FINANCE ASSISTANT (Temporary Job Opening)

ECA’s mission is to deliver ideas and actions for an empowered and transformed Africa; informed by the 2030 SDGs and Agenda 2063. The mission is guided by ECA’s five strategic directions which are: advancing ECA’s position as a premier knowledge institution that builds on its unique position and privilege to bring global solutions to the continent’s problems and take local solutions to the continent; developing macroeconomic and structural policy options to accelerate economic diversification and job creation; designing and implementing innovative financing models for infrastructure, and for human, physical and social assets for a transforming Africa; contributing solutions to regional and transboundary challenges, with a focus on peace security and social inclusion as an important development nexus; advocating Africa’s position at the global level and developing regional responses as a contribution to global governance issues. This position is located in the Finance and Budget Section in the Division of Administration in United Nations of Economic commission for Africa, Addis Ababa Ethiopia. The Finance Assistant will be reporting directly to the Head of the Payroll and Disbursement Unit.

• Processes travel claims, ticket payment DSA payment in conformity with approved travel authorization, ensuring compliance with relevant rules and instructions, and proper documentation and certification.

• Assists in verifying payroll and processing payments to staff members for their entitlements including salaries, claims, education grants and income tax.

• Assists in verifying and running Regular Payroll, off-cycle and correction payroll.

• Assists in reconciling payroll and payments related to general ledger and vendor accounts.

• Prepares separation notification for UN Joint Staff Pension Fund. • Assists in the preparation of supporting documents (narrative and supporting tables) with respect to finalization of cost estimates and budget proposals, in terms of staff and non-staff requirements.

• Processes of payment to governments, and vendors for goods and services and Consultant Individual Contractors. This includes, amongst other things calculating, inputting, and checking payments for correctness and communicating discrepancies to supervisors.

• Supports the Finance/Budget Officers(s) in extracting information and generating expenditure reports from computerized information system databases; assists in preliminary analyses of the extracted information and the reports generated, and highlights areas of concern for the attention of the Finance/Budget Officer(s).

• Researches/compiles data and other information required by the Finance Budget Officer(s) in the review and analysis of relevant proposals.

• Drafts/prepares memoranda and/or faxes to various offices, departments and overseas offices.

• Responds to queries and requests for information from staff members and administrative counterparts.

• Reviews and processes requests to create “other” (non-vendor, non-staff) business partners in the UMOJA system, checking the accuracy and completeness of submissions and preventing duplication of existing records.

• Assists in the financial backstopping of funds, , generating expenditure reports from Umoja

• Assists the Finance/Budget Officer(s) in the issuance of allotments and related staffing table authorizations.

• Verifies accuracy of input data, ensuring consistency of data in previous allotments to new allotments issued.

• Verifies and prepares less complex payments to third parties, commercial entities, and individuals, with respect to settlement, pay and allowances.

• Peer reviews draft business partner entries created by colleagues.

• Supports other UMOJA master data tasks as required.

• Review account balances at individual payee Id level and advise the concerned Unit on pending balances and obligations to be transferred to the correct Id.

• Assist in the creation of receipts and deposits for all ASHI related payments.

• Assists staff members regarding queries on payment and deposit-related issues.

• Assist in the creation of receipts and deposits for all ASHI related payments.

• Assists staff members regarding queries on payment and deposit-related issues.

• Reviews outgoing payment with regard to banking details and sources of funds.

• Prepares payments for final disbursement by Cashier.

• Dispatches payment instructions and cheques to banks.

• Notifies payees of status of payments.

• Assist in the processing of ECA payroll by checking and verifying the results to ensure accuracy, completeness, and reasonability.

• Prepares yearly pension participant reconciliation exception reports.

• Prepare and process separation notifications for UN Joint Staff Pension Fund.

• Liaises with Human Resources on a continuous basis to ensure that staff members’ records are complete and correct.

• Assists in reconciling payroll and payments related to general ledger and vendor accounts.

• Assist in the processing of payroll, vendor and travel claims, security allowances and UNFCU deductions other payments or deductions.

• Defines requirements and works with systems units with respect to production of relevant financial reports.

