WFP Beirut CO – Finance Assistant SC5 (2 Posts)

WFP Lebanon encourages female candidates and people with disabilities to apply.

WFP does not charge a fee or request bank details at any stage of the recruitment process.

WFP celebrates and embraces diversity. It is committed to the principle of equal employment opportunity for all its employees and encourages qualified candidates to apply irrespective of race, colour, national origin, ethnic or social background, genetic information, gender, gender identity and/or expression, sexual orientation, religion or belief, HIV status or disability.

As an inclusive employer, WFP is committed to providing a supportive recruitment process for individuals with disabilities. Please contact us at [email protected]  (and copying in [email protected]) to advise us the type of support and reasonable adjustments you may require at this stage. A member of the reasonable accommodation team will contact you to confidentially discuss your needs.

Job Title: Finance Assistant SC5

Contract Type / Grade:  Service Contract / SC5 

Duty Station: Beirut Country Office

Contract Duration: 12 Months, (Renewable based on availability of funds, business needs and performance)

Date of Publication: 26 April 2024

Deadline of Application: 13 May 2024

Organizational Background:

Assisting more than 115.5 million people in 120 + countries each year, the World Food Program (WFP) is the leading humanitarian organization saving lives and changing lives, delivering food assistance in emergencies, and helping individuals and communities find life-changing solutions to the multiple challenges they face in building better futures.

In conflict situations, we bring relief to exhausted populations and use food assistance to build pathways to peace and stability – work for which WFP was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2020.

WFP Lebanon provides humanitarian assistance to vulnerable people for food and other essential needs through cash-based transfers and in-kind food. WFP Lebanon also provides food assistance in the form of snacks and fresh food to school aged students and promotes resilient livelihoods and sustainable food systems.

In addition to direct assistance to the most food insecure and vulnerable people, WFP also supports government institutions, partners, and other entities to strengthen their capacity to deliver social assistance.

To know more about WFP’s mission, please check the below video:
https://www.facebook.com/WorldFoodProgramme/videos/10154930622760178/  

Job Purpose: The Finance Assistant will report to the National Finance Officer and will be responsible to support effective delivery of finance, budget and administration support services in order to facilitate transparent and efficient utilization of financial resources. The duties include but not limited to support in the monitoring of budgets, forecasting, reporting on key data, assisting with accounts reconciliations and transactions, etc

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES (not all-inclusive, nor exhaustive):

• Assist in providing the procedural and technical support to staff within the areas of finance and budget, to ensure compliance with WFP financial policies, rules, and regulations.
• Assist in monitoring the sub-imprest bank and petty cash accounts regularly, to ensure that adequate funds are available and appropriately disbursed.
• Verify vendor claims, advances and other receivables and observe appropriate procurement procedures, to ensure that suppliers are paid in a timely manner and in conformance with WFP finance rules and regulations.
• Assist in compiling information from various sources to prepare reports relating to budgets, accounting, finance, and statistics.
• Retrieve, format, and validate information obtained from various financial information systems and bring any discrepancy or inaccuracy to the attention of the supervisor and follow up corrective actions.
• Perform administrative duties related to the monitoring and recording of fixed assets, spend on fuel and spare parts for vehicles and generators, to ensure that the databases are accurately updated.
• Maintain the web-based register for all invoices and payment transfers, to ensure that all documents are maintained and filed in compliance with WFP standards and guidelines.
• Monitor and record all expenses in line with the approved budget to ensure that correct expenditure costs are charged and payments to external suppliers, cash grants and other supplier invoices are processed in a timely manner.
• Provide guidance and on-the-job training to other support staff, to ensure services are delivered consistently and to the required standards.
• Support in visits to the banks for cash disbursements.
• Perform other related duties, as required.

STANDARD MINIMUM ACADEMIC QUALIFICATIONS:

Education: Completion of secondary school education. Completion of bachelor’s degree in business, emphasis on accounting, audit, banking, or finance is desirable

Experience: At least five  years of progressively responsible experience in the field of finance, accounting or related fields.  

Language: Fluency in both oral and written communication in English and Arabic languages.

Required Skills and Knowledge:

• Experience in processing accounting and financial transactions  
• Experience in monitoring, analysing, and reporting data, using Excel 
• Knowledge  of financial and accounting policies, and IPSAS.
• Experience using ERP systems (specifically SAP Software), Microsoft 365, including Teams, SharePoint and OneDrive.
• Good attention to details, communication and client orientation skills

Desirable Skills and Knowledge:

• Experience working in a United Nations common system, international organization or non-governmental organizatio is desirable
• Ability to prioritize work and handle multiple tasks within tight timeline/high pressure.
• Ability to develop and maintain effective work relationships with different stakeholders.

WFP Leadership Framework: Common Standards of Behaviour

• WFP Leadership Framework: Common Standards of Behaviour
  • Leads by Example with Integrity
  • Upholds WFP values, principles, and standards
  • Respects others and values diversity
  • Stays focused and calm under pressure
  • Demonstrates humility and a willingness to learn
• Drives Results and Delivers on Commitments
  • Delivers results for maximum impact
  • Delegates appropriately
  • Adapts readily to change
• Fosters Inclusive and Collaborative
  • Is inclusive and collaborative
  • Gives timely and constructive feedback
  • Builds and shares new perspective
• Applies Strategic Thinking
  • Communicates and fulfils WFP’s vision
  • Embraces curiosity and new ways of doing things
  • Analyses and evaluates data
  • Considers the impact of decisions
• Builds and Maintains Sustainable Partnerships
  • Collaborates to deliver common objectives

Terms and Conditions: 

WFP offers a competitive benefits package including salary, various types of leaves including maternity and paternity, medical and life insurances, provision of breastfeeding rooms for new parents, and various wellness platforms.

WFP Lebanon offers flexible working hours schedule upon prior approval. 

Our premises are accessible, and we are committed to accommodate to any required reasonable accessible needs to remove barriers in the workplace.

Only shortlisted applicants will be contacted.

WFP has zero tolerance for discrimination and does not discriminate on the basis of HIV/AIDS status.

No appointment under any kind of contract will be offered to members of the UN Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions (ACABQ), International Civil Service Commission (ICSC), FAO Finance Committee, WFP External Auditor, WFP Audit Committee, Joint Inspection Unit (JIU) and other similar bodies within the United Nations system with oversight responsibilities over WFP, both during their service and within three years of ceasing that service.