UN WOMEN Jobs - 30656- Finance Associate

FINANCE ASSOCIATE
Location :	GUATEMALA, GUATEMALA
Application Deadline :	28-Jun-12
Type of Contract :	FTA Local
Post Level :	GS-6
Languages Required :	English Spanish
Starting Date : (date when the selected candidate is expected to start)	10-Sep-2012
Duration of Initial Contract :	1 year renewable
Background
The UN Women grounded in the vision of equality enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations, works for the elimination of discrimination against women and girls; the empowerment of women; and the achievement of equality between women and men as partners and beneficiaries of development, human rights, humanitarian action and peace and security. Placing women’s rights at the centre of all its efforts, the UN Women will lead and coordinate United Nations system efforts to ensure that commitments on gender equality and gender mainstreaming translate into action throughout the world. It will provide strong and coherent leadership in support of Member States’ priorities and efforts, building effective partnerships with civil society and other relevant actors. Current UN Women work in Guatemala is aligned with the CEDAW and CERD recommendations addressed to Guatemala, UN Women SP 2011-2013, Security Council Resolutions on Women, Peace and Security, MDGs, UNDAF 2010-2014, as well as with national priorities and gender and indigenous women’s agenda. The overall program’s goal is to build capacity and strengthen institutional responsibilities for formulating and implementing laws, policies and programs with a gender and ethnic perspective, aimed at guaranteeing women’s fundamental rights and advancing to gender equality. The program aims to guide, promote and coordinate actions to drive national counterparts to better develop strategic interventions on five priority areas: a) women’s economic empowerment; b) ending violence against women; c) women, peace and security; d) women’s leadership and participation; e) and gender and ethnic sensitive plans, budgets and statistics. According to the results of the national consultation developed in January 2011, the most important functions of UN Women in Guatemala should be linked to: i) building national capacities and facilitating of dialogue between indigenous and women's organizations, UN and State institutions; ii) knowledge production and accountability to guide national policy and public policies to better respond to international and national commitments, especially CEDAW y CERD; iii) contribute to the implementation of the Secretary General’s Campaign Unite to End Violence against Women and iv) work closely with and for indigenous and rural women, especially in their access to justice and the elimination of violence, to and the promotion of their economic autonomy. Under the guidance and supervision of the Operations Manager, the Finance Associate ensures effective execution of financial services and processes in UN Women Office in Guatemala, as well as transparent utilization of financial resources. The Finance Associate promotes a client-oriented approach consistent with UN Women rules and regulations. The Finance Associate can supervise clerical and support staff of the Finance Unit. The Finance Associate works in close collaboration with the operations, and programme staff in UN Women office in Guatemala and with UN Women Headquarters (HQ) staff for resolving finance-related issues and information exchange.
Duties and Responsibilities
1. Ensures implementation of operational and financial management strategies, adapts processes and procedures focusing on achievement of the following results: · Full compliance with UN/Women rules and regulations of financial processes, financial records and reports and audit follow up; implementation of the effective internal control framework. · Country Office finance business processes mapping and elaboration of the content of internal Standard Operating Procedures in Finance in consultation with the direct supervisor and office management. · Provision of inputs for implementation of cost-saving and reduction strategies in consultation with the office management. · Follow up of cost sharing and trust fund agreements, follow up on contributions within the Country Office resource mobilization efforts. 2. Ensures administration of budgets and functioning of the optimal cost-recovery system focusing on achievement of the following results: · Preparation and modifications of budgets for UN Women management projects, follow-up with Headquarters on Authorized Spending Limit (ASL) for management projects. · Presentation of researched information for planning and status of financial resources of the Country Office. · Sending project budget to Headquarters Finance and Budget Section, and Commitment Control (KK) when authorized by the Senior Management (can be done only on the basis of signed project documents and project budgets). · Timely preparation of cost-recovery bills in Atlas for the services provided by UNDP, implementation of the income tracking system and follow up on cost recovery. 3. Provides accounting and administrative support andperforms Global payroll functionsfocusing on achievement of the following results: · Proper control of the supporting documents for payments and financial reports for NEX projects; preparation of all types of vouchers; Pay Cycle and payments execution. · Proper receipting of goods and services and establishment of accruals. · Approval of vendors in Atlas (if a senior member of the Finance team). · Global payrolls processing in Atlas. · Maintenance of the internal expenditures control system which ensures that vouchers processed are matched and completed, transactions are correctly recorded and posted in Atlas; payrolls are duly prepared and processed; travel claims, · POs and other entitlements are duly processed. Voucher creation functions can be performed by UN Women assistants of Project offices · Timely accounts closure · Timely corrective actions on unposted vouchers, including the vouchers with budget check errors, match exceptions, unapproved vouchers. Timely response to Headquaraters requests to resolve financial data issues. · Timely corrective actions on erroneous data in Atlas. Preparation of financial reports as required. · Maintenance of the Accounts Receivables for UN Women projects and follow-up with partners on contributions, deposits creation in Atlas and their application to AR pending items. · Timely VAT reimbursements by the Government. 