CHIEF OF UNIT, FINANCE AND BUDGET

Self-Assessment Questionnaire

For this generic job opening, applicants are requested to complete a Self-Assessment Questionnaire (link below) outlining their direct experience and qualifications against the job requirement.

The employment records and information provided in the questionnaire should be in-line with your Personal History Profile (PHP) submitted in Inspira.

The Self-Assessment Questionnaire does NOT supersede your Inspira PHP application and it does NOT serve as a job application.

Applicants are reminded to complete and submit their Personal History Profile (PHP) in Inspira for further consideration for this generic job opening.

Start Questionnaire.

If you face any technical difficulties while trying to access the above link, you can copy the URL ( http://efm.unlb.org/Perseus/se.ashx?s=6ACDF2C2578D84E0 ) into an internet browser and start the questionnaire.

Special Notice

The United Nation Secretariat maintains rosters of qualified and available candidates to fill anticipated job openings in peacekeeping operations, special political missions, and other field operations. The purpose of this job opening is to generate a list of qualified candidates for inclusion in the Chief of Unit, Finance and Budget P-4 roster. The entire assessment process takes an average of six months; all applicants will be notified in writing of the outcome of their application (whether successful or unsuccessful) within 14 days of the conclusion of the process. Successful candidates will be placed on the roster and subsequently will be invited to apply for field mission vacancies open only to roster members. Roster membership does not guarantee selection.

Org. Setting and Reporting

These positions are located in United Nations Peacekeeping Operations, Special Political Missions, Service Centres and Field Offices as applicable. The Chief of Unit, Finance and Budget, usually reports to the Chief/Director of Mission Support, though this may vary depending on the mission structure and location of the post. The focus of the position is on the overall financial management of the mission, including stewardship of budgetary resources and financial transactions.

Applicants will be expected to serve in hardship duty stations with difficult working and living conditions. An updated list of missions and additional information on working in the field can be found at http://www.un.org/en/peacekeeping/about/dfs/

Responsibilities

Within delegated authority, the Chief of Unit, Finance and Budget will be responsible for the following duties (these duties are generic and may not be performed by all Chiefs of Unit, Finance and Budget):
- Advises and supports the Head of Mission Support, other senior leadership of the Mission, and programme/fund center managers in the overall financial management of the mission including stewardship of budgetary resources and financial transactions and performance.
- Lead the Mission’s annual budget development programme, providing leadership and coordination with respect to the establishment of major resourcing priorities, preparation of comprehensive budget submissions and performance reports, application of results-based budgeting principles and analysis of the costs and benefits of major new proposals.
- Prepares inputs to the UN's legislative processes for consideration of mission financing requirements.
- Administer the allotments of the mission including advise, guidance and approval of redeployment/reallocation of funds in line with implementation of planned and/or prioritised activities.
- Plans, oversees and/or prepares the closing of the monthly and year-end accounts of the Mission in compliance with international public standards of accounting.
- Provides oversight to ensure that processing of payments for goods and services received are in accordance with established procedures including availability of appropriate supporting documents for the processing of payments.
- Administers the banking requirements of the mission in consultation with Treasury UNHQ.
- Develops and/or apply strong internal control practices for effective and efficient financial management processes and reporting practices to support accurate and complete accounting and payment processes for staff and vendors, that meet the requirements of dynamic field operations, while ensuring full compliance with the UN Financial Regulations and Rules and IPSAS policy framework.
- Provides advice, financial interpretations, adaptations and corrective actions in response to audits and other queries to ensure adherence to the UN Financial Regulations and Rules, Staff Rules, Administrative Instructions, Bulletins and Circulars.
- Act as a Certifying Officer under Financial Rule 105.5 or Approving Officer under Financial Rule 105.4 in adherence with the UN Regulations and Rules.
- Manages the staff of the Budget and Finance Unit in prioritising, planning and assigning responsibilities, developing and maintaining needed expertise and knowledge, and identifying opportunities for improvement.
- Perform other budgeting duties, as assigned.

Competencies

Core Competencies:

Professionalism: Advanced knowledge of financial and budgetary principles and practices, budget development and financial administration of resources. Ability to develop comprehensive budgetary policies, procedures and new programmes. Ability to formulate new strategies and technical approaches to complex budgetary matters. Shows pride in work and in achievements. Demonstrates professional competence and mastery of subject matters. 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 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 own shortcomings and those of the work unit, where applicable. 

Managing Performance: Delegates the appropriate responsibility, accountability and decision-making authority. Makes sure that roles, responsibilities and reporting lines are clear to each staff member. Accurately judges the amount of time and resources needed to accomplish a task and matches task to skills. Monitors progress against milestones and deadlines. Regularly discusses performance and provides feedback and coaching to staff. Encourages risk-taking and supports creativity and initiative. Actively supports the development and career aspirations of staff. Appraises performance fairly.

Judgement/ Decision-making: Identifies the key issues in a complex situation, and comes to the heart of the problem quickly. Gathers relevant information before making a decision. Considers positive and negative impacts of decisions prior to making them. Takes decisions with an eye to the impact on others and on the Organization. Proposes a course of action or makes a recommendation based on all available information. Checks assumptions against facts. Determines that the actions proposed will satisfy the expressed and underlying needs for the decision. Makes tough decisions when necessary.

Education

Advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent) in business administration, statistics, accounting, finance, or related field. A first-level university degree in combination with relevant years of experience in financial management, accounting or other related field, may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree. Professional recognition as a CPA, chartered accountant or their equivalents is required.

Work Experience

A minimum of seven (07) years of progressively responsible experience in a complex organisational environment, in at least two of the following areas is required: cost management, budget formulation, financial monitoring, accounting, audit and financial reporting.

Experience in managing finance and budget operations in international or multinational organizations is desirable. Experience in managing finance and budget operations in a logistics or security-intensive or infrastructure focused organization is highly desirable.

Experience in Change Management initiatives and in formulation of new strategies/approaches to complex financial management or accounting is highly desirable.

Languages

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the position advertised, fluency in English (oral and written) is required. Working knowledge of French is highly desirable. Knowledge of another UN official language is desirable.

Assessment

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

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, including but not limited to, respect for international human rights and humanitarian law. Candidates may be subject to screening against these standards, including but not limited to, whether they have committed or are alleged to have committed criminal offences or violations of international human rights law and international humanitarian law.

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 At-a-Glance on "The Application Process" and the Instructional Manual for the Applicants, which can be accessed by clicking on “Manuals” hyper-link on the upper right side of the inspira account-holder homepage.

The screening and 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, including but not limited to, their education, work experience, and language skills, according to the instructions provided on inspira. Applicants will be disqualified from consideration if they do not demonstrate in their application that they meet the evaluation criteria of the job opening and the applicable internal legislations of the United Nations. Applicants are solely responsible for providing complete and accurate information at the time of application: 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 a reference-checking process to verify the information provided in the application.

Job openings advertised on the Careers Portal will be removed at midnight (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.