Finance Assistant

This position is located in the Regional Office for Central America and the Caribbean (ROPAN) in Panama, Division for Operations (DO), United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) in Panama City, Panama. The Finance Assistant will work under the overall guidance of the UNODC ROPAN Representative, and the direct supervision of the Assistant Administrative Officer. For more information on UNODC, please visit the website at www.unodc.org

Within assigned authority, the incumbent will be responsible for the following finance and administrative duties: Finance • Provide all service payments for goods and services to third parties, consultants, individuals, vendors, United Nations (UN) service providers, implementing partners and reimbursement to staff. • Provide support in the review and process of payments in a timely and accurate manner, in accordance with UN Financial Regulations and Rules, and monitor open vendor items to ensure timely recovery of payments and assist in analysing relevant accounts receivables and payables. • Prepare Fund Commitments for services, UN agencies or required payments, and reconcile the related inter-office vouchers (eIOVs) as required. • Monitor payment statuses, identify exceptions or rejected payments along with the possible underlying causes, and take corrective actions. Notify payees on the status of payments. • Serve as the Petty Cash Custodian in accordance with the Delegation of Authority (DoA), ensuring timely replenishments and accurate reporting. • Liaise with counterparts at the UN Financial Services (UNOV/DM/FRMS, UNHQ, etc.) to clear receivables and net payments. • Compile data extracted from the financial system and from other relevant source documents to review the outstanding commitments, advances, Goods Receipt/ Invoice Receipt (GR/IR) balance using the financial systems such as the SharePoint Financial Dashboard, Analytics and the UN’s own applicable Enterprise Resources Planning system (SAP system, Umoja); assist in the preparation of year-end reports and in various financial exercises during the year (clearing of open items, mass closure, accruals). • Assist with the review and analysis of ROPAN accounts by extracting data from the accounting system, investigating financial records and preparing accounting vouchers and corrections to record a wide variety of financial transactions. • Conduct financial data analyses, using various data sources, such as UMOJA, and prepare information using advanced financial office software solutions. • Assist in the preparation of non-core yearly cost estimates and allotments for the ROPAN Office in Panamá. • Assist with the collection and analysis of data as well as preparation of data presentations and reports for information sharing, responding to queries, knowledge management, planning and decision making. • Perform other work-related duties as assigned. Administration: • Support with administrative and logistical services for the office. • Provide administrative and operational support for the implementation of project obligations and activities and monitor deadlines, pending actions and follow-up activities. • Provide support with the preparation of Field Office Budget (FOB) procurement plans. • Draft routine correspondence, memoranda and reports. • Maintain administrative and financial files and records, both electronic and in hard copy. • Assist in the preparation of presentation materials using appropriate technology/software.

Professionalism: Has knowledge of, and ability to apply, financial rules, regulations and procedures in the UN environment. Has the ability to maintain accurate records, review and interpret a wide variety of data. Has knowledge, skills and ability to extract, interpret, analyse and format data across the full range of finance and budget functions, including programme development and database management. Has the ability to perform analysis, modelling and interpretation of data in support of decision-making. 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. Demonstrates commitment to implementing the goal of gender equality by ensuring the equal participation and full involvement of women and men in all aspects of work. 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. Client Orientation: Considers all those to whom services are provided to be “clients” and seeks to see things from clients’ point of view; establishes and maintains productive partnerships with clients by gaining their trust and respect; identifies clients’ needs and matches them to appropriate solutions; monitors ongoing developments inside and outside the clients’ environment to keep informed and anticipate problems; keeps clients informed of progress or setbacks in projects; meets timeline for delivery of products or services to client.

High school diploma or equivalent is required.

Not available.

A minimum of three (3) years of progressively responsible work experience in finance, accounting, budget, administrative services, procurement support, or related area is required. The minimum years of relevant experience is reduced to one (1) for candidates who possess a first-level university degree or higher. Work experience with an Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system is required. Work experience using SAP-databased financial systems (such as Umoja), including processing payments, reviewing payments, financial data, preparing financial reports, and performing accounts reconciliations is desirable. Work experience in general office support or related area is desirable. One (1) year or more of experience in data analytics or related area is desirable. Work experience within the UN Common System or a similar International Organization is desirable.

Evaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise and competency-based interview.

The appointment against this position is limited to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime. THIS IS A FIXED TERM LIMITED POSITION. Appointment against this project post is for an initial period of one (1) year. The candidate selected for this position will be granted a fixed-term appointment limited (“FTA-limited”) in accordance with section 2.2 (c) of administrative instruction ST/AI/2025/3 on Administration of appointments. Renewal of appointment is contingent upon continued existence of mandate and availability of funding. If this position is discontinued, the incumbent will be separated from service. United Nations Secretariat staff members who meet the definition of "internal candidate" in staff rule 4.10 who are selected for this position will be reassigned or transferred to the position, without a lien to their parent position. This position is subject to local recruitment pursuant to staff rule 4.4 of the United Nations Staff Rules. Applicants for positions in the General Service and related categories must be authorized to work for the United Nations in the duty station where the position is located. Eligible applicants selected from outside the duty station are responsible for any expenses in connection with their relocation to the duty station. Staff members subject to local recruitment are not eligible for allowances or benefits exclusively applicable to international recruitment. Staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General and to assignment by him or her. In this context, staff are expected to move periodically to new functions in their career in accordance with established rules and procedures. At the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the recruitment and employment of staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence and integrity, with due regard to geographic diversity. All employment decisions are made on the basis of qualifications and organizational needs. The United Nations is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment of mutual respect. The United Nations recruits and employs staff regardless of gender identity, sexual orientation, race, religious, cultural and ethnic backgrounds or disabilities. Reasonable accommodation for applicants with disabilities may be provided to support participation in the recruitment process when requested and indicated in the application. The United Nations Secretariat is committed to achieving 50/50 gender balance and geographical diversity in its staff. Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply for this position. The movement of staff members from the General Service and related categories to the Professional category in the United Nations Secretariat is exclusively allowed through the Young Professionals Programme competitive examinations. Only few staff members pass the competitive examinations. Passing the competitive examinations does not guarantee movement to the Professional category. For further information, please visit https://careers.un.org/lbw/home.aspx?viewtype=GP

According to 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. Candidates will not be considered for employment with the United Nations if they have committed violations of international human rights law, violations of international humanitarian law, sexual exploitation, sexual abuse, or sexual harassment, or if there are reasonable grounds to believe that they have been involved in the commission of any of these acts. The term “sexual exploitation” means any actual or attempted abuse of a position of vulnerability, differential power, or trust, for sexual purposes, including, but not limited to, profiting monetarily, socially or politically from the sexual exploitation of another. The term “sexual abuse” means the actual or threatened physical intrusion of a sexual nature, whether by force or under unequal or coercive conditions. The term “sexual harassment” means any unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature that might reasonably be expected or be perceived to cause offence or humiliation, when such conduct interferes with work, is made a condition of employment or creates an intimidating, hostile or offensive work environment, and when the gravity of the conduct warrants the termination of the perpetrator’s working relationship. Candidates who have committed crimes other than minor traffic offences may not be considered for employment. Due regard will be paid to the importance of recruiting the staff on as wide a geographical basis as possible. The United Nations places no restrictions on the eligibility of men and women to participate in any capacity and under conditions of equality in its principal and subsidiary organs. The United Nations Secretariat is a non-smoking environment. Reasonable accommodation may be provided to applicants with disabilities upon request, to support their participation in the recruitment process. By accepting a letter of appointment, staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General, who may assign them to any of the activities or offices of the United Nations in accordance with staff regulation 1.2 (c). Further, staff members in the Professional and higher category up to and including the D-2 level and the Field Service category are normally required to move periodically to discharge functions in different duty stations under conditions established in ST/AI/2023/3 on Mobility, as may be amended or revised. This condition of service applies to all position specific job openings and does not apply to temporary positions. Applicants are urged to carefully follow all instructions available in the online recruitment platform, inspira, and to refer to the Applicant Guide by clicking on “Manuals” in the “Help” tile of the inspira account-holder homepage. The evaluation of applicants will be conducted on the basis of the information submitted in the application according to the evaluation criteria of the job opening and the applicable internal legislations of the United Nations including the Charter of the United Nations, resolutions of the General Assembly, the Staff Regulations and Rules, administrative issuances and guidelines. Applicants must provide complete and accurate information pertaining to their personal profile and qualifications according to the instructions provided in inspira to be considered for the current job opening. No amendment, addition, deletion, revision or modification shall be made to applications that have been submitted. Candidates under serious consideration for selection will be subject to reference checks to verify the information provided in the application. All external candidates recruited in accordance with section ‎2.2 (a) of ST/AI/2025/3 for a fixed term appointment without limitation and all external candidates recruited in accordance with section 2.2. (c) of ST/AI/2025/3 for a fixed term appointment limited to the entity are subject to an initial probationary period of one year under a fixed-term appointment. Job openings advertised on the Careers Portal will be removed at 11:59 p.m. (New York time) on the deadline date.

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