Org. Setting and ReportingThis position is located in the Regional Office for the Middle East and North Africa (ROMENA), Division for Operations (DO), United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). The incumbent will work under supervision of the UNODC Administrative and Finance Officer/ Operations Manager in ROMENA. For more information on UNODC, please visit www.unodc.org. ResponsibilitiesWithin delegated authority, the Finance Assistant will be responsible for the following specific duties: Finance: • Initiate payment requests ensuring that all UN/UNODC financial regulations and rules are adhered to. This includes, amongst other things, calculating, inputting, and checking payments for correctness and communicating discrepancies to concerned colleagues/offices. • Verify the correctness and accuracy of supporting documents submitted by programme/project staff, prepare payment request, make necessary calculations, and assure inclusion of all relevant data when preparing requisitions and vouchers in Umoja. • Prepare funds commitment documents as required; including fund commitments related to payroll for national staff. • Submit banking instructions for vendors through the corresponding SharePoint Application. • Verify the correctness and accuracy of supporting documents submitted by programme/project staff, prepare payment requests, make necessary calculations, and assure inclusion of all relevant data when preparing requisitions and vouchers in Umoja. • Review incoming payment instructions about sources of funds and banking details. • Process payments to personnel, consultants, experts, vendors and other clients. • Manage payments of ROMENA national personnel contracts in a timely manner making sure that expenditures are charged to the appropriate budget lines and commitments, and the budget is consistently monitored with no shortfalls. • Notify payees of status of payments as and when required. • Assist with queries on payment-related issues. • Use UNODC accounting system (Umoja) to record and reconcile expenditures and payments in compliance with UN/UNODC financial regulations and rules. • Review commitments for ROMENA national staff and advise amendments as required • Record and reconcile accounting transactions. • Examine and record financial transactions and prepare remittances for disbursement. • Respond to queries from staff members. • 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. • Review journal voucher requests for the reversal of charges incurred. Budget and Reporting: • Support/assist in the reconciliation of commitments, adjustments and liabilities under programmes/project Umoja financial data. • Assist programme/project colleagues in the analysis of Umoja financial information and reports generated. • Support in extracting information and generating expenditure reports from computerized information system databases; assist in preliminary analysis of the extracted information and the reports generated and highlight areas of concern for the attention of the supervisor. • Assist in the preparation/finalization of budget performance reports, performing preliminary analysis of variances between approved budgets and actual expenditures. • Verify accuracy of input data, ensuring consistency of data in previous allotments to new allotments issued. • Draft/provide financial inputs to Annual Internal Oversight Report (AIOR). General: • Keep up to date on documents/reports/guidelines that have a bearing on matters related to programme budgets, ensuring compliance with intergovernmental recommendations and decisions as well as with United Nations policies and procedures. • Draft routine correspondence with respect to enquiries related to relevant financial and budget matters. • Maintain and keep up-to-date files. • Provide administrative support to the Operations Manager, as required. • 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. • Assist with visualizations and updating information material such as web pages or brochures. • Perform other work-related duties, as assigned. Competencies• PROFESSIONALISM: Knowledge of, and ability to apply financial rules, regulations and procedures in the UN environment. Ability to maintain accurate records, review and interpret a wide variety of data. Ability to identify and resolve data discrepancies and operational problems. 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. 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. Able to perform analysis, modeling and interpretation of data in support of decision-making. • 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. • ACCOUNTABILITY: Takes ownership of all responsibilities and honours commitments; delivers outputs for which one has responsibility within prescribed time, cost and quality standards; operates in compliance with organizational regulations and rules; supports subordinates, provides oversight and takes responsibility for delegated assignments; takes personal responsibility for his/her own shortcomings and those of the work unit, where applicable. EducationHigh school diploma or equivalent is required. Job - Specific QualificationNot available. Work ExperienceA minimum of five years of work experience in finance or related areas is required. The minimum years of relevant experience is reduced to three for candidates who possess a first-level university degree or higher. Experience in the usage of computers and standard MS Office software packages (MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc.) and knowledge of spreadsheet and database packages, experience in handling of web-based management systems is required. Work experience with the United Nations system and/or other international organizations is desirable. At least one year of experience in data analytics or related areas is desirable. Experience in a large Enterprise Resource Planning System is desirable. LanguagesEnglish and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this job opening, English and Arabic are required. The table below shows the minimum required level for each skill in these languages, according to the UN Language Framework (please consult https://languages.un.org for details).