Budget Specialist (Res

Organizational context

The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) is an international financial institution and a specialized United Nations agency dedicated to eradicating rural poverty and hunger. It does so by investing in rural people. IFAD finances programmes and projects that increase agricultural productivity and raise rural incomes, and  advocates at the local, national and international level for policies that contribute to rural transformation.

Post's organizational accountability

Within the Corporate Services Support Group (CSSG), the Office of Strategic Budgeting (OSB) aims to strengthen IFAD's budgeting function and is responsible for ensuring a strong link between planning, resource allocation, results monitoring and strategy.
Budget Specialists at this level are seasoned professionals reflecting an in-depth, broad understanding of applicable regulations, standards and methods as well as IFAD’s financial regulations, rules and transactional procedures in one or more financial occupations including accounting and budget. The accountabilities/key results include:

Budget Business Partner
Financial Management
Agent of Change
Managerial Functions

Budget Specialists work under the overall strategic, policy and management guidance of the Director and the direct supervision of the Senior Budget Specialist. When tasked with supervision, they are typically supervisors of support staff or consultants.

Key results expected / Major functional activities

BUDGET BUSINESS PARTNER: The Budget Specialist is a credible, trusted partner to the client offices served. S/He supports the Fund’s Budget strategy and plans as well as models a commitment to financial integrity by acting as a responsive and constructive service provider with a focus on results. The Specialist provides seasoned verbal and written advice and guidance to supervisors and staff on budget regulations, rules and procedures, facilitating a mutual understanding of roles and fiduciary accountabilities in direct support of integrity in the management of the Fund’s financial resources. S/He facilitates the priority setting process ensuring effective linkages between outputs and budget.
 
FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT: At this level the Budget Specialist is a seasoned professional with the capacity to interpret and apply a broad range of international and IFAD-specific financial policies, rules and regulations as well as standards and techniques. Activities performed by Budget Specialists at this level may include:
maintaining the financial procedures relating to the assigned portfolio of services clients; preparing information for internal financial reporting and for IFAD’s Annual Financial Statements, as applicable; preparing timely, substantive replies to internal and external audit observations concerning the assigned financial operation; ensuring legislative mandates are accurately translated into programme budgets within a results- based  methodology and  are  in  line  with  the  IFAD  medium-term plan/strategic objectives  and efficiency in resource use development of financial policy through simulations and enhancement of financial models;building simulations on a range of likely scenarios reflecting IFAD's current and future resources and financial positions, analyse simulation results and identify key inputs for information on resource mobilization priorities/opportunities; analyse trends in financial data to assess relevance of existing models;recommending changes to underlying assumptions to promote alignmt with current and future operating realities;maintaining linkages between financial model development and projections of balance sheet and income statements;ensuring integration with the structure of IFAD's balance sheet and income statement;enhancing current  financial  models  including  integration  with  other  excel-based information  in collaboration with team colleagues.

AGENT OF CHANGE: The Budget Specialist understands and applies the principles of change management and proactively serves as a role model for transformation and capacity for acceptance of change. S/He uses a seasoned knowledge of results based management and budgeting, enterprise resource planning (ERP) and other information technology to develop, analyze and promote acceptance of new methods of work and automated work flows. At this level the Specialist manages change through consultations with Budget colleagues and outreach to client offices to build understanding of and to ensure open and regular communications pertaining to current and planned changes in the Fund’s financial standards, regulations and rules.

MANAGERIAL FUNCTIONS: The Budget Specialist is accountable for integrity, transparency, and equity  in  the  personal  use  of  assigned  IFAD  resources,  including  equipment,  supplies  and,  as applicable, staff supervised.

Impact of Key results / Key performance indicators

Specialists at this level are accountable for in-depth analysis of a variety of financial reports that reflect transactions where many different consecutive stages of operations are involved; problems involve interrelationships and interactions within the financial structure and his/her role is to ensure that the Organization's financial business conforms to regulations. Based on a thorough knowledge of Budget principles, concepts and systems, the Budget Specialist independently performs the full range of work for a complete, homogenous financial operation or components of financial operations in support of a geographic or other organizational area. The supervisor may be consulted in the analysis of complex and/or precedent setting cases to ensure consistency in the interpretation and application of regulations and rules and to document such decisions. The work typically requires the identification of the need for changes to Budget policies, as well as the authoritative interpretation and application of Budget policies, rules and regulations to a broad range of complex casework.

The key performance indicators for Budget Specialists at this level include accurate performance of assigned Budget operations, technical quality in terms of both substantive depth and adaptive relevance to client needs and customer service approach to problem resolution.

Representation / Work relationships

Budget Specialists may represent the unit to which assigned on related matters at internal and external meetings and conferences as requested by the supervisor.

Internally Budget Specialists are required to explain, clarify and implement financial plans and decisions taken or procedural changes planned to ensure accuracy, completeness and integrity of financial data and reporting. Contacts are with Budget, budget, loans and grants, treasury, audit and programme management staff in country offices and Headquarters. External work relationships for Specialists at this level normally require an exchange of information with a range of outside sources including staff from governments, specialized agencies acting as CO host agencies, Borrowers and Cooperating institutions, external investment managers and vendors/suppliers. They are also delegated authority to make commitments on routine aspects of the assignment

Competencies

Organisational

• Strategic thinking and organizational development: Personal influence
• Demonstrating Leadership: Personal leadership and attitude to change
• Learning, sharing knowledge and innovating: Continuously seeks to learn, shares knowledge and innovates (Level 1)
• Focusing on clients: Focuses on clients (Level 1)
• Problem solving and decision making: Demonstrates sound problem solving and decision-making ability (Level 1)
• Managing time, resources and information: Manages own time, information and resources effectively (Level 1)
• Team Work: Contributes effectively to the team (Level 1) Communicating and negotiating: Communicates effectively: creates understanding between self and others (Level 1)
• Building relationships and partnerships: Builds and maintains effective working relationships (Level 1)
• Managing performance and developing staff: Manages staff and teams effectively (Level 1)

Technical/Functional

• In-depth knowledge of the principles and concepts of financial operations including sound understanding of project financial management and IFRS. Capacity to identify and analyze systemic issues, formulate options and make conclusions and recommendations to resolve same.
• Analytical and organizational skills.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively in a diverse organization tailoring language, tone, style and format to match audience; ability to present corrective feedback in a considered and tactful manner to promote acceptance.
• Excellent knowledge of PeopleSoft ERP and other information technology systems and tools. Exposure to accounting software.
• Ability to empathize with client managers, supervisors and staff while maintaining the integrity of financial resources, implementing internal controls and ensuring consistent and accountable application of promulgated financial regulations and rules

Minimum recruitment qualifications

Education: 
Advanced university degree from an accredited institution in accounting, Budget, Finance business administration or other job-related field.

Experience: 
Minimum of five (5)  years of progressively relevant experience is required. Professional experience in accounting, financial management, budget analysis or management analysis in a multi-cultural organization or
national organization providing support on a global scope is highly desirable.

Language requirements: 
Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English is required. Working knowledge of another official IFAD language (Arabic, French, or Spanish) is desirable.

Other information

Applicants should note that IFAD staff members are international civil servants subject to the authority of the President of IFAD, and they may be assigned by him/her to any of the activities of IFAD, including field assignments and/or rotation within IFAD.

In the interest of making most cost effective use of funds and resources, we are only able to respond to applicants who are short-listed for interview. Candidates who do not receive any feedback within three months should consider their application unsuccessful

Candidates may be required to take a written test and to deliver a presentation as well as participate in interviews.

IFAD is committed to achieving diversity and is seeking a balanced workforce from its Member States. Women are particularly encouraged to apply.