and contribute to the lasting solutions, especially in many of the world’s most remote and fragile areas.

We are currently seeking to fill an internship position with WFP’s Contributions Accounting and Donor Financial Reporting Branch of the Finance Division. The position will be based at our Headquarters in Rome, Italy, starting as soon as possible.

Reporting to a Finance Officer, and under the overall supervision of the Chief of the Unit, the main responsibilities of the Intern are professional in nature.

The Intern will be expected to ensure accuracy and timely delivery in all tasks performed; to analyse data and information effectively, and to produce organised, accurate and well-documented records conforming to the required format. They are expected to have an ability to review a variety of data, good Excel and data processing skills; and accounting and/or finance related working experience. WFP will provide challenging and increasingly responsible tasks over the period of the internship so as to enhance the Intern’s learning experience.

The main duties of the Intern will reside in the SPR (Standard Project Reports) Team, ensuring that WFP meets its reporting obligations to donors, and continuously improves its reporting processes and guidance.

These include but are not limited:

Compilation of SPR’s: At a level commensurate with the experience and stage of learning of the Intern, compiling basic interim and final SPR’s in co-operation and under the guidance of other staff. As experience allows, this may include running financial reports, reviewing for accuracy, identifying discrepancies and errors, implementing procedures to minimise their recurrence, and collaboratively identifying appropriate accounting adjustments, with corrective action.

Financial Analysis: In co-ordination with Finance Officers and other staff, conduct financial analysis on project transactions so as to minimise unspent balances on closing projects to allow reprogramming, refund or resource transfer as required. This analysis will require working on advanced reconciliations, and recording of expenditure, extraction of data from various sources (i.e. SAP, BO)

Expenditure Certification: At a level commensurate with experience and stage of learning, assisting a Consultant or other staff in managing the Expenditure Certification Programme, and backing up that person during their absences.

Process Improvement: As requested, participate in work within the unit and with other units on process improvements at both the strategic and operational level.

Training, Presentation and Documentation: When suitable experienced and competent, training of members of other branches, units, divisions and departments in the mandate, concepts, processes and procedures on RMFC’s mandate and donor reporting requirements, particularly by documenting the standard operational procedures.

Other Duties as Required: Depending on exigencies of service and priorities of the unit, perform other appropriate duties as required.  This may include helping other Teams within the Unit with clearance of backlogs, performing data cleansing tasks as required, and helping with seasonal peak periods.

STANDARD MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Currently enrolled inclusive of having completed at least two years of undergraduate studies or have recently graduated in the last 6 months with a BA or preferably an MA in finance;
• University course attendance in the past 12 months;
• Highly proficient in MS Office (Word, Excel, Power Point);
• Fluent in English

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

• Interns receive a monthly stipend from WFP up to the maximum amount of US$1000 per month depending on the duty station of assignment. The current amount for Rome is around $860
• WFP is not responsible for living expenses, arrangements for accommodation, necessary visas and related costs.
• WFP will reimburse travel ticket for candidates who are nationals of developing countries and are pursuing their studies in their home country.
• WFP will recognize candidates’ educational credentials from recognised institutions that have been certified by competent international or national authorities such as the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) or Ministries of Education.

Closing date:   28 May 2018

VA reference no:   80301

Female applicants and qualified applicants from developing countries are especially encouraged to apply.  WFP has zero tolerance for discrimination and does not discriminate on the basis of HIV/AIDS status.