Payroll Benefits Assistant

Organizational Setting

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) contributes to the achievement of the 2030 Agenda through FAO Strategic Framework by supporting the transformation to MORE efficient, inclusive, resilient and sustainable agrifood systems, for better production, better nutrition, a better environment, and a better life, leaving no one behind.

FAO's commitment to environmental sustainability is integral to our strategic objectives and operations.
The Shared Services Centre (SSC) recommends and administers process management and procedures that need to be executed effectively; ensures the management of quality assurance activities associated with the transactional processes and implementation of service delivery; continuously improves the satisfaction of its customers, internal or external, while pursuing a continuous improvement agenda that will drive up service excellence while driving down the costs of service delivery through process standardization, process automation and self-service capabilities.

This position is located in the FAO Shared Services Centre in Budapest, Hungary.

Main Purpose

The Payroll Benefits Assistant plays a lead role in the coordination of payroll and benefits support services for the unit. He/ she performs a broad range of activities requiring in-depth analysis and interpretation of relevant policies, procedures and practices. The incumbent provides procedural guidance to managers and staff.

Supervision Received/Exercised

The Payroll Benefits Assistant reports to the Payroll Benefits Officer. Work is performed autonomously, showing a high degree of initiative and independent judgment. Supervision received is focused on facilitating service delivery. The incumbent provides guidance and training to programme support staff in the division or office.

Working Relationships

The Payroll Benefits Assistant maintains a wide range of contacts with managers, staff and stakeholders inside and outside the unit. The incumbent collaborates closely with colleagues in other offices and the corporate services, ensuring the quality and consistency of payroll and benefits support services.

Key Functions/Results

•    Prepare and verify inputs to the monthly payroll process (e.g. batch element entries, one-off entitlement, overtime O/T and night differential N/D, etc.) including the details of the interfaces with other systems in the Organization (e.g. AP and Credit Union recoveries), working directly with the responsible requesting unit to ensure smooth, efficient processing.

•    Participate in testing, documenting and implementing eligibility and rate calculation changes (fast Formulas) to the various entitlements supported by the Organization's payroll system. Execute database queries and payroll assurance reports to identify discrepancies and report findings back to the supervisor.

•    Monitor and ensure the timely clearance of advances by preparing payroll recoveries as one of the inputs to the monthly payroll process or by contacting the field offices (or ex-employees) where necessary.

•    Supervise the maintenance of up-to-date Payroll Rates Tables such as Salary Scales, Post Adjustment Classifications, Country/Duty Stations Classifications, Pay Factors, Location, etc.

•    Perform specific exceptions actions (e.g. data corrections, overrides, retroactive actions) related to the HR system providing support to user on HR related queries for issues arising through the use of the system.

•    Execute the Payroll and Oracle Advanced Benefits standard procedures.

•    Reconcile payroll related clearing accounts.

•    Respond to employees' enquiries on pay-related matters.

•    Perform other related duties, as required.

Impact Of Work

The incumbent's work impacts directly on the smooth and efficient operations of systems support activities of the unit. He/she plays a lead role in the coordination and provision of the support services for the successful achievement of the unit's mandate.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

Education: Secondary School Education.
Experience: Four years of systems support experience, including experience in payroll and in working with database applications, using Access or other database query products.
Languages: Working knowledge (proficiency - level C) of English.
IT Skills: Good knowledge of the MS Office applications, Internet and office technology equipment.

Residency: General Service Staff are recruited locally. To be eligible for this position, candidates must be nationals of the country of the duty station or possess an existing visa/work permit and reside within commuting distance of the duty station at the time of the application. "Commuting distance" means the distance within which staff members can travel daily between their place of work and their residence.

Competencies

•    Results focus

•    Teamwork

•    Communication

•    Building Effective Relationships

•    Knowledge Sharing and continuous improvement

Technical Skills

•    Very good knowledge of corporate computerized financial/travel/human resources systems.

•    Very good knowledge of database applications using Access or other database query products.

Desirable Qualifications And Skills

•    Working knowledge (proficiency - level C) OR intermediate knowledge (intermediate proficiency - level B) of one of the other working languages of the Organization (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish).

•    Experience with the Human Resources Management System/Payroll applications of an Enterprise Resource Programme.