Finance Officer

1A011A01

• FAO is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality, background and culture
• Qualified female applicants, qualified nationals of non-and under-represented Members and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply
• Everyone who works for FAO is required to adhere to the highest standards of integrity and professional conduct, and to uphold FAO's values
• FAO, as a Specialized Agency of the United Nations, has a zero-tolerance policy for conduct that is incompatible with its status, objectives and mandate, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination　　
• All selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference and background checks
• All applications will be treated with the strictest confidentiality
• FAO staff are subject to the authority of the Director-General, who may assign them to any of the activities or offices of the Organization.

Organizational Setting
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) contributes to the achievement of the 2030 Agenda through its Strategic Framework by supporting the transformation to More efficient, inclusive, resilient and sustainable agri-food systems, for Better production, Better nutrition, a Better environment and a Better life, leaving no one behind.
The Finance Division recommends and administers financial policies and procedures that meet the highest professional standards; keeps accounts that accurately record financial activities and meet the requirements of internal and external audits; prepares reports to accurately portray the financial status of the Organization and its activities; ensures that the Organization's financial resources are securely kept and productively employed while in FAO's custody; oversees financial operations wherever performed in the Organization; and ensures that all disbursements are timely and made in accordance with established policies and procedures.

The post is located in the Global Financial Management Unit of the Finance Division.

Reporting Lines
The Finance Officer reports to the Deputy Director, Finance Division.

Technical Focus
Collection and analysis of financial information to support the delivery of various financial services/activities.

Key Results
Financial services and related assistance in accordance with internal policies, UN financial guidelines and International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSAS).

Key Functions
• Provides financial reporting, general accounting, project accounting, and/or investment related services in accordance with FAO policies and regulatory framework.
• Collects and analyses financial information for inclusion in statutory and/or management reports, financial statements, and/or reports to donors as well as specific reports for Governing Bodies, donors and other partners.
• Contributes to updating financial policies and related tools, systems, technologies and related procedures.
• Responds to requests for assistance from managers and staff at HQ and the Decentralized Offices.
• Exchanges and/or provides information to banks, other financial institutions, donors and partners and provides information/clarification to auditors.
• Participates in the development of training and related training materials and promotes best practices and capacity development at HQ and in Decentralized Offices.
• Participates in Finance Division teams, leads working groups, and/or collaborates with other departments on short-term assignments.

Specific Functions
• Monitors adherence to financial policies in Decentralized Offices, highlighting any risks and suggesting mitigating factors to local teams as well as senior management;
• Provides functional support and training to Decentralized Offices in the region on best financial practices and usage of Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system, Oracle;
• Prepares analyses of financial practices in Decentralized Offices for senior management;
• Recommends improvements to ERP systems to better support operational requirements in Decentralized Offices;
• Provides support to upgrades of financial modules of ERP systems.

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CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements
• Advanced university degree in accounting, finance, business administration or a related field. An accountancy qualification as in CPA, CA etc. can substitute for an advanced degree.
• Five years of relevant experience in finance, accounting and/or business analysis.
• Working knowledge of French and English,

Competencies
• Results Focus
• Teamwork
• Communication
• Building Effective Relationships
• Knowledge Sharing and Continuous Improvement

Technical/Functional Skills
• Extent and relevance of experience in accounting and in managing accounting functions
• Excellent computer skills and ability to analyse problems and develop effective, practical solutions
• Extent and relevance of experience in the system development of accounting and financial applications, particularly Oracle Financials
• Work experience in more than one location or area of work, particularly in field positions is desirable