FINANCE AND BUDGET OFFICER
Manage budget preparation and administration for the Office of Legal Affairs.
Overview
Manage budget preparation and administration for the Office of Legal Affairs.
You have:
- Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in business administration, finance, or related field.
- A minimum of seven years of experience in finance, administration, budgeting, or a related field.
- Experience working with ERP systems such as SAP is required.
- Experience leading the preparation of the annual budget in collaboration with program managers.
- Experience conducting regular budget reviews and analyses to spot potential issues early.
- Experience managing Trust Fund accounts is desirable.
- English is required (UN Level II proficiency in reading, writing, listening, and speaking).
Contract
This is a P-4 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 7 years of experience, depending on education.
Salary
The salary for this job should be between 159,743 USD and 205,956 USD.
Salary for a P-4 contract in New York
The international rate of 90,970 USD, with an additional 75.6% (post adjustment) at this the location, applies. Please note that depending on the location, a higher post adjustment might still result in a lower purchasing power.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.
More about P-4 contracts and their salaries.Org. Setting and Reporting
This position is located in the Executive Office, Office of Legal Affairs. The incumbent reports to the Executive Officer.
Responsibilities
Within delegated authority, the Finance & Budget Officer will be responsible for the following duties: Budget preparation: •Reviews, analyses and finalizes cost estimates and budget proposals, in terms of staff and non-staff requirements from the Office of Legal Affairs ensure compliance with the medium-term plan and other legislative mandates. •Liaises with programme managers and supports clear inputs and data from the substantive Divisions. •Provides detailed input with respect to resource requirements for budget submissions for Regular Budget, Support Account and Extra-Budgetary Funds. •Provides substantive support to relevant intergovernmental and expert bodies in their budget review; assists in securing approval from the General Assembly. Budget administration: •Issues allotments, authorizes sub-allotments, including redeployment of funds when necessary, ensuring appropriate expenditures. •Manages and monitors budget implementation and recommends reallocation of funds as necessary. •Monitors expenditures to ensure that they remain within authorized levels. •Administers and monitors extra-budgetary resources, including review of agreements and cost plans, ensuring compliance with regulations and rules and established policies and procedures. •Prepares budget performance submissions. •Reviews and finalizes budget performance reports, analyzing variances between approved budgets and actual expenditures. •Provides substantive support to relevant intergovernmental and expert bodies. General •Provides advice and guidance, including training, to headquarters staff on budgetary and financial policies and procedures, including results-based budgeting, as needed. •Participates in inter-departmental meetings on matters related to resource requirements, programming and budgetary issues. •Keeps up-to-date on documents/reports/guidelines that have a bearing on matters related to program and/or peacekeeping budgets, ensuring compliance with intergovernmental recommendations and decisions as well as with United Nations policies and procedures. •Drafts reports for intergovernmental bodies and for management on budgetary issues, and correspondence. •Undertakes research and analysis of budgetary policies and procedures, makes recommendations for changes and/or modifications. •Acts as Certifying Officer under Financial Rule 110.4 to ensure that proposed obligations and expenditures are in accordance with approved budgets and established regulations and rules. •Ensures the integrity of financial and management systems and the controls that underpin them. •May plan, organize, manage and supervise the work of the Unit/Section assigned. May help substantive Divisions prepare statistics for cost-recovery. •Incumbents may be asked to perform other related duties.
Competencies
•Professionalism: Knowledge of financial and budgetary principles and practices, budget development and financial administration of resources. Ability to develop budgetary policies, procedures and new programmes. Ability to formulate new strategies and technical approaches to budgetary matters. 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. Able to analyze and interpret data in support of decision-making and convey resulting information to management. •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. •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.
Education
Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in business 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.
Job - Specific Qualification
Not available.
Work Experience
A minimum of seven years of experience in finance, administration, budgeting, business administration, or a related field, along with experience working with ERP systems such as SAP, is required. Experience leading the preparation of the annual budget in collaboration with program managers to ensure accuracy and alignment with organizational goals, along with demonstrated proficiency in grants, projects, and fund management applications, is required. Experience conducting regular budget reviews and analysis to spot potential issues early and advise management on corrective actions is required. Experience managing and administering Trust Fund accounts is desirable.
Languages
English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this job opening, English is required. The table below shows the minimum required level for each skill in these languages, according to the UN Language Framework (please consult https://languages.un.org for details).
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LanguageReadingWritingListeningSpeakingEnglishUN Level IIUN Level IIUN Level IIUN Level II
Assessment
Evaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise which may be followed by competency-based interview.
Special Notice
• This position is temporarily available until 30 April 2026. If the selected candidate is a staff member from the United Nations Secretariat, the selection will be administered as a temporary assignment. • While this temporary assignment may provide the successful applicant with an opportunity to gain new work experience, the selection for this position is for a limited period and has no bearing on the future incumbency of the post. • Subject to the funding source of the position, the eligibility for this temporary job opening may be limited to candidates based at the duty station. • This temporary job opening may be limited to “internal candidates,” who have been recruited through a competitive examination administered according to staff rule 4.16 or staff selection process including the review of a central review body established according to staff rule 4.15. • Staff members of the United Nations common system organizations who will reach the mandatory age of separation or retirement within the duration of the current temporary need period are not eligible to apply.Submitting an application or selection for the current temporary job opening does not delay or increase the mandatory age of separation. • Retirees above the mandatory age of separation who wish to be considered for the current temporary job opening must indicate the reason for their last separation as "retirement." Such retirees shall not be employed by the Organization, unless (a) the operational requirements of the Organization cannot be met by staff members who are qualified and available to perform the required functions; and (b) the proposed employment would not adversely affect the career development or redeployment opportunities of other staff members and represents both a cost-effective and operationally sound solution to meet the needs of the service. •Please be advised that the classification for this position is currently under review.
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
| Can you describe your experience with budget preparation in a governmental or non-profit setting? | This question assesses your practical experience and understanding of budget processes. | Focus on specific examples of budget preparation and the steps you took to ensure accuracy. |
| How do you prioritize tasks when managing multiple budgets at the same time? | This evaluates your planning and organizational skills. | Pro members can see the explanation. |
| Describe a challenge you faced during a budget review and how you addressed it. | Pro members can see the explanation. | Pro members can see the explanation. |
| What strategies do you employ to ensure compliance with budget regulations and policies? | Pro members can see the explanation. | Pro members can see the explanation. |
| How would you handle disagreements with program managers regarding budget allocations? | Pro members can see the explanation. | Pro members can see the explanation. |
| Can you give an example of how you've used data analysis to inform budget decisions? | Pro members can see the explanation. | Pro members can see the explanation. |
| What is your understanding of results-based budgeting? | Pro members can see the explanation. | Pro members can see the explanation. |
| Describe your experience with ERP systems in managing budgets. | Pro members can see the explanation. | Pro members can see the explanation. |