UNICEF works in over 190 countries and territories to save children’s lives, defend their rights, and help them fulfill their potential, from early childhood through adolescence.

At UNICEF, we are committed, passionate, and proud of what we do. Promoting the rights of every child is not just a job – it is a calling.

UNICEF is a place where careers are built: we offer our staff diverse opportunities for personal and professional development that will help them develop a fulfilling career while delivering on a rewarding mission. We pride ourselves on a culture that helps staff thrive, coupled with an attractive compensation and benefits package.

Visit our website to learn more about what we do at UNICEF.

For every child, hope

The fundamental mission of UNICEF is to promote the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything the organization does — in programs, in advocacy and in operations. The equity strategy, emphasizing the most disadvantaged and excluded children and families, translates this commitment to children’s rights into action. For UNICEF, equity means that all children have an opportunity to survive, develop and reach their full potential, without discrimination, bias or favoritism. To the degree that any child has an unequal chance in life — in its social, political, economic, civic and cultural dimensions — her or his rights are violated. There is growing evidence that investing in the health, education and protection of a society’s most disadvantaged citizens — addressing inequity — not only will give all children the opportunity to fulfill their potential but also will lead to sustained growth and stability of countries. This is why the focus on equity is so vital. It accelerates progress towards realizing the human rights of all children, which is the universal mandate of UNICEF, as outlined by the Convention on the Rights of the Child, while also supporting the equitable development of nations.

DFAM New York-based Central Services Center (CSC) was established in January 2024 as part of the Headquarters Efficiencies Initiative (HQEI). The goal of the CSC is to further consolidate and streamline common, location-dependent transactions and processes. The aim is to improve efficiency and compliance by reducing transactional level tasks for teams, thus enabling NYHQ Division/Office staff to strategically focus on delivering high-quality programmatic work and, ultimately, achieve cost savings and efficiency gains. Consolidating transactions within a Central Service Centre (CSC) will help UNICEF to further mitigate the risks of efficiency loss, duplication and excessive costs as the Centre provides specialization and increased efficiency in the use of resources.

How can you make a difference?

The Finance Associate in CSC will report to the Sr Finance Associate and will be responsible for providing a variety of specialized tasks in finance functions, ensuring accurate and timely delivery in compliance with UNICEF financial rules and regulations, whilst demonstrating the capacity to research, adapt and evaluate irregular cases, and also to recommend improvements to process delivery and design.

Key functions, accountabilities and related duties/tasks:

1. Advises and assists on all aspects related to preparation of reports, compilation of data and answering queries on pledges recorded, funds received, adjustments made to ensure financial compliance, accuracy and completeness of data for its inclusion into statement of accounts and adjustment of budgets.
2. Advises units of discrepancies and assist to resolve differences in their records.
   Performs budget transfers to COs and ROs, HACT related transactions, intern payments, UN to UN interagency transfers (including UNVs).
3. Selects and enters data from a wide variety of documents, verifying and ensuring accuracy by checking sources, making necessary calculations and assuring inclusion of all relevant data.
4. Prepares recurring reports as per schedules and special reports, as and when required for budget preparation, audits or other purposes.
5. Closes year-end account and assist in the preparation of year-end reports related to accounts receivable, accounts payable, prepayment, deposits, NEP and leave balances, etc.
6. Advises and assists international staff, experts and consultants on all aspects of allowances, salary advances, travel claims and all other financial matters, and calculates and authorizes payments due for claims and services.
7. Initiates correspondence to verify data, answers queries and obtains additional information on accounts and financial transactions, as required.
8. Prepares detailed cost estimates, and participates in budget analysis and projects, as required.
9. In consultation with supervisor, helps identify training needs within CSC for the development of learning plans and other targeted training interventions.
10. Act as a Finance Local Point to prepare, submit and monitor requests by ensuring the required information and documentation for submission are accurate, provide follow up on any issues and follows through until the request (or case) is completed by GSSC. Respond to queries from GSSC, contract managers and vendors.
11. Performs other duties, as required by the supervisor and/or the CSC Chief.

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…

Minimum requirements:

Education

• Completion of secondary education is required with professional/university level courses in Accounting, Finance and Business Administration considered as an asset.
  * For this position, a bachelor’s degree from a recognized academic institution in Accounting, Finance, and Business Administration or other relevant fields may replace three years of related work experience. A master’s degree may replace an additional two years.
• A minimum of six (6) years of clerical experience in the area of finance and accounting is required.
• General Service Staff are recruited locally therefore, non-US candidates must be in possession of a United States G4 visa or be a United States Permanent Resident/Citizen.
• Knowledge of UN and UNICEF’S rules, regulations and procedures is highly desirable.
• Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) is an asset

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF’s Core Values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust and Accountability and Sustainability (CRITAS) underpin everything we do and how we do it. Get acquainted with Our Values Charter: UNICEF Values

The UNICEF competencies required for this post are…

1. Builds and maintains partnerships
2. Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness
3. Drive to achieve results for impact
4. Innovates and embraces change
5. Manages ambiguity and complexity
6. Thinks and acts strategically
7. Works collaboratively with others

Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels.

UNICEF is here to serve the world’s most disadvantaged children and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, or any other personal characteristic.

We offer a wide range of measures to include a more diverse workforce, such as paid parental leave, time off for breastfeeding purposes, and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF strongly encourages the use of flexible working arrangements.

UNICEF does not hire candidates who are married to children (persons under 18). UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority, and discrimination. UNICEF is committed to promoting the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference and background checks and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check.

UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance. Issuance of a visa by the host country of the duty station is required for IP positions and will be facilitated by UNICEF. Appointments may also be subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid). Should you be selected for a position with UNICEF, you either must be inoculated as required or receive a medical exemption from the relevant department of the UN. Otherwise, the selection will be canceled.

Remarks:

Candidates who applied to the previous job#570457 do not need to reapply, as their applications were already given due consideration.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.

As per 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.

Government employees who are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally required to resign from their government positions before taking up an assignment with UNICEF. UNICEF reserves the right to withdraw an offer of appointment, without compensation, if a visa or medical clearance is not obtained, or necessary inoculation requirements are not met, within a reasonable period for any reason.

UNICEF does not charge a processing fee at any stage of its recruitment, selection, and hiring processes (i.e., application stage, interview stage, validation stage, or appointment and training). UNICEF will not ask for applicants’ bank account information.

UNICEF shall not facilitate the issuance of a visa and working authorization for candidates under consideration for positions at the general service category.

All UNICEF positions are advertised, and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process. An internal candidate performing at the level of the post in the relevant functional area, or an internal/external candidate in the corresponding Talent Group, may be selected, if suitable for the post, without assessment of other candidates.

Additional information about working for UNICEF can be found here.