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 within the Budget Unit in the Office of the Chief of Mission Support (CMS) of the United Nations Support Mission in Libya. The position is based in Tripoli, Libya (Tripoli is classified as a Hardship "E" duty station and a non-family duty station). The incumbent will be under the supervision of the Chief Budget Officer and overall supervision of the Chief of Mission Support.

On 29 April 2022, the Security Council, by its resolution 2629 (2022) renewed the mandate of the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) through 31 July 2022, by roll-over of its resolutions 2542 (2020) of 15 September 2020, 2570 (2021) of 16 April 2021 and 2599 (2021) of 30 September 2021. The Security Council, in resolution 2542 (2020), tasked UNSMIL, as an integrated special political mission, in full accordance with the principles of national ownership, to exercise mediation and through its good offices to: (i) further an inclusive political process and security and economic dialogue; (ii) further the continued implementation of the Libya Political Agreement; (iii) help consolidate the governance, security and economic arrangements of the Government of National Accord, including support for economic reform in collaboration with international financial institutions; (iv) help to achieve a ceasefire and, once it is agreed by the Libyan parties, provide appropriate support to its implementation; (v) support subsequent phases of the Libyan transition process, including the constitutional process and the organisation of elections; (vi) coordinate and engage closely with international actors including neighboring countries and regional organizations; (vii) provide support to key Libyan institutions; (viii) support, on request, the provision of essential services and delivery of humanitarian assistance, including in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, in accordance with humanitarian principles; (ix) monitor and report abuses and violations of human rights and violations of international humanitarian law, including sexual violence in conflict, notably through the effective deployment of women and child protection advisers; (x) provide support in securing uncontrolled arms and related materiel and countering their proliferation; and (xi) co-ordinate international assistance, and provision of advice and assistance to GNA-led efforts to stabilize post-conflict zones, including those liberated from Da'esh. On 16 April 2021, the Security Council, through resolution 2570 (2021), tasked UNSMIL to provide support to the Libyan-led and Libyan-owned ceasefire monitoring mechanism including through the facilitation of confidence-building measures and the scalable and incremental deployment of UNSMIL ceasefire monitors.

Responsibilities Under the supervision of the Chief Budget Officer and overall supervision of the Chief of Mission Support, the Finance and Budget Assistant may be responsible for the following duties:

• Assists with the preparation/formulation of cost estimates and budget proposals, in terms of mission's financial resourcing requirements such as staff and non-staff requirements in compliance with the Controller's instructions, including programmatic aspects; assists, reviews and revises data with respect to the finalization of the budget proposals reports such as Supplementary and fascicle Budgeting reports.
• Assists in preparing the mission for Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions (ACABQ) and the 5th Committee budget sessions and Q&A.
• Assists in supporting programme/fund center managers (Substantive, Security, and Support Sections) in implementing and utilizing the given budget with respect to the elaboration of resource requirements for budget submissions.
• Provide guidelines and verification on coding block for mission acquisition/requisition requests and for any other non-staff cost requirements.
• Supports the administration and monitoring of extra-budgetary and additional grant resources, including review of agreements and cost plans, ensuring compliance with regulations, rules, and established policies and procedures.
• Processes the mission’s redeployment of funds in accordance with the established procedures.
• Supports the review in ensuring the efficient and effective use of budgetary resources 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 centers/program managers on budget implementation and processes corrective actions where necessary.
• Assists with the preparation of budget performance/projection reports for the mission, ensuring that correct and accurate data/information is provided by the various program/fund center managers in compliance with the Controller's instructions. Assists with the review and finalizes performance reports ensuring valid and adequate variance explanations between approved budgets and actual expenditures.
• Provides support to Fund Center managers for the year-end reviews of budget commitments in accordance with established criteria.
• Generates and assists in the preparation of budgetary reports, including statistical/financial data for tables, charts, spreadsheets, and presentation using office software and templates; and prepares and customizes financial reports.
• Drafts correspondence and communications related to all aspects of program/project administration, including work plans and budgets, revisions, and other related issues, as well as prepare the unit's contributions for a variety of periodic reports.
• Under the guidance of the supervisor, provides 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.
• Assists in performing analysis, preparation and delivery of strategic support and business intelligence to operational counterparts and mission leadership on financial resourcing and stewardship, and organizational performance of the mission, in line with mission priorities.
• Assists in planning, monitoring, and reporting of financial and operational performance.

• Performs other duties as assigned.

  Competencies Professionalism: Knowledge of accounting, finance, and budget functions and treasury operations. Ability to analyze and apply data across the full range of finance, accounting, and budget functions. Demonstrated use of initiative and ability to make appropriate linkages in work processes and anticipate next steps showing skills and ability to analyses and interpret financial data. 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 clients.

Education High school diploma or equivalent is required.

Job - Specific Qualification A technical or vocational certificate in accounting, finance, budget, or related field is required.

Work Experience - A minimum of eight (08) years of progressively responsible experience in finance, budget, administration, public administration, business administration or related area is required.

Experience in cost management, budget formulation, financial monitoring, accounting, audit, financial reporting, or other related areas is required.

• Relevant experience in budgetary and financial administration working in a United Nations common system field operation (inclusive of peacekeeping, political missions, and UN agencies, funds, and programs) - or similar international organization or non-governmental organization in a conflict or post-conflict environment is required.

  E- Experience working with Microsoft software (e.g., Excel, PowerPoint, Project, and word) and similar programmes involving large data sets (using pivot tables and arrays) and calculations is required.

• Experience in budget formulation and funds management using an enterprise resource planning software platform is required. This includes the following: creation of internal orders, grants, projects, and budgets; monitoring grants and EX-funds financial transactions; cost recovery budgeting and processing; and identifying and analyzing financial trends.

• Experience using the International Public Sector Accounting Standards is desirable.

  Languages English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the position advertised, fluency in English is required. Fluency in Arabic is desirable.

  Assessment Previously rostered candidates are not subject to any further assessment and as such, will not be invited for such an assessment.

  Special Notice This "Recruit from Roster" job opening is only open to roster applicants who are already placed on pre-approved rosters, following a review by a United Nations Central Review Body. Only roster applicants who were placed on rosters with similar functions at the same level are considered to be eligible candidates. Eligible applicants receive an email inviting them to apply. Rostered applicants are encouraged to apply only if they are interested and available to take up the position at the duty station/s specified in the Job Opening. Applying to this job opening carries an expectation to accept the offer, if selected.

The United Nations Secretariat is committed to achieving 50/50 gender balance in its staff. Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply for this position.

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.