UNICEF works in over 190 countries and territories to save children’s lives, defend their rights, and help them fulfill their potential, from early childhood through adolescence.

At UNICEF, we are committed, passionate, and proud of what we do for as long as we are needed. Promoting the rights of every child is not just a job – it is a calling.

UNICEF is a place where careers are built: we offer our staff diverse opportunities for professional and personal development that will help them reinforce a sense of purpose while serving children and communities across the world. We welcome everyone who wants to belong and grow in a diverse and passionate culture, coupled with an attractive compensation and benefits package.

Visit our website to learn more about what we do at UNICEF.

For every child, the right to a Future

Use your finance expertise to help UNICEF deliver better outcomes for children worldwide. Join the Office of Strategy and Evidence and play a key role in financial operations, budgeting, analysis, and compliance while supporting globally recognized research, innovation, and evidence generation. This role offers meaningful impact, professional growth, and the opportunity to work in a collaborative international environment committed to making a difference for every child

This is a hands-on operational finance role that combines transaction processing, budget monitoring, financial controls, reporting, and client support to ensure the smooth financial management of UNICEF Innocenti's activities in Florence.

Key responsibilities include

1. Processes financial transactions

Reviews and processes invoices, payments, travel claims, advances, and other financial transactions.
Uses SAP and UNICEF corporate systems to ensure transactions are recorded correctly and on time.
Verifies supporting documentation and follows up on issues.

2. Monitors budgets and expenditures

Tracks spending against budgets and grants.
Reviews commitments and outstanding balances.
Supports budget planning and provides financial information to help managers make decisions.

3. Maintains financial controls and compliance

Performs reconciliations and maintains financial records.
Supports month-end and year-end closure activities.
Helps ensure compliance with UNICEF financial policies, procedures, and audit requirements.

4. Provides financial support to colleagues

Responds to finance-related queries from programme and operations staff.
Advises colleagues on processes, documentation requirements, and financial procedures.
Helps resolve payment and transaction issues.

5. Produces reports and analysis

Prepares recurring and ad hoc financial reports.
Analyses financial data and identifies discrepancies or areas requiring corrective action.
Supports audits and management reporting.

6. Supports process improvement

Develops SOPs, guidance notes, and job aids.
Contributes to efficiency improvements and knowledge-sharing initiatives.
Uses digital tools, including AI-enabled tools, to improve operational effectiveness.

If you would like to know more about this position, please review the complete Job Description here: Download File Classified Job Descriptions-138325 Finance Assistant.pdf

To qualify as a champion for every child you will have…

Minimum requirements

Education: Completion of Secondary Education is required.
Work Experience: Minimum five years of clerical experience in finance and accounting is required.
Skills: The successful candidate will demonstrate strong project management, collaboration, and problem-solving skills, along with confidence in using digital tools and adapting to new technologies. Advanced knowledge of Microsoft Suite products (MS Excel, MS Word, PowerPoint) is required.
Language Requirements: Proficiency in English and Italian is required.

Desirables

1. Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) is an asset.
2. Professional and/or university courses related to financial management, business administration or related field of work are highly desirable.
3. Experience with ERP systems such as SAP, Oracle or similar is a strong asset.
4. Relevant experience in the UN system/UNICEF is considered an asset.
5. Knowledge of artificial intelligence (AI) tools and their practical application to enhance operational efficiency, data analysis, and business processes is considered an asset.
6. Relevant experience at country level, particularly in development, fragile settings and humanitarian contexts.

For every Child, you demonstrate...

UNICEF's Core Values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust and Accountability and Sustainability (CRITAS) underpin everything we do and how we do it. Get acquainted with Our Values Charter: UNICEF Values

UNICEF competencies required for this post are…

(1) Builds and maintains partnerships
(2) Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness
(3) Drive to achieve results for impact
(4) Innovates and embraces change
(5) Manages ambiguity and complexity
(6) Thinks and acts strategically
(7) Works collaboratively with others

Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels.

UNICEF promotes and advocates for the protection of the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything it does and is mandated to support the realization of the rights of every child, including those most disadvantaged, and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, minority, or any other status.

UNICEF encourages applications from all qualified candidates, regardless of gender, nationality, religious or ethnic backgrounds, and from people with disabilities, including neurodivergence. We offer a wide range of benefits to our staff, including paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF provides reasonable accommodation throughout the recruitment process. If you require any accommodation, please submit your request through the accessibility email button on the UNICEF Careers webpage Accessibility | UNICEF. Should you be shortlisted, please get in touch with the recruiter directly to share further details, enabling us to make the necessary arrangements in advance.

UNICEF does not hire candidates who are married to children (persons under 18). UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination based on gender, nationality, age, race, sexual orientation, religious or ethnic background or disabilities. UNICEF is committed to promote the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check, and selected candidates with disabilities may be requested to submit supporting documentation in relation to their disability confidentially.

UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance. Issuance of a visa by the host country of the duty station is required for IP positions and will be facilitated by UNICEF. Appointments are conditional on the selected candidates willingness to comply with current or future vaccination requirements, should UNICEF mandate it for personnel. Failure to comply with such requirements, where applicable and without a duly approved medical exemption from the relevant UN authority, will result in the cancellation of the selection or may lead to other administrative measures, including separation from service.

Remarks:

As per Article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity.

UNICEF is committed to fostering an inclusive, representative, and welcoming workforce. For this position, eligible and suitable candidates are encouraged to apply.

Government employees who are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally required to resign from their government positions before taking up an assignment with UNICEF. UNICEF reserves the right to withdraw an offer of appointment, without compensation, if a visa or medical clearance is not obtained, or necessary inoculation requirements are not met, within a reasonable period for any reason.

UNICEF does not charge a processing fee at any stage of its recruitment, selection, and hiring processes (i.e., application stage, interview stage, validation stage, or appointment and training). UNICEF will not ask for applicants' bank account information.

Humanitarian action is a cross-cutting priority within UNICEF's Strategic Plan. UNICEF is committed to stay and deliver in humanitarian contexts. Therefore, all staff, at all levels across all functional areas, can be called upon to be deployed to support humanitarian response, contributing to both strengthening resilience of communities and capacity of national authorities.

Visa residence requirements: i.e. UNICEF shall not facilitate the issuance of a visa and working authorization for candidates under consideration for positions at the national officer and general service category.

At the time of application, candidates must possess Italian citizenship or be nationals of EU/Schengen countries or in possession of a valid work permit. Temporary and/or sponsored visas are not accepted. Applicants must be holders of acceptable permits already at the time of application. Applicants with non-EU citizenship must attach copies of their valid Italian work permits, otherwise their application will not be considered. Please note that General Service (GS) staff are locally recruited staff and candidates are personally responsible for any travel and accommodation arrangements.

All UNICEF positions are advertised, and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process. An internal candidate performing at the level of the post in the relevant functional area, or an internal/external candidate in the corresponding Talent Group, may be selected, if suitable for the post, without assessment of other candidates.

Additional information about working for UNICEF can be found here.

Finance Assistant, G-5, Fixed Term Position, Florence, Italy, Office of Strategy & Evidence -Innocenti, #00138325 (Open to EU Citizens or Valid Italian Work Permit Holders)