SENIOR ACCOUNTING ASSISTANT/ACCOUNTING ASSOCIATE

Org. Setting and Reporting

The United Nations Secretariat, Agencies, Funds and Programmes based in Kenya is recruiting the following position to fill and populate the UN Kenya Common Roster for Kenya-based UN Offices for General Service and National Officer positions. Under the overall guidance of the Head of the specific Agency/Organization, this post may report to Finance/Budget Officer, Finance Analyst, Operations Manager or the designated supervisor of the respective entity. Within delegated authority, the Senior Accounting Assistant/Accounting Associate works in close collaboration with staff in the respective office and other UN offices to ensure consistent service delivery.




Responsibilities

• Analyses complex and/or unusual accounting transactions and difficult claims for travel, tax, invoices, entitlements etc. • Makes recommendations to Chief of Unit/Section on appropriate follow-up procedures. Reviews and reconciles various clearing accounts to ensure appropriate balances. Investigates erroneous/invalid entries and takes appropriate corrective accounting action. • Audits various accounting transactions, e.g., payroll, education grants, final payments, income tax returns, travel claims, etc., to ensure correctness of disbursement computations and adherence to relevant staff rules, financial regulations, ST/AI issuances or practices. • Reviews completeness of reports and consolidates the accounts of overseas offices on a periodic basis. • Prepares worksheets and analyze accounts. Assists in the preparation of financial statements for various funds, e.g., general, peacekeeping, technical co-operation, trust fund, revenue and other special accounts. • Approves payment and journal vouchers for various claims/payments, e.g., travel reimbursement, education grants, salary advances, etc., ensuring compliance with relevant rules and control procedures. • Provides guidance and training (including the preparation of training materials) to staff at Headquarters and in the field with respect to transaction processing and the use of various ERP systems, tax system. • Supervises other general service staff when required. • Drafts/prepares memoranda and responds to queries by staff members, internal and external auditors and from their counterparts in offices away from Headquarters. • 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. • Assists with visualizations and updating information material such as web pages or brochures. • Ensures that requirements and background information used for data analysis are documented. • Performs other duties as may be required.




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 and 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. • Able to perform analysis, modeling and interpretation of data in support of decision-making. PLANNING& 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.




Education

• Completion of secondary education or equivalent is required. • Bachelor’s degree in business, finance, accounting or related field is desirable.




Job - Specific Qualification

Relevant training in the field of accounting, finance and business administration is desirable.




Work Experience

A minimum of ten (10) years’ experience in accounting and bookkeeping, budgeting, administrative services, or related areas is for candidates who possess Secondary School certification is required. The minimum years of relevant experience is reduced to Eight (8) for candidates who possess a first-level university degree or higher. Experience working with Microsoft Office applications is required. Experience in using web-based or integrated information management systems such as Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system is desirable. One (1) year of experience within the United Nations or similar international organization is desirable. One (1) year or more of experience in data analytics or related area is desirable.




Languages

Fluency in English is required and working knowledge of local language is desirable. NOTE: ‘Fluency’ equals a rating of “fluent” in ALL FOUR (4) areas (read, write, speak, understand) and ‘Knowledge of’ equals a rating of “confident” in two of the four areas.




Assessment

Evaluation of qualified candidates for this position may include a substantive assessment, such as a written test, which will be followed by a competency-based interview by phone or teleconference.




Special Notice

This Job Opening is issued for purposes of creating a roster. Appointment against this post is on a local basis and is open for an initial period of one year and may be subject to extension subject to the respective entity’s funding availability. This position is subject to local recruitment pursuant to staff rule 4.4 of the United Nations Staff Rules. Applicants for positions in the General Service and related categories must be authorized to work for the United Nations in the duty station where the position is located. Eligible applicants selected from outside the duty station are responsible for any expenses in connection with their relocation to the duty station. Staff members subject to local recruitment are not eligible for allowances or benefits exclusively applicable to international recruitment. Staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General and to assignment by him or her. Internal Applicants – when completing the Candidate Profile form, ensure ALL fields, ALL professional experience and contact information are completed and up to date. This information is the basis for the hiring manager to assess your eligibility and suitability for the position and to contact you. The United Nations is committed to achieving 50/50 gender balance and geographical diversity in its staff. Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply for this position. At the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the recruitment and employment of staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence and integrity, with due regard to geographic diversity. All employment decisions are made on the basis of qualifications and organizational needs. The United Nations is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment of mutual respect. The United Nations recruits and employs staff regardless of gender identity, sexual orientation, race, religious, cultural and ethnic backgrounds or disabilities. Reasonable accommodation for applicants with disabilities may be provided to support participation in the recruitment process when requested and indicated in the application. All applicants are strongly encouraged to apply on-line as soon as possible after the job opening has been posted and well before the deadline stated in the job opening. On-line applications will be acknowledged where an email address has been provided. If you do not receive an e-mail acknowledgement within 24 hours of submission, your application may not have been received. If the problem persists, please seek technical assistance through the Inspira "Contact Us" link.




United Nations Considerations

According to article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity. Candidates will not be considered for employment with the United Nations if they have committed violations of international human rights law, violations of international humanitarian law, sexual exploitation, sexual abuse, or sexual harassment, or if there are reasonable grounds to believe that they have been involved in the commission of any of these acts. The term “sexual exploitation” means any actual or attempted abuse of a position of vulnerability, differential power, or trust, for sexual purposes, including, but not limited to, profiting monetarily, socially or politically from the sexual exploitation of another. The term “sexual abuse” means the actual or threatened physical intrusion of a sexual nature, whether by force or under unequal or coercive conditions. The term “sexual harassment” means any unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature that might reasonably be expected or be perceived to cause offence or humiliation, when such conduct interferes with work, is made a condition of employment or creates an intimidating, hostile or offensive work environment, and when the gravity of the conduct warrants the termination of the perpetrator’s working relationship. Candidates who have committed crimes other than minor traffic offences may not be considered for employment. Due regard will be paid to the importance of recruiting the staff on as wide a geographical basis as possible. The United Nations places no restrictions on the eligibility of men and women to participate in any capacity and under conditions of equality in its principal and subsidiary organs. The United Nations Secretariat is a non-smoking environment. Reasonable accommodation may be provided to applicants with disabilities upon request, to support their participation in the recruitment process. By accepting a letter of appointment, staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General, who may assign them to any of the activities or offices of the United Nations in accordance with staff regulation 1.2 (c). Further, staff members in the Professional and higher category up to and including the D-2 level and the Field Service category are normally required to move periodically to discharge functions in different duty stations under conditions established in ST/AI/2023/3 on Mobility, as may be amended or revised. This condition of service applies to all position specific job openings and does not apply to temporary positions. Applicants are urged to carefully follow all instructions available in the online recruitment platform, inspira, and to refer to the Applicant Guide by clicking on “Manuals” in the “Help” tile of the inspira account-holder homepage. The evaluation of applicants will be conducted on the basis of the information submitted in the application according to the evaluation criteria of the job opening and the applicable internal legislations of the United Nations including the Charter of the United Nations, resolutions of the General Assembly, the Staff Regulations and Rules, administrative issuances and guidelines. Applicants must provide complete and accurate information pertaining to their personal profile and qualifications according to the instructions provided in inspira to be considered for the current job opening. No amendment, addition, deletion, revision or modification shall be made to applications that have been submitted. Candidates under serious consideration for selection will be subject to reference checks to verify the information provided in the application. Job openings advertised on the Careers Portal will be removed at 11:59 p.m. (New York time) on the deadline date.




No Fee

THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.