Finance Specialist

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.

The Shared Services Centre (SSC) recommends and administers process management and procedures that need to be executed effectively; ensures the management of quality assurance activities associated with the transactional processes and implementation of service delivery; continuously improves the satisfaction of its customers, internal or external, while pursuing a continuous improvement agenda that will drive up service excellence while driving down the costs of service delivery through process standardization, process automation and self-service capabilities

This position is located in the FAO Shared Services Centre and based in Budapest, Hungary.

Reporting Lines

The Finance Specialist will report to the National Officer.

Technical Focus

Under the direct supervision of the National Officer the incumbent will be responsible for transaction processing in the area of Accounts Payables.

Tasks and responsibilities

•     Process Payment Request Forms (PRFs), including supplier invoices, held payments to consultant and uncommitted invoices (translators, interpreters), matching to purchase orders or distributing directly to accounts provided by the budget holder, ensuring the PRFs are prepared in accordance with FAO Rules and Regulations; review banking instructions to ensure there is sufficient information to allow straight through processing of payments
•     Process staff entitlement related invoices, such as Salary advance, Rental advance and Settling-in Grant, ensuring the correctness of calculation and compliance of rules and regulations
•     Review and approve various types of invoices processed by others up to delegation of authority
•     Review transactions; investigate errors, take corrective actions; reconcile and review accounts and ensure proper
•     Review and release Terminal Emoluments and Held salaries
•     Process accounting adjustments of paid invoices
•     clearance procedures;
•     check accuracy of calculations, budget codes and compliance with procedures;
•     Run Electronic Fund Transfer payment batches while reviewing transactions, investigating errors, taking corrective actions, deciding on the proper routing
•     Monitor Returned payments, including review and repair of Banking Instructions and creating Re-payment invoices
•     Facilitate communication with FAO’s corporate bank in case of payment issues
•     Create the payment batches and send Agency Service requests to UNDP offices
•     Follow up regularly on invoices deselected or rejected during the payment process
•     Active participation in system improvements
•     respond to enquiries through Service Now and Teams regarding invoice processing; 
•     report to the Supervisor any irregularities, discrepancies from existing regulations regarding unauthorised expenditure or inadequate documentation justifying basis of payment;
•     Regular follow up of aged AP items
•     Process international travel invoices cancellations
•     Help the preparation of SOPs
•     participate in projects related to system improvements
perform other duties as required.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements    

•     Secondary School Education 
•     At least one year of relevant experience in the area of Finance. 
•     Working knowledge (level C) of English 
•     National of Hungary or resident of the country with valid work permit.

FAO Core Competencies

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

Technical/Functional Skills

•     Knowledge of the communication and documentation standards; 
•     Knowledge of another FAO official language (Arabic, Chinese, Russian or Spanish) would be an asset; 
•     Knowledge of the MS Office applications and Oracle ERP application or similar ERP system