Chief of Section, Budget

Overview

Lead budget planning and management processes.

You have:

• Advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent) in business administration, finance, accounting or a related field is required.
• A minimum of 10 years of progressively responsible work experience in budget formulation, presentation and management, finance, accounting, business administration or a related area is required.
• Fluency in English is required; knowledge of other official United Nations languages is desirable.
• An accounting qualification by an internationally recognized accounting body (ACCA, ACA, CPA, CIMA) is desirable.

Contract

This is a P-5 contract. This kind of contract is known as Professional and Director staff. It is normally internationally recruited only. It's a staff contract. It usually requires 10 years of experience, depending on education.

Salary

The salary for this job should be between 110,869 USD and 138,944 USD.

Please keep in mind that the salary displayed here is an estimation by UN Talent based on the location and the type of contract. It may vary depending on the organization. The recruiter should be able to inform you about the exact salary range. In case the job description contains another salary information, please refer to this one.

Org. Setting and Reporting

This position is located in the Budget Section (BS) of the Financial Resources Management Service (FRMS), Division for Management (DM), UNOV/UNODC in Vienna. The incumbent will report to the Chief of FRMS and supervise all staff in the Section. For more information on UNOV and UNODC, please visit our websites: www.unov.org and www.unodc.org.

Responsibilities

Within delegated authority, the Chief of the Budget Section is responsible for the following specific duties: • Plan, organize and coordinates the preparation of the budgets of UNOV and UNODC, including the annual programme plan of UNOV. • Review, analyse and finalize cost estimates and budget proposals. • Review and advise on results-based budget narratives and ensure legislative mandates are accurately translated into programme and project budgets. • Proactively support and respond to questions raised by relevant intergovernmental and expert bodies in the review of budget and other programme planning instruments. • Participate and represent the Service in inter-agency committees of the Vienna-based organizations and in intergovernmental meetings providing programmatic/substantive expertise on relevant issues. • Ensure effective and efficient management, internal monitoring and control of the budgetary resources; and provides responses to issues raised by senior management. • Administer and monitor extrabudgetary resources, including review of agreements and cost plans, ensuring compliance with regulations and rules and established policies and procedures. • Provide advice and guidance, including training, to headquarters and field staff on budgetary and financial policies, procedures and results-based budgeting. • Participate in inter-departmental meetings and/or technical survey missions on matters related to resource requirements, programming and budgetary issues. • Review and analyse budgetary policies and procedures, make recommendations for changes and/or modifications. • Act as a Certifying Officer under Financial Rule 105.5 to ensure that proposed obligations and expenditures are in accordance with budgets and established regulations and rules. • Ensure the integrity of financial and management systems and the controls that underpin them, including leading and managing workflow process improvements. • Represent Financial Resources Management Services (FRMS) in inter and intra-departmental meetings. • Plan, organize and manage staff and the Section’s work programme; plans and discusses individual work programmes with staff and evaluates their performance. • Lead team members efforts to collect and analyze data and provide insight to identify trends or patterns for data-driven planning, decision-making, presentation and reporting. Ensure that everyone can discover, access, integrate and share the data they need. • Perform other work-related duties as may be required.

Competencies

Professionalism Has solid knowledge and command of budget development and financial administration of resources. Has proven analytical skills and is able to provide technical advice in budget management to managers. Is able to formulate new strategies and technical approaches to budget management issues. Is able to prepare reports and conduct presentations and to convey maximum information when making and defending recommendations. Has the ability to analyze and interpret data in support of decision-making and convey resulting information to management. 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. Takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work. Communication Speaks and writes clearly and effectively; listens to others, correctly interprets messages from others and responds appropriately; asks questions to clarify, and exhibits interest in having two-way communication; tailors language, tone, style and format to match audience; demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed. Planning and Organization 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. Managing Performance Delegates the appropriate responsibility, accountability and decision-making authority; makes sure that roles, responsibilities and reporting lines are clear to each staff member; accurately judges the amount of time and resources needed to accomplish a task and matches task to skills; monitors progress against milestones and deadlines; regularly discusses performance and provides feedback and coaching to staff; encourages risk-taking and supports creativity and initiative; actively supports the development and career aspirations of staff; appraises performance fairly. Leadership Serves as a role model that other people want to follow: empowers others to translate vision into results; is proactive in developing strategies to accomplish objectives; establishes and maintains relationships with a broad range of people to understand needs and gain support; anticipates and resolves conflicts by pursuing mutually agreeable solutions; drives for change and improvements; does not accept the status quo; shows the courage to take unpopular stands. Provides leadership and takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work; demonstrates knowledge of strategies and commitment to the goal of gender balance in staffing.

Education

Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in business administration, finance, accounting or a related field is required. A first-level university degree in combination with additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Job - Specific Qualification

An accounting qualification by an internationally recognized accounting body such as Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA), Association of Chartered Accountants (ACA), Certified Public Accountant (CPA), or Chartered Institute of Management Accounts (CIMA) is desirable.