• Assists staff members regarding queries on payment and deposit-related issues.

• Keeps up-to-date on documents/reports/guidelines that have a bearing on matters related to payroll and disbursement programme budgets, ensuring compliance with intergovernmental recommendations and decisions as well as with United Nations policies and procedures.

• Drafts routine correspondence with respect to enquiries related to financial matters.

• Maintains and keep up-to-date files and assist in retrieving and locating documents to verify the accuracy and legitimacy for account balance in payable, receivables and disbursement accounts

• Provides administrative support to the Head of the organizational unit and/or Finance/Budget Officer(s), as required Process VAT payment by liaising with Inland Revenue Government office.

• Assists with the collection and analysis of data as well as preparation of data presentations and reports for information sharing, responding to queries, knowledge management, planning and decision making.

• Assists with visualizations and updating information material such as web pages or brochures.

• Performs other related duties, as assigned. Work implies frequent interaction with the following:

Budget, Finance, Accounting, and administrative officers in the Secretariat and in the field.

Results Expected: Under the general guidance of the responsible Finance/Budget Officer(s) and/or the Head of the organizational unit, contributes to effective budget formulation/preparation, implementation, monitoring and safeguarding of the financial resources of the Organization by providing specialized assistance to more senior staff in the assigned areas of responsibility.

• Professionalism: Knowledge of, and ability to apply financial rules, regulations and procedures in the UN environment. Ability to maintain accurate records, review and interpret a wide variety of data. Ability to identify and resolve data discrepancies and operational problems. Shows pride in work and in achievements; demonstrates professional competence and mastery of subject matter; is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results; is motivated by professional rather than personal concerns; shows persistence when faced with difficult problems or challenges; remains calm in stressful situations. Commitment to implementing the goal of gender equality by ensuring the equal participation and full involvement of women and men in all aspects of work. The ability to perform analysis, modeling and interpretation of data in support of decision-making.

• Teamwork: Works collaboratively with colleagues to achieve organizational goals; solicits input by genuinely valuing others’ ideas and expertise; is willing to learn from others; places team agenda before personal agenda; supports and acts in accordance with final group decision, even when such decisions may not entirely reflect own position; shares credit for team accomplishments and accepts joint responsibility for team shortcomings.

• Client Orientation: Considers all those to whom services are provided to be “clients” and seeks to see things from clients’ point of view; establishes and maintains productive partnerships with clients by gaining their trust and respect; identifies clients’ needs and matches them to appropriate solutions; monitors ongoing developments inside and outside the clients’ environment to keep informed and anticipate problems; keeps clients informed of progress or setbacks in projects; meets timeline for delivery of products or services to client

This position is temporarily available for a period of 9 months. If the selected candidate is a staff member from the United Nations Secretariat, the selection will be administered as a temporary assignment. While this temporary assignment may provide the successful applicant with an opportunity to gain new work experience, the selection for this position is for a limited period and has no bearing on the future incumbency of the post. Subject to the urgency in filling the position, the eligibility for this temporary job opening may be limited to candidates based at the duty station.

This temporary job opening may be limited to “internal candidates,” who have been recruited through a competitive examination administered according to staff rule 4.16 or staff selection process including the review of a central review body established according to staff rule 4.15. Staff members of the United Nations common system organizations who will reach the mandatory age of separation or retirement within the duration of the current temporary need period are not eligible to apply. Submitting an application or selection for the current temporary job opening does not delay or increase the mandatory age of separation.

Retirees above the mandatory age of separation who wish to be considered for the current temporary job opening must indicate the reason for their last separation as “retirement.” Such retirees shall not be employed by the Organization, unless

(a) the operational requirements of the Organization cannot be met by staff members who are qualified and available to perform the required functions; and

(b) the proposed employment would not adversely affect the career development or redeployment opportunities of other staff members and represents both a cost-effective and operationally sound solution to meet the needs of the service.

This position is subject to local recruitment pursuant to staff rule 4.4 of the United Nations Staff Rules. All staff in the General Service and related categories shall be recruited in the country or within commuting distance of each office, irrespective of their nationality and of the length of time they may have been in the country.

