Senior Finance and Budget Specialist – P4

Remuneration:

In accordance with the UN Rules and Regulations. Depending on professional background and experience, the Executive Director reserves the right to appoint a candidate at a level lower than the advertised level of the post.

Accountabilities:

Reporting to the Chief, Finance and Budget Unit (FBU), the Senior Finance and Budget Specialist provides full financial, accounting and budgetary management and analytical support to the Finance and Budget Unit of the Institute. The incumbent will manage and guide finance/accounting processes for а portfolio of programmes and operations' units, by working closely with the program and finance staff. S/He prepares and reconciles financial and management reports, provides analytical and planning support to the preparation of corporate financial statements. The job also provides oversight of the General Ledger Accounting, Accounts Receivables; Accounts Рауаble, Encumbrance Accounting and reconciliation of pooled-accounts. Deputizing and backstopping the Chief of FBU, the position also provides managerial oversight on the transactions and duties performed by the staff in the FBU.

Under the supervision of the Chief, Finance and Budget Unit, the incumbent will be responsible for the following duties:

1. Budget Management:

Assist the Chief of Finance and Budget Unit in the overall implementation of the budgetary functions in UNITAR with an aim to successfully implement the Institute’s Programmes by:

• Reviewing and making appropriate recommendations with respect to the finalization of budgets, analyzing variances between approved budgets and actual expenditures.
• Monitoring allotments, including redeployment of funds when necessary, ensuring appropriate expenditures.
• Review working tables and analyses of the distribution of budgetary sub-allotments.
• Administering and monitoring all types of budgetary resources, monitoring cost plans and recoveries, while ensuring compliance with full cost recovery policy, financial rules and regulations as well as established policies and procedures.
• Prepares monthly reports on the status of allotments; monitoring obligations/expenditures and review unliquidated obligations.
• Undertake analysis and provide regular management information, variance analysis for the Chief of unit in the financial clearances for obligating funds.
• Provide on-going advice to the program staff on budget balances, future obligations and expenditure management.
• Support the Chief of FBU in timely preparation of the biennium budget for the Institute.

2. Revenue and Expenditure Management:

Assist the Chief of Finance and Budget Unit, iп the overall implementation of the IPSAS accounting system in Quantum by:

• Developing and maintaining forecasting mechanisms to reflect the expenditure and cash planning for the Institute.
• Periodic monitoring of actual expenditures against the budget and report variances for appropriate action. Thereby, analyze the need for budget revisions and budget alignments for the development and management projects and finalize the budgets in Quantum.
• Monitoring expenditures to ensure that they remain within authorized levels.
• Track the grant agreements closely and record revenues accurately and Account Receivables.
• Periodic monitoring of receivables, actual expenditures against the budget and report variances for appropriate adjustments.
• Periodically monitoring the cash balances, budget balances and allocation balances and advise the managers on taking corrective actions where required.

3. Account Analysis and Monitoring:

Ensuring integrity of financial systems and accuracy of financial information by:

• Timely and periodically reviewing accounts for accuracy and completeness in the posting of various financial modules in Quantum.
• Producing management accounts as tools for monitoring performance and offer advice to Programs and senior management.
• Assisting in the reviewing financial reports regularly, received from various sources and identifying problem transactions and irregularities in related accounts and resolve them in а timely manner.
• Assisting in ensuring that accounting, reporting and internal control systems are functioning and that all relevant records are maintained.
• Providing support to the section head by responding to queries, investigating, and formulating solutions.
• Researching and analyzing information needed to respond to managers, program staff and audit findings.
• Reviewing quarterly and year-end progress and financial reports, including budget and allocation reports, confirms accuracy, or adjusts accordingly.
• Researching and analyzing information needed to respond to various queries including program, donor requests and audit findings.

4. Financial Reporting:

Assisting and supporting the Chief of Finance and Budget Unit in the timely and accurate financial reporting to stake holders by:

• Preparing and reviewing financial reports to donors on the use of funds.
• Initiate the monthly and annual closing in the preparation of United Nations semi-annual and year­end financial statements.
• Assists in analyzing and providing all accounts information for the preparation of financial statements.

• Coordination with program managers and donors on fund utilizations and balances; and preparation of financial statements to the donors.

5. Transactional support:

Support the program implementation processes by exercising delegated authority for verifying and certifying financial transactions by:

• Ensuring accuracy and integrity of the transactions being processed.
• Working with the team members together with other members of the group to ensure accurate and timely processing of payments in an effective manner and in compliance with established procedures.
• Serving as а contact point for staff members throughout UNITAR, agencies, external counterparts by providing advice and guidance to facilitate the processing of all financial transactions.
• Recommending and make improvements in the financial transactional processes to bring-in standardizations and efficiencies in the transactional processes.

6. Financial Monitoring and oversight:

• Will contribute to policy research, review, and will analyze and propose improvements to the existing financial management practices, and internal control mechanisms with the aim to ensure good functioning and integrity of the financial systems.
• addresses and responds to external audit recommendations in а timely manner with actions that effectively strengthen the Organization's internal control system and business processes.
• Prepare analysis of the findings and contribute to formal responses in relation to financial audit matters raised as part of various reviews, verifications or due diligence exercises conducted by donors and other external parties.
• Understand and facilitate the alignment of accounting architecture in the ERP with the institute's business model and suggest improvements; Analyze and reconcile ERP modules to the General ledger; Support ERP changes, lead user-testing, analyze account balances and facilitate migrations to new systems and train users.

7. General

• Manage and train subordinate staff; plan and allocate work, monitor and evaluate performance.
• Other duties as required by the Chief of Finance and Budget and the nature of the job.

Competencies:

• Professionalism - Expert knowledge in the field of Accountancy, Budget and Finance including IPSAS; proven ability to produce reports and papers on technical issues; ability to review and edit the work of others, ability to manage а Finance programme in а field operation or to formulate new strategies and approaches to financial issues and related issues. Takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work
• Planning & Organizing - Proven ability to plan and organize work, requiring an in-depth understanding of its strategic direction and ability to integrate the work of the section into the Departments work programme.
• Communications - Excellent communication skills, both oral and written; ability to defend and explain difficult issues with respect to key decisions and positions to staff, senior officials and members of intergovernmental bodies; proven ability to communicate complex concepts orally; ability to write reports that are clear, concise and meaningful.
• Teamwork - Strong interpersonal skills and ability to establish and maintain effective working relations with people in а multi-cultural, multi-ethnic environment with sensitivity and respect for diversity. Ability to lead and gain assistance of others in а team endeavor.
• Client orientation - Ability to identify clients' needs and propose appropriate solutions as well as establish and maintain effective relationships without posted collaborators and other contacts.
• Leadership - proven record of building and managing teams and creating an enabling environment, including the ability to effectively lead, supervise, mentor, develop and evaluate staff.
• Managing performance -ability to establish priorities and to plan, coordinate and monitor work of others; delegate appropriate responsibility, accountability and decision-making authority.

Minimum requirements

Education - Master's degree in relevant field from а recognized university with а professional accounting certification from а reputed accounting institute or а regulatory body is required. Certification as a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) / Chartered Accountant (CA), or equivalent is desirable.

Working experience - The incumbent shall be а qualified, finance and accounting expert, certified by any globally acclaimed accounting body, with at least 7 years progressively responsible experience in financial, accounting and budgeting systems, with practical application of skills in the result areas, demonstrated success in the management and leadership abilities while heading а finance unit in а UN agency.

Language – Fluency in English; knowledge of French language is an advantage.

Skills – Knowledge of UN financial rules and