Under the overall guidance and supervision of the UNDP Finance and Assurance Analyst, the Finance Assistant provides support in execution of financial services in the Country Office, ensuring effective and transparent utilization of financial resources and integrity of financial services. The Finance Assistant promotes a client- oriented approach consistent with UNDP rules and regulations.

The Finance Assistant works in close collaboration with the operations, programme and project teams in the CO, UNDP Global Shared Services Unit (GSSU) and Headquarters staff to resolve financial management and operational-related issues and information delivery, performing a variety of standard administrative processes and ensuring high quality and accuracy of work.

The Finance Assistant will provide effective support to the Finance and Assurance team to meet with increasing demands for high quality financial services from programme units, Common Back Office, UNDSS and other UN agencies. Incumbent is expected to work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude and display a strong client orientation. As such s/he will display flexibility in performing other emerging tasks and additional duties as required.

The Finance Assistant reports directly to Finance and Assurance Analyst.

UNDP is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply.

• Ensuring full compliance with UN/UNDP rules, regulations, and policies of financial processes, financial records, reports, and follow-up on audit recommendations; implementation of effective internal controls framework in compliance with IPSAS.
• Supporting to CO finance business processes mapping and monitoring and implementation of the internal standard operating procedures in finance in consultation with the direct supervisor.
• Collection and consolidation of financial information for further analyses and reporting by the Finance and Assurance Analyst.

• Providing support for all financial management transactions in compliance with IPSAS.
• Proper control of the supporting documents for payments; reviewing of financial reports for NEX projects; assist in managing the CO management projects.
• Initiatives of correspondences to verify data, answering queries and obtain additional information on accounts and financial transactions.
• Maintenance of the internal expenditures control system which ensures that vouchers processed are matched and completed, transactions are correctly recorded and posted in Atlas; payrolls are duly prepared; travel claims, MPOs and other entitlements are duly processed.
• Timely corrective actions on unposted vouchers, including the vouchers with budget check errors, match exceptions, unapproved vouchers; timely response to HQ requests to resolve financial data issues.
• Maintenance of the Accounts Receivables for UNDP projects and follow up with partners on contributions, deposits creation in Atlas and their application to AR pending items.
• Proper receipting of goods and services and establishment of accruals.
• Maintain an effective filing system
• Collect of supporting documents for payments and communications with programme team
• Support in recording financial transactions
• Provide other administrative support as required

• Any other functions or responsibilities which may be assigned by the UNDP management.
• The incumbent is expected to contribute to the work of UNDP in all practice areas; and, as appropriate in UNDP, may be assigned to other practice or sub-practice portfolios.
• Participate in capacity building and knowledge sharing:

• Participate in training for operations/project staff in the area of ​​finance;
• Contribution to the various UNDP knowledge networks, in particular share of good practices and experience;
• Support the Finance Officer in the implementation of the capacity building plan in the area of ​​his/her intervention.

Core competencies:

Achieve Results:

LEVEL 1: Plans and monitors own work, pays attention to details, delivers quality work by deadline

Think Innovatively:

LEVEL 1: Open to creative ideas/known risks, is pragmatic problem solver, makes improvements

Learn Continuously:

LEVEL 1: Open minded and curious, shares knowledge, learns from mistakes, asks for feedback

Adapt with Agility:

LEVEL 1: Adapts to change, constructively handles ambiguity/uncertainty, is flexible

Act with Determination:

LEVEL 1: Shows drive and motivation, able to deliver calmly in face of adversity, confident

Engage and Partner:

LEVEL 1: Demonstrates compassion/understanding towards others, forms positive relationships

Enable Diversity and Inclusion:

LEVEL 1: Appreciate/respect differences, aware of unconscious bias, confront discrimination

Technical Competencies:

Documents and records management

Overall document (hard or electronic) management; registry and retention policy including storing and archiving

Accounting (General)

Knowledge of accounting concepts, principles, frameworks, standards, regulations, policies and trends, and ability to apply this to strategic and/or practical situations

• Secondary Education with specialized training in Accounting and Finance. 
• A minimum four (4) years with secondary education, or two (2) years with Bachelors’ degree of relevant experience in finance, accounting, administration or programme support service.
• Experience in the usage of computers and office software packages (MS Word, Excel, etc.
• Ability to perform a variety of specialized activities related to financial resources management, including maintaining Accounts Receivables and Accounts Payables, making transactions, reporting.
• Sound knowledge of financial rules and regulations.
• Ability to carry out qualitative and quantitative analyses
• Fluency in English and Vietnamese

Desired skills:

• University Degree in Accounting and Finance would be desirable.
• Part-qualified accountants from an internationally recognized institute of accountancy will have a distinct advantage.
• Experience in handling of web-based management systems and ERP financials, preferably PeopleSoft.
• Experience of working with spreadsheet and database packages.
• Experience of UNDP programme practices are an asset.

Important applicant information

All posts in the NPSA categories are subject to local recruitment.

Applicant information about UNDP rosters

Note: UNDP reserves the right to select one or more candidates from this vacancy announcement.  We may also retain applications and consider candidates applying to this post for other similar positions with UNDP at the same grade level and with similar job description, experience and educational requirements.

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Contract Duration: 01 year with possibility of extension