Accounting Assistant - United Nations (Apply by: December 15, 2015)

Posting Title:  Accounting Assistant

Job Code Title:  ACCOUNTING ASSISTANT

Department/Office:  UNITED NATIONS OFFICE AT GENEVA

Duty Station:  GENEVA

Posting Period:  16 November 2015 - 15 December 2015

Job Opening Number:  50154

Special Notice

Recruitment for this position is done on a local basis.Passing the Global General Service Test (GGST) is a prerequisite for recruitment consideration in the General Service category in the United Nations Secretariat.Having passed / Passing the United Nations Accounting Test is mandatory for this position.Having passed the Administrative Assessment Support Test (ASAT) at Headquarters, ECA, ESCWA, UNOG, UNOV, ICTR, or ICTY may be recognized in place of the GGST, pending confirmation of validity.- 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.

Org. Setting and Reporting

This position is within the Finance Support Unit, Finance Section, Financial Resources Management Service (FRMS), Division of Administration, UNOG.

Responsibilities

Within delegated authority, the Accounting Assistant will be responsible for the following duties: • Scrutinizes source documents for completeness, accuracy and validity of charges.• Investigates erroneous charges and takes appropriate corrective accounting actions.• Communicates with Clients offices regarding missing documentation or any other issues related to discrepancies between their accounts and those maintained at UNOG. • Reconciles and reviews suspense accounts and ensure proper clearance procedures have been followed.• Extracts details of income, expenditure, assets and liability from accounting system in order to analyze and verify accuracy and validity. • Consolidates data into financial statements.• Assists with the monitoring of expenditures to ensures they remain within authorized levels. Examines the validity of requests for increases in imprest levels; prepares disbursement vouchers to replenish imprest accounts.• Prepares worksheets and assists with the preparation of financial statements.• Audits various accounting transactions, e.g., payroll, education grants, final payments, income tax returns, travel claims, etc., to ensure correctness of disbursements and adherence to relevant staff rules, financial regulations and rules, ST/AI issuances or practices.• Serves as Approving Officer for obligations, receipts or disbursements up to an authorized level.• Provides guidance and training to colleagues as required.• Supervises other General Service staff as required.• Drafts/prepares memoranda and/or cables to various offices, departments and overseas offices. •Responds to queries from staff members and third parties.•Performs other duties as may be required.

Competencies

•PROFESSIONALISM: Detailed knowledge in the use and application of the Organization’s financial regulations and rules as well as accounting policies and practices. Ability to extract, interpret, and analyse a wide variety of data and to resolve data discrepancies and other problems. Shows pride in work and in achievements; demonstrates professional competence and mastery of accounting matters; 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.•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.•TECHNOLOGICAL AWARENESS: Keeps abreast of available technology; understands applicability and limitation of technology to the work of the office; actively seeks to apply technology to appropriate tasks; shows willingness to learn new technology.

Education

High school diploma or equivalent is required.

Work Experience

At least 7 years of experience in accounting, finance or related area are required, of which preferably 3 years within the United Nations. Experience with ERP systems (IMIS and Umoja (SAP) preferred) or any equivalent large ERP system and with Excel is an advantage.

Languages

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the post advertised, fluency in English is required. Knowledge of French is an advantage.

Assessment Method

Evaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise which will be followed by competency-based interview.

United Nations Considerations

The United Nations shall place 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. (Charter of the United Nations - Chapter 3, article 8). The United Nations Secretariat is a non-smoking environment.

No Fee

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