Finance Specialist

Organizational Setting

The main aim of the FAO Syria Country Office is to assist government to develop policies, programmes and projects to achieve food security and to reduce hunger and malnutrition, to develop the agricultural fisheries and forestry sectors, and to use their environmental and natural resources in a sustainable manner.

The FAO Representation in Syria is organized around three main units: Programme, Operations and Administration. The current portfolio of projects in Syria includes activities related to Crop production & protection, Animal Health & Livestock production, Water for production, Environment & Climate Change, Gender & Social Inclusion, and is implemented with humanitarian, transitional and development funding.

Reporting Lines

The Finance Specialist will work under the overall guidance of the FAO Representative and the direct supervision of the Assistant FAOR (Administration). Work is performed autonomously, showing a high degree of initiative, judgment and liability. Supervision received is focused on facilitating service delivery and on meeting client requirements. The incumbent effectively organizes and supervises other finance support staff and provides relevant guidance and training.

Technical Focus

The Finance Specialist undertakes high-level and specialized finance-related support activities. He/she leads and coordinates the financial support work of the unit, ensuring the quality, transparency and consistency of processes. The job role requires in-depth knowledge and interpretation of financial policies, procedures and practices.

Tasks and responsibilities

• Analyse, control and maintain relevant general ledger accounts, including scrutinizing source documents for completeness, accuracy and validity of charges;

• Review and liquidate obligations; investigate erroneous charges and take corrective accounting actions; reconcile and review suspense accounts and ensures proper clearance procedures;

• Extract details of income, expenditures, assets and liability from the accounting system in order to analyse and verify accuracy and validity;

• Consolidate data into financial statements and assist in monitoring expenditures to ensure they remain within authorized levels;

• Prepare worksheets and assist in preparation of financial statements by compiling and consolidating data from various sources; prepare and checks trial balance;

• Prepare draft cost estimates and budget proposals and participate in budget analysis and projections;

• Provide support with respect to the review, analyses and preparation of the medium-term plan;

• Evaluate ongoing financial support requirements, adapt service provision to meet changing needs and solve operational problems as required;

• Provide procedural guidance to managers and staff; supervise, guide and train other finance support staff;

• Perform other duties as required.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

• Bachelor degree in economics, finance, accounting, business administration or related fields.

• Five years of relevant experience in finance, accounting and budget-related support work.

• Working knowledge (proficient – level C) of English.

• National of Syria.

FAO Core Competencies

• Results Focus

• Teamwork

• Communication

• Building Effective Relationships

• Knowledge Sharing and Continuous Improvement

Technical/Functional Skills

• Thorough knowledge of financial rules and regulations, accounting policies and practices in order to ensure that all processing controls are strictly adhered to; performs due diligence regarding eligibility, compliance, and transactions limits. • Thorough knowledge of the processing and approval process of a variety of transactions; ensuring audit requirements are maintained regarding supporting document retention, adherence to rules, accuracy and overall completeness. • Thorough knowledge of ERP corporate financial systems. • Very good knowledge of the MS Office applications, Internet and office technology equipment.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

• FAO does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process (application, interview meeting, processing)
• Incomplete applications will not be considered. If you need help please contact: [email protected]
• Applications received after the closing date will not be accepted
• Please note that FAO only considers higher educational qualifications obtained from an institution accredited/recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED), a list updated by the International Association of Universities (IAU) / United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The list can be accessed at http://www.whed.net/
• For additional employment opportunities visit the FAO employment website: http://www.fao.org/employment/home/en/
• Appointment will be subject to certification that the candidate is medically fit for appointment, accreditation, any residency or visa requirements, and security clearances.