Finance Associate

November 24, 2025

Grade

GS6

General Service

Reason

Temporary > Temporary Assignment/ Appointment

A (least hardship)

Family

2025-12-01

2026-06-30

Standard Job Description

Finance Associate

Organizational Setting and Work Relationships
The Finance Associate is normally supervised by a more senior finance colleague who defines general work objectives and provides necessary advice and guidance. The incumbent also refers to UNHCR Manuals and relevant policy papers on financial issues.
The incumbent assists with the processing of financial transactions. S/he keeps frequent contact with staff at various levels in the office and with bank officials to exchange information. The incumbent may supervise some support staff.

All UNHCR staff members are accountable to perform their duties as reflected in their job description. They do so within their delegated authorities, in line with the regulatory framework of UNHCR which includes the UN Charter, UN Staff Regulations and Rules, UNHCR Policies and Administrative Instructions as well as relevant accountability frameworks. In addition, staff members are required to discharge their responsibilities in a manner consistent with the core, functional, cross-functional and managerial competencies and UNHCR¿s core values of professionalism, integrity and respect for diversity.

Duties
- Maintain financial records and monitoring systems to record and reconcile expenditures, balances, payments, statements and other data for day-to-day transactions and reports.
- Select and enter data from a wide variety of documents, verifying accuracy by checking sources, making necessary calculations and assuring inclusion of all relevant data.
- Prepare recurring reports as scheduled and special reports as required for budget preparation, audits or other reasons.
- Advise and assist staff members, experts and consultants on all aspects of allowances, salary advances, travel claims and other financial matters, calculate and authorize payments due for claims and services.
- Maintain liaison with officials of local banks to obtain day-to-day information on exchange and interest rates, changes in procedures and regulations and matters pertaining to maintenance of office bank accounts.
- Prepare detailed cost estimates and participate in budget analysis and projections as required.
- Initiate correspondence to verify data, answer queries and obtain additional information on accounts and financial transactions, as required.
- Verify that the financial transactions are correct and in accordance with UNHCR rules and procedures.

- Support the identification and management of risks and seek to seize opportunities impacting objectives in the area of responsibility. Ensure decision making in risk based in the functional area of work. Raise risks, issues and concerns to a supervisor or to relevant functional colleague(s).
- Perform other related duties as required.

Minimum Qualifications
Education & Professional Work Experience
Years of Experience / Degree Level
G6 - 3 years relevant experience with High School Diploma; or 2 years relevant work experience with Bachelor or equivalent or higher

Field(s) of Education
Not applicable

Certificates and/or Licenses
Accounting Business Administration, Finance
(Certificates and Licenses marked with an asterisk* are essential)

Relevant Job Experience
Essential
High level of IT affinity (MS Office applications, People Soft).

Desirable
Knowledge and work experience of MSRP Finance applications.
Good knowledge of UN/UNHCR Financial rules and procedures.
Completion of UNHCR learning programmes or specific training relevant to the functions of the position.

Functional Skills
FI-ERP Financial Management (SAP, Oracle, PeopleSoft, Workday and other)
IT-Computer Literacy
IT-Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP)
(Functional Skills marked with an asterisk* are essential)

Language Requirements
For International Professional and Field Service jobs: Knowledge of English and UN working language of the duty station if not English.
For National Professional jobs: Knowledge of English and UN working language of the duty station if not English and local language.
For General Service jobs: Knowledge of English and/or UN working language of the duty station if not English.

All UNHCR workforce members must individually and collectively, contribute towards a working environment where each person feels safe, and empowered to perform their duties. This includes by demonstrating no tolerance for sexual exploitation and abuse, harassment including sexual harassment, sexism, gender inequality, discrimination and abuse of power.

As individuals and as managers, all must be proactive in preventing and responding to inappropriate conduct, support ongoing dialogue on these matters and speaking up and seeking guidance and support from relevant UNHCR resources when these issues arise.

This is a Standard Job Description for all UNHCR jobs with this job title and grade level. The Operational Context may contain additional essential and/or desirable qualifications relating to the specific operation and/or position. Any such requirements are incorporated by reference in this Job Description and will be considered for the screening, shortlisting and selection of candidates.

Operational Context:

Global Shared Services (GSS) provides location-independent transactional services in Finance, Payroll, Human Resources, Supply, and IT, to enable operations to focus on strategic and context-specific priorities globally. The GSS located in Budapest serves as the backbone of the service, which is supported by satellite teams in Panama, Amman, Kuala Lumpur, Dakar, and Nairobi. The GSS also works very closely with all enabling functions, DPM, DRM, DEPS, and ITS, to ensure policies and controls are implemented and delivered in an efficient manner. The strategic direction and operating modalities of the service are governed by the GSS Advisory Board.


This position is part of the Dakar GSS satellite centre and will report to the Assistant Finance Officer in the respective location. The incumbent will support operational teams in achieving high-quality outcomes and enhancing customer satisfaction. The incumbent will:

Along with standard Job Description, the primary responsibilities include the following tasks.

· Process financial transactions, including verifying source documents, entering data accurately, performing necessary calculations, and ensuring completeness of records.

· Draft, review, and maintain Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and guidance notes for internal use.

· Identify opportunities for process improvements and propose solutions to management.

· Provide guidance, training, and supervision to support staff as required.

· Perform other related duties to support the smooth operation of the finance function.

· May supervise support staff and provide on-the-job guidance as needed.

· Any additional work that may be included in-scope for the GSS Finance function.


Desired Candidate Profile

The incumbent must have proven experience in:

· Sound practical experience in financial transaction processing, such as accounts payable, accounts receivable, reconciliations, or supplier/banking master data management, preferably in an international or shared-service environment.

· Experience working with financial modules of a major Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system such as Oracle or SAP, with an understanding of internal controls and day-to-day financial operations.

· Proficiency in preparing financial reports, reconciliations, and audit-ready documentation.

· Strong organizational, analytical, and communication skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively in a multicultural, team-oriented environment.

· Experience collaborating with internal staff and external stakeholders.

The ideal candidate will also demonstrate:

· Accuracy, attention to detail, and commitment to data quality.

· Ability to work independently within delegated authority, exercising sound judgment in processing financial transactions and resolving exceptions.

· Knowledge of accrual-based accounting standards (IPSAS or IFRS) and familiarity with financial policies and procedures.

· Strong client-service orientation when assisting staff, suppliers, and other stakeholders with financial matters.

· Capacity to adapt to new systems, contribute to process improvements, and assist in implementing financial controls.

· Ability to mentor or supervise support staff, providing guidance and training when required.

· Fluency in English & French.

Additional information:

Candidates must demonstrate and provide a proof of residency and/or work permit for Senegal at the time of application. UNHCR will not sponsor/facilitate residency and work permits.

For G6 - 3 years relevant experience with High School Diploma; or 2 years relevant work experience with Bachelor or equivalent or higher.

Shortlisted candidates may be required to sit for a test. No late applications will be accepted. UNHCR is committed to diversity and welcomes applications from qualified candidates regardless of disability, gender identity, marital or civil partnership status, race, colour or ethnic and national origins, religion or belief, or sexual orientation. UNHCR does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process (application, interview meeting, processing, training or any other fees).

This position doesn't require a functional clearance

English

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French

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Skills

FI-ERP Financial Management (SAP, Oracle, PeopleSoft, Workday and other), IT-Computer Literacy, IT-Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP)

Education

Certifications

Accounting - Other, Business Administration - Other, Finance - Other

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