FINANCE AND BUDGET ASSISTANT

This position is located in Kinshasa with United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUSCO). The Finance and Budget Assistant reports to the Chief, Finance and Budget Officer.

Under the general supervision of the Chief Finance and Budget Officer, the Finance and Budget Assistant will perform the following tasks:

* Assists with the preparation of cost estimates and budget proposals, in terms of mission's resourcing requirements such as staff and non-staff requirements, including programmatic aspects; assists, reviews and revises data with respect to the finalization of the budget proposals as well as Result Based Budgeting inputs.
* Assists in supporting programme/fund centre managers (Substantive and Support Sections) with respect to the elaboration of resource requirements for budget submissions.
* Supports the administration and monitoring of extra-budgetary resources, including review of agreements and cost plans, ensuring compliance with regulations, rules and established policies and procedures.
* Processes redeployment of funds in accordance with the established procedures.
* Supports with the review in ensuring the efficient and effective use of budgetary resources through robust monitoring of budget utilization to the approved budget and timely provision of information to Mission management for decision making. Provides support and guidance to fund centre/programme managers on budget implementation and processes corrective actions where necessary.
* Assists with the preparation of budget performance reports for the mission, ensuring that correct and accurate data/information is provided by the various programme /fund centre managers in compliance with the Controller's instructions. Assists with reviews and finalizes performance reports ensuring valid and adequate variance explanations between approved budgets and actual expenditures.
* Analyzes accounting transactions and open items in the accounting system and recommends corrective actions.
* Reviews and reconciles various clearing accounts, investigates erroneous/invalid entries and recommends corrective accounting action.
* Processes incoming/outgoing interoffice vouchers (IOVs), Sales/Service Orders/ Interoffice Billings (IOBs) from/to HQs, agencies, funds, programs and other field missions.
* Provides support to Fund Center managers for the year-end reviews of budget commitments in accordance with established criteria.
* Reviews and verifies that appropriate relevant supporting documents have been provided for the processing of payments for goods and services received.
* Generates and assists in the preparation of budgetary reports, including statistical/financial data for tables, charts and spreadsheets using office software and templates; and prepares and customizes financial reports.
* Drafts correspondence and communications related to all aspects of programme/project administration, including work plan and budgets, revisions and other related issues, as well as prepares unit's contributions for a variety of periodic reports.
* Processes staff and non-staff claims for payments in conformity and adherence to applicable United Nations policies e.g., staff rules, financial regulations and rules, ST/AI issuances or practices, IPSAS policy framework etc.
* Prepares year-end reports for the United Nations Joint Staff Pension Fund (UNJSPF) on all pension contributions made by national staff.
* Processes the disbursement of payments and monitors house bank account balances and transaction.
* Assists with the management of cash flow requirements of the missions;
* Perform duties of Cash Custodian.
* Acts as a Certifying Officer under Financial Rule 105.5 or Approving Officer under Financial Rule 105.6, in adherence with the UN Regulations and Rules.
* 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 under the supervision/guidance of the Chief Finance and Budget Officer.
* Assists in maintaining the fixed asset register.
* Coordinate with the Military, Police and other Uniformed Personnel for travel and attendance issues.
* Provide the required assistant in reviewing and certifying Travel and Expense Reports of Uniformed Personnel travel in accordance with the rules, regulations, instructions and supplementary directives issued by the United Nations in the areas of travel.
* Monitors staffing table of all categories of personnel in Enterprise Resource Planning System and address all discrepancies
* Performs other duties as assigned.

Professionalism: Sound 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 and 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.

High school diploma or equivalent. Technical or vocational certificate in accounting, finance, budget or related fields is a requirement.

-At least 8 years of progressively responsible experience within the United Nations system or in the private sector at the national or international level in administrative services, accounting, budgeting/financial management related area is required.
-Experience in Travel/ Uniformed personnel and staffing management, cost management, budget formulation or other related areas is required.
-Experience in FM/FI/Travel module of Enterprise Resource Planning system is required.
-Expertise in working with spreadsheets, monitoring financial transactions, identifying and analyzing trends is
Desirable.
-Experience working in a conflict or post-conflict environment is desirable.

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. Fluency in English (both oral and written) is required. Knowledge of French is desirable.

Previously rostered candidates are not subject to any further assessment and as such, will not be invited for such an assessment.

This "Recruit from Roster" job opening is only open to roster applicants who are already placed on pre-approved rosters, following a review by a United Nations Central Review Body. Only roster applicants who were placed on rosters with similar functions at the same level are considered to be eligible candidates. Eligible applicants receive an email inviting them to apply. Rostered applicants are encouraged to apply only if they are interested and available to take up the position at the duty station/s specified in the Job Opening. Applying to this job opening carries an expectation to accept the offer, if selected.

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.

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.

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.

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.