Accounting Assistant

Scope: This position is located in the Accounts Section of the Pension Administration of the Regional United Nations Joint Staff Pension Fund (UNJSPF). The Accounts Section monitors the pension contributions and the benefit overpayments, performs bank reconciliation, and conducts periodic financial reporting of the regional mission. The incumbent reports to the Chief of the Section.

United Nations Considerations:

The United Nations {UN} staff members are international civil servants subject to the authority of the UN Secretary General and may be assigned to any activities or offices of the Organization, in accordance with the provisions of the UN service code. Therefore, UN staff members are expected to conduct themselves in a manner befitting their status as international civil servants. In this connection, UN has incorporated the 2013 Standards of Conduct for the International Civil Service into the UN Personnel Instructions. In accordance with the UN Staff Regulations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity. Due regard shall be paid to the importance of recruiting staff on as wide a geographical basis as possible and ensuring equal gender representation. Subject to the foregoing, selection of staff members shall be made without distinction as to race, ethnicity, sex or religion, nor shall there be any discrimination on account of any disability of a candidate who meets the qualifications required to perform the tasks. Applicants must provide complete and accurate information pertaining to their personal profile and qualifications with their recent CV and cover letter according to the instructions provided in the application form to be considered for the current job opening.

Typical Responsibilities:

• Performs a wide range of office support and administrative functions.
• Responds or drafts memoranda, responses to routine correspondence and other communications to various offices, departments and overseas offices; uses standard word processing package to produce a wide variety of large, complex documents and reports.
• Monitors, examines and processes schedules related to pension contribution remittances from member organizations using Integrated Pension Administration System (IPAS).
• Assists in the processing of pension contribution reporting from UNJSPF member organizations. This includes, amongst other things, calculating, inputting, and checking pension contributions for correctness and communicating discrepancies to supervisors.
• Generates a variety of reports using IPAS.
• Assists in recording, analyzing and reconciling accounting transactions and bank accounts with transactions in various currencies.
• Manage and consolidate large documents (MS Word) and financial tables (Excel) with attention to details.
• Proofreads documents and edits texts for accuracy, grammar, punctuation and style, and for adherence to established standards for format.
• Updates and maintains distribution lists; monitors responses from the distribution list, prepares and distributes status reports.
• Maintains files (both paper and electronic) and databases for work unit.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Key Competencies-

• PROFESSIONALISM: Knowledge of the Organization’s financial rules and regulations as well as accounting policies and practices. Ability to maintain accurate records, interpret and analyze a wide variety of data. Ability to identify and resolve data discrepancies and other problems. Shows pride in work and in achievements; demonstrates professional competence and mastery of subject matter; is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results; is motivated by professional rather than personal concerns; shows persistence when faced with difficult problems or challenges; remains calm in stressful situations. Takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work.

 TEAMWORK: Works collaboratively with colleagues to achieve organizational goals; solicits input by genuinely valuing others’ ideas and expertise; is willing to learn from others; places team agenda before personal agenda; supports and acts in accordance with final group decision, even when such decisions may not entirely reflect own position; shares credit for team accomplishments and accepts joint responsibility for team shortcomings.

• ACCOUNTABILITY: Takes ownership of all responsibilities and honours commitments; delivers outputs for which one has responsibility within prescribed time, cost and quality standards; operates in compliance with organizational regulations and rules; supports subordinates, provides oversight and takes responsibility for delegated assignments; takes personal responsibility for his/her own shortcomings and those of the work unit, where applicable.
• EDUCATION: High school diploma, equivalent or higher qualification.
• WORK EXPERIENCE: A minimum of three years of experience in accounting, finance or related area is required. Relevant experience in the United Nations system or similar international organization is desirable. Accounting experience in post-employment benefits scheme is desirable. Experience in a large ERP system is desirable.
• LANGUAGES: English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the post advertised, fluency in oral and written English is required. Knowledge of another official United Nations language is an advantage.