Finance and Budget Officer

Senior Admin Finance & Economy

Overview

Prepare budgets and oversee financial operations for mission.

You have:

• High school diploma or equivalent is required.
• Technical or vocational certificate in accounting, finance, budget or related fields is required.
• At least ten (10) years of progressively responsible experience within the United Nations system in budget formulation, implementation, analysis and monitoring in a complex peacekeeping environment is required.
• At least five (5) years experience in intergovernmental processes of review and approval of proposed programme budget is required.
• Experience working with financial systems or financial modules/functions of Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems such as SAP, Oracle or similar is required.
• Experience in preparing budget performance report, analysing complex or unusual accounting transactions and open items, and implementing corrective actions is required.
• Experience in the United Nations cost recovery procedures and management of cost recovery funds is desirable.
• Experience in preparing and delivering presentations on complex financial issues to senior managers across various communication channels is desirable.
• Experience in troubleshooting travel requests in ERP, generating various travel reports and performing variance analysis is desirable.
• Fluency in English is required (both oral and written).
• Fluency in Arabic is desirable.

Contract

This is a FS-6 contract. This kind of contract is known as Field Service. It usually requires 10 years of experience, depending on education. More about FS-6 contracts and their salaries.

Org. Setting and Reporting

This position is located in the Finance and Budget Unit of the United Nations Mission to Support the Hodeidah Agreement (UNMHA). The budgeted location is Hodeidah due to operational requirements the post has been temporarily moved to Amman. The incumbent will be based in Amman and will report to the Chief Finance and Budget Officer.

Responsibilities

Within the delegation of authority and under the supervision of a Chief of Unit/Section, Finance and Budget or a Senior Finance and Budget Officer, the incumbent will be responsible for the following duties; Prepare cost estimates and budget proposals, in terms of mission’s resourcing requirements such as staff and non-staff requirements, including programmatic aspects; review, analyse and revise data with respect to the finalization of the budget proposals as well as Result Based Budgeting inputs. Provide support to programme/fund centre managers (Substantive and Mission Support Pillars) with respect to the elaboration of resource requirements for budget submissions. Administer and monitor extra-budgetary resources, including review of agreements and cost plans, ensuring compliance with regulations and rules and established policies and procedures. Administrate the mission’s allotments in accordance with the established procedures including redeployment/reallocation of funds. Ensure 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; Provide support and guidance to fund centre/programme managers on budget implementation and corrective actions where necessary. Support CBFO in the management of resources by continuously seek to identify cost-saving measures and ways to improve efficiency. Prepare various presentations for the Head of Mission; deliver presentations in absence of CBFO. Analyse complex/unusual accounting transactions and open items in the accounting system and implement corrective actions. Prepare monthly budget performance report of the mission and ensure that correct and accurate data and information are provided by the various programme /fund centre managers in compliance with the Controller’s instructions. Review and finalise the performance reports ensuring valid and adequate variance explanations between approved budgets and actual expenditures. Review and reconcile various clearing accounts, investigate erroneous/invalid entries or unusual transactions and take appropriate corrective accounting action. Review and verify Service Orders and or cost allocations charged by HQ or other UN Agencies, Funds and Programmes. Review funds commitments at year end; Advise and ensure that only valid year-end budget commitments confirming with established criteria are valid for carrying forward. Review and verify that appropriate relevant supporting documents have been provided for the processing of payments for goods and services received; Supervise the disbursement of payments and monitor house bank account balances and transaction. Manage cash flow requirements of the mission; Verify imprest documentation and prepare imprest statements. Provide 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. Performs 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. Actively participate and engage in planning, monitoring and reporting of financial and operational performance. In the absence of a Chief Finance and Budget officer, may serve as Officer in Charge and oversee the daily operation of the Unit. Carry out other duties as assigned.

Competencies

Professionalism: Knowledge of accounting principles, procedures and standards. Ability toapply conceptual, analytical and evaluative skills in accounting operations. Ability to conduct independent research and analysis, identify issues, formulate options and make conclusions and recommendations. Takes 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 the audience; Demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed. Planning and Organizing: Develops clear goals that are consistent with agreed strategies; Identifies priority activities and assignments and 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.

Education

High school diploma or equivalent is required.

Job - Specific Qualification

Technical or vocational certificate in accounting, finance, budget or related fields is required.

Work Experience

At least ten (10) years of progressively responsible experience within the United Nations system in budget formulation, implementation, analysis and monitoring in a complex peacekeeping environment is required. At least five (5) year experience in intergovernmental processes of review and approval of proposed programme budget is required. Experience working with financial systems or financial modules/functions of Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems such as SAP, Oracle or similar is required. Experience in preparing budget performance report, analysing complex or unusual accounting transactions and open items, and implementing corrective actions is required. Experience in the United Nations cost recovery procedures and management of cost recovery funds is desirable. Experience in preparing and delivering presentations on complex financial issues to senior managers across various communication channels is desirable. Experience in troubleshooting travel requests in ERP, generating various travel reports and performing variance analysis is desirable.

Languages

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the position advertised, fluency in English is required, (both oral and written). Fluency in Arabic is desirable.

Assessment

The evaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise involving basic accounting and mathematical tests to determine their eligibility for this position, which may be followed by a competency-based interview.

Special Notice

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. Due to operational requirements of the mission, please note that the position has been temporarily moved from Hodeidah to Amman. Interested candidates must be ready to deploy and serve in Hodeidah in the event the position is not approved and has to be returned to Hodeidah. Applying to this job opening carries an expectation to accept the offer, if selected. The United Nations Secretariat maintains rosters of qualified and available candidates to fill anticipated job openings in peacekeeping operations, special political missions, and other field operations.

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.

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Potential interview questions

Added 1 year ago - Updated 1 year ago - Source: careers.un.org