Organizational Setting

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 and based in Budapest, Hungary.

Main Purpose

The Payroll Benefits Associate undertakes high level and specialized payroll and benefits-related services for the Payroll Unit. He/she leads and coordinates the payroll support work of the unit, ensuring the quality, transparency and consistency of processes. The job role requires in-depth knowledge and interpretation of financial and payroll policies, procedures and practices. The incumbent provides procedural guidance to managers and staff in the Organization and guides other support staff.

Supervision Received/Exercised

The Payroll Benefits Associate reports to a National Professional Officer. Work is performed autonomously, showing a high degree of initiative and independent judgment and liability. Supervision received is focused on facilitating service delivery and on meeting client requirements. The incumbent effectively organizes and supervises other support staff and provides relevant guidance and training.

Working Relationships

The Payroll Benefits Associate maintains a wide range of contacts with managers and staff throughout the Organization, as well as with colleagues within the team, providing experienced coordination and delivery of the entire range of support processes and services.

Key Functions/Results

•    Coordinate the preparation and verification of inputs to the monthly payroll (e.g. batch element entries, one-off entitlements, overtime O/T and night differential N/D, etc.) including the details of the interface with other systems in the (e.g. AP and Credit Union recoveries), working directly with the responsible requesting unit to ensure smooth, efficient processing.
•    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.
•    Ensure the reconciliation of payroll related clearing accounts.
•    Verify payroll assurance reports, particularly those detailing staff members with high allotment amounts, zero amounts, negative net pay and other as needed, reporting discrepancies.
•    Execute database queries, identifying discrepancies and reporting back to the Payroll Benefits Unit officers, identifying and/or performing correcting actions as directed.
•    Implement eligibility and rate calculation changes to the various entitlements supported by the Organization’s payroll system.
•    Analyse issues and prepare problem reports detailing system functionality issues and verify the related corrections prior to implementation in the production environment.
•    Respond to enquiries, including replying to e-mail correspondence, on payroll related matters.
•    Perform other related duties, as required.

Impact of work

The incumbent’s work impacts directly on the efficiency, effectiveness, accuracy and timeliness of the services provided by the team. He/she plays a pro-active coordinating role in the successful achievement of the work unit’s mandate.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

Education: Secondary School Education
Experience: Five years of administrative processing support experience in HR entitlements or finance.
Languages: Working knowledge (proficient – 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

•    Thorough 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 (proficient – level C) OR Limited knowledge (intermediate – 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.
•    Experience in payroll.