ACCOUNTING ASSISTANT

Organizational Context

The UNJSPF provides retirement, death, disability, and related benefits for staff of the UN and its member organizations, serving over 90,000 beneficiaries and 130,000 participants globally. This position is within the Accounts Section of the UNJSPF-Pension Administration, which is responsible for monitoring pension contributions, managing benefit overpayments, performing bank reconciliations, and conducting periodic financial reporting. The role reports to the Accountant and Deputy Chief of Accounts.

Job Purpose

The Accounting Assistant plays a crucial role within the United Nations Joint Staff Pension Fund's Accounts Section, primarily focused on maintaining the integrity and accuracy of financial records and participant data. The core purpose is to support the efficient administration of pension contributions and benefits by meticulously recording and reconciling complex accounting and bank transactions in multiple currencies. This includes setting up benefit receivables, actively assisting in the recovery of pension overpayments, and diligently reviewing and resolving contribution discrepancies. The role also contributes significantly to updating participant records and preparing essential financial memoranda. By responding to queries and assisting with data analysis and reporting, the Accounting Assistant ensures transparent information sharing and supports informed decision-making, directly contributing to the Fund's mandate of providing vital retirement, death, and disability benefits to staff and beneficiaries worldwide.

Responsibilities

The Accounting Assistant undertakes a range of critical duties to support the financial operations of the Accounts Section. This includes meticulously recording and reconciling complex accounting transactions, alongside examining and accurately recording all bank transactions. A significant responsibility involves reconciling intricate bank accounts across various currencies to ensure financial precision. The role also encompasses setting up receivables for benefits due to retirees and beneficiaries, and actively assisting in the recovery of pension overpayments. Furthermore, the assistant is tasked with reviewing and reconciling pension contribution discrepancies to facilitate their resolution and providing support in updating pension participants' records. Communication is key, involving the drafting and preparation of write-off memoranda and responding to queries from both staff members and external third parties. The assistant also contributes to data management by assisting with visualizations and updating information materials such as web pages or brochures. A crucial analytical component involves assisting with the collection and analysis of data, as well as preparing comprehensive data presentations and reports essential for information sharing, responding to queries, knowledge management, strategic planning, and informed decision-making. Additional duties may be performed as required to support the section's objectives.

Work Experience

A minimum of five years of experience in accounting, finance, or administrative services is required, reduced to three years for candidates with a first-level university degree. Desirable experience includes at least one year in a post-employment benefit scheme, proficiency with Integrated Pension Administration System (IPAS) or similar ERP systems, experience within the UN common system or comparable international organizations, and one year or more in data analytics.

Skills

Professionalism: Knowledge of financial rules, accounting practices, accurate record-keeping, data interpretation, analysis, discrepancy resolution (MS Excel), data modeling for decision-making, meeting deadlines, persistence, calm under pressure, gender perspective. Planning & Organizing: Goal setting, priority management, resource allocation, risk assessment, monitoring, time efficiency. Accountability: Ownership, delivering outputs, compliance, oversight, responsibility.

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