Finance Associate

21032103

Staff in the General Service category are recruited locally from the Primary Location area, which is where the office is located.

• 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.

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) contributes to the achievement of the 2030 Agenda through the FAO Strategic Framework by supporting the transformation to MORE efficient, inclusive, resilient and sustainable agrifood systems, for better production, better nutrition, a better environment, and a better life, leaving no one behind.

Organizational Setting

The Regional Office for the Near East and North Africa (RNE) leads FAO's support to countries in the region in transforming their agrifood systems to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It identifies regional priorities for food security, agriculture and rural development and ensures the planning and implementation of FAO's strategic response in the region through a multidisciplinary approach. It implements approved programmes and projects, monitors programme implementation, and ensures that they contribute to addressing regional priorities. RNE also advises on the incorporation of regional priorities into the Organization's Strategic Framework and Programme of Work and Budget.

RNE supports regional policy dialogues, facilitates the emergence of regional partnerships, and supports knowledge exchange, capacity development and resource mobilization for food security, agriculture and rural development in the region. It develops and maintains relations with region-wide institutions including the Regional Economic Integration Organizations (REIOs).

The post is located in the Regional Office for the Near East and North Africa (RNE) in Cairo, Egypt.

Main Purpose

The Finance Associate undertakes high-level and specialized finance-related support activities. He/she leads and coordinates the financial support work of the unit, ensuring the quality, transparency and consistency of processes. The job role requires in-depth knowledge and interpretation of financial policies, procedures and practices. The incumbent provides procedural guidance to managers and staff in the Organization and guides other finance support staff.

Supervision Received/Exercised

The Finance Associate reports to the Senior Administrative Officer. Work is performed autonomously, showing a high degree of initiative, judgment, and liability. Supervision received is focused on facilitating service delivery and on meeting client requirements. The incumbent effectively organizes and supervises other finance support staff and provides relevant guidance and training.

Working Relationships

The incumbent maintains a wide range of contacts with managers and staff throughout the Organization as well as with colleagues within the team, providing experienced coordination and delivery of the entire range of finance support processes and services.

Key Functions/Results

• Analyse, control and maintain relevant general ledger accounts, including scrutinizing source documents for completeness, accuracy and validity of charges;
• Review and liquidate obligations; investigate erroneous charges and take corrective accounting actions; reconcile and review suspense accounts and ensures proper clearance procedures;
• Extract details of income, expenditures, assets and liability from the accounting system in order to analyse and verify accuracy and validity;
• Consolidate data into financial statements and assist in monitoring expenditures to ensure they remain within authorized levels;
• Prepare worksheets and assist in preparation of financial statements by compiling and consolidating data from various sources; prepare and checks trial balance;
• Prepare draft cost estimates and budget proposals and participate in budget analysis and projections;
• Provide support with respect to the review, analyses and preparation of the medium-term plan;
• Draft and prepare correspondence and respond to queries;
• Evaluate ongoing financial support requirements, adapt service provision to meet changing needs and solve operational problems as required;
• Provide procedural guidance to managers and staff; supervise, guide and train other finance support staff;
• Perform other duties as required.

Impact of Work

The incumbent's work impacts directly on the efficiency, effectiveness, accuracy and timeliness of the services provided by the team. He/she plays a pro-active role in the successful achievement of the work unit's mandate.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements
Education: Secondary School Education.
Experience: Five years of relevant experience in finance, accounting and budget-related support work.
Languages: Working knowledge (proficient – level C) of English and limited knowledge (intermediate – level B) of Arabic or French.
IT Skills: Very good knowledge of the MS Office applications, Internet and office technology equipment.

Residency: General Service Staff are recruited locally. To be eligible for this position, candidates must be nationals of the country of the duty station or possess an existing visa/work permit, and reside within commuting distance of the duty station at the time of the application. "Commuting distance" means the distance within which staff members can travel daily between their place of work and their residence.

Competencies

• Results Focus
• Teamwork
• Communication
• Building effective relationships
• Knowledge Sharing and Continuous Improvement

Technical Skills

• Thorough knowledge of financial rules and regulations, accounting policies and practices.
• Thorough knowledge of corporate financial systems.
• Thorough knowledge of the communication and documentation standards.

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