Work Experience

A minimum of 10 years of progressively responsible work experience in budget formulation, presentation and management, finance, accounting, business administration or a related area is required. Work experience in leading a team of staff working on budget preparation and management is required. Work experience in the application of Results-Based Management is required. Work experience in managing extrabudgetary resources is required. Work experience in budget preparation and management in the United Nations or similar international organization is desirable. Work experience with the work of the General Assembly, Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budget Questions and Committee for Programme and Coordination, or similar intergovernmental bodies is desirable. Work experience in supporting technical assistance programmes, including activities in the field is desirable. Experience in the use of Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) Systems is desirable. Experience in data analytics or related area is desirable.

Languages

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this post, fluency in English is required. Knowledge of other official United Nations languages is desirable.

Assessment

Evaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise which may be followed by competency-based interview.

Special Notice

This position is funded from extra budgetary resources. The initial appointment will be for a period of one year and any extension of the appointment will be subject to the availability of funding. Staff members of the United Nations Secretariat must fulfil the lateral move requirements to be eligible to apply for this vacancy. Staff members are requested to indicate all qualifying lateral moves in their Personal History Profile (PHP) and cover letter. For this position, applicants from the following Member States, which are unrepresented or under-represented in the UN Secretariat as of 30th September 2024, are strongly encouraged to apply: Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Bahrain, Belize, Brunei Darussalam, China, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Dominica, Equatorial Guinea, Germany, Grenada, Guinea-Bissau, Hungary, Indonesia, Israel, Japan, Kiribati, Kuwait, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Libya, Liechtenstein, Malta, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Nauru, Oman, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Somalia, Timor-Leste, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, United Arab Emirates, United States of America, Vanuatu. At the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the recruitment and employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence and integrity, with due regard to geographic diversity. All employment decisions are made based on qualifications and organizational needs. The United Nations is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment of mutual respect. The United Nations recruits and employs staff regardless of gender identity, sexual orientation, race, religious, cultural and ethnic backgrounds or disabilities. Reasonable accommodation for applicants with disabilities may be provided to support participation in the recruitment process when requested and indicated in the application." The United Nations Secretariat is committed to achieving 50/50 gender balance and geographical diversity in its staff. Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply for this position. Staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General and to assignment by him or her. In this context, all staff are expected to move periodically to new functions in their careers in accordance with established rules and procedures. Vienna is classified in the H category (family duty station).

United Nations Considerations

According to 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. Candidates will not be considered for employment with the United Nations if they have committed violations of international human rights law, violations of international humanitarian law, sexual exploitation, sexual abuse, or sexual harassment, or if there are reasonable grounds to believe that they have been involved in the commission of any of these acts. The term “sexual exploitation” means any actual or attempted abuse of a position of vulnerability, differential power, or trust, for sexual purposes, including, but not limited to, profiting monetarily, socially or politically from the sexual exploitation of another. The term “sexual abuse” means the actual or threatened physical intrusion of a sexual nature, whether by force or under unequal or coercive conditions. The term “sexual harassment” means any unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature that might reasonably be expected or be perceived to cause offence or humiliation, when such conduct interferes with work, is made a condition of employment or creates an intimidating, hostile or offensive work environment, and when the gravity of the conduct warrants the termination of the perpetrator’s working relationship. Candidates who have committed crimes other than minor traffic offences may not be considered for employment. Due regard will be paid to the importance of recruiting the staff on as wide a geographical basis as possible. The United Nations places 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. The United Nations Secretariat is a non-smoking environment. Reasonable accommodation may be provided to applicants with disabilities upon request, to support their participation in the recruitment process. By accepting a letter of appointment, staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General, who may assign them to any of the activities or offices of the United Nations in accordance with staff regulation 1.2 (c). Further, staff members in the Professional and higher category up to and including the D-2 level and the Field Service category are normally required to move periodically to discharge functions in different duty stations under conditions established in ST/AI/2023/3 on Mobility, as may be amended or revised. This condition of service applies to all position specific job openings and does not apply to temporary positions. Applicants are urged to carefully follow all instructions available in the online recruitment platform, inspira, and to refer to the Applicant Guide by clicking on “Manuals” in the “Help” tile of the inspira account-holder homepage. The evaluation of applicants will be conducted on the basis of the information submitted in the application according to the evaluation criteria of the job opening and the applicable internal legislations of the United Nations including the Charter of the United Nations, resolutions of the General Assembly, the Staff Regulations and Rules, administrative issuances and guidelines. Applicants must provide complete and accurate information pertaining to their personal profile and qualifications according to the instructions provided in inspira to be considered for the current job opening. No amendment, addition, deletion, revision or modification shall be made to applications that have been submitted. Candidates under serious consideration for selection will be subject to reference checks to verify the information provided in the application. Job openings advertised on the Careers Portal will be removed at 11:59 p.m. (New York time) on the deadline date.

No Fee

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.

Potential interview questions