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UNICEF works in over 190 countries and territories to save children’s lives, defend their rights, and help them fulfill their potential, from early childhood through adolescence.

At UNICEF, we are committed, passionate, and proud of what we do for as long as we are needed. Promoting the rights of every child is not just a job – it is a calling.

UNICEF is a place where careers are built: we offer our staff diverse opportunities for professional and personal development that will help them reinforce a sense of purpose while serving children and communities across the world. We welcome everyone who wants to belong and grow in a diverse and passionate culture, coupled with an attractive compensation and benefits package.

Visit our website to learn more about what we do at UNICEF.

For every child, the right to an education

The Rome Common Services Center (CSC) will be newly established following the relocation of several UNICEF HQ Divisions to Rome, where they will be co-located with WFP HQ. This move is part of the Future Focus Initiative, aimed at achieving cost savings and supporting broader UN80 objectives. The Rome CSC will play a critical role in delivering operational support to all UNICEF Divisions based at WFP HQ, as well as coordinating closely with WFP on the services provided to UNICEF staff.  

Under the supervision of the Senior Finance Associate (G7) in the Rome CSC, the incumbent supports the effective management of Pcard, Master Data Management and Invoicing cases for UNICEF staff based in Rome.  The position is also essential for the performance metrics model which will be established which requires continuous tracking. The incumbent will also be responsible for uploading the results on the Insight dashboard to meet the SLAs (service level agreements) benchmarks and provide an early warning if demand starts to exceed resources or performance starts to slip. The post will support in facilitating the “real time” approach to qualitative assessment and evaluation so that lessons learned can be continuously transformed into good practices and better business processes. The impact directly affects the quality and timeliness of the delivery of a range of different specialized services for which the unit is accountable. Working with a high degree of operational independence, Associate is accountable for the achievement of overall service delivery results to clients. The Associate manages complicated cases and client requests, which frequently requires the evaluation of urgent and complex situations and adaptation of procedures and processes to resolve such cases. Back-up function to Finance Assistant (G5) and Senior Finance Associate (G7).

How can you make a difference? 

Procurement cards

• Acts as as Pcard focal point for issuance, certification and management of all Pcards for all entities in Rome.

Master Data Management

•  Acts as Master Data Management (MDM)  Focal Point Releaser and MDM Local Focal Point (with segregation of duties with other G6 position) for all entities in Rome and ensures the required information and documentation for submitted requests are accurate, provide follow up on any issues and follows through until the request (or case) is completed by GSSC.

Invoicing 

• Act as a Finance Local Focal Point (LFP)  to prepare, submit and monitor requests by ensuring the required information and documentation for submission are accurate, provide follow up on any issues and follows through until the request (or case) is completed by GSSC. Respond to queries from GSSC, contract managers · Liaise with GSSC to facilitate queries and requests prompt resolution, submit requests for vendors’ registration in Service Gateway.  

Knowledge management / Other duties and responsibilities

• Supports the process of feedback collection, analysis and distribution for al finance related transactional cases to ensure accurate and timely services delivery in compliance with UNICEF rules and regulations.  
• Monitors dashboard reports on regular basis and coordinate efforts to ensure necessary action is taken in a timely manner in support of client Divisions. · Regularly monitors and follow up on long overdue open items.  Advise clients on the resolution of issues from streams and facilitate timely communication of responses and solutions in support of effective client services and collaboration with the NY HQ Divisions. 
• Analyzes dashboards, implementation rates of key performance indicators and information/data from various systems and support in data analysis of bottlenecks and challenges, with a view to drive improvements and ensure efficient and effective operational processes and workflows for efficient service delivery.  
• Facilitates the communications and workflow of the organizational unit to enhance the efficiency and timeliness of operations and outputs. 
• Provide backup support to the Senior Finance Associate and Finance Assistant during peak periods and during staff absences.
• Provide other operational technical support as needed.

