Payments Associate SC-6

DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS

21 December :59-GMT+02:00 Eastern European Time (Kiev)

WFP celebrates and embraces diversity. It is committed to the principle of equal employment opportunity for all its employees and encourages qualified candidates to apply irrespective of race, colour, national origin, ethnic or social background, genetic information, gender, gender identity and/or expression, sexual orientation, religion or belief, HIV status or disability.

ABOUT WFP

The World Food Programme is the world's largest humanitarian organization saving lives in emergencies and using food assistance to build a pathway to peace, stability and prosperity, for people recovering from conflict, disasters and the impact of climate change.

At WFP, people are at the heart of everything we do and the vision of the future WFP workforce is one of diverse, committed, skilled, and high performing teams, selected on merit, operating in a healthy and inclusive work environment, living WFP's values (Integrity, Collaboration, Commitment, Humanity, and Inclusion) and working with partners to save and change the lives of those WFP serves.

To learn more about WFP, visit our website:  and follow us on social media to keep up with our latest news: YouTube, LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, TikTok.

WHY JOIN WFP? 

• WFP is a 2020 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate.

• WFP offers a highly inclusive, diverse, and multicultural working environment.

• WFP invests in the personal & professional development of its employees through a range of training, accreditation, coaching, mentorship, and other programs as well as through internal mobility opportunities.

• A career path in WFP provides an exciting opportunity to work across the various country, regional and global offices around the world, and with passionate colleagues who work tirelessly to ensure that effective humanitarian assistance reaches millions of people across the globe.

• We offer an attractive compensation package (please refer to the Terms and Conditions section of this vacancy announcement).

Type of Contract: Service Contract 

 Unit / Division: Programme Unit / WFP Ukraine  

Duty Station: Kyiv

 Duration: 12 months (renewable) 

The position is only open to Ukrainian nationals or residents of Ukraine, with a legal work permit.  

What will you do in this position?  

The Payment Associate supports the end-to-end payment processes for WFP's cash-based assistance programs. Responsibilities include preparing and communicating payment instructions to financial service providers (FSPs), executing payments, following up on operational challenges such as failed transactions, and contributing to reconciliation and reporting mechanisms. 

In addition to operational tasks, the role involves providing support in collaboration with internal and external stakeholders, assisting with contractual arrangements with FSPs, and ensuring compliance with corporate standards and donor requirements. By ensuring efficient and reliable payment delivery, the Payment Associate supports WFP's mission to provide life-saving assistance in a timely and impactful manner. 

Why work with WFP Ukraine?  

The war in Ukraine has had drastic consequences, both for people inside the country and for those around the world who depend on its food supplies. The war has caused immense suffering for civilians, displaced families, and disrupted supply chains and food production. It has caused one of the fastest forced population movements since the Second World War. Close to 6 million Ukrainians are still living as refugees across Europe, and almost 3.6 million are internally displaced. Many have lost their homes and livelihoods. As food production and supply lines are disrupted by fighting, many families in the east and south of Ukraine do not have reliable access to nutritious food. 

WFP uses a combination of food and cash assistance to support communities affected by the war. This includes working with local partners to distribute food boxes in areas near the frontline and providing cash transfers in locations where people have access to banks and markets to buy food. Since March 2022, WFP has distributed food and cash assistance equivalent to 3.7 billion meals to people displaced and affected by the war. 

At WFP Ukraine, we offer a wide range of benefits and entitlements and favorable working conditions for Service Contract holders. Some of them are: 

Competitive salaries per job level 

Pension contribution added to net salary 

Medical insurance with the possibility to enroll eligible dependents 

Applicable danger pay (revised on quarterly basis) 

Annual leave - 30 days per year 

18 weeks of parental leave for birth mothers and 4 weeks of parental leave for non-birth parent 

1 day per week remote working option within the duty station (subject to conditions) 

Accessible premises & reasonable accommodation  

Learning & development opportunities 

How can you make a difference? 

In this position, you will have to:   

1. Development and Execution of Payment Solutions

• Support the design, development, and implementation of payment solutions that address operational needs while adhering to WFP standards and policies.
• Assist in the preparation and submission of payment instructions, such as letters of authorization and data uploads into financial service provider (FSP) systems, helping to ensure timely and accurate execution of payments in line with contractual terms.
   

2. Payment Monitoring and Troubleshooting

• Contribute to monitoring payment processes across multiple delivery mechanisms to support timely execution of payments and flag potential issues.
• Follow up on failed transactions, liaising with FSPs and field teams to support corrective actions and reduce disruptions to people.
   

3. Reconciliation and Reporting

• Support with reconciliations of payment instructions, FSP reports, and recipient data to contribute to accuracy, transparency, and accountability.
• Prepare timely reports on payment execution, fund utilization, and program performance, incorporating feedback and supporting inputs for internal and external stakeholders.
   

4. Collaboration and Cross-functional Coordination

• Contribute to ensuring that payment operations are in line with the latest organizational guidelines.
• Support the application of data assurance guidelines to help maintain robust controls for data, supporting compliance with WFP's data standards.
   

5. FSP Relationship and Contract Management

• Support the management of relationships with financial service providers, contributing to compliance with contractual obligations and highlighting areas for operational improvements.
• Assist with the drafting, review, and processing of agreements, amendments, and extensions in coordination with legal and HQ teams, ensuring alignment with organizational policies.
   

6. System and Process Oversight

• Contribute to the oversight of the payment lifecycle within WFP systems (e.g., SCOPE), helping to ensure compliance with timelines and organizational standards.
• Support the setup, due diligence, and operational rollout of payment delivery systems, helping to ensure that processes are efficient, secure, and compliant with corporate standards.
   

7. Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and Optimization

• Provide support in reviewing and updating SOPs to incorporate lessons learned and emerging best practices.
• Assist in identifying and implementing process improvements to optimize operations, enhancing both efficiency and accountability.
   

8. General Support

• Support with any other relevant tasks or duties as required, contributing to the overall success of WFP's operations and the achievement of objectives.

To join us in saving lives, changing lives, you will have: 

Education: Secondary school certificate plus a post-secondary certificate in a related field (e.g., Finance, Business Administration, Information Technology). 

Experience: At least six years or more years of progressively responsible relevant work experience in payment processing, financial operations, or a related field. Post-secondary education can compensate for some years of experience.

• Three (3) years of work experience in combination with a Master's Degree;
• Four (4) years of work experience in combination with a Bachelor's Degree.

Knowledge & Skills:

• Strong proficiency in MS Office Suite, especially Excel, with experience in data analytics and visualization.
• Familiar with financial systems and tools for payment management and reporting.
• Knowledge of assurance controls and data validation processes in payment systems.
• Excellent problem-solving skills, capable of maintaining attention to detail while working under pressure.
• Effective interpersonal skills to collaborate across teams and engage with diverse stakeholders.
• Strong time management and organizational abilities to handle competing priorities proactively.

Language: Fluency (level C) in both in English and Ukrainian languages. 

WFP LEADERSHIP FRAMEWORK

 

WFP Leadership Framework guides to the common standards of behavior that guide HOW we work together to accomplish our mission.

Click here to access WFP Leadership Framework

REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION

 

WFP is committed to supporting individuals with disabilities by providing reasonable accommodations throughout the recruitment process. If you require a reasonable accommodation, please contact: 

NO FEE DISCLAIMER

 

The United Nations does not charge any application, processing, training, interviewing, testing or other fee in connection with the application or recruitment process. Should you receive a solicitation for the payment of a fee, please disregard it. Furthermore, please note that emblems, logos, names and addresses are easily copied and reproduced. Therefore, you are advised to apply particular care when submitting personal information on the web.

REMINDERS BEFORE YOU SUBMIT YOUR APPLICATION

• All applications must be submitted exclusively through our online recruitment system. We do not accept CVs or spontaneous applications by email.

• If you experience challenges while submitting your online application, please contact us at for technical support only.

• Please note that applications sent to this email address cannot be considered.

• We strongly recommend that your profile is accurate, complete, and includes your employment records, academic qualifications, language skills and UN Grade (if applicable).

• Once your profile is completed, please apply, and submit your application.

• Please make sure you upload your professional CV in the English language

• Kindly note the only documents you will need to submit at this time are your CV and Cover Letter

• Additional documents such as passport, recommendation letters, academic certificates, etc. may potentially be requested at a future time

• Only shortlisted candidates will be notified

All employment decisions are made on the basis of organizational needs, job requirements, merit, and individual qualifications. WFP is committed to providing an inclusive work environment free of sexual exploitation and abuse, all forms of discrimination, any kind of harassment, sexual harassment, and abuse of authority. Therefore, all selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference and background checks.

No appointment under any kind of contract will be offered to members of the UN Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions (ACABQ), International Civil Service Commission (ICSC), FAO Finance Committee, WFP External Auditor, WFP Audit Committee, Joint Inspection Unit (JIU) and other similar bodies within the United Nations system with oversight responsibilities over WFP, both during their service and within three years of ceasing that service.

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