Finance & Administrative Officer
Organizational Context
The UNESCO International Institute for Educational Planning (IIEP) is a specialized organization within the UN system, dedicated to supporting educational policy, planning, and management. Established in 1963, IIEP assists ministries of education globally through capacity development programs including training, technical assistance, research, and knowledge sharing. With offices in Paris, Dakar, and Buenos Aires, IIEP-UNESCO in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) focuses on developing relevant and sustainable educational policies through diagnostic analyses and methodological tools, contributing to knowledge creation for the education sector.
Job Purpose
The Finance and Administrative Officer provides essential administrative and support services for the IIEP office in Buenos Aires, ensuring adherence to UNESCO's rules, regulations, policies, and practices. Reporting to the IIEP Director and Head of Office, with functional guidance from the IIEP Finance and Operations Manager in Paris, this role is crucial for the smooth operation of the office. The officer advises on all administrative, financial, budgetary, human resources, IT, and security matters, and supports discussions with partner countries. Key responsibilities include ensuring compliance with financial and HR regulations, contributing to policy development, and drafting procedural directives. This position is vital for maintaining the financial health and operational efficiency of IIEP's activities in the Latin America and Caribbean region.
Responsibilities
The Finance and Administrative Officer is responsible for advising and supporting the Head of Office on all administrative, budget, financial, human resources, premises, IT, and security matters. This includes ensuring compliance with UNESCO policies and regulations, and participating in the development of house-wide policies. The role involves assisting with planning and budgeting, advising on funding proposals, and negotiating donor agreements. The officer will prepare and review budgets, agreements, and donor reports, and oversee cost recovery for financial sustainability. Key financial duties include ensuring accurate accounting, monitoring financial status of projects, acting as a Certifying Officer, establishing accounting procedures and internal controls, supervising billing and income, and managing fixed assets. The role also entails supervising the Finance and Administrative team and contributing to global financial accountabilities. In Human Resources, the officer ensures staffing tables and HR data are updated, supports staff with HR processes, administers daily HR issues, and issues non-staff contracts. Logistical and administrative responsibilities include supervising the maintenance of facilities, IT coordination, maintaining inventory and filing systems, safeguarding assets, and ensuring adequate insurance coverage. The officer also acts as the Office's Focal Point for safety and security, collaborating with security officials and ensuring compliance with UN security policies.
Work Experience
A minimum of four years of relevant professional experience in finance and administration is required. Experience with an Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system, preferably SAP, is also needed.
Skills
Proficiency in interpreting administrative guidelines and resolving issues in HR, finance, and budgeting. Strong interpersonal, managerial, and supervisory skills. Excellent analytical and problem-solving abilities. High reliability, responsiveness, and a service-oriented attitude. Ability to build effective working relationships in multicultural settings. Discretion, tact, and good judgment. Capacity for independent work, initiative, prioritization, and time management. Excellent oral and written communication skills. Ability to work under pressure with attention to detail. Strong IT skills, including Microsoft Office Suite. Understanding of UNESCO's operational context in Latin America and the Caribbean is desirable.