Senior Finance and Budget Assistant (Filled from Roster)

Contract

This is a G-7 contract. This kind of contract is known as General Service and related categories. It is normally only for nationals. It usually requires 7 years of experience, depending on education. More about G-7 contracts.

Org. Setting and Reporting This position is located in the Payroll, Payments and Travel Claims Section of the Finance Division (FD) of the Office of Programme Planning, Finance and Budget (OPPFB) in the Department of Management Strategy, Policy and Compliance (DMSPC). The incumbent will report to the Chief of Section.

The Payroll, Payments and Travel Claims Section processes global payroll and payments, provides policy advice and operational guidance, testing and implementation of enhancements, and works on projects as needed by the Controller’s office.

Responsibilities Within delegated authority, the Senior Finance & Budget Assistant will be responsible for the following duties:

Budget: - Acts as Certifying Officers on behalf of and in the absence of programme mangers at offices outside headquarters. - Undertakes reviews, analyses and preparation of the medium-term plan and its revisions. - Reviews, analyses and assists in the finalization of cost estimates and budget proposals, in terms of staff and non-staff requirements, including programmatic aspects; ensures compliance with the medium-term plan and other legislative mandates. - Assists managers in the elaboration of resource requirements for budget submissions. - Undertakes research and provides support to higher level Finance & Budget Officers with respect to budget reviews of relevant intergovernmental and expert bodies. - Provides input into the preparation of allotments, including redeployment of funds when necessary, ensuring appropriate expenditures. - Monitors budget implementation/expenditures and recommends reallocation of funds as necessary. - Reviews requisitions for goods and services to ensure (a) correct objects of expenditure have been charged, and (b) availability of funds. - Monitors extra-budgetary resources, including review of agreements and cost plans, ensuring compliance with regulations and rules and established policies and procedures. - Assists in the preparation of budget performance submissions. - Assists in finalization of budget performance reports, analysing variances between approved budgets and actual expenditures. - Monitors integrity of various financial databases. - Verifies accuracy of input data, ensuring consistency of data in previous allotments to new allotments issued. - Co-ordinates with other finance and budget staff on related issues during preparation of budget reports.

Finance: - Analyses complex and/or unusual accounting transactions and difficult claims for travel, invoices, entitlements etc. Makes recommendations to Chief of Section on appropriate follow-up procedures. - Reviews and reconciles various clearing accounts to ensure appropriate balances. Investigates erroneous/invalid entries and takes appropriate corrective accounting action. - Audits various accounting transactions, e.g., payroll, education grants, final payments, travel claims, etc., to ensure correctness of disbursement computations and adherence to relevant staff rules, financial regulations, ST/AI issuances or practices. - Reviews completeness of reports and consolidates the accounts of overseas offices on a periodic basis. - Prepares worksheets and analyses accounts. Assists in the preparation of financial statements for various funds, e.g., general, peacekeeping, technical co-operation, trust fund, revenue and other special accounts. - Approves payment and journal vouchers for various claims/payments, e.g., travel reimbursement, education grants, salary advances, etc., ensuring compliance with relevant rules and control procedures. - Provides guidance and training (including the preparation of training materials) to staff at Headquarters and in the field with respect to transaction processing and the use of various systems such as the UN ERP System (Umoja). - Drafts/prepares memoranda and responds to queries by staff members, internal and external auditors and from their counterparts in offices away from Headquarters. •Provides guidance, training and daily supervision to other general service staff in the area of responsibility. - Supervises other general service staff when required. - Performs other duties as may be required.

General: - Keeps up-to-date on documents/reports/guidelines that have a bearing on matters related to programme and/or peacekeeping budgets, ensuring compliance with intergovernmental recommendations and decisions as well as with United Nations policies and procedures. - Drafts or prepares correspondence to respond to enquiries in respect to relevant financial and budget matters. - Provides guidance, training and daily supervision to other general service staff in the area of responsibility. - Performs other related duties, as assigned.

Competencies Professionalism: Knowledge of, and ability to apply financial rules, regulations and procedures in the UN environment. Knowledge, skills and ability to extract, interpret, analyze and format data across the full range of finance and budget functions, including processing of payroll, payments and claims. Ability to identify and resolve data discrepancies and operational problems. 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.

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 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.

Education High school diploma or equivalent is required.

Work Experience A minimum of ten years of experience in accounting, finance or related area is required.

At least five of the years of experience be focused on transactional-based accounting activities such as payroll, payments or travel/vendor claims processing is required.

Experience with SAP, PeopleSoft, or similar ERP systems is required.

Experience working with the United Nations or a large global organization's systems and procedures is required.

Experience auditing/verifying various accounting transactions, e.g., payroll, travel/vendor claims is desirable.

Experience with disbursements and adherence to relevant Staff Rules and Regulations including entitlements and Financial Regulations, Rules, and procedures of the United Nations or similar international organization is desirable.

Languages English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the post advertised, fluency in oral and written English is required. Knowledge of another official United Nations language is an advantage.

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

Special Notice This post is financed by extrabudgetary funds. The appointment and renewal thereof are subject to the availability of the post or funds, budgetary approval or extension of the mandate.

This position is subject to local recruitment pursuant to staff rule 4.4 of the United Nations Staff Rules. All staff in the General Service and related categories shall be recruited in the country or within commuting distance of each office, irrespective of their nationality and of the length of time they may have been in the country. A staff member subject to local recruitment shall not be eligible for the allowances or benefits exclusively applicable to international recruitment.

Passing the Global General Service Test (GGST) is a prerequisite for recruitment consideration in the General Services and related categories in the United Nations Secretariat. Applicants who have not passed the GGST at the time of application may be invited for the test after submitting an application. Staff members who were granted a fixed-term, continuing or permanent appointment as a result of having passed a predecessor test recognized by the Office of Human Resources Management, and who have continuously held such appointments, are not required to take the new test.

At the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the recruitment and employment of staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence and integrity, with due regard to geographic diversity. All employment decisions are made on the basis of qualifications and organizational needs. The United Nations is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment of mutual respect. The United Nations recruits and employs staff regardless of gender identity, sexual orientation, race, religious, cultural and ethnic backgrounds or disabilities. Reasonable accommodation for applicants with disabilities may be provided to support participation in the recruitment process when requested and indicated in the application.

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.