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…

Minimum requirements:

Education: 

• Completion of secondary education is required. 
• A university degree in Accounting, Finance or Business Administration is an asset. 
• A professional qualification (i.e., CPA, ACA, ACCA, CIMA etc.) from a professional accounting body would be highly desirable.

Work Experience:

• A minimum of six (6) years of relevant experience in contracting, finance, operations and/or other directly related technical fields is required. 
• Experience working with Microsoft Excel spreadsheets, SharePoint and PowerPoint is required.
• Experience working with ERP systems, in particular SAP is required. 
• Experience in working in a multi-cultural environment is an asset.
• Experience in a UN system agency, large private or public company, or experience working in a developing country and/or humanitarian/ emergency context is an asset.

Skills: 

• Knowledge of the concepts relevant to the area of work, including rules and regulations, is required. 
• Demonstrated understanding of contracting processes and ability to consistently apply relevant policies, procedures and good practices in the daily work is required.  
• Ability to consistently apply relevant policies, procedures and good practices in the daily work is required. 
• Good judgment to handle complex cases, including considerations for exceptions. and communicate issues in clear and concise messages is required.
• Ability to develop and maintain effective working relations with clients and colleagues is required. 
• In-depth knowledge of UNICEF modules related to budget, invoicing, MDM and Pcard modules is an asset.

Language Requirements:

• Fluency in English is required. 
• Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) or a local language is an asset. 

For every Child, you demonstrate...

UNICEF’s Core Values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust and Accountability and Sustainability (CRITAS) underpin everything we do and how we do it. Get acquainted with Our Values Charter: UNICEF Values

The UNICEF competencies required for this post are…

(1) Builds and maintains partnerships

(2) Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness

(3) Drive to achieve results for impact

(4) Innovates and embraces change

(5) Manages ambiguity and complexity

(6) Thinks and acts strategically

(7) Works collaboratively with others 

Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels.

UNICEF promotes and advocates for the protection of the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything it does and is mandated to support the realization of the rights of every child, including those most disadvantaged, and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, minority, or any other status.

UNICEF encourages applications from all qualified candidates, regardless of gender, nationality, religious or ethnic backgrounds, and from people with disabilities, including neurodivergence. We offer a wide range of benefits to our staff, including paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF provides reasonable accommodation throughout the recruitment process. If you require any accommodation, please submit your request through the accessibility email button on the UNICEF Careers webpage Accessibility | UNICEF. Should you be shortlisted, please get in touch with the recruiter directly to share further details, enabling us to make the necessary arrangements in advance.

UNICEF does not hire candidates who are married to children (persons under 18). UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination based on gender, nationality, age, race, sexual orientation, religious or ethnic background or disabilities. UNICEF is committed to promote the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check, and selected candidates with disabilities may be requested to submit supporting documentation in relation to their disability confidentially.

UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance.  Issuance of a visa by the host country of the duty station is required for IP positions and will be facilitated by UNICEF. Appointments may also be subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid). Should you be selected for a position with UNICEF, you either must be inoculated as required or receive a medical exemption from the relevant department of the UN. Otherwise, the selection will be canceled.

Remarks:

As per Article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity.

UNICEF is committed to fostering an inclusive, representative, and welcoming workforce. 

Government employees who are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally required to resign from their government positions before taking up an assignment with UNICEF. UNICEF reserves the right to withdraw an offer of appointment, without compensation, if a visa or medical clearance is not obtained, or necessary inoculation requirements are not met, within a reasonable period for any reason. 

UNICEF does not charge a processing fee at any stage of its recruitment, selection, and hiring processes (i.e., application stage, interview stage, validation stage, or appointment and training). UNICEF will not ask for applicants’ bank account information.

General Service Staff are recruited locally. Only suitable and eligible candidates with valid work permits, or EU nationals or Citizens of the country where the position is advertised should apply.

All UNICEF positions are advertised, and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process. An internal candidate performing at the level of the post in the relevant functional area, or an internal/external candidate in the corresponding Talent Group, may be selected, if suitable for the post, without assessment of other candidates.

Additional information about working for UNICEF can be found here.