Senior Finance and Budget Assistant (position available through 31 December 2020)

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.

Salary

The salary for this job should be more than 2,465 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.

Org. Setting and Reporting The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is the leading global environmental authority that sets the global environmental agenda, promotes the coherent implementation of the environmental dimension of sustainable development within the United Nations system and serves as an authoritative advocate for the global environment. This position is located in United Nations Environment, Corporate Services Division at the Nairobi duty station.

Under the supervision of the Chief, Financial Management Service, the Senior Finance and Budget Assistant will be responsible for the following duties:

Responsibilities 1) Leading the deposits and reconciliation process and identification of income by using daily bank statements by: •Reviewing and monitoring the daily bank deposit lists and creating the weekly memo of all deposits received. •Creating the necessary receivables and forwarding the same to Accounts to complete by offsetting the same. •Circulating the weekly memo to all recipients, i.e. Fund Management Officers at the Headquarters, out-posted offices, all other staff members who handle payments at UNEP, UNON and out-posted offices, for their information and records, enabling tracking of grant creation and receipting/acknowledgements to donors.

2) Supporting the Programme Officer in certifying income grants by: •Checking for accuracy and timelines of the income grant creation process worked on by the team. •Certifying grants in the United Nations Office at Nairobi (UNON) grant portal to enable UNON Accounts section to offset the contributions received. •Taking the lead in collaboration with UNON Accounts by providing any additional clarifications required to complete the process of approving grants and offsetting receivables. •In collaboration with the contributions team and in compliance with International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSAS), review and create pledge templates for Multilateral Environmental Agreements (MEAs) when the pledges are available and coordinate the provision of this information for subsequent approval and creation of receivables by UNON.

3) Responding to queries relating to financial statements by: •Cross-checking and reconciling the receivables in the UN ERP SAP System (Umoja) with the data in Contributions Management Tool (CMT). •Preparing reports, worksheets and analyzing financial information. •Assisting the Programme Officer in the preparation of financial schedules for all funds and earmarked contributions on a monthly basis and at the year-end closure. •Undertaking research in Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) areas of unit concern in the Grants Management, Funds Management and related modules and present solutions/proposals/recommendations to remedy any bottlenecks. •Drafting memoranda and responding to queries from internal and external auditors and where applicable support the Programme Officer in monitoring and ensuring compliance with audit recommendations.

4) Overseeing the reconciliation and verification of the completeness of the receipts and unidentified contributions file as often as it is downloaded by: •Corresponding with relevant offices and players to find out what contributions relate to. •Drafting and reviewing the acknowledgement letters for contributions received, for the signature of the Programme Officer and verifying their dispatch to the relevant donor governments and other bodies. •Ensuring proper filing of all the letters is well maintained in relevant files. •Overseeing the correspondence from the team and providing relevant documents as necessary to offices and donors that raise queries regarding the same.

5) Reviewing and certifying adjustment requests from other offices in the Adjustment Portal as and when requested to do so by: •Leading the team in the application of procedures and tools related to Contributions work, including ERP, CMT and Standard Operating Procedures. •Training junior staff and resolving queries.

6) Performing other related tasks as required.

Competencies PROFESSIONALISM: Knowledge of, and ability to apply financial rules, regulations and procedures in the UN environment. Knowledge, skills and ability to extract, interpret, analyse and format data across the full range of finance and budget functions, including programme development and database management, claims and treasury operations. 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. Takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work.

TEAMWORK: Works collaboratively with colleagues to achieve organizational goals; solicits input by genuinely valuing others’ ideas and expertise; is willing to learn from others; places team agenda before personal agenda; supports and acts in accordance with final group decision, even when such decisions may not entirely reflect own position; shares credit for team accomplishments and accepts joint responsibility for team shortcomings.

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 Completion of secondary school is required. Supplemental training in accounting and finance or related field is required.

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. Successful passing of the Administrative Support Assessment Test (ASAT) in English at the United Nations Headquarters (UNHQ), Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA), United Nations Office at Geneva (UNOG), United Nations Office at Vienna (UNOV), International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR) or International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) may be accepted in lieu of the GGST.

The GGST is administered to applicants when required before the administration of a written assessment and/or interview.

Work Experience A minimum of ten (10) years of progressively responsible work experience in accounting, finance, budget, administration or related area is required. Practical experience working with Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems such as SAP (UN Umoja) is required. Experience within the United Nations system is desirable. Experience in financial statement analysis 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 UN official language is an advantage.

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 31 December 2020 and may be extended subject to funding.

• 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.

• 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. External candidates will be considered only when no suitable internal candidate from the duty station is identified. The candidate is responsible for any travel expenses incurred to take-up the appointment.

• Internal Applicants – when completing the PHP, ensure ALL fields, ALL professional experience and contact information are completed and up to date. This information is the basis for the hiring manager to assess your eligibility and suitability for the position and to contact you.

  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.

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.