Finance Associate

Organizational Context

The Finance Associate is supervised by a senior finance colleague, following UNHCR manuals and policies. The role involves processing financial transactions and maintaining contact with internal staff and bank officials. The incumbent may supervise support staff, contributing to UNHCR's mission within delegated authorities and core values of professionalism, integrity, and respect for diversity.

Job Purpose

The Finance Associate's primary purpose is to assist in the processing of financial transactions and maintain robust financial records and monitoring systems. This includes reconciling expenditures, balances, payments, and other financial data for daily operations and reporting. The role involves accurately entering data from various documents, verifying its accuracy, and ensuring all relevant information is included. A key aspect is preparing regular and ad-hoc financial reports for budgeting, audits, and other needs. The associate also provides guidance to staff, experts, and consultants on financial matters such as allowances, advances, and travel claims, calculating and authorizing payments. Maintaining liaison with banks for currency rates and account procedures is also crucial. The role supports risk management by identifying and managing risks and opportunities impacting financial objectives, ensuring risk-based decision-making and reporting concerns to supervisors.

Responsibilities

The Finance Associate is responsible for maintaining financial records and monitoring systems, ensuring accurate recording and reconciliation of expenditures, balances, payments, and other financial data for daily transactions and reports. This involves selecting and entering data from diverse documents, verifying accuracy by checking sources, performing necessary calculations, and ensuring all relevant data is captured. The incumbent prepares recurring reports as scheduled and special reports as required for budget preparation, audits, or other purposes. They advise and assist staff members, experts, and consultants on all aspects of financial matters, including allowances, salary advances, and travel claims, calculating and authorizing payments. Maintaining liaison with local bank officials to obtain daily information on exchange and interest rates, procedural changes, and bank account maintenance is essential. The associate prepares detailed cost estimates and participates in budget analysis and projections. They initiate correspondence to verify data, answer queries, and obtain additional information on accounts and financial transactions. A critical responsibility is verifying that all financial transactions are correct and comply with UNHCR rules and procedures. Furthermore, the role involves supporting the identification and management of risks and seizing opportunities that impact objectives within the area of responsibility, ensuring risk-based decision-making and escalating risks, issues, and concerns to supervisors or relevant colleagues. Other related duties as required are also part of the responsibilities.

Work Experience

3 years of relevant experience with a High School Diploma, or 2 years of relevant work experience with a Bachelor's degree or equivalent. Essential: High IT affinity (MS Office, PeopleSoft). Desirable: Cloud ERP knowledge, UN/UNHCR financial rules and procedures, and completion of relevant UNHCR learning programs.

Skills

Financial Record Maintenance Financial Monitoring Systems Expenditure Reconciliation Payment Processing Budget Analysis Cost Estimation Data Entry and Verification Report Preparation Liaison with Banks Risk Management MS Office Proficiency PeopleSoft

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