Chief of Section (Finance and Budget)

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 208,877 USD and 261,770 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 Policy Coordination Unit of the Director of the Programme Planning and Budget Division (PPBD) of the Office of Programme Planning, Finance and Budget (OPPFB) in the Department of Management, Strategy Policy and Compliance (DMSPC). The Chief of the Unit reports to the Director of the Division.

PPBD is committed to ensuring the highest standards of budget preparation and presentation, including a results-based approach to budgeting and supports the Controller in the exercise of accountability for the financial resources made available by Member States. The Policy Coordination Unit (PCU) is responsible for the coordination of budgetary policy and instructions as well as all cross-cutting issues related to the programme budget.

Responsibilities Within delegated authority, the Chief of the Unit will be responsible for the following duties:

Programme plan: - Plans, organizes and manages the preparation of the programme plan and its revisions on the basis of departmental submissions, taking into account recommendations and decisions of specialized intergovernmental bodies. - Proactively supports relevant intergovernmental and expert bodies in the review of the programme plan and its revisions to facilitate approval by the General Assembly. - Ensures legislative mandates are accurately translated into programme budgets.

Budget preparation: - Plans and co-ordinates review of budget submissions. - Reviews, analyses and finalizes cost estimates and budget proposals, in terms of staff and non-staff requirements submitted by Departments/offices. - Co-ordinates the preparation of budget submissions from managers. - Reviews, analyses and finalizes programme budget/financial implications in light of additional mandates. - Provides substantive support and guidance to relevant intergovernmental and expert bodies in their budget review to facilitate approval by the General Assembly.

Budget administration: - Manages/issues allotments/appropriations, authorizes sub-allotments/appropriations, including redeployment of funds when necessary, ensuring appropriate expenditures. - Monitors expenditures to ensure that they remain within authorized levels. - Oversees the review and finalization of budget performance reports; monitors variances between approved budgets and actual expenditures. - Provides business support for development and implementation of ERP budget system.

General: - Formulates and implements the substantive work programme of the Unit under his/her supervision. - Oversees the management of activities undertaken by the Unit, ensures that programmed activities are carried out in a timely fashion and co-ordinates work in the different areas both within the Division and Department, and with other organizations of the United Nations System, as appropriate. - Act as PPBD focal point for Audit issues of a cross-cutting nature. - Creates documents/reports/guidelines that have a bearing on matters related to programme budgets, ensuring compliance with intergovernmental recommendations and decisions as well as with relevant United Nations policies and procedures. - Provides advice and guidance, including training, to Secretariat staff on budgetary and financial policies and procedures, including results-based budgeting. - Participates in inter-departmental meetings and/or technical survey missions on matters related to resource requirements, programming, financial and budgetary issues. - Keeps up-to-date on documents/reports/guidelines that have a bearing on matters related to programme, finance and budget, ensuring compliance with intergovernmental recommendations and decisions as well as with United Nations policies and procedures. - Prepares/finalizes reports for intergovernmental bodies and for management on financial and budgetary issues, and correspondence, including guidelines, instructions. - Reviews and analyses budgetary policies and procedures, makes recommendations for changes and/or modifications. - Ensures the integrity of financial and management systems and the controls that underpin them. - Represents the Secretary-General in meetings of legislative organs; represents OPPFB or Division in inter and intra-departmental meetings. - Plans, organizes and manages staff and work programme; plans and discusses individual work programmes with staff and evaluates their performance. - Performs other related duties, as assigned.

Competencies - Professionalism: Possesses conceptual and analytical skills including a complete, in-depth grasp of financial and budgetary principles and practices, as well as ability to apply financial rules, regulations and procedures. Demonstrates knowledge of budget development, including results-based budgeting, and the financial administration of resources. Demonstrates professional competence in budgetary and financial planning, monitoring of budget execution and reporting of budgetary and financial information. Ability to provide authoritative advice to senior managers on strategic issues. Ability to independently perform budget analysis and compare historical and actual financial data in an effort to improve budget forecasting. Demonstrates ability to draft comprehensive budget and strategic planning documents that are clear and accurate. Demonstrates knowledge of International Public Sector Accounting Standards.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. - 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. - 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. - Accountability: Takes ownership of all responsibilities and honours commitments; delivers outputs for which one has responsibility within prescribed time, cost and quality standards; operates in compliance with organizational regulations and rules; supports subordinates, provides oversight and takes responsibility for delegated assignments; takes personal responsibility for his/her own shortcomings and those of the work unit, where applicable.

Managerial Competencies - Judgement/Decision-making: Identifies the key issues in a complex situation, and comes to the heart of the problem quickly; gathers relevant information before making a decision; considers positive and negative impacts of decisions prior to making them; takes decisions with an eye to the impact on others and on the Organization; proposes a course of action or makes a recommendation based on all available information; checks assumptions against facts; determines the actions proposed will satisfy the expressed and underlying needs for the decision; makes tough decisions when necessary.

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

Work Experience A minimum of ten years of progressively responsible experience in budget, finance, business administration or related area is required.

Out of ten years of progressively responsible experience, a minimum of five years of experience in the management of complex results-based budgets with decision-making authority in a large international organization, and a minimum of five years experience in developing, improving, and overseeing the implementation of results-based budgeting methodologies and training diverse client offices to implement those methodologies is required.

A minimum of five years of experience in developing and improving financial resource planning methodologies, including to improve accuracy of budget proposals, and guiding/training diverse client offices to implement those methodologies is required.

A minimum of five years experience in presenting results-based budgeting and financial resource planning methodologies to intergovernmental and expert bodies is required.

A minimum of five years experience in guiding diverse client offices on the use of ERP budget systems is required, as well as experience in developing business requirements for the development of such systems.

Languages English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the position advertised, fluency in written and oral English is required. Knowledge of another official United Nations language is desirable.

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

Special Notice 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.

At the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the recruitment and employment of 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 on the basis of 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.

For this position, applicants from the following Member States, which are unrepresented or underrepresented in the UN Secretariat as of 31 March 2022, are strongly encouraged to apply: Afghanistan, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Bahrain, Belize, Brunei Darussalam, Cabo Verde, China, Comoros, Cuba, Cyprus, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Djibouti, Dominica, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Grenada, Guinea-Bissau, Haiti, Israel, Japan, Kiribati, Kuwait, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Monaco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nauru, Norway, Oman, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Sudan, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, United Arab Emirates, United States of America, Vanuatu.

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.

The paramount consideration in the appointment, transfer, or promotion of staff shall be the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity. By accepting an offer of appointment, United Nations staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General and assignment by him or her to any activities or offices of the United Nations in accordance with staff regulation 1.2 (c). In this context, all internationally recruited staff members shall be required to move periodically to discharge new functions within or across duty stations under conditions established by the Secretary-General.

Applicants are urged to follow carefully all instructions available in the online recruitment platform, inspira. For more detailed guidance, applicants may refer to the Manual for the Applicant, which can be accessed by clicking on “Manuals” hyper-link on the upper right side 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.