Finance Assistant

Organizational Setting

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) contributes to the achievement of the 2030 Agenda through the FAO Strategic Framework by supporting the transformation to MORE efficient, inclusive, resilient and sustainable agrifood systems, for better production, better nutrition, a better environment and a better life, leaving no one behind.
FAO is a specialized agency of the UN that leads international efforts to defeat hunger. FAO's goal is to achieve food security for all and ensure that people have regular access to enough high-quality food to lead active, healthy lives. With 195 Members (194 countries and the European Union), FAO works in over 130 countries worldwide.

FAO Country Offices, working under overall corporate guidance and in line with the Strategic Framework, offer policy advice and support to countries in the mandated areas of FAO, facilitated through partnerships, resources and an active country programme to provide technical assistance, develop capacities and deliver core services while fully observing international standards of accountability to establish leadership and strengthen impact at the country  level. 
The offices deliver on the programmatic priorities of each country as agreed in their respective Country Programming Frameworks (CPFs) aligned to the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF) and ensure effective and efficient operations with adequate human and financial resources. 
Specifically, FAO Country Offices: 
(i)    advocate, inform and support policies and investments in the areas of FAO’s mandate;
(ii)    provide technical assistance and deliver core services; 
(iii)     assist and catalyse partnership and resource mobilization activities to support agrifood systems transformation; 
(iv)    position FAO as the specialized/authoritative technical agency in food and agriculture and agrifood systems transformation; and 
(v)    ensure risk-smart and accountable operations and management.  

The position is located in the FAO Country Office in Syria.

Reporting Lines

The Finance Assistant will work under the overall supervision of the FAO Representative in Syria, and the direct supervision of the Assistant FAOR (Administration).

Technical Focus

IFRS in NGO organizations
Financial reporting and banking reconciliation.
Petty cash and expenditures tracking.

Tasks and responsibilities

•    Maintain financial records for day-to-day transactions for which responsibility is assigned; and make sure of proper recording on the shared drive FAOSY workspace.
•    Retrieve, enter, select data from a wide variety of sources, including FAO’s corporate system and databases; verify the accuracy of data documents; make necessary calculations.
•    Manage the Country Office petty cash and record all expenses and receipts into GRMS system; prepare cash counts and reconcile them with the cash books.
•    Prepare correspondence of administrative and financial nature; draft correspondence to verify data, answer queries, and obtain additional information on transactions and financial matters;
•    Maintain liaison with local banks and financial institutions to keep up-to-date with financial and regulatory information;
•    Handle monthly danger pay entitlement payments for local staff and international colleagues;
•    Get necessary supporting documents, ensure accuracy in calculations and create invoices on GRMS system.
•    Handling the budget monitoring files and initiating budget back charge requests 
•    Prepare files of salary recoveries requests to staff when deductions of travel-related advances and operational advances are applied. 
•    Maintain and support colleagues to manage their accounts outside the country
•    Perform other related administrative duties as required by the supervisor.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements    

•    University degree in Finance, Business administration, accounting or any related field.
Advanced university degree in finance will be an advantage.
•    A minimum of 5 years of progressively responsible experience in Administrative and finance work. 
•    Working knowledge of English and Arabic
•    National of Syria

FAO Core Competencies

•    Results Focus
•    Teamwork
•    Communication
•    Building Effective Relationships
•    Knowledge Sharing and Continuous Improvement

Technical/Functional Skills

•    Strong writing skills with good attention to details; 
•    Excellent oral and written communication skills; 
•    Ability to use their own initiative, multi-task and have good organizational skills.

Selection Criteria

•    Experience in working with the UN systems/NGO, or similar systems is preferred. 
•    Experience in working with Microsoft tools. 
•    Familiar with NGO ERP financial system.
•    Excellent organization and reporting skills. 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION