NATIONAL POST: Finance Assistant, GS-5, Ankara/Turkiye

The Position:

The Finance Assistant post is located in the UNFPA Turkiye Country Office in Ankara. The incumbent will be part of the operations team and under the overall guidance of the Operations Manager, s/he will work under the direct supervision of the Administrative/Finance Associate. S/he takes a client-oriented, results-focused approach to deliver quality financial services in adherence to relevant policies and standards established by UNFPA and apply finance-related guidelines, processes and procedures to the UNFPA Turkiye activities.

How you can make a difference:

UNFPA is the lead UN agency for delivering a world where every pregnancy is wanted, every childbirth is safe and every young person's potential is fulfilled.  UNFPA’s strategic plan (2022-2025), reaffirms the relevance of the current strategic direction of UNFPA and focuses on three transformative results: to end preventable maternal deaths; end unmet need for family planning; and end gender-based violence and harmful practices. These results capture our strategic commitments on accelerating progress towards realizing the ICPD and SDGs in the Decade of Action leading up to 2030. Our strategic plan calls upon UN Member States, organizations and individuals to “build forward better”, while addressing the negative impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic on women’s and girls’ access to sexual and reproductive health and reproductive rights, recover lost gains and realize our goals.

In a world where fundamental human rights are at risk, we need principled and ethical staff, who embody these international norms and standards, and who will defend them courageously and with full conviction.

UNFPA is seeking candidates that transform, inspire and deliver high impact and sustained results; we need staff who are transparent, exceptional in how they manage the resources entrusted to them and who commit to deliver excellence in programme results.

Job Purpose:

In support of UNFPA’s strategic direction at the country level, the Finance Assistant contributes to building country level capacity and ensuring effective and efficient application of core and non-core resources through providing quality support to recording and reporting of accurate and reliable financial data and information in a timely manner with required quality checks, in line with UNFPA guidelines and procedures.

You will promote a client, quality and results-oriented approach and work in close collaboration with the Operations and Programme staff in the Country Office and with the UN Common System working groups.

You would be responsible for:

A. Performing of financial services:

• Plan, organize and manage own workload to ensure your contribution to the country office financial reporting process is achieved in a timely and accurate manner;
• Contribute to preparation of programme and operating budgets.
• Ensure swift processing of financial transactions, including payments to vendors, claims, cost recovery, billing payments.
• Examine supporting documentation related to PO and non-PO payments ensuring assurance of the correctness/high quality of information adhering to the usage of correct expense account and procedures;
• Prepare all types of vouchers and General Ledger Journal Entries in Quantum and follow up on payment executions with the UNDP Country Office and ensure that timely corrective actions are taken on unposted vouchers, including the vouchers with budget check errors, match exceptions, unapproved vouchers;
• Liaise with UNDP to verify that financial transactions are made on time including the refund of money deposited in UNDP account; and ensure accuracy of computation, chart of accounts and attachment of required documents.
• Ensure effective financial reporting system, including contributing to preparation and submission of monthly, quarterly accountability checklists and year-end certifications and reporting in an accurate and timely manner.
• Assist OM and AFA in implementation of audit recommendations and improvement of overall office compliance and accountability, including assessment and implementation of operation risks and fraud mitigation in line with enterprise risk management framework.
• Act as ERP focal person together with AFA; and perform finance user functions, carry out capacity building activities for country office and cross-border staff and projects
• Analyze, answer and follow-up a variety of finance requests and enquiries; collect and research background information and provide guidance on relevant guidelines and procedures;
• Act as custodian of petty cash with the responsibility of ensuring full compliance with UNFPA’s Petty Cash Policy;
• Ensures that a proper filing system for finance records and documents is in place.

B. Providing financial support to programme implementation:

• Ensure that financial transactions for CO programme and projects, including advances of funds to implementing partners, are processed in an accurate and timely way and in accordance with relevant policies and procedures.
• Ensure that financial resources are spent in compliance with donor requirements and timeframe of the project, and maintain an up-to-date database of such requirements for each donor of the CO.
• Assist in review and assessment of reported amounts on FACE forms (Funding authorization and certificate of expenditures), cash advances, follow up on aged OFA (Operating Fund Accounts), conduct       the periodic Operating Fund Account (OFA) to FACE and FACE to Combined Delivery Report (CDR) reconciliations;
• Assist in strengthening the performance of administrative and financial staff of implementing partners through periodic on-site one-on-one training as well as group training.

C. Efficient travel processing:

• Collect, calculate and process financial travel claims (F10s) in a timely and accurate manner;
• Effectively process payments to travel agency, advances and reimbursements to travelers.
• Conduct travel advance and travel claim reconciliation on a regular basis and ensure effective follow-up with relevant parties.
• Maintain accurate office travel records, compile reports and prepare trend analysis when necessary.

D. Perform other duties as assigned by the supervisor.

Qualifications and Experience: 

Education:  

Completed Secondary Level Education required. First level university degree in Finance, Business, Public Administration or similar discipline desirable.

Knowledge and Experience: 

• Minimum five (5) years of relevant experience in operations/administrative functions, including at least 2 years in finance, accounting.
• Proven experience and track record in successfully managing and implementing financial policies, processes and systems in development organizations or private sector.
• Proficiency in current Microsoft Office applications (especially Microsoft Excel and Word).
• Experience in using ERP system (e.g. PeopleSoft, Oracle, SAP) or similar computerized applications.
• Ability to interpret financial rules, regulations and procedures and explain them clearly and concisely.
• Working experience with UN organization is desirable.

Languages: 

• Fluency in both written and spoken English and Turkish is required. 

Required Competencies: 

Values:

Exemplifying integrity, 

Demonstrating commitment to UNFPA and the UN system, 

Embracing cultural diversity, 

Embracing change

Core Competencies: 

Achieving results,

Being accountable,

Developing and applying professional expertise/business acumen,

Thinking analytically and strategically,

Working in teams/managing ourselves and our relationships,

Functional Competencies:

Managing the organization’s financial resources

Manage documents, correspondence and reports

Managing information and workflow

Planning, organizing and multitasking

Supporting financial data analysis

Compensation and Benefits:

This position offers an attractive remuneration package including a competitive pay and benefits. Staff members in General Staff Category that are locally recruited are compensated in accordance with the best prevailing conditions of service locally. You can learn more about tax exemption, allowances and benefits, holidays and leave, health insurance, and retirementpension of GS staff on the UN Careers website or the United Nations website".

UNFPA Work Environment: 

UNFPA provides a work environment that reflects the values of gender equality, diversity, integrity and healthy work-life balance. We are committed to ensuring gender parity in the organization and therefore encourage women to apply. Individuals from the LGBTQIA+ community, minority ethnic groups, indigenous populations, persons with disabilities, and other underrepresented groups are highly encouraged to apply. UNFPA promotes equal opportunities in terms of appointment, training, compensation and selection for all regardless of personal characteristics and dimensions of diversity. Diversity, Equity and Inclusion is at the heart of UNFPA's workforce - click here to learn more.

Disclaimer: 

Selection and appointment may be subject to background and reference checks, medical clearance and other administrative requirements. 

UNFPA does not charge any application, processing, training, interviewing, testing or other fee in connection with the application or recruitment process and does not concern itself with information on applicants' bank accounts. Fraudulent notices, letters or offers may be submitted to the UNFPA fraud hotline http://www.unfpa.org/help/hotline.cfm

In accordance with the Staff Regulations and Rules of the United Nations, persons applying to posts in the international Professional category, who hold permanent resident status in a country other than their country of nationality, may be required to renounce such status upon their appointment.