UNDP Jobs - 42328- Administrative and Finance Assistant,Assistance in

Administrative and Finance Assistant,Assistance in Establishing Tax Advisory Services in Belarus

Location :

Minsk, BELARUS

Type of Contract :

Service Contract

Starting Date :

12-Mar-2014

Application Deadline :

28-Feb-14 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

SB-3

Duration of Initial Contract :

one year, extendable

Languages Required :

English Russian

Expected Duration of Assignment :

UNDP is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence. UNDP does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.

Background

Please read carefully the below information!

Before you apply on-line, please download and fill in the P11 form (UNDP personal history form), that should be attached to your on-line application.

UNDP will use a transparent and competitive screening process, though will only contact those applicants in whom there is further interest. No telephone inquires will be entertained. Only short-listed candidates will be contacted.

The UNDP PERSONAL HISTORY FORM (P11) will be considered for screening of applications. It can be downloaded at the following link:UNDP Personal History Form

Tax advising is a part of a standard business services package for legal entities and individuals, and constitutes a viable industry in most countries worldwide. Tax advisory services range from legal advice to tax optimisation and comprehensive tax-related assistance. The absence of an institutionalized corps of tax advisors in Belarus has a negative effect on Belarus' attractiveness to investments, and acts as a constraint to private initiative and enterprise competitiveness. It also results in missed opportunities for improving Belarus' overall doing business rank and building more productive and more constructive relationships between corporate taxpayers and the tax authorities.
The overall project goal is to improve the business environment and investment climate in Belarus by establishing tax advisory services.

The immediate objectives to be addressed by the project are as follows:
1. To create a favorable legal environment for establishing tax advisory services;
2. To facilitate training for tax advisers, including through development of qualification requirements, training curricula and guidelines for training and accreditation;
3. To promote institutionalized tax advisory services by raising professional and public awareness and testing a new model of tax servicing.
The national executing entity for this project will be the Ministry of Taxes and Duties. The project is financed by SIDA.

Expected key project outputs:
-at least 300 individuals participated in the project's educational and training events;
-a pool of 15 national tax advisers created; consultative workshops and roundtables on a new model and benefits of tax outsourcing conducted in all administrative regions/Oblasts;
-a policy paper on implementation of tax advisory services in foreign countries developed, and the relevant options for Belarus proposed;
- recommendation provided on creating favorable conditions for institutionalizing tax advisory services, and on including the relevant provisions in the national legislation (a policy note for the government);
- a model document package on liability insurance for tax advisors developed;
- qualification requirements and certification procedures elaborated for national tax advisors;
- a training manual for tax advisory courses introduced; a booklet on becoming a tax adviser prepared, published and distributed among members of the professional community;

Tax outsourcing tested in five enterprises from different sectors; cost benefit analysis of tax outsourcing performed and presented the results of the pilot to the business.

Duties and Responsibilities

Conduct financial monitoring of project commitments and expenditures, assists in ensuring proper delivery of the project budget;
Prepare budget revisions;
Prepare payments and the required payment documentation;
Prepare requests for travel and payment details for processing by UNDP;
Prepare personnel recruitment documentation and create appropriate ATLAS entries;
Input financial data into ATLAS through the external access system;
Create payment requisites, vouchers, vendor entries, and generate reports in ATLAS;
Perform cash custodian's duties being primarily responsible for project’s cash disbursements and maintain project’s petty cash book;
Maintain and update project inventory lists, manage equipment transfer;
Organize procurements in accordance with UNDP rules and procedures;
Exercise due diligence in relation to payment documents;
Review financial reports from the local implementing partners (if any);
Prepare financial reports for donors and other partners and financial contributors to the project activities;
Liaise with the UNDP Country Office programme and finance units in making transfers of funds, verification of financial reports, performance of budget revisions and documenting receipt of contributions;
Maintain files with the project documentations and consultant reports;
Organize project meetings (external and internal), keep meeting records;
Provide logistical support to the project activities;
Perform other duties related to the project upon request from UNDP.

Competencies

Demonstrates corporate knowledge and sound judgment;
Self-development, initiative-taking;
Acts as a team player and facilitating team work;
Outstanding analytical, organizational and administrative skills;
Remains calm, in control even under pressure;
Demonstrates strong oral and written communication skills.
Ability to communicate with staff and constituencies from multiple organizations;
Ability to perform well under pressure, and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment;
Ability to use various office computer software, including web-based information management systems.

Required Skills and Experience

University degree or specialized education, preferably in economics, finance, administration or management;
At least 2 years of administrative/finance experience;
Excellent finance and budgeting skills;
Working knowledge of UNDP rules and regulations is an asset;
Previous experience in UNDP projects is an asset;
Experience in the usage of computers and office software packages (MS Word, Excel, etc) and advance knowledge of spreadsheet and database packages, experience in handling of web based management systems.
Good command in written and spoken English and Russian is mandatory, including the ability to draft, edit and finalize documents in English and in Russian.