Organizational Settings

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) works with Member Countries to achieve food security, reduce hunger and malnutrition, and promote sustainable and resilient agrifood systems. FAO provides technical assistance and policy support to strengthen national capacities and advance the 2030 Agenda.

Within FAO, the Emergency Centre for Transboundary Animal Diseases (ECTAD) supports countries in preventing, detecting and responding to high-impact animal health threats, zoonoses, and antimicrobial resistance (AMR), through strengthened preparedness, surveillance, and One Health collaboration.

In Bangladesh, FAO ECTAD works closely with government counterparts and development partners to support effective programme delivery, operational compliance, and evidence-based planning.

Reporting Lines

Under the overall supervision of the FAO Representative (FAOR) in Bangladesh and the direct supervision of the International Operations Specialist, the Finance Coordination Assistant will work in close collaboration with ECTAD programme staff and the FAO Country Office support units to ensure sound financial coordination and compliance in project implementation.

Technical Focus
    
The Finance Coordination Assistant (SC5) will provide financial, administrative, and operational support to the ECTAD Programme, ensuring accurate financial processing, budget monitoring, reconciliation of expenditures, and timely reporting in accordance with FAO rules and procedures.

Tasks and Responsibilities

The Finance Coordination Assistant will perform the following duties:

•     Assist in programme administration and maintain accurate and up-to-date financial records of all disbursements and receipts under the ECTAD Programme.
•     Process programme payments and follow up on invoices, ensuring compliance with FAO budget limits, thresholds, and regulations.
•     Reconcile expenditures, balances, payment statements, and daily financial transactions, addressing discrepancies with team members and service providers.
•     Support procurement workflows by preparing and submitting Purchase Requests (PRs) and tracking their status against issued Purchase Orders (POs).
•     Review, prepare, and process Disbursement Vouchers (DVs).
•     Monitor project financial reports (project status reports, financial statements, transaction listings) and maintain continuous awareness of project account balances.
•     Reconcile programme cash advances, Operational Petty Cash (OPC), and petty cash accounts, maintaining outstanding advance records and ensuring timely settlement.
•     Prepare detailed cost estimates and contribute to budget analysis and annual financial projections as required.
•     Support budget monitoring, Letters of Agreement (LOAs), and tracking of payment status against FAO commitments.
•     Assist in maintaining HR records and support the submission of timecards in GRMS.
•     Review and process local travel claims in line with FAO procedures and submit for budget holder approval.
•     Perform other duties as assigned.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

•     Bachelor’s degree in finance, accounting, business administration, public management, or a related field relevant to FAO’s mandate.
•     At least five (5) years of progressively responsible experience in finance, programme coordination, operations, data processing, or office support functions.
•     Working knowledge of English and Bengali.
•     National of Bangladesh.

FAO Core Competencies

•     Results Focus
•     Teamwork
•     Communication
•     Building Effective Relationships
•     Knowledge Sharing and Continuous Improvement

Technical/Functional Skills

•     Proven experience in finance and administrative support roles, preferably within development projects, UN agencies, NGOs, or large organizations.
•     Strong knowledge of financial procedures, invoice processing, disbursement tracking, and reconciliation of accounts.
•     Proven experience in maintaining accurate financial records, processing payments, reconciliations, and supporting budget monitoring.
•     Demonstrated ability to work independently, meet deadlines, and perform under minimal supervision in a fast-paced environment.
•     Working knowledge of corporate ERP/financial systems and strong proficiency in MS Office applications.
•     Experience supporting procurement and operational workflows, including preparation and follow-up of PRs and payments.
•     Excellent organizational and multitasking skills, with strong attention to detail and accuracy.
•     Strong communication skills, both written and verbal, with ability to coordinate effectively with multiple stakeholders.
•     Proficiency in MS Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Google Workspace, and experience working with ERP platforms.
•     Ability to work collaboratively within a team environment while also managing responsibilities independently.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION