Finance Assistant

VACANCY NO: VA/FPA/FTA-GS5-FA/2010        
DURATION: 1 Year initially (Extendable)
CLOSING DATE: 10/01/2011
LEVEL AND SALARY: GS5
POST TITLE: Finance Assistant (Ranging from  USD 863 to USD 1,088 (net) per month and other benefits of UNFPA)
DUTY STATION: Hanoi, Viet Nam

The UNITED NATIONS POPULATION FUND (UNFPA) Office, Ha Noi, Viet Nam seeks to recruit a suitably qualified and experienced national candidate to fill the position of Finance Assistant (fixed-term GS5 level).

Overall Responsibility:
The Finance Assistant will be under the overall supervision of the Operations Manager. He/she will be responsible for supporting the financial management and implementation of the projects under the UNFPA-supported Country Programme; ensuring effective functioning of financial operations and supporting the Programme Officers in the financial reporting and processing of advances/payments; ensuring compliance with travel and other administrative procedures when processing payments; ensuring provision of support to financial monitoring and analysis of projects and advising managers on expenditure trends and implementation rates.

Main Duties and Responsibilities: 
- Processes all payments related to the programme funds and ensures that payments are disbursed in compliance with UNFPA's rules and procedures; 
- Completes financial procedures related to travels for project-funded participants/fellows who attended overseas conferences/training courses with UNFPA funds;
- Maintains and keeps Operating Fund Accounts and reconciles them with HQ’s records. Enters necessary data for preparing comprehensive and consolidation financial reports including source and other funds resources, when required;
- Assists Programme Officers (POs) in screening and checking the fund disbursements in accordance with the budget allocation and financial procedures for assigned projects. Assists POs in monitoring and controlling the expenditures and allocation of the programme funds under the assigned projects.
- Reviews the project Annual Non-expandable Property Reports, checks the Annual Disbursement Report, Annual Status of Funds Report of projects in charge to ensure that funds released to the projects are accurately reported. Monitors and follows up on VAT reimbursement by the implementing partners.
- Provides regular guidance to and trains project accountants in the management of project funds, use of cost norms, Harmonized Approach to Cash Transfers (HACT) and Harmonized Programme and Project Management Guidelines (HPPMG);
- Contributes to the implementation of the HACT Assurance Plan for assigned projects. Conducts financial spot check of assigned projects; supports project staff of assigned projects during the audit exercise; reviews audit reports and makes recommendations, if any. Follows up on mission findings and audit recommendations of the assigned projects. Follows up audit findings of the previous years.
- Briefs/assists international experts and consultants on procedures and requirements regarding payments and entitlements. Guides programme officers in other aspect of accounts.

Required qualifications:
- University degree with specialized certification in Accounting and Finance.
- 7-8 years of relevant finance and administrative experience with in-depth knowledge on financial procedures.
- Fluent in both English and Vietnamese; Proficient in current office software applications.

Application Procedures: Candidates must submit a completed UN Personal History (P.11) form, an updated Curriculum Vitae and a letter of motivation to UNFPA Office, 1st Floor, UN Apartment Building, 2E Van Phuc Compound, Hanoi, Viet Nam in an envelope marked “Confidential”, Ref. GS5-FA or preferably via email to [email protected]. Full Job Description for the post can be obtained from the UNFPA Vietnam Website (http://vietnam.unfpa.org/public/pid/5551). Only short-listed candidates will be contacted for written test and oral interview. UNFPA reserves the right to appoint at the indicated or lower level and prior to the closing date. 

Notice: There is no application, processing or other fee at any stage of the application process.
UNFPA does not solicit or screen for information in respect of HIV or AIDS and does not discriminate on the basis of HIV/AIDS status