Job: Accounting Assistant, G5

Department/ Office: United Nations Joint Staff Pension Fund

Duty Station: NEW YORK

Posting Period: 8 October 2013-7 November 2013

Job Opening number: 13-FIN-UNJSPF-30436-R-NEW YORK (R) United Nations Core Values: Integrity, Professionalism, Respect for Diversity

Organizational Setting and Reporting

This position is located in the Payments Unit /Financial Services Section of the United Nations Joint Staff Pension Fund. The incumbent will report to the Deputy Chief of the Unit.

Responsibilities

• Under the overall supervision of the Deputy Chief of the Unit, the Accounting Assistant will be responsible for the following duties:
• Fully support the processing of payroll transactions such as changes in payment instructions, deletions, adjustments, suspensions, and reinstatements in the payroll system.
• Prepare journal entries.
• Assist team leader in all activities related to data preparation for Payroll processing, closing, and other related tasks.
• Process recoveries of overpayments.
• Prepare payment invoices to beneficiaries and agencies. This includes, amongst other things, calculating, inputting, and checking payments for correctness and communicating discrepancies to supervisors.
• Draft/prepare memoranda and/or faxes to various offices, departments and overseas offices.
• Respond to queries from beneficiaries, Pension Fund participants, member organizations, and other units/sections.
• Perform other duties as may be required.

Competencies

PROFESSIONALISM:

• Knowledge of the Organization's financial rules and regulations as well as accounting policies and practices.
• Ability to maintain accurate records, interpret and analyze a wide variety of data.
• Ability to identify and resolve data discrepancies and other 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.
• 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.

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.

Education

High school diploma or equivalent.

Work Experience

• A minimum of five years of experience in accounting, finance or related area is required.
• Experience in payroll processing is desirable.
• Experience in pension-related field is desirable. Practical experience in preparing international (SWIFT) payments is desirable.
• Qualifying years of experience are calculated following the receipt of the high school or secondary school diploma.

Languages

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the post advertised, fluency in oral and written English is required. Knowledge of another official United Nations language is an advantage.

Assessment Method

Evaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise which may be followed by a competency-based interview.

Special Notice

Staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General and to assignment by him or her. In this context, all staff are expected to move periodically to new functions in their careers in accordance with established rules and procedures.

Recruitment for this position is done on a local basis, whether or not the candidate is a resident of the duty station.

Passing the Administrative Assessment Test (ASAT) at Headquarters or an equivalent recognised locally-administered test at a United Nations Office is a prerequisite for recruitment consideration in the General Service category in the United Nations Secretariat.

For this post, candidates must have also passed the United Nations Competitive Examination for Accounting Assistants (AACE).

United Nations Considerations

The United Nations shall place 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. (Charter of the United Nations - Chapter 3, article 8). The United Nations Secretariat is a non-smoking environment.

No Fee

THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, TRAINING OR ANY OTHER FEES). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON BANK ACCOUNTS.

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