A staff member subject to local recruitment shall not be eligible for the allowances or benefits exclusively applicable to international recruitment. External candidates will be considered only when no suitable internal candidate from the duty station is identified. The candidate is responsible for any travel expenses incurred to take-up the appointment. The United Nations Secretariat is committed to achieving 50/50 gender balance in its staff. Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply for this position.

Internal Applicants – when completing the PHP, ensure ALL fields, ALL professional experience and contact information are completed and up to date. This information is the basis for the hiring manager to assess your eligibility and suitability for the position and to contact you. Staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General and to assignment by him or her. In this context, all staff are expected to move periodically to new functions in their careers in accordance with established rules and procedures. At the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the recruitment and employment of staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence and integrity, with due regard to geographic diversity. All employment decisions are made on the basis of qualifications and organizational needs. The United Nations is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment of mutual respect.

The United Nations recruits and employs staff regardless of gender identity, sexual orientation, race, religious, cultural and ethnic backgrounds or disabilities. Reasonable accommodation for applicants with disabilities may be provided to support participation in the recruitment process when requested and indicated in the application.

All applicants are strongly encouraged to apply on-line as soon as possible after the job opening has been posted and well before the deadline stated in the job opening. On-line applications will be acknowledged where an email address has been provided. If you do not receive an email acknowledgement within 24 hours of submission, your application may not have been received. In such cases, please resubmit the application, if necessary. If the problem persists please seek technical assistance through the Inspira “Need Help?” link.

According to article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity. Candidates will not be considered for employment with the United Nations if they have committed violations of international human rights law, violations of international humanitarian law, sexual exploitation, sexual abuse, or sexual harassment, or if there are reasonable grounds to believe that they have been involved in the commission of any of these acts.

The term “sexual exploitation” means any actual or attempted abuse of a position of vulnerability, differential power, or trust, for sexual purposes, including, but not limited to, profiting monetarily, socially or politically from the sexual exploitation of another. The term “sexual abuse” means the actual or threatened physical intrusion of a sexual nature, whether by force or under unequal or coercive conditions. The term “sexual harassment” means any unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature that might reasonably be expected or be perceived to cause offence or humiliation, when such conduct interferes with work, is made a condition of employment or creates an intimidating, hostile or offensive work environment, and when the gravity of the conduct warrants the termination of the perpetrator’s working relationship. Candidates who have committed crimes other than minor traffic offences may not be considered for employment. Due regard will be paid to the importance of recruiting the staff on as wide a geographical basis as possible.

The United Nations places no restrictions on the eligibility of men and women to participate in any capacity and under conditions of equality in its principal and subsidiary organs. The United Nations Secretariat is a non-smoking environment. Reasonable accommodation may be provided to applicants with disabilities upon request, to support their participation in the recruitment process. By accepting a letter of appointment, staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General, who may assign them to any of the activities or offices of the United Nations in accordance with staff regulation 1.2 (c).

Further, staff members in the Professional and higher category up to and including the D-2 level and the Field Service category are normally required to move periodically to discharge functions in different duty stations under conditions established in ST/AI/2023/3 on Mobility, as may be amended or revised.

This condition of service applies to all position specific job openings and does not apply to temporary positions. Applicants are urged to carefully follow all instructions available in the online recruitment platform, inspira, and to refer to the Applicant Guide by clicking on “Manuals” in the “Help” tile of the inspira account-holder homepage. The evaluation of applicants will be conducted on the basis of the information submitted in the application according to the evaluation criteria of the job opening and the applicable internal legislations of the United Nations including the Charter of the United Nations, resolutions of the General Assembly, the Staff Regulations and Rules, administrative issuances and guidelines.

Applicants must provide complete and accurate information pertaining to their personal profile and qualifications according to the instructions provided in inspira to be considered for the current job opening. No amendment, addition, deletion, revision or modification shall be made to applications that have been submitted.

Candidates under serious consideration for selection will be subject to reference checks to verify the information provided in the application. Job openings advertised on the Careers Portal will be removed at 11:59 p.m. (New York time) on the deadline date.

THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.