Finance Assistant
Organizational Context
This Finance Assistant position is based in the Regional Office for Southern Africa (ROSAF) of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) in Pretoria, South Africa. The role operates within the Division for Operations and reports to the Regional Representative and the Finance Assistant, supporting the office's financial and programme administration.
Job Purpose
The Finance Assistant provides essential financial and programme administration support for the implementation of UNODC programmes within the Regional Office for Southern Africa (ROSAF). This role is crucial for maintaining efficient financial management, ensuring compliance with UNODC regulations, and supporting the overall operational effectiveness of the office. The incumbent will process payments, manage expenditures, reconcile accounts, and contribute to financial reporting, directly impacting the successful execution of UNODC's mandate in the region. This position requires meticulous attention to detail and adherence to established financial procedures and internal controls.
Responsibilities
The Finance Assistant is responsible for providing comprehensive financial and programme administration support. Key duties include ensuring full compliance with UNODC rules and internal controls, processing payments to third parties, and managing accounting and administrative tasks for ROSAF. The role involves coordinating financial workflows using UMOJA and other UN systems, reviewing and analyzing transactions, and maintaining expenditure control systems. Responsibilities also encompass reconciling creditor and debtor accounts, preparing staff accounts, monitoring vehicle records, processing VAT refunds, and maintaining the asset register and finance unit filing system. Additionally, the Finance Assistant will create and manage grants and projects in UMOJA and IPMR, monitor expenditures against budgets, review open commitments, and reconcile payment transactions. Contact with financial institutions, support for internal audits, and assisting with data collection and reporting are also key functions. The role includes contributing to knowledge sharing and performing other assigned duties.
Work Experience
A minimum of five years of work experience in finance, accounting, or a related field is required. This is reduced to three years for candidates with a first-level university degree. Experience with advanced computer applications (MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Internet, Email) and an Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system is mandatory. Experience with SAP/Umoja and within the UN system or a similar international organization is desirable.
Skills
Professionalism, Teamwork, Accountability, Financial analysis, Budget management, Data interpretation, Compliance with regulations, Use of ERP systems (Umoja/SAP), Advanced computer applications (MS Office Suite).