4. Provides accounting and administrative support andperforms Global payroll functionsfocusing on achievement of the following results: · Proper control of the supporting documents for payments and financial reports for NEX projects; preparation of all types of vouchers; Pay Cycle and payments execution. · Proper receipting of goods and services and establishment of accruals. · Approval of vendors in Atlas (if a senior member of the Finance team). · Global payrolls processing in Atlas. · Maintenance of the internal expenditures control system which ensures that vouchers processed are matched and completed, transactions are correctly recorded and posted in Atlas; payrolls are duly prepared and processed; travel claims, · POs and other entitlements are duly processed. Voucher creation functions can be performed by UN Women assistants of Project offices · Timely accounts closure · Timely corrective actions on unposted vouchers, including the vouchers with budget check errors, match exceptions, unapproved vouchers. Timely response to Headquaraters requests to resolve financial data issues. · Timely corrective actions on erroneous data in Atlas. Preparation of financial reports as required. · Maintenance of the Accounts Receivables for UN Women projects and follow-up with partners on contributions, deposits creation in Atlas and their application to AR pending items. · Timely VAT reimbursements by the Government. 5. Ensures proper Country Office cash management functioningfocusing on achievement of the following results: · Review of all expenditure requests to ensure that the relevant charts of accounts are indicated and are in line with project budget. · Timely preparation of monthly, quarterly six-monthly and annual financial reports for use by the supervisor, project personnel and for monthly, quarterly, half yearly and annual financial reports.? · Support project staff to prepare their budgets (or budget breakdowns) for ATLAS.? · Timely preparation of donor financial updates and financial updates on UN Joint Programme budget (UN Women share)? · Supervision of the petty cash expenditure.? · Ensuring request of cash advances are in line with the financial policy and accurate settlement of the cash advance immediately after the event/task for which advance was taken; reviewing, processing together with the SRO Office and Headquarters, and settling all other advances. · Performing Pay cycle manager role in Atlas. · Timely preparation of monthly cash flow forecast for use by Operations Manager.? 6. Ensures facilitation of knowledge building and knowledge sharing in the Country Office focusing on achievement of the following results: · Organization of trainings for the operations/ projects staff on Finance. · Synthesis of lessons learnt and best practices in financial management. · Sound contributions to knowledge networks and communities of practice.
Competencies
Corporate Competencies: · Demonstrates integrity by modeling the UN's values and ethical standards · Promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of UN Women and the UN · Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability · Treats all people fairly without favoritism Functional Competencies: Knowledge Management and Learning · Shares knowledge and experience · Encourages office staff to share knowledge and contribute to UN Women Practice Areas · Actively works towards continuing personal learning and development in one or more Practice Areas, acts on learning plan and applies newly acquired skills Development and Operational Effectiveness · Ability to administer and execute financial processes and transactions · Ability to extract, interpret, analyze data and resolve problems · Ability to supervise and train support staff · Ability to perform work of confidential nature and handle a large volume of work · Sound knowledge of financial rules and regulations, accounting · Good knowledge of Results Management Guide and Toolkit · Strong IT skills, Atlas · Ability to provide input to business processes re-engineering, implementation of new system. Leadership and Self-Management · Focuses on result for the client · Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude · Remains calm, in control and good humored even under pressure · Demonstrates openness to change · Responds positively to feedback and differing points of view
Required Skills and Experience
Education: Secondary Education, with specialized certification in Accounting and Finance. University Degree in Finance, Business or Public Administration highly desirable. Part-qualified accountants from an internationally recognized institute of accountancy will have a distinct advantage. Experience: Six years of progressively responsible finance and accounting experience is required. Experience in a United Nations environment is an asset to this post. Experience in the usage of computers and office software packages (MS Word, Excel, etc) and advance knowledge of spreadsheet and database packages, and handling of web based management systems and ERP financials, preferably PeopleSoft. Knowledge of IPSAS and/or IFRS. Language Requirements: Fluency in English and in Spanish Candidates must comply with the requirement of filling out UNDP P11 Form available at http://www.undp.org.gt/frmJobs.aspx Kindly upload P11 Form duly signed with your application (and NOT CV or resume).

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.