ACCOUNTING ASSISTANT

Org. Setting and ReportingThe United Nations Joint Staff Pension Fund (UNJSPF) was established in 1949 by the United Nations General Assembly to provide retirement, death, disability, and related benefits for staff of the United Nations and other member organizations of the Fund. The Pension Fund pays benefits in 19 currencies to more than 70,000 beneficiaries who reside in 190 countries, and services more than 150,700 participants who work in the 25 member organizations of the Pension Fund. The Fund has offices in New York (United States) and Geneva (Switzerland) and two liaison offices in Nairobi (Kenya) and Bangkok (Thailand), respectively. The United Nations Joint Staff Pension Fund-Pension Administration (UNJSPF-PA) comprises about 250 staff from diverse countries and cultures, based across four prominent duty stations (New York, Geneva, Bangkok, and Nairobi). We are a career employer offering unique opportunities for growth within the United Nations system. We offer staff competitive benefits, including up to six weeks of annual leave per year, a defined benefit pension plan (not subject to variation of capital markets), parental leave, a comprehensive insurance plan, and flexible working arrangements subject to operational requirements. Our office is located in the heart of Manhattan, within walking distance from the Grand Central Station hub, in a state-of-the-art facility (the One Dag Hammarskjöld building). Visit www.unjspf.org for more details. This position is located in the Accounts Section within the Financial Service of the United Nations Joint Staff Pension Fund - Pension Administration (UNJSPF-PA). The Accounts Section monitors the pension contributions and the benefit overpayments, performs bank reconciliation, and conducts periodic financial reporting. The incumbent reports to the Accountant and Deputy Chief of Accounts. The position is located in New York. ResponsibilitiesWithin delegated authority, the Accounting Assistant will be responsible for the following duties: • Scrutinizes source documents for completeness, accuracy and validity of charges. • Investigates erroneous charges and takes appropriate corrective accounting actions. • Communicates with member organizations regarding missing documentation or any other issues related to discrepancies between their accounts and those maintained at Pension Fund Secretariat. • Reconciles and reviews suspense accounts and ensure proper clearance procedures have been followed. • Assists in the processing of pension contribution reporting from UNJSPF member organizations. This includes, amongst other things, calculating, inputting, and checking pension contributions for correctness and communicating discrepancies to supervisors. • Assists in calculating contribution amounts for pension validation/restoration. • Prepares worksheets and assists with the preparation of financial statements. • Audits various accounting transactions, e.g., pension contributions, benefit overpayments and recoveries, bank credits and debits, fees, etc., to ensure correctness of accounts and adherence to relevant staff rules, UNJSPF regulations and rules, ST/AI issuances or practices. • Provides guidance and training to colleagues as required. • Supervises other General Service staff as required. • Drafts/prepares memoranda and/or cables to various offices, departments and overseas offices. • Responds to queries from pension participants, beneficiaries, member organizations and other units/sections. • Performs other duties as may be required • Assists 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 Competencies• PROFESSIONALISM: Knowledge in the use and application of the Organization’s financial regulations and rules as well as accounting policies and practices. Ability to extract, interpret, and analyse a wide variety of data and to 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. 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. • PLANNING AND ORGANIZING: Develops clear goals that are consistent with agreed strategies; identifies priority activities and assignments; adjusts priorities as required; allocates appropriate amount of time and resources for completing work; foresees risks and allows for contingencies when planning; monitors and adjusts plans and actions as necessary; uses time efficiently. • 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. Job - Specific QualificationNot available. Work ExperienceA minimum of seven (7) years of progressively responsible experience in accounting, finance, administrative services or related area is required. The minimum years of relevant experience is reduced to five (5) for candidates who possess a first-level university degree or higher. A minimum of one year of financial or operational work experience in a post-employment benefit plan is required. Experience working with the UN common system or other comparable international organizations is desirable. Experience in Integrated Pension Administration System (IPAS) or similar ERP system is desirable. Three (3) years or more of work experience in complex and high-volume bank reconciliation is desirable. LanguagesEnglish and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this job opening, English is 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).