ACCOUNTING ASSISTANT

Organizational Context

The United Nations Joint Staff Pension Fund (UNJSPF) provides retirement, death, disability, and related benefits to UN staff and other member organizations. Administering benefits for over 90,000 beneficiaries globally, UNJSPF has offices in New York and Geneva, with liaison offices in Nairobi and Bangkok. The Pension Administration, comprising 282 staff across four duty stations, is located in New York.

Job Purpose

This role is within the Accounts Section of the UNJSPF Pension Administration in New York. The Accounts Section is responsible for monitoring pension contributions, managing benefit overpayments, performing bank reconciliations, and conducting financial reporting. The Accounting Assistant will support these functions by recording and reconciling complex accounting transactions, examining and recording bank transactions, setting up receivables, assisting in recovering overpayments, and resolving contribution discrepancies. The position contributes to the accurate and efficient financial operations of the Pension Fund, ensuring timely and correct processing of benefits and contributions for participants and beneficiaries worldwide.

Responsibilities

Record and reconcile complex accounting transactions, including examining and processing bank transactions and reconciling bank accounts in various currencies. Set up receivables for retiree/beneficiary benefits and assist in recovering pension overpayments. Review and reconcile pension contribution discrepancies to ensure accuracy. Update pension participant records and prepare write-off memoranda and correspondence to relevant offices and beneficiaries. Respond to queries from staff members and third parties regarding pension accounts. Assist in data collection, analysis, and preparation of reports and presentations for information sharing and decision-making. Support the visualization and updating of information materials, such as web pages or brochures. Perform other related duties as required.

Work Experience

A minimum of five years of experience in accounting, finance, or administrative services is required. This is reduced to three years for candidates with a first-level university degree. Experience in post-employment benefit schemes, ERP systems like IPAS, the UN common system, or data analytics is desirable.

Skills

Professionalism, Planning & Organizing, Accountability, MS Excel proficiency, data analysis, financial rules and regulations, accounting policies and practices, record maintenance, problem-solving, communication.

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