Programme Specialist (Budget ), P-3, Juba South Sudan, 364 days (for non-South Sudanese)

Contract

This is a P-3 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 5 years of experience, depending on education.

Salary

The salary for this job should be between 116,975 USD and 153,170 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.

UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. To save their lives. To defend their rights. To help them fulfill their potential.

Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone.

And we never give up.

For every child, Hope

The fundamental mission of UNICEF is to promote the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything the Organization does — in programmes, in advocacy and in operations. The equity strategy, emphasizing the most disadvantaged and excluded children and families, translates this commitment to children’s rights into action. For UNICEF, equity means that all children have an opportunity to survive, develop and reach their full potential, without discrimination, bias or favoritism. To the degree that any child has an unequal chance in life — in its social, political, economic, civic and cultural dimensions — her or his rights are violated. There is growing evidence that investing in the health, education and protection of a society’s most disadvantaged citizens — addressing inequity — not only will give more children the opportunity to fulfill their potential but also will lead to sustained growth and stability of countries. This is why the focus on equity is so vital. It accelerates progress towards realizing the human rights of all children, which is the universal mandate of UNICEF, as outlined by the Convention on the Rights of the Child, while also supporting the equitable development of nations.

Purpose of the job:

UNICEF South Sudan has over 100 donor-funded grants to manage each year, with varying requirements and conditionalities. Under the supervision of the Planning Specialist (P4) and general guidance from the Deputy Representative programme, the Programme Specialist Budget will support efforts to ensure that the Country Office budget is managed in line with results-based budgeting principles and standards and that grants are reported on and used in line with donor commitments. The Budget Specialist will be responsible for setting up systems/SOPs related to improved funds monitoring and utilization at the country level and support the planning and allocation of programme and cross-sectoral budgets. S/he will provide quality assurance of budget development, utilization and reporting (RWP and donor-funded) and monitor the pipeline and funds analysis for resource mobilization.

Furthermore, the Budget Specialist will provide capacity development, technical advice and support to the newly recruited Budget Officer (NOB).

How can you make a difference?

Key Tasks and Responsibilities

1. Strategic planning and implementation (budget and finances)

• Contributes to strengthening programme planning with a focus on financial and budgeting aspects.
• Collaborates with the Donor Relations Specialist for a global overview of financial figures and donors, to support analyses on the pipeline and funding situation of the office.

• Participates in annual reviews, previews and assessment discussions. Focal point for budget and financial data and analysis including affordability analysis.

  2. Budget & financial monitoring

• Responsible for the financial planning, allocations to other business areas, monitoring and reporting of the grants. Manages the tracking of cross sectoral needs and allocation for resourcing and effective utilization.

• Maintains and improves upon dashboard to present immediate summary of the financial data.
• Safeguards financial resources by advising on and managing financial assets, financial planning, and regular reporting.
• Monitors programme/project budgets versus actual expenditure; ensures that expenditure recorded meets donor requirements for eligible expenditure items and that the level of documentation meets their specified requirements and advice on budget performance and, if applicable, suggests budget revisions.
• Ensures all finance and budget-related bottlenecks are resolved for the efficient use of financial resources. Provides internal operations/ administrative functions including salary forecasting and cost distribution, verification and quality control of reprogramming, extension and pull back cash requests, etc.

• Supports with efforts to ensure compliance in closure of grants, including final financial reporting, external audit and updating UNICEF financial accounts.

  3. Partnerships & reporting (budgets and financials)

• Supports effective partnerships and collaboration by coordinating and providing timely required information and reports with a focus on budgets and finance.

• Supports development and refinement of budgets and preparation of funding proposals.
• Facilitates partnerships and collaboration with external and internal counterparts in order to improve exchange of data on programme / project implementation, particularly budget and financial elements. Participates in teleconferences, meetings and periodic face-to-face meetings with partners as needed.
• Works closely with the Donor Relations Specialist and relevant section colleagues on financial/budget component of donor reporting.

• Participate in coordination meetings with partners and contributes by presenting financial reporting updates and insights.

  4. Grants management

• Provides accurate and timely monitoring of financial utilization and programme implementation of UNICEF South Sudan grants.

• Provides timely updated information on financial utilization and programme implementation to relevant programme managers and Senior Management.

  5. Capacity building

• Facilitates efficient communication and coordination between the different sections and field offices.

• Builds the capacity of Programme Assistants for financial monitoring.
• Provides on-the-job training and capacity building to the Budget Officer (NOB) to provide budgetary oversight to the country office.
• In collaboration with the Donor Relations Specialist, provides guidance on donor proposal and report preparation as per donor specifications. Develop standardization of proposals and reports on immunization programme for countries as appropriate.
• Provides remote and in-person support to field offices financial monitoring and budget, e.g. setting up automated grant monitoring and financial utilization systems.

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…

Education

• An Advanced University degree in Social Sciences, Statistics, Engineering, Business Administration, Finance/Accounts Management or related area of study.

Work Experience

• A minimum of five (5) years of professional experience in one or more of the following areas is required: programme finance and budget management, operations, monitoring and reporting, public affairs, programme management, resource mobilization, external relations, or other relevant area
• Experience in managing donors and partnerships and multi-year grants, particularly with UN agencies is an asset.

Language

• Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) or a local language is an asset.

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF's values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, and Accountability (CRITA).

Core Competencies required for this position

• Nurtures, Leads and Manages People (1)*
• Demonstrates Self Awareness and Ethical Awareness (2)
• Works Collaboratively with others (2)
• Builds and Maintains Partnerships (2)
• Innovates and Embraces Change (2)
• Thinks and Acts Strategically (2)
• Drive to achieve impactful results (2)
• Manages ambiguity and complexity (2)

*The 7 core competencies are applicable to all employees. However, the competency Nurtures, Leads and Managers people is only applicable to staff who supervise others.

To view our competency framework, please visit here.

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization.

UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination. UNICEF also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles. All selected candidates will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles and will therefore undergo rigorous reference and background checks. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check.

Remarks:

Qualified female applicants are strongly encouraged to apply.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.

UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance. Issuance of a visa by the host country of the duty station, which will be facilitated by UNICEF, is required for IP positions. Appointments may also be subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid). Government employees that are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally required to resign from their government before taking up an assignment with UNICEF. UNICEF reserves the right to withdraw an offer of appointment, without compensation, if a visa or medical clearance is not obtained, or necessary inoculation requirements are not met, within a reasonable period for any reason.