The Position:
The Inventory Control and Accounting Associate position is located in the Inventory Control and Accounting Team within Pillar 4 – Support Services in the Supply Chain Management Unit (SCMU). The position reports directly to the Inventory Control and Accounting Manager. The Inventory Control and Accounting Associate will work closely with other SCMU colleagues, other HQ Business Units particularly with the Finance Branch, the Regional Offices and the Country Offices and with a number of external partners.
How you can make a difference:
UNFPA occupies a unique position in the sexual and reproductive health commodity ecosystem as a critical player in supply chain management, a leading public procurer of sexual and reproductive health commodities, a trusted partner to national governments, and one of the few organizations with the scale and partnerships necessary to build accountability for last mile delivery.
The UNFPA Supply Chain Management Unit (SCMU) is self-funded and was made operational in January 2022. It is tasked with ensuring that UNFPA is able to effectively and efficiently support the delivery of life-saving reproductive health products and other programme supplies to the end user when and where they are needed. To achieve this, it is important to strengthen the capacity of governments and implementing partners to ensure coordination, end-to-end visibility and accountability on all supply chain and logistics management related activities, in particular for programme supplies, across all UNFPA programmes.
Job Purpose:
The Inventory Control and Accounting Associate will provide transactional support to help realise smooth day-to-day operations, with the aim of a robust inventory control mechanism, in a culture of accountability, and advancing continuous improvement.
You would be responsible for:
You will be responsible to support the Inventory Control and Accounting Manager with:
1.Strategic leadership and management of Inventory Control and Accounting function to achieve:
- Perform cost accounting analysis and ensure accurate and timely recording of inventory transactions in UNFPA’s Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system, including periodic account closure activities and year-end processes for Prepositioned Stock.
- Check for compliance with inventory management in the Country Offices for programme supplies in accordance with UNFPA’s policies and procedures.
- Undertake accounting closure and financial reporting for inventory management, , assist with preparing audit responses, prepare inventory adjustments, and prepare write-off processes.
- Prepare inventory management performance reports, identify key risks and non-compliances, and recommend management actions to enhance inventory control and efficiency.
- Support and implement activities related to UNFPA’s Governance, Risk, Compliance and Reporting function.
2.Capacity Strengthening
- Support the implementation of UNFPA's capacity-strengthening initiatives.
- Train supply chain professionals whenever possible and support their development through sharing knowledge and experience.
3.Thought Leadership, Knowledge Sharing and Advisory
- Appreciate UNFPA's supply chain thought leadership through awareness and incorporating such initiatives into the overall approach to day-to-day activities.
- Actively contribute to an environment of knowledge retention and sharing by following best practices for supply chain implementation.
- Support improved supply chain execution by incorporating best practices and continuous improvement into day-to-day activities.
4.Partnerships and Resource Mobilization
- Support UNFPA’s value proposition and relationships with donors and partners.
- Assist with the preparation of SCMU’s resource mobilization proposals in particular with data and analysis.
5. Collaboration and Representation
- Maintain effective collaboration with relevant stakeholders within UNFPA to ensure coordinated and effective tailored solutions for each area of intervention.
- Maintain relationships with supply chain counterparts with the purpose of increasing the efficiency of UNFPA’s supply chain function.
- Attend and participate as required in SCMU and UNFPA in meetings related to supply chain management functions.
6.Carry out any other duties as may be required by the Chief, SCMU.
Qualifications and Experience:
Education:
- Completion of secondary education is required.
- A University degree at Bachelor Level in accounting, Finance, Supply Chain Management, Business Administration, International Commerce, or equivalent field is an asset.
- A professional Supply Chain Management certification such as Chartered Institute of Procurement & Supply (CIPS) at Level 3 and/or Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CILT-UK) at Level 3 would be an additional asset.
Knowledge and Experience:
- A minimum of six (6) years of relevant, progressively responsible experience in financial management; inventory management, accounting, and control; and/or a related area. Candidates should demonstrate experience in the below key areas, with the understanding that these experiences may overlap:
- At least one (1) year of experience in providing support and guidance to diverse and senior level stakeholder groups or multi-stakeholder partnerships in development and/or complex humanitarian operating environments in low-resource countries on inventory management, accounting, and control. Candidates must demonstrate a deep understanding of the unique challenges and regulations specific to these contexts.
- Strong interpersonal skills and capability to develop and maintain broad diversified partnerships is required.
- Experience using Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) is required.
- Professional written and spoken presentation skills, including for the development of reports, presentations, and the ability to synthesize complex supply chain documents for both technical and non-technical audiences is required.
- Experience working in a matrix organizational structure is an asset.
- Basic proficiency in project management skills is an asset.
- Knowledge of UNFPA’s country classification system, UNFPA’s Strategic Plan, Strategy for Family Planning 2022-2030 and Acceleration Plan, UNFPA Humanitarian Thematic Fund, UNFPA Strategy and Operational Plan to Scale-up and Strengthen Interventions on Gender-based Violence in Emergencies, 2023-2025 is an asset.
- Basic knowledge of the principles and operational aspects of sexual and reproductive health commodities in global development and the humanitarian community is an asset.
Languages:
Fluency in English is required. Working knowledge of another official UN language is an asset.
Required Competencies:
Values:
- Exemplifying integrity
- Demonstrating commitment to UNFPA and the UN system
- Embracing cultural diversity
- Embracing change
Core Competencies:
- Achieving results
- Being accountable
- Developing and applying professional expertise/business acumen
- Thinking analytically and strategically
- Working in teams/managing ourselves and our relationships
- Communicating for impact
Functional Competencies:
- Ability to build and maintain relevant relationships with supply chain counterparts.
- Support improved supply chain execution by incorporating best practices and improvement into day-to-day activities.
- Cost accounting analysis and ensure accurate and timely recording of inventory transactions in UNFPA’s Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system, including periodic account closure activities and year-end processes for Prepositioned Stock.
- Ability to undertake accounting closure and financial reporting for inventory management,
- Identify key risks and non-compliances, and recommend management actions to enhance inventory control and efficiency.
Compensation and Benefits:
This position offers an attractive remuneration package including a competitive net salary plus health insurance and other benefits as applicable.
Compensation and Benefits:
This position offers an attractive remuneration package including a competitive net salary plus health insurance and other benefits as applicable.
UNFPA Work Environment:
UNFPA provides a work environment that reflects the values of gender equality, diversity, integrity and healthy work-life balance. We are committed to ensuring gender parity in the organization and therefore encourage women to apply. Individuals from the LGBTQIA+ community, minority ethnic groups, indigenous populations, persons with disabilities, and other underrepresented groups are highly encouraged to apply. UNFPA promotes equal opportunities in terms of appointment, training, compensation and selection for all regardless of personal characteristics and dimensions of diversity. Diversity, Equity and Inclusion is at the heart of UNFPA's workforce - click here to learn more.
Disclaimer:
Selection and appointment may be subject to background and reference checks, medical clearance, visa issuance and other administrative requirements.
UNFPA does not charge any application, processing, training, interviewing, testing or other fee in connection with the application or recruitment process and does not concern itself with information on applicants' bank accounts.
Applicants for positions in the international Professional and higher categories, who hold permanent resident status in a country other than their country of nationality, may be required to renounce such status upon their appointment.