Finance and Budget Officer, P3 - Job ID : 92829

Org. Setting and Reporting

This post is located in Funding Coordination Section (FCS), Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), based in New York. OCHA is the 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 effort. The Finance & Budget Officer will report to the Head of the Unit, FCS Finance, with functional reporting relationship to the Executive Officer of OCHA, on financial matters.

Responsibilities

Within delegated authority, the Finance & Budget Officer will be responsible for the following duties:

Contributions:
•Monitors extra-budgetary contributions received for Humanitarian Funds and ensures they are recorded in compliance with IPSAS
Identifies discrepancies concerning contributions to the Country based Pooled Funds (CBPF) and resolves them

Budget preparation:
•Reviews and analyses data with respect to the finalization of cost estimates and budget proposals, in terms of staff and non-staff requirements of FCS .
•Reviews, analyses and provides input into finalization of programme budget/financial implications for the FCS Budget in light of FCS work plan and mandates.
•Provides substantive support to relevant intergovernmental and expert bodies in their budget review; assists in securing approval from relevant governing mechanisms.
Budget administration:
•Reviews budget, grant agreements and relevant documents submitted by CBPFs partners.
•Approves implementing partners’ budget, grants and service entry sheet in the accounting ERP.
•Act as Approving and Certifying Officer to approve Grant Master Data and facilitate payments
•Monitor budget implementation and periodic financial reporting from implementing partners. Approve expenditure report and certify subsequent payments as per Grant Agreements.
•Coordinates the maintenance of the list of advances to Implementing Partners;
• Monitors the level of accounts receivables and takes actions to clear outstanding advances;
•Obtains outstanding reports and assesses them in line with grant agreements;
•Monitors budget implementation and determines/recommends reallocation of funds when necessary.
•Monitors FCS budget implementation and expenditures to ensure that they remain within authorized levels.
•Reviews and certifies Statement of Accounts and ad-hoc financial reports;
•Reviews financial reports and confirms the amount for additional disbursements; Records the major audit findings in the audit matrix;
•Liaises internally (within OCHA) and externally (relevant counterparts in UNDP, Funds Managers and other partners regarding financial matters related to OCHA CBPF.
•Submits information for reporting to UNDP; prepares UNDP Multi-Partner Trusts Fund (MPTF) reconciliation
•Provides support to managers with respect to the elaboration of resource requirements for budget submissions.
•Provides input for the preparation of Country-based pooled funds Annual Reports

General:
•Keeps up-to-date on documents/reports/guidelines that have a bearing on matters related to programme, from extra budgetary resources, ensuring compliance with intergovernmental recommendations and decisions as well as with United Nations policies and procedures;
•Monitor supervise and train subordinate staff as required (both in New York and in the field);
•Performs other related duties, as assigned.

Competencies

•Professionalism: Knowledge of financial principles and practices. Ability to independently conduct research and analysis, formulate options and present conclusions and recommendations. 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.
•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 honors 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.

Education

Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent degree) in business administration, finance, or related field. A first-level university degree in combination with two years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Work Experience

A minimum of five years of progressively responsible experience in finance, administration, budget, business administration or related area is required. Experience working in a finance capacity in an International Organization, NGO or Multilateral Aid Agencies or similar is required. Experience working with financial processes of pooled funds is desirable. Experience with an Enterprise Resource Planning System such as SAP, UMOJA or similar or any grants management system is desirable.

Languages

English and French are the languages of the UN Secretariat. For this post fluency in English is required. Knowledge of French is desirable. 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. Core values and competencies will be assessed throughout the evaluation process.

Special Notice

Extension of the appointment is subject to Extension of the mandate and/or 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 in accordance with established rules and procedures. The United Nations Secretariat is committed to achieving 50/50 gender balance in its staff. Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply for this position.

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 or sexual abuse, or crimes other than minor traffic offences, 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.

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.

Apply Now