Finance Assistant

UN Women, grounded in the vision of equality enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations, works for the elimination of discrimination against women and girls; the empowerment of women; and the achievement of equality between women and men as partners and beneficiaries of development, human rights, humanitarian action and peace and security. 

UN Women, in collaboration with the Government of Finland, is implementing a four-year project titled, ‘Strengthening women’s and girls’ meaningful participation, leadership, and economic rights, (WLER) at the local levels in Tanzania’ (2022 – 2025). The project has the overarching goal of ensuring ‘Women’s and girls’ meaningful participation, leadership and economic rights are strengthened at local levels in Tanzania’ aims to increase the number of women in leadership and decision making positions and their voices at the local government levels through promoting gender-responsive norms, behaviours and practices, strengthening capacities of women leaders, enhance the collection and use of sex and disability responsive data and enhancing women’s economic rights including by piloting gender and disability transformative innovative measures such as care services, in line with the Government of Tanzania’s Generation Equality Commitments. 

The project will enhance the implementation of the United Republic of Tanzania’s commitments to gender equality and women’s empowerment (GEWE) including Generation Equality. It builds on the Women’s Leadership and Political Participation Project (Wanawake Wanaweza) Phase II (2017-2021) and Phase I (2014 – 2017) that identified discriminatory gender norms, behaviours and practices and lack of women’s economic opportunities as among the key barriers to women’s leadership at the local government levels. The project adopts a long-term action-based approach to advancing women’s leadership, meaningful participation, economic rights and, addressing the disproportionate share of unpaid care work by women and girls

Under the guidance and supervision of the Finance Associate, the Finance Assistant provides financial services to the Office Operations ensuring high quality and accuracy of work. The Finance Assistant promotes a client, quality and results-oriented approach.
 
The Finance Assistant works in close collaboration with the Operations, Programme and projects staff, and the Operations team to ensure consistent service delivery.

Duties and Responsibilities

1. Support implementation of operational strategies

     • Support full compliance of financial processes with UN Women rules, regulations, policies and strategies;

     • Provision of inputs to the CO business processes mapping and implementation of the internal standard operating procedures (SOPs);

     • Provision of basic inputs to the preparation and implementation of administrative team results-oriented work plans;

     • Assistance in the preparation of budget, and provision of information for audit;

     • Follow up on deadlines, commitments made and actions taken;

2. Accounting and financial monitoring services

     • Preparation of vouchers and PO vouchers for management and development projects;

     • Proper control of travel claims, monthly salary and other entitlements in a timely fashion and accuracy;

     • Maintenance of internal expend control system which ensures that vouchers processed are matched and completed, and transaction are correctly recorded and posted in Atlas;

     • Timely corrective actions on un-posted vouchers, including the vouchers with budget check errors, match exceptions, and unapproved vouchers;

     • Maintenance of the Accounts receivables for UN Women projects and recording of deposits in Atlas;

     • Verify accuracy and relevancy of the supporting documents for payments and financial reports;

     • Generation of regular management reports on the status of all CO financial resources;

     • Maintenance on the proper filing system for finance records and documents;

3. Proper CO cash management system

     • Ensure timely identification and recording of contributions and receipts for income application;

     • Management of Cash receipts and petty cash for the CO;

     • Performance of cashier functions;

     • Review expenditures under all advances/imprest accounts issued to projects, follow up and arrange for their timely replenishments;

4. Functioning of the optimal cost recovery system

     • Participation in the establishment and updating of cost recovery system for the Office;

     • Provision of inputs for preparation of cost-recovery bills in Atlas for the services provided by UN Women;

     • Follow up closely on cost recovery;

5. Support to knowledge building and knowledge sharing

     • Participation in the training for the operations/projects staff on Finance;

     • Sound contributions to knowledge networks and communities of practice;

Competencies

CORE VALUES / GUIDING PRINCIPLES 

   • Integrity: Demonstrate consistency in upholding and promoting the values of UN Women in actions and decisions, in line with the UN Code of Conduct;

   • Professionalism: Demonstrate professional competence and expert knowledge of the pertinent substantive areas of work;

   •Cultural sensitivity and valuing diversity: Demonstrate an appreciation of the multicultural nature of the organization and the diversity of its staff. Demonstrate an international outlook, appreciating difference in values and learning from cultural diversity;

CORE COMPETENCIES 

   • Ethics and Values: Demonstrate and safeguard ethics and integrity;

   • Organizational Awareness: Demonstrate corporate knowledge and sound judgment;

   • Development and Innovation: Take charge of self-development and take initiative;

   • Work in teams: Demonstrate ability to work in a multicultural, multi ethnic environment and to maintain effective working relations with people of different national and cultural backgrounds;

   • Communicating and Information Sharing: Facilitate and encourage open communication and strive for effective communication;

   • Self-management and Emotional Intelligence: Stay composed and positive even in difficult moments, handle tense situations with diplomacy and tact, and have a consistent behavior towards others;

   • Conflict Management: Surface conflicts and address them proactively acknowledging different feelings and views and directing energy towards a mutually acceptable solution; 

   • Continuous Learning and Knowledge Sharing: Encourage learning and sharing of knowledge; 

   • Appropriate and Transparent Decision Making: Demonstrate informed and transparent decision making;

FUNCTIONAL COMPETENCIES

   • Ability to administer and execute financial and accounting processes and transactions; 

   • Ability to extract, interpret, analyze data and resolve operational problems;

   • Ability to perform work of confidential nature and handle a large volume of work;  

   • Ability to support a team and team building skills; 

   • Good knowledge of financial rules and regulations; 

   • Strong IT skills; 

   • Focuses on result for the client and responds positively to feedback;

   • Ability to handle web-based management systems; 

   • Attention to detail;

   • Excellent knowledge of office software packages;

Required Skills and Experience

Education and Certification: 

   • Undergraduate degree in Finance, Accounting or Business Administration or related fields is desirable; 

   • Passing UNWomen Basic Accounting Technical Test is required;   

Experience: 

   • At least 7 years of progressively responsible experience in administration or programme management/support;

   • Experience in working in a computer environment using multiple office software packages;

   • Experience in the use of ATLAS is an asset;

   • Experience in supporting a team;

Language Requirements: 

   • Fluency in English and Swahili is required;

   • Working Knowledge of the other official UN language is an asset;