Vacancy Notice N° o22/2016
Financial Assistant (Grade B3)
Directorate of Programme Co-ordination
Council of Europe Office in Kyiv


Closing date: 30 May 2016
Location : Kyiv

Job mission

Under the authority of the Head of Office, the Financial Assistant will carry out multiple administrative and technical tasks in the financial field, provide financial management advice and ensure accurate and reliable budget and accounting records, statements and reports in compliance with the Organisation's financial regulations and deadlines.

Employment is offered on an annual basis, with the possibility of renewal.

 

Local recruitment procedure organised in accordance with Rule No 1234 of 15 December 2005.

Key activities

The Financial Assistant will perform the following tasks in accordance with the Organisation’s procedures, guidelines and priorities, with a concern for quality, efficiency, accuracy and confidentiality:

  • ensures that all financial transactions of the Office are carried out in accordance with Council of Europe financial regulations, rules and procedures;
  • advises and assists in financial, administrative and budgetary matters;
  • prepares records and processes financial transactions, including in particular, input of requisitions and purchase orders into the financial management informations system (FIMS) and their finalisation;
  • verifies and controls invoices before settlement;
  • ensures regular follow-up of budget execution and prepares monthly reports of budget situation for information and validation by the relevant cost centre managers;
  • provides accurate financial information, and draws immediate attention to discrepancies and irregularities;
  • follows up work or activities in progress and reports to the supervisor, especially if and when problems occur;
  • liaises with officials of local banks and financial institutions to obtain information on exchange and interest rates, changes in procedures and regulations for office bank accounts;
  • prepares regular management accounting reports and statements and transmits them to Council of Europe headquarters;
  • archives relevant supporting documents of all financial transactions;
  • carries out customs and tax exemption and VAT reimbursement procedures;
  • provides logistical support to the Office (requisitioning of supplies from headquarters, local purchases, issuing of supplies, preparing purchase orders and tender procedures);
  • provides assistance and performs reception duties, receiving visitors and phone calls in the absence of the Office Assistant.

 

Please note that the incumbent may be required to perform other duties not listed in the vacancy notice.

 

Interviews and tests will take place at the Council of Europe Office in Kyiv.

Eligibility Requirements

This local recruitment procedure is open to applicants already present in Ukraine.

 

Only applicants who best meet the following criteria will be considered for shortlisting.

 

Qualifications:

  • Completed full course of general secondary education, followed by a post-secondary diploma corresponding to a minimum of two years studies in accountancy or finance.

Experience:

  • At least three years’ relevant professional experience in financial management, administrative management or management accounting; experience in preparing accounting or finance reports;
  • Proven experience of carrying out corresponding duties;
  • Previous professional experience in an international environment would be an advantage.

Language requirements:

  • Excellent knowledge of Ukrainian (mother tongue level);
  • Very good knowledge of one of the official languages (English);
  • Knowledge of French would be an advantage.

Nationality:

  • Nationality of host country or one of the 47 Council of Europe member states.

Age:

  • Under 65 years of age at the closing date of the vacancy notice.

Employee Core Values

Council of Europe staff members adhere to the values Professionalism, Integrity and Respect.

Competencies

Essential:

  • Professional and technical expertise
  • good knowledge of accounting techniques preferably of suppliers accounting and knowledge and experience in the relevant regulations and practices in force;
  • sound and proven experience in dealing with financial management;
  • experience in administrative duties;
  • sound computer skills and proven experience of specific financial management software (e.g. Oracle) and knowledge of standard tools in office applications (word processing, spreadsheet, data bases, presentation software, Outlook).
    • Teamwork and co-operation
    • Planning and work organisation
    • Analysis and problem solving
    • Concern for quality
    • Results orientation
    • Negotiation
    • Service orientation

 

Desirable:

  • Organisational and contextual awareness
  • Communication

 

For more information, please refer to the Competency Framework of the Council of Europe.

Additional information

Applications

Applications must be made in English or French using the Council of Europe on-line application system. By connecting to our website www.coe.int/jobs you can create and submit your on-line application. Applications must be submitted at the latest 30 May 2016 (midnight Central European Time).

Applications will be examined with regard to the requirements of this vacancy and applicants will be informed in due course of the outcome of your application. This may take some time after the closing date. Preselected candidates may be invited to take written tests before an interview. Written tests may be eliminatory.

In accordance with the Staff Regulations of the Council of Europe, the compulsory retirement age is 65. We cannot therefore accept applications from persons over this age.

The conditions of recruitment and employment which apply are contained in Rule No. 1234 of 15 December 2005 laying down the conditions of recruitment and employment of locally recruited temporary staff members working in Council of Europe Duty Stations located outside of France apply (Link to Rule 1234).

The Council of Europe welcomes applications from all suitably qualified candidates, irrespective of gender, disability, marital or parental status, racial, ethnic or social origin, colour, religion, belief or sexual orientation.

During the different stages of the recruitment procedure, specific measures may be taken to ensure equal opportunities for candidates with disabilities.

 

The Organisation

The Council of Europe is the continent’s leading organisation in the protection of human rights, democracy and rule of law. It was founded in 1949 in order to promote greater unity between its members and now includes 47 member states, all having signed up to the European Convention on Human Rights.

By Statute, the Council of Europe has two constituent organs: the Committee of Ministers, composed of the member states’ Ministers for Foreign Affairs, and the Parliamentary Assembly, comprising delegations from the national parliaments. The Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of Europe represents the entities of local and regional self-government within the member states. The Commissioner for Human Rights is an independent and impartial institution within the Council of Europe mandated to promote the awareness of and respect for human rights in member states.

The European Court of Human Rights is the judicial body which oversees the implementation of the Convention in the member states. Individuals can bring complaints of human rights violations to the Strasbourg Court once all possibilities of appeal have been exhausted in the member state concerned.