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. 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 personal and professional development that will help them develop a fulfilling career while delivering on a rewarding mission. We pride ourselves on a culture that helps staff thrive, coupled with an attractive compensation and benefits package.

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

For every child, hope

The Finance Assistant is responsible for executing a broad variety of standardized financial tasks for Operations section requiring thorough knowledge of UNICEF administrative and financial procedures, processes, and policies.

How can you make a difference? 

In this role, it is essential to project the image of a reliable and efficient financial assistant. We are looking for a profile that not only maintains high standards in the quality of financial process delivery but also brings innovation to process simplification. The work performed has a direct impact on the reputation of both the office and the team, particularly in terms of responsiveness to stakeholder needs and the accuracy and efficiency of administrative and financial process execution.

This position focuses on two main functions: cash disbursement and travel management. It involves coordinating payments across all areas, ensuring that the data entered in VISION (SAP) is accurate and validated by the Budget Owner. Additionally, bank liquidity is monitored to guarantee sufficient cash flow in the paying accounts, in line with the Headquarters' guidelines.

Summary of key functions/accountabilities:
• Travel
• Cash Management: Bank, Petty Cash Account, Prepaid Cards
• Invoice Processing
• HACT: FACE Request & DCT Liquidation refund
• General Finance Duties

Travel

• Provides travel assistance to all staff for travel arrangements and entitlements based on the organization’s rules and policies. Liaises with relevant travel focal points to ensure that the organization obtains the best service and price for all travel.
• Briefs/de-briefs staff members on issues relating to related administrative matters such as visas, security clearance, documentation procedures.
• Extracts, inputs, maintains, and verifies correctness of travel records in the organization’s travel system to ensure accurate transactions related to travel costs and staff travel.
• Assists in the preparation of budgets on travel costs and maintain travel budgetary control records.
• Provides support to their supervisor in developing and maintaining monitoring dashboards for travel-related information to identify bottlenecks and key issues.
• Ensures timely payment of all travel costs and maintenance of the account with the travel agency.
• Monitors travel certification and report back to the team.
• Maintains the database of travel reports.
• Reviews, streamlines and updates travel SOP.

Cash Management

Bank
• Maintains financial records and monitoring systems to record and reconcile expenditures, balances, payments, statements and other data for day-to-day transactions and reports.
• Code and record receipts and payments, assures accuracy of computation and completeness of documents, and maintains continuing status of allotments against obligations.
• Updates data base system on files management.
• Retains and disposes financial records in accordance with UNICEF’s retention policy on financial documents.
• Liaises with officials of local banks to obtain day-to-day information on exchange and interest rates, changes in procedures and regulations, and matters pertaining to maintenance of office house bank accounts.

Petty Cash Custodian
• Acts as Petty Cash Custodian.
• Ensures the proper custody and administration of the Petty Cash account, complies with policy and established procedures, using funds only for authorized purposes.

Prepaid Card Alternate Cardholder
• Acts as alternate prepaid cardholder.
• Supports the proper custody and administration of the prepaid cards, complies with policy and established procedures, using funds only for authorized purposes.

Invoice Processing

• Receives the requests of payments and their support documentation according to local SOP.
• Reviews all the documentation received and ensures compliance, requests changes/corrections if needed.
• Submits payment cases to the GSSC through Service Gateway, according to policy and procedures.
• Daily monitoring of house bank GL for manual payments (Manager Checks & Others).
• Works closely with HR/People & Culture regarding the onboarding of new staff to assign the appropriate percentage contribution to LSA and manages additional payments or deduction requests through the Payroll module/VISION in accordance with financial procedures.
• Responsible for managing invoice requests for Operations, in close coordination with relevant areas to ensure the availability of supporting information/documents.
• Validates payment transactions in VISION against supporting documents and follows up on any inconsistencies or discrepancies.
• Acts as the Local Focal Point for payments request by Individual Contractors, sent directly to the GSSC.
• Responds to GSSC queries on payment transactions that have been returned or rejected as Finance Local Focal Point.
• Responds to client and vendors inquiries regarding the status of payment transactions.

HACT: FACE Request & DCT Liquidation refund

• Ensures that payments to Implementing Partners have been processed by the bank without any issues.
• Monitors all HACT transactions related to Refund Requests, ensuring that the amount to be refunded aligns with the FACE, and validates the receipt of funds from the IP into UNICEF’s bank account.
• Records the Refund Receipt in zHACT 2.0, matching it with the appropriate unapplied receipt, by attaching the supporting documents and submitting it for approval.
• Ensures that all Refund Receipt transactions are verified in zHACT 2.0.

General Finance Duties

• Maintains hard and electronic files and updates database systems ensuring timely and appropriate recording, safekeeping, and disposal of confidential information.
• Provides support in the monthly and year-end account closure and assists in the preparation of year-end reports related to accounts receivable, accounts payable, prepayment, advances, and deposits.
• Supports the preparation of all documentation required for VAT claims, acting also as alternate to the other Finance Assistant in the section.
• Supports improvement of financial processes, develops Standard Operating Procedures (SOP), and provides training to all involved parties.

The efficiency and effectiveness of the support provided by the Finance Assistant have a direct impact on the optimal, appropriate, and effective use of resources. This includes efficient financial recording, accounting, and reporting, which in turn enhances management oversight, decision- making and quality control.

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

The following requirements:

• Education: Completion of secondary education is required*, preferably supplemented by technical or university courses related to finance, accounting, business administration or other relevant academic discipline.

*A bachelor’s degree from a recognized academic institution in a field relevant to the position may replace three years of related work experience. A master’s degree may replace an additional two years.

• Work Experience: A minimum of five years of progressively responsible administrative, finance, accounting or clerical work experience is required. 

• The following skills: Analyzing, learning and researching, planning and organization, and ability to follow instructions and procedures.  

• Language Requirements: Fluency in Spanish is required. Knowledge of English at a proficient level is required. Knowledge of local language of the duty station (such as Quechua, Aimara, Ashaninka or Shipibo-Konibo) is highly desirable. Knowledge of another official UN language is considered 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 and (7) Works collaboratively with others.

Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels.

UNICEF is here to serve the world’s most disadvantaged children, and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, or any other personal characteristic.

We offer a wide range of benefits to our staff, including paid parental leave, time off for breastfeeding purposes, and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF strongly encourages the use of flexible working arrangements.

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. UNICEF is committed to promoting the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will 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.

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’s active commitment to diversity and inclusion is critical to deliver the best results for children. For this position, eligible and suitable local native candidates, young professionals, gender diverse groups and professionals with disabilities are encouraged to apply.

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. 

Visa residence requirements: i.e.: UNICEF shall not facilitate the issuance of a visa and working authorization for candidates under consideration for positions at the national officer and general service category.

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.

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.