Background
The Finance Assistant is located in Damascus Country Office (CO) and reports to either the Operations Manager/ Operations Specialist, or Administrative Associate.
The Finance Assistant delivers quality financial services to internal and external clients mastering all relevant rules, guidelines, processes and procedures. S/he takes a client-oriented results-focused approach to interpreting the rules, procedures and guidelines, providing support and guidance to the CO and UNFPA-supported projects.
Duties and Responsibilities
- Assist the monitoring of programme financial performance for all core and non-core resources by providing necessary financial information and analysis, including implementation rate against indicators/results. Detects potential over/ under expenditure problems and proposes remedial action;
- Assist in developing tools and mechanisms for effective and efficient monitoring of programme and project budgets, coordinates compilation of financial data and provides accurate and up-dated financial information to HQ/RO/SRO on a continuous basis;
- Interprets financial policies and procedures and assists in providing guidance and training to staff and project managers. Strives to identify ways in which programme financial needs can be met within existing policies;
- Assists in the management of the Country Office budget by budget formulation, controlling allotments, monitoring expenditures, and preparing revisions according to the needs of the Country Office;
- Maintains an effective financial recording and reporting system, internal control and audit follow-up, and processes financial transactions in an accurate and timely way;
- Reviews and monitors charges for common services and cost recovery taking into account maximum cost efficiency and represents UNFPA’s interests in related negotiations and agreements.
Work Relations
The Finance Associate may supervise clerical staff at the CO. Internal contacts include the Operations Manager/ Operations Specialist, the CO’s administrative management team, and the CO’s programme/ technical team.
Competencies
Functional Competencies:
Business acumen:
- Independently gathers, analyses, and interprets data and information from a wide range of sources using appropriate analytical tools and professional standards;
- Identifies warning signs based on financial analysis, probes for clarification or points of concern and presents findings.
Implementing management systems:
- Maintains information/databases on system design features and develops system components;
- Makes recommendations relative to work-processing approaches and procedures which would lead to more efficient systems design.
Client orientation:
- Establishes effective relationships with internal and external clients, actively supports the interests of the client and researches potential solutions to client needs;
- Organizes and prioritizes work schedule and addresses client needs and deadlines promptly and appropriately.
Required Skills and Experience
Education:
- Completed Secondary Level Education required;
- First level university degree desirable.
Experience:
- Five years of relevant experience in administration, finance or office management;
- Proficiency in current office software applications and corporate IT financial systems.
Languages:
- Fluency in English and Arabic is required.