This positions is located in the Executive Office, Department of Political Affairs (DPA) in headquarters. The Executive Office provides administrative, managerial and programme support necessary for the implementation of the mandated activities of DPA as well as provides administrative and logistical support to a number of special representatives and envoys of the Secretary-General and to special political missions. The Senior Finance & Budget Assistant reports to the the Finance & Budget Officer/Unit Chief.
Within delegated authority, the Senior Finance & Budget Assistant will be responsible for the following duties:
Budget Preparation:
•Reviews, analyses and assists in the finalization of cost estimates and budget proposals, in terms of staff and non-staff requirements, including programmatic aspects; ensures compliance with the strategic framework and other legislative mandates.
•Prepare cost plan and budget proposal for ad-hoc activities funded under the Secretary-General's Unforeseen and Extraordinary expense account and any other jointly funded activities.
•Assists managers in the elaboration of resource requirements for budget submissions.
•Undertakes research and provides support to Finance & Budget Officers with respect to budget reviews of relevant intergovernmental and expert bodies.
•Record allotments based on approval authority, including redeployment of funds when necessary, ensuring appropriate expenditures.
Budget Administration:
•Perform certifying functions of financial transactions as per delegation of authority.
•Provide expert advice to clients on procedures and interpretation of Financial Rules and Regulations.
•Monitors budget implementation/expenditures and recommends reallocation of funds as necessary.
•Reviews requisitions for goods and services to ensure (a) they are in line with authorized budgets, the priorities of the organisation and the UN financial rules and regulations, and (b) availability of funds.
•Reviews, analyses and processes payments to third-parties, commercial entities and individuals with respect to settlement of pay and allowances.
•Monitors extra-budgetary resources, including review of agreements and cost plans, ensuring compliance with regulations and rules and established policies and procedures.
•Prepare relevant documents with respond to the finalization of budget performance reports and submissions, analysing variances between approved budgets and actual expenditures.
•Co-ordinates with other finance and budget staff on related issues during preparation of budget reports.
•Regularly monitor budget implementation/expenditures, review commitments and review and recommend reallocation of funds as necessary.
•Prepare regular reports on the status of allotment and provide analysis for management report.
•Main focal point for preparation of expenditure data from Business Intelligence Module in Umoja.
•Follows-up on audit recommendations.
General:
•Keeps up-to-date on documents/reports/guidelines that have a bearing on matters related to programme and/or peacekeeping budgets, ensuring compliance with intergovernmental recommendations and decisions as well as with United Nations policies and procedures.
•Drafts or prepares correspondence to respond to enquiries in respect to relevant financial and budget matters.
•Provides guidance, training and daily supervision to other general service staff in the area of responsibility.
•Assist in the planning of unit and team staff work plans, monitor and report performance against the plans.
•Performs other related duties, as assigned.
•Professionalism:
Knowledge of, and ability to apply financial rules, regulations and procedures in the UN environment. Knowledge, skills and ability to extract, interpret, analyse and format data across the full range of finance and budget functions, including programme development and database management, claims and treasury operations. Ability to identify and resolve data discrepancies and operational problems. Shows pride in work and in achievements; demonstrates professional competence and mastery of subject matter; is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results; is motivated by professional rather than personal concerns; shows persistence when faced with difficult problems or challenges; remains calm in stressful situations. Commitment to implementing the goal of gender equality by ensuring the equal participation and full involvement of women and men in all aspects of work.
•Planning & Organizing:
Develops clear goals that are consistent with agreed strategies; identifies priority activities and assignments; adjusts priorities as required; allocates appropriate amount of time and resources for completing work; foresees risks and allows for contingencies when planning; monitors and adjusts plans and actions as necessary; uses time efficiently. •Client Orientation: Considers all those to whom services are provided to be "clients" and seeks to see things from clients' point of view; establishes and maintains productive partnerships with clients by gaining their trust and respect; identifies clients' needs and matches them to appropriate solutions; monitors ongoing developments inside and outside the clients' environment to keep informed and anticipate problems; keeps clients informed of progress or setbacks in projects; meets timeline for delivery of products or services to client.
•Teamwork:
Works collaboratively with colleagues to achieve organizational goals; solicits input by genuinely valuing others’ ideas and expertise; is willing to learn from others; places team agenda before personal agenda; supports and acts in accordance with final group decision, even when such decisions may not entirely reflect own position; shares credit for team accomplishments and accepts joint responsibility for team shortcomings.
High school diploma or equivalent.
A minimum of ten (10) years of experience in finance, budget, accounting, administrative services or related area. Experience in preparing budget and performance reports for an international organization is desirable. Experience in applying financial rules and procedures in an international organization is desirable. Experience in processing transactions using the financial module of an Enterprise Resource Planning (EPR) software such as SAP, Peoplesoft, Oracle, or equivalent is desirable. Experience providing financial projections and reports using SAP business intelligence module or equivalent is desirable.
English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the post advertised, fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official United Nations language is an advantage.
Evaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise which may be followed by competency-based interview.
This position is subject to local recruitment pursuant to staff rule 4.4 of the United Nations Staff Rules. All staff in the General Service and related categories shall be recruited in the country or within commuting distance of each office, irrespective of their nationality and of the length of time they may have been in the country. A staff member subject to local recruitment shall not be eligible for the allowances or benefits exclusively applicable to international recruitment.
Passing the Global General Service Test (GGST) is a prerequisite for recruitment consideration in the General Services and related categories in the United Nations Secretariat. Applicants who have not passed the GGST at the time of application may be invited for the test after submitting an application. Having passed the Administrative Support Assessment Test in English at the United Nations Headquarters, Economic Commission for Africa, Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia, United Nations Office at Geneva, United Nations Office at Vienna, International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda or International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia; or the United Nations Accounting or Statistical Assistant Examination at the United Nations Headquarters may be accepted in lieu of the GGST.
Candidates will be required to meet the requirements of Article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter as well as the requirements of the position. The United Nations is committed to the highest standards of efficiency, competence and integrity for all its human resources, including but not limited to respect for international human rights and humanitarian law. Candidates may be subject to screening against these standards, including but not limited to whether they have committed, or are alleged to have committed criminal offences and/or violations of international human rights law and international humanitarian law. The United Nations shall place no restrictions on the eligibility of men and women to participate in any capacity and under conditions of equality in its principal and subsidiary organs. (Charter of the United Nations - Chapter 3, article 8). The United Nations Secretariat is a non-smoking environment.Applicants are urged to follow carefully all instructions available in the online recruitment platform, inspira. For more detailed guidance, applicants may refer to the At-a-Glance on "The Application Process" and the Instructional Manual for the Applicants, which can be accessed by clicking on “Manuals” hyper-link on the upper right side of inspira account-holder homepage.Applications are pre-screened by the system according to the published requirements of the job opening on the basis of the information provided in the application. In relation to the requirements of the job opening, applicants must provide complete and accurate information pertaining to their qualifications, including their education, work experience, and language skills. Each applicant must bear in mind that submission of incomplete or inaccurate applications may render that applicant ineligible for consideration for the job opening. Initial screening and evaluation of applications will be conducted on the basis of the information submitted. Applications cannot be amended following submission. Candidates under serious consideration for selection will be subject to a reference-checking process to verify the information provided in the application.Job openings advertised on the Careers Portal will be removed at midnight (New York time) on the deadline date.
THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.