FINANCE AND BUDGET ASSISTANT

Contract

This is a FS-5 contract. This kind of contract is known as Field Service. It usually requires 8 years of experience, depending on education. More about FS-5 contracts and their salaries.

Org. Setting and Reporting This position is located in the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) in Bamako and will report to the Chief of the Substantive Finance Coordination Unit.

Responsibilities Under the general guidance of the Chief Finance and Budget Officer and the direct supervision of the Chief, Substantive Finance Coordination Unit, the Finance and Budget Assistant will perform the following tasks: 1.Assists with the preparation of cost estimates and budget proposals, in terms of mission’s resourcing requirements such as staff and non-staff requirements, including programmatic aspects; assists, reviews and revises data with respect to the finalization of the budget proposals as well as Result Based Budgeting inputs. 2. Assists with support to programme/fund centre managers (Substantive and Support Sections) with respect to the elaboration of extra-budgetary resource requirements under Trust Funds . 3. Monitors and assists in the management of extra-budgetary resources through cost recovery, including review of agreements and cost plans, issuance of allotments and ensuring compliance with regulations and rules and established policies and procedures 4. Administer and process trust fund transactions through the Grants Management module including issuance of allotments, implementing partner grants, creation of budgets, transfer, and any other transactions in accordance with the established procedures. 5. Support Chief of Unit in the implementation of the Grantor Module for Implementing Partners as well as providing relevant training and support to users in the Grantor Module. 6.Processes the mission’s redeployment for Trust Funds in accordance with the established procedures. 7.Supports with the review in ensuring the efficient and effective use of budgetary resources under Trust Funds through robust monitoring of budget utilization to the approved budget and timely provision of information to Mission management for decision making. Provides support and guidance to fund centre/programme managers on budget implementation and processes corrective actions where necessary. 8.Assists with the preparation of budget performance reports for the mission, ensuring that correct and accurate data/information is provided by the various programme /fund centre managers in compliance with the Controller’s instructions. Assists with reviews and finalizes performance reports ensuring valid and adequate variance explanations between approved budgets and actual expenditures. 9.Analyzes complex/unusual accounting transactions and open items in the accounting system and recommends corrective actions. 10.Reviews and reconciles project balances and various clearing accounts, investigates erroneous/invalid entries and recommends corrective accounting action to enable project closure. 11.Provides support to Fund Center managers for the year-end reviews of budget commitments in accordance with established criteria. 12.Reviews and verifies that appropriate relevant supporting documents have been provided for the processing of payments for goods and services received. 13.Generates and assists in the preparation of Trust Funds reports, including statistical/financial data for tables, charts and spreadsheets using office software and templates; and prepares and customizes financial reports. 14.Drafts correspondence and communications related to all aspects of programme/project administration, including work plan and budgets, revisions and other related issues, as well as prepares unit’s contributions for a variety of periodic reports. 15.With regards to old projects, processes the payments to implementing partners in line with project agreements, ensuring that POs, SES are created and monitors house bank transaction completed. 16.Support Chief of Unit in providing advice, financial interpretations, adaptations and corrective actions in response to audits and other queries to ensure adherence to the UN Financial Regulations and Rules, Staff Rules, Administrative Instructions, Bulletins and Circulars under the supervision/guidance of the Chief Finance and Budget Officer. 17.Assists with the review and recording of financial transactions related to assets and asset transfers related to Trust Funds and Grants. 18.Performs other duties as assigned.

Competencies Professionalism: Sound knowledge of financial principles and practices; Ability to independently conduct research and analysis, formulate options and present conclusions and recommendations; 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.

Planning and 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.

Education High school diploma or equivalent is required. A university degree in finance and accounting is desirable.

Work Experience At least 8 years of progressively responsible experience within the United Nations system or in the private sector at the national or international level in accounting, budgeting or financial management is required.

Experience in international organizations managing trust funds and grants, including creation of grants, projects and budgets, and in monitoring grants financial transactions, cost recovery budgeting and processes, identifying and analyzing trends is required.

Experience in working with Excel or similar programme involving large data sets (using pivot tables and arrays) and calculations and knowledge of an ERP computer system, such as Umoja or another SAP-based application is required.

Experience and deep knowledge of the SAP Grantor Module, including training, is desirable.

Experience with review of donor agreements and / or Implementing partner agreements including monitoring financial aspects of implementation of programme would be highly desirable.

Experience and international capacity in post-conflict environment is highly desirable.

Languages English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. Fluency in English (both oral and written) is required. Knowledge of French is desirable.

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

Special Notice The appointment or assignment and renewal therefore subject to the availability of the post or funds, budgetary approval or extension of the mandate.

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.