FINANCE AND BUDGET ASSISTANT (TEMPORARY JOB OPENING) [Temporary]

Org. Setting and Reporting

The United Nations Global Service Centre (UNGSC) provides critical Logistics, Geospatial, Information and Telecommunications Technologies services and Training to all Secretarial Entities, Peacekeeping and Special Political missions, Agencies, Funds and Programmes of the UN system worldwide.

This position is part of UNGSC’s Finance and Budget Unit, Central Service and the incumbent reports to directly to the Finance and Budget Officer leading the Budget Team.

Responsibilities

Within delegated authority, the Finance and Budget Assistant will be responsible for the following duties:

1. 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 and revises data with respect to the finalization of the budget proposals as well as Result Based Budgeting inputs.
2. Assists with support to programme/fund centre managers (Substantive and Support Sections) with respect to the elaboration of resource requirements for budget submissions.
3. Supports with the review in ensuring the efficient and effective use of budgetary resources through a 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/center programme managers on budget implementation and processes corrective actions where necessary.
4. 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 the review and finalizes performance reports ensuring valid and adequate variance explanations between approved budgets and actual expenditures.
5. Provides support to Fund Center managers for the year-end reviews of budget commitment in accordance with established criteria.
6. Under the guidance of the supervisor, 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.
7. Carries out duties consistent with the financial delegation in adherence with the UN Regulations and Rules.
8. Assists in performing analysis, preparation and delivery of strategic support and business intelligence to operational counterparts and mission leadership on financial resources and stewardship, and organizational performance of the mission, in line with mission priorities
9. Assists in planning, monitoring and reporting of financial and operational performance
10. Keep up-to-date on guidelines that have bearing on matters related to programme/peacekeeping budgets, ensuring compliance with United Nations policies and procedures.
11. Draft or prepare correspondence to respond to enquiries in respect to financial and budget matters.
12. Provide guidance and training (including preparation of training materials) to junior staff with respect to transaction processing and the use of various systems
13. In the absence of the Finance and Budget Officer, act as Lead of the Budget Team
14. Performs other duties as assigned.

Competencies

Professionalism:
Knowledge of financial and budgetary principles and practices. Ability to identify and resolve budgetary and procedural problems in creative and innovative ways. Ability to identify sources for data collection, and to organize, summarize and present information in a simple, accessible and attractive manner. Ability to identify inaccuracies and instances of non-compliance. Ability to formulate conclusions and recommendations that are supported by facts. 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.

Teamwork:
Works collaboratively with colleagues to achieve organizational goals-Solicits input by genuinely valuing others' ideas and expertise; is willing to learn from others. Places team agenda before personal agenda. Supports and acts in accordance with final group decision, even when such decisions may not entirely reflect own position. Shares credit for team accomplishments and accepts joint responsibility for team shortcomings.

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.

Education

High School Diploma or equivalent is required.

Job - Specific Qualification

Technical or vocational certificate in business or public administation, accounting, finance, budget or related fields is required.

Work Experience

At least 8 years of progressively responsible experience within the United Nations system or similar international organization or in the private sector at the national or international level in business or public administration, accounting, budgeting or financial management is required.

Experience in budget formulation, financial monitoring, and results-based-budgeting is desirable.

Experience in use of the financial module of an Enterprise Resource System (ERP) is desirable.

Experience in the preparation of budget related responses to legislative bodies is 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.

Assessment

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

Special Notice

• This position is temporarily available until 30 June 2023 with possibility of extension. If the selected candidate is a staff member from the United Nations Secretariat, the selection will be administered as a temporary assignment.

• While this temporary assignment may provide the successful applicant with an opportunity to gain new work experience, the selection for this position is for a limited period and has no bearing on the future incumbency of the post.

• Subject to the funding source of the position, the eligibility for this temporary job opening may be limited to candidates based at the duty station.

• This temporary job opening may be limited to “internal candidates,” who have been recruited through a competitive examination administered according to staff rule 4.16 or staff selection process including the review of a central review body established according to staff rule 4.15.

• Staff members of the United Nations common system organizations who will reach the mandatory age of separation or retirement within the duration of the current temporary need period are not eligible to apply.Submitting an application or selection for the current temporary job opening does not delay or increase the mandatory age of separation.

• Retirees above the mandatory age of separation who wish to be considered for the current temporary job opening must indicate the reason for their last separation as "retirement." Such retirees shall not be employed by the Organization, unless (a) the operational requirements of the Organization cannot be met by staff members who are qualified and available to perform the required functions; and (b) the proposed employment would not adversely affect the career development or redeployment opportunities of other staff members and represents both a cost-effective and operationally sound solution to meet the needs of the service.

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, 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.

The paramount consideration in the appointment, transfer, or promotion of staff shall be the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity. By accepting an offer of appointment, United Nations staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General and assignment by him or her to any activities or offices of the United Nations in accordance with staff regulation 1.2 (c). In this context, all internationally recruited staff members shall be required to move periodically to discharge new functions within or across duty stations under conditions established by the Secretary-General.

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.