Chief, Budget Division

Vacancy Announcement

Chief, Budget Division, P-5

HQ Amman

Deadline for Applications

28 June 2017

(14 June 2017 for internal applicants)

Duration

This is a temporary vacancy to cover an absence of 12 months. One-year contract with the possibility of further extension depending on the return or otherwise of the incumbent, and subject to satisfactory performance, the continued need and funding for the post.

Vacancy Announcement Number

17-HQ-AM-28

UNRWA encourages applications from qualified women and welcomes applications from qualified candidates with disabilities.

 UNRWA, the largest United Nations operation in the Middle East with over 30,000 staff

 working across five areas of operation, is looking for professionals like you.

UNRWA’s strategic objectives

The mission of UNRWA is to help Palestine refugees achieve their full potential in human development under the difficult circumstances in which they live. In line with this mission, the Agency works towards five strategic outcomes: (a) Palestine refugee rights under international law are protected and promoted; (b) Palestine refugee health is protected and disease burden is reduced; (c) school-age children complete quality, equitable and inclusive basic education; (d) Palestine refugee capabilities are strengthened for increased livelihood opportunities; and (e) Palestine refugees are able to meet their basic human needs of food, shelter and environmental health.

Do you want to make a lasting difference? 

If you are passionate about making a lasting difference for Palestinian refugees, this role will give you the opportunity to prepare and subsequently monitor a biennial programme budget of over one billion dollars, a capital budget of about 100 million dollars and an emergency budget of some $ 200 million annually, as well as lead a team of professional, technical and clerical staff at Headquarters and provide direction to financial and operational staff in other departments and in the field on budget matters.

The main responsibilities include:

•         Supervising and participating in the preparation of the Agency's biennial budget including the review of budget estimates for staff and other non-staffing resources prepared by Agency departments, offices and programmes and management of the budget negotiation and finalisation process;

•         Supervising and participating in the periodic review of expenditure reviewing performance against the approved budget on a Goals, Field, Programme and object of expenditure basis;

•         Developing and/or advising/contributing to the development of budget policies and processes in line with international best practices and seeks opportunities to improve the quality, technical credibility and effectiveness of the budget process and formats; developing detailed procedures and guidelines for budget preparation and budget execution and the biennial budget timetable in line with the Agency’s Medium Term Strategy process;

•         Supervising and analysing the processing of requests for budgetary adjustments and reporting such actions to the Comptroller or Resource Allocation Committee (RAC) as appropriate;

•         Administering control systems relating to budgetary allotments and authorized staffing tables;

•         Developing reporting formats and ensuring that budget managers receive management information and reports, as required, on budgetary and related matters;

•         Acting as Co-Secretary to the Resource Allocation Committee (a high level advisory committee reviewing all aspects of resource allocation) and providing strategic budget and resource allocation advice to the Management Committee;

•         Serving as the focal point for the various UN working groups and task forces on budgetary matters, and representing Finance Department on internal bodies dealing with system changes under the Organizational Development plan (OD);

•         Assisting the Director of Finance in the preparation of data for the Management Committee and Advisory Commission;

•         Analysing and making suggestions in respect of budgeting for special projects and emergency activities.

Conditions of service 

UNRWA offers an attractive compensation package including annual salary starting at $84,721 net tax free with post adjustment of 36.4% (subject to change without notice). All UNRWA duty stations (with the exception of Gaza and Syria) are family duty stations. Other benefits, subject to eligibility, include:

•  Dependency allowances

•  Rental subsidy

•  Education grant for children

•  Home leave travel

•  6 weeks (30 working days) annual leave

•  Pension fund entitlements under the

    UN Joint Staff Pension Fund

•  International health insurance; optional

    life insurance

•  Disability protection

Additional information

The incumbent of this post may be required to travel throughout the Agency's area of operations in the Middle East.

To qualify for this position, you will need:

Education

Advanced university degree in accounting, business administration or related field; a first-level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of an advanced university degree.

Work

experience

At least 10 years' experience in the application of the knowledge acquired above of which five years should have been in a senior supervisory position, in a large international, governmental or commercial organization in areas of accounting, budgeting and related financial work, including 2 years of relevant international experience outside one’s home country

Language(s)

 Excellent in written and spoken English.

Desirable qualifications:

•         Coursework in management studies;

•         Membership in a professional body of accountants (e.g., Institute of Chartered Accountants or Institute of Certified Public Accountants).

•         Experience in a finance or budget office of an organization similar to UNRWA using performance based budgeting.

You will also need to demonstrate the following competencies:

•         Good analytical skills;

•         Proven skills in modern methods of budgeting including results-based budgeting;

•         Ability to work under difficult conditions;

•         Demonstrated management skills in a multi-cultural environment;

•         Ability to motivate staff;

•         Excellent communication skills and an ability to work effectively with people at all levels in the organization;

•         Demonstrated knowledge of standard computer applications including finance systems.

For guidance on how to prepare for competency-based interviews:

            https://careers.un.org/lbw/home.aspx?viewtype=AYI

How to apply

To start the application process, applicants are required to register at http://jobs.unrwa.org by creating a personal profile and completing UNRWA Personal History Form. Only applications received through http://jobs.unrwa.org will be considered. Due to the large number of applications received for UNRWA vacancies, only applicants short-listed for interview will be contacted. The United Nations does not charge fees at any stage of the recruitment process. The United Nations does not concern itself with information related to bank accounts.

General information

UNRWA staff are expected to uphold the highest standards of integrity, neutrality and impartiality at all times. This includes respect for and commitment to human rights, diversity, and non-violent means of dealing with all kinds of conflict. Only persons who fully and unconditionally commit to these values should consider applying for UNRWA jobs. UNRWA is a non-smoking work environment.

The retirement age for staff entering or re-entering service in the UN Common System after 1 January 1990 is 62 and 65 after 1 January 2014. For external applicants, only those who are expected to complete a term of appointment will normally be considered.

The Agency reserves the right not to make an appointment, to make an appointment at a lower grade, or to make an appointment with a modified job description.

Date of issue: 1 June 2017 /HB