Org. Setting and Reporting

This position is located in Kuwait Joint Support Office (KJSO). The Finance Officer will be based in Kuwait. The Finance Officer at this level will directly report to the Chief of Services, KJSO. The Finance Officer at this level will be performing the functions of Chief Payroll for KJSO.

Responsibilities

Within delegated authority, the Finance Officer will carry out the following duties: 
Accounts:
•Reviews and verifies the closing of monthly accounts and preparation of financial statements for submission to Headquarters.
•Verifies the data reported in the financial statements.
•Scrutinizes source documents for completeness, accuracy and validity of charges.
•Reviews and approves various vouchers and accounting transactions, e.g., payroll, payment of staff entitlements, final payments, travel claims, vendor invoices, agencies, field missions, etc., to ensure adherence to relevant staff rules, financial regulations and rules, guidelines or practices.
•Maintains internal control procedures to ensure vouchers are processed and correctly posted.
•Investigates erroneous charges and takes appropriate corrective accounting actions.
•Reviews and reconciles suspense accounts and ensure proper clearance procedures have been followed.
•Reviews and verifies bank reconciliations on a monthly basis.
•Examines details of income, expenditure, assets and liability from accounting system in order to analyze and verify accuracy and validity.
•Examines the validity of requests for increases in petty cash levels; approve disbursement vouchers to replenish petty cash accounts.
•Approves the recording of obligations.
•Serves as Approving Officer for the Finance Section.
•Supervises other General Service or Field Service staff as required.
•Responds to queries from staff members and third parties.
Payroll Administration:
•Oversees the processing of monthly payrolls and final pay for National Staff and Individual Uniform Personnel (IUPs). 
•Performs approval of off cycle and release for National Staff and IUPs.
•Performs approval of off cycle approval of relocation grant and settling-in-grant for International Staff. 
•Performs approval of travel expense reports for KJSO’s full service client mission. 
•Processes Individual Contractor and Consultant payments for KJSO’s full service client missions. 
•Overseas the reissuance of rejected & returned payroll deposits for National Staff and IUPs. 
General:
•Keeps up-to-date on documents/reports/guidelines that have a bearing on matters related to programme, ensuring compliance with intergovernmental recommendations and decisions as well as with United Nations policies and procedures.
•Provides guidance and training (including preparation of training materials) to junior staff with respect to transaction processing and the use of various systems such as Funds Management Tools (FMT), and UMOJA.
•Drafts/verifies memoranda and/or cables relevant to financial and budget matters to various offices, departments and missions.
•Performs other related duties, as assigned.

Competencies

PROFESSIONALISIM:
Knowledge of accounting, finance and budget functions, payroll processing and administration. Ability to analyse and apply data across the full range of finance, payroll and accounting functions. Demonstrated use of initiative and ability to make appropriate linkages in work processes and anticipate next steps showing skills and ability to analyse and interpret financial data. Shows pride in work and in achievements; demonstrates professional competence and mastery of subject matter; 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. Takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work.
PLANNING AND ORGANIZING:-Develops clear goals that are consistent with agreed strategies-Identifies priority activities and assignments; adjusts priorities as required-Allocates appropriate amount of time and resources for completing work-Foresees risks and allows for contingencies when planning
-Monitors and adjusts plans and actions as necessary-Uses time efficiently.
CLEINT 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

Education

High school diploma or equivalent is required. Technical or vocational certificate in accounting, finance, budget or related fields is required.

Work Experience

At least 10 years of progressive experience within the United Nations system or in the private sector at the national or international level in accounting, budgeting or financial management is required.
A first-level university degree in business administration, finance, accounting or related field with qualifying 5 years of experience may be equivalent to high school and 10 years relevant experience.
Experience in payroll administration for national and international staff members and uniformed personnel is required. Experience in running payroll in an ERP system is required.Experience working within a Shared Service Center is desirable.

Languages

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the position advertised, fluency in English (both oral and written) is required.

Assessment

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

Special Notice

Extension of the appointment is subject to Extension of the mandate and/or the availability of the funds.
– 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.
– An impeccable record for integrity and professional ethical standards is essential. All staff of the Ethics Office are required to submit a financial disclosure statement upon appointment and annually thereafter. 
– This vacancy is subject to availability of post. Staff members of the United Nations Secretariat must fulfill the lateral move requirements to be eligible to apply for this vacancy. Staff members are requested to indicate all qualifying lateral moves in their Personal History Profile (PHP) and cover note.
– These posts are financed by the Support Account for Peacekeeping Operations. Extension of appointment will be subject to budgetary approval.

United Nations Considerations

According to article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity. Candidates will not be considered for employment with the United Nations if they have committed violations of international human rights law, violations of international humanitarian law, sexual exploitation or sexual abuse, or crimes other than minor traffic offences, or if there are reasonable grounds to believe that they have been involved in the commission of any of these acts. The term “sexual exploitation” means any actual or attempted abuse of a position of vulnerability, differential power, or trust, for sexual purposes, including, but not limited to, profiting monetarily, socially or politically from the sexual exploitation of another. The term “sexual abuse” means the actual or threatened physical intrusion of a sexual nature, whether by force or under unequal or coercive conditions.

Due regard will be paid to the importance of recruiting the staff on as wide a geographical basis as possible. The United Nations places 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. The United Nations Secretariat is a non-smoking environment.

Applicants are urged to follow carefully all instructions available in the online recruitment platform, inspira. For more detailed guidance, applicants may refer to the Manual for the Applicant, which can be accessed by clicking on “Manuals” hyper-link on the upper right side of the inspira account-holder homepage.

The evaluation of applicants will be conducted on the basis of the information submitted in the application according to the evaluation criteria of the job opening and the applicable internal legislations of the United Nations including the Charter of the United Nations, resolutions of the General Assembly, the Staff Regulations and Rules, administrative issuances and guidelines. Applicants must provide complete and accurate information pertaining to their personal profile and qualifications according to the instructions provided in inspira to be considered for the current job opening. No amendment, addition, deletion, revision or modification shall be made to applications that have been submitted. Candidates under serious consideration for selection will be subject to reference checks to verify the information provided in the application.

Job openings advertised on the Careers Portal will be removed at 11:59 p.m. (New York time) on the deadline date.

No Fee

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