Associate Finance and Budget Officer

Org. Setting and Reporting

The position is in the Operations and Advocacy Division, Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), which is part of the United Nations Secretariat responsible for bringing together humanitarian actors to ensure a coherent response to emergencies. OCHA also ensures there is a framework within which each actor can contribute to the overall response efforts. OCHA's mission is to mobilize and coordinate effective and principled humanitarian action in partnership with national and international actors to alleviate human suffering in disasters and emergencies; advocate the rights of people in need; promote preparedness and prevention and facilitate sustainable solutions. This position-specific job opening is being advertised for the position of Associate Finance and Budget Officer in Gaziantep, Türkiye. Under the overall supervision of the Pooled Fund Manager, the incumbent reports to the Finance Officer.

Responsibilities

Within delegated authority, the Associate Finance and Budget Officer will be responsible for the following duties: Medium-term plan: • Verify Implementing Partners (IP) financial documentation as required. • Provides advice and support to relevant intergovernmental and expert bodies in their review of the medium-term financial spending plan and its revisions; assists in providing guidance considering CBPF rules and regulations. • Ensures budget guidelines and other reporting requirements are followed and translated into project budgets. Partnership management: • Liaise with companies carrying out financial audits of partners and financial spot-checks ensuring compliance with the United Nations Financial Regulations and Rules (UNFRR) and Country-based Pooled Funds (CBPF) guidelines. • Prepare and review grant agreements and supporting documents to ensure accuracy, consistency, reasonableness, and compliance with the UNFRR and the CBPF guidelines. • Assist in reviewing and advising on the clearance of the project budget and grant agreements, participate in ad-hoc budget revision exercises and provide feedback on partners' requests. • Review financial report to make sure that it is in line with the signed agreement and complies with timelines and project budget. • Regular follow-up with IP to obtain financial reports and ensure grant agreement timelines are followed and disbursements are released on time. • Initiate the process to ensure disbursements as required and follow up on reimbursements with partners and CBPF. • Review and verify financial transactions/activities/documentation for accuracy, appropriateness, and completeness and ensure full compliance of financial services and transactions with CBPFs Global guidelines, UN rules and regulations, policies, and recording and reporting systems. Certify transactions for accuracy and propriety before submission to the supervisor for approval and/or action. • Prepare spot-check plans and conduct financial spot-checks in line with the operational modalities. • Assist in the audit process including facilitation of the contracting of external auditing companies, supporting the planning, advice on the clearance of audit reports and ensuring follow-up of critical audit findings with the audit firm and partners. • Support partners regarding compliance with the UNFRR and the Guidelines of CBPF. • Participate in standard and reserved allocation planning exercises for future allocations. • Prepare financial analysis for standard and ad-hoc reporting requirements for the head of the section. • Perform regular assurance activities and maintain up-to-date financial trackers for better planning. • Provide input for the preparation of CBPF Annual Reports. • Participate in allocations strategic and technical review committees to represent the finance section. • Participate in technical working groups to assist CBPF and pooled funds in revising guidelines. • Regularly review audit reports for a quality check and report serious findings to the head of finance. • Act as a key focal point for auditors and partners to address any audit-related queries in consultation with the supervisor. • Analyze/interpret the financial rules and regulations, as well as established policies and procedures, and provide advice and recommend solutions to a wide range of financial/programmatic issues to partners. • Monitor the financial status implement control mechanisms of projects and keep stakeholders and clients informed for timely actions/decisions. Review status reports for quality control and follow the development of action plans and the implementation of recommendations. • Participate in partner capacity assessment exercise along with relevant program and compliance colleagues. • Keep an eye on partner risk levels and ensure financial spot check recommendations are timely updated. Budget preparation and administration: • Reviews, analyses, and assists in the finalization of cost estimates and budget proposals, in terms of staff and non-staff requirements in project budget and associated budget revisions in GMS. • Reviews and analyses programme budget/financial implications to the Security Council resolution in light of additional mandates and change in context and project implementation. • Assists the Finance Officer in the elaboration and review of partner budget for project budget clearance. • Provides support to relevant intergovernmental and expert bodies in their budget review in strategic and technical review committees. • Keeps up to date on documents/reports/guidelines that have a bearing on matters related to the program, from extra-budgetary resources, ensuring compliance with intergovernmental recommendations and decisions as well as with United Nations policies and procedures. • Identifies process discrepancies in contribution recording between different systems used by OCHA. • Participate in the financial analysis of sectors of intervention and partners’ capacity absorption and recommend and/or implement recommendations to ensure a cost-efficient management of the fund’s resources, in consultation with the office management. • Review and advise on budget amendments or no-cost extension requests to the Finance Officer and Fund manager. • Reviews and assists in the finalization of budget performance reports, analyzing variances between approved budgets and actual expenditures. General: • Keeps up-to-date documents/reports/guidelines that have a bearing on matters related to programme and/or CBPF/SCHF guidelines, ensuring compliance with spot check and auditor recommendations and decisions as well as with United Nations policies and procedures. • Manage the financial business processes mapping and elaboration of the content of internal Standard Operating Procedures in admin/finance, in consultation with the supervisor. • Performs other related duties, as assigned.

Competencies

Professionalism: Ability to identify and resolve budgetary problems and identify sources for data collection. Conceptual analytical and evaluative skills to conduct independent research and analysis, including familiarity with and experience in the use of various research sources, including electronic sources on the internet, intranet, and other databases. Ability to apply judgment in the context of assignments given, work under pressure, on occasion in a highly stressful environment (e.g. civil strife, natural disasters, and human misery). Shows pride in work and 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. 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. Accountability: Takes ownership of all responsibilities and honours commitments; delivers outputs for which one has responsibility within the prescribed time, cost, and quality standards; operates in compliance with organizational regulations and rules; supports subordinates, provides oversight, and takes responsibility for delegated assignments; takes personal responsibility for his/her shortcomings and those of the work unit, where applicable.

Education

An advanced university degree (master's degree or equivalent) in business administration, finance, accounting, or related field is required. A first-level university degree in combination with an additional two (2) years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree. A first-level university degree and no experience will be accepted for candidates who have passed the Young Professionals Programme Examination/United Nations National Competitive Recruitment Examination (NCRE) or the General Service to Professional Examination (G to P).

Job - Specific Qualification

Not available.

Work Experience

A minimum of two (2) years of progressively responsible experience in finance, partnership management, grants, budget, and business administration OR the successful completion of the Young Professionals Programme Examination (YPP)/United Nations National Competitive Recruitment Examination (NCRE) or the General Service to Professional Examination (G to P) is required. Humanitarian experience in the field (actual setting where a mission and/or project is being implemented) in emergency situations (complex emergency or natural disaster) is required. Experience working with humanitarian financing or pooled funding setup, managing multi donors' funds is desirable. Experience in a humanitarian context in the UN Common System or other comparable international organizations is desirable. Experience in the Middle East and North Africa region is desirable.

Languages

French and English are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the position advertised, fluency in English is required. Knowledge of Arabic is desirable.

Assessment

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

Special Notice

This position is funded for a finite period of one year. Extension of the appointment is subject to extension of the mandate and the availability of the funds. Staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-general and to assignment by him or her. In this context, all staff are expected to move periodically to new functions in their careers by established rules and procedures. The United Nations Secretariat is committed to achieving a 50/50 gender balance in its staff. Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply for this position. An impeccable record of integrity and professional ethical standards is essential. External candidates (including OCHA temporary appointees and OCHA national field staff) who are selected for a position in field duty stations may be strategically placed on a fixed term appointment limited to a specific position or a specific country office in accordance with the paragraph 2.2 (b) of administrative instruction ST/AI/2013/1 on the administration of fixed-term appointment which provides that an FTA may be granted to individuals who are "(b) Selected but not reviewed by a Secretariat review body for appointments limited to specific entities

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.