Finance Assistant Job at United Nations World Food Programme

Job Title:              Finance Assistant

Organization: United Nations World Food Programme (WFP)

Duty Station:  Kampala, Uganda

Grade: SC5

Reports to: Head of Unit

About US:

The UN World Food Programme (WFP) is the United Nations frontline agency against world hunger. It is the largest and longest serving humanitarian agency in Uganda. Currently WFP focuses on three priority areas: Saving lives in Emergencies; Building Resilience through Predictable Safety Nets; Improving Nutrition & Mother-and Child Health; and Supporting Small Holder Farmers to Access Markets. WFP has operations in various parts of the Country.

Job Summary:   The Finance Assistant will take responsibility for completion of a range of finance/budget related processes and activities requiring some interpretation of standard guidelines/practices. The incumbent will support effective delivery of finance, budget and administration support services in order to facilitate transparent and efficient utilization of financial resources.

Key Duties and Responsibilities: 

• Serve as the VAT focal person for the Uganda Country office, roles include but are not limited to: Filling VAT returns and carrying out reconciliations.
• Monitor monthly expenditure forecasts and provide expenditure reports to facilitate informed decision-making.
• Monitor the sub-imprest bank and petty cash accounts regularly, to ensure that adequate funds are available and appropriately disbursed.
• Verify vendor claims, advances and other receivables and observe appropriate procurement procedures, to ensure that suppliers are paid in a timely manner and in conformance with WFP finance rules and regulations.
• Provide support in compiling information from various sources in order to prepare reports relating to budgets, accounting, finance and statistics.
• Retrieve, format and validate information obtained from various financial information systems and bring any discrepancy or inaccuracy to the attention of the supervisor and follow up corrective actions.
• Perform administrative duties related to the monitoring and recording of fixed assets, spend on fuel and spare parts for vehicles and generators, to ensure that the databases are accurately updated.
• Maintain the web-based register for all invoices and payment transfers and record paperwork, to ensure that all documents are maintained and filed in compliance with WFP standards and guidelines.
• Keenly monitor and record all expenses in line with the approved budget in order to ensure that correct expenditure costs are charged and payments to external suppliers, cash grants and other supplier invoices are processed in a timely manner.
• Provide guidance and on-the-job training to other support staff, to ensure services are delivered consistently and to the required standards.

Qualifications, Skills and Experience:

• The ideal candidate for the United Nations UN World Food Programme (WFP) Finance Assistant job placement should hold a University degree in Finance, Accounting, auditing, Commerce or any other related field;
• A minimum of four years of working experience in the field of finance, accounting or auditing gained from reputable organizations;
• Good knowledge of Accounting Methods and knowledge of Standard Finance Software Packages and systems (knowledge of SAP is an added advantage);
• Proficiency in using MS Office applications;
• Knowledge of the Uganda Tax laws and systems.
• Previous experience collecting and monitoring financial data on projects and programmes, assessing financial health and status, and reporting findings to senior leaders.

Competencies:

• Internal Controls & Compliance: Demonstrates basic knowledge of internal controls, risk management, and monitoring mechanisms and their applicability to WFP’s critical activities.
• Performance Budgeting, Analysis & Reporting: Demonstrates participation in business planning efforts by developing basic project-level budgets and forecasts, incorporating information from various sources as appropriate to monitor KPIs.
• Resource Management: Demonstrates ability to track and compile reports on HQ and Field staffing and resource usage on a project-level basis.
• Financial Management & Accounting Principles: Applies knowledge of financial and accounting principles and practices to ensure compliance with WFP policies, applicable procedures and accounting standards.
• Supply Chain and Operations Knowledge: Demonstrates basic understanding of WFP programme, implementation, and supply chain principles (including project modalities & structures).

How to Apply:

All candidates who desire to join the United Nations World Food Programme are encouraged to submit their applications online at the link below.

Click Here

Deadline: 25^th October 2018