Project Assistant

Position Information

Office/Unit/Project	UNDP
Functional Title	Project Assistant
Classified Level	NPSA4
Duty station(City and Country)	Tehran, IRAN
Type (Regular or Short term)	Regular
Office- or Home-based	Office
Expected starting date	1st April 2024
Expected Duration	Until end of December 2024

Office/Unit/Project Description

In I.R. Iran, UNDP, as a partner of the Government, has been working since 1966 to contribute to fulfil the country’s development aspirations. UNDP has also been engaging closely with other development partners, such as academic institutions and the private sector by providing knowledge products, policy and technical assistance, and innovative development solutions for more than 55 years. Connecting to UNDP Global network of expertise and South-South cooperation are an integral part of our work. UNDP is committed to helping Iran achieve the National Development Goals (NDP) and the Global Goals as articulated in the Country Programme Document.

The UNDP Country Programme Document (CPD) for 2023-2027 is aligned with the 20 Year National Vision of the Islamic Republic of Iran and the country’s Five-Year Development Plan as well as the UNDP Strategic Plan. The CPD priorities include Socio-Economic Resilience, Public Health Management, Environmental Conservation, Integrated Natural Resource Management, Addressing Climate Change and Disaster Risk Reduction and Management. The Programme Unit is responsible for overall programme cycle management, including Design, formulation, implementation, quality assurance and oversight of UNDP programme portfolio.

Scope of Work

Under the guidance and overall supervision of the Programme Officer/Prosperity, the Project Assistant will support the provision of administrative and finance-related services ensuring high quality, accuracy, and consistency of work. The Project Assistant will promote a client-oriented approach consistent with UNDP rules and regulations and internal control framework.

The Project Assistant works in close collaboration with the Programme and other teams in the CountryOffice (CO), especially Finance Unit, and communicates with UNDP HQs, the GlobalShared Service Unit (GSSU) to exchange information and ensure consistent service delivery. 

The key resultshave an impacton the execution of the CO programme and financial services, accurate data entryand presentation of financial information and a client-oriented approach to enhance UNDP’scapability   tomanage financial resources and keep records effectively and efficiently.

The Project Assistant will work under the guidance and supervision of the Programme Officer/Prosperity and will have the following specific responsibilities:

1. Review and update StandardOperating Procedures related to programme and finance.
2. Vendors creations and submission of vouchers in the system
3. Provide financialmanagement and oversight in accordance with UNDPrules and regulations.
4. Ensure that financial transactions are effectively managed. This includes payment requests and receipts, entering the info in the system.
5. Prepare projectfinancial reports.
6. Check and ensure all project expenditures are compliant with UNDP rules and regulations. This includes   ensuring that receipts are obtained for all payments, and that the relevant procedure are duly followed.
7. Ensure that all transactions are correctly booked and charged to the correctbudget lines.
8. Documentation all payments
9. Continuous improvement of the system and procedures to enhance internalcontrols in line with audit requirements.
10. The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization.

Institutional Arrangement

The incumbent will report to the Programme Officer/Prosperity.

Competencies

Core
Achieve Results:	LEVEL 1: Plans and monitors own work, pays attention to details, delivers quality work by deadline
Think Innovatively:	LEVEL 1: Open to creative ideas/known risks, is pragmatic problem solver, makes improvements
Learn Continuously:	LEVEL 1: Open minded and curious, shares knowledge, learns from mistakes, asks for feedback
Adapt with Agility:	LEVEL 1: Adapts to change, constructively handles ambiguity/uncertainty, is flexible
Act with Determination:	LEVEL 1: Shows drive and motivation, able to deliver calmly in face of adversity, confident
Engage and Partner:	LEVEL 1: Demonstrates compassion/understanding towards others, forms positive relationships
Enable Diversity and Inclusion:	LEVEL 1: Appreciate/respect differences, aware of unconscious bias, confront discrimination
Cross-Functional & Technical competencies Thematic Area Name Definition Administration & Operations Documents and records management Overall document (hard or electronic) management; registry and retention policy including storing and archiving Finance Accounting (General) Knowledge of accounting concepts, principles, frameworks, standards, regulations, policies and trends, and ability to apply this to strategic and/or practical situations Finance Finance business partnering Able to support business units and add value by innovating and providing solutions to financial issues/queries, including through FAQs, financial tools, advisory, etc. Influences and appropriately challenges non-finance colleagues for whom the service is being provided. Understands the operations, opportunities and challenges of the organization. Holds a commercial outlook, demonstrating accountability towards organizational goals. Business Management Project management Ability to plan, organize, prioritize, and control resources, procedures and protocol achieve to achieve specific goals Business Management Resource Management Ability to allocate and use resources in a strategic or tactical way inline with principle of accountability and integrity

Minimum Qualifications of the Successful NPSA

Min. Academic Education	Secondary Education is required. University degree (Bachelor´s degree) in accounting, economy  Finance or related will be given due consideration but is not a requirement.
Min. years of relevant Work experience	Minimum 4 years (with Secondary Education) or 1 year (with Bachelor´s degree) of relevant administrative experience is required.

Required   skills	Good understanding of financial management of projects Adept with complex financial concepts and challenges conventional knowledge and practice constructively Ability to get thingsdone while exercising good judgement. Effective communication, analytical thinking
Desired skills in addition to the competencies covered in the Competencies section	-Familiarity withIran banking system -Experience with   working   in    international   organizations government. -Past experience of working with development projects  – Past experience of working with the UN is an advantage but not required – Ability to provide administrative support for project implementation
Required Language(s)	Fluency in Farsi and English is required.
Professional Certificates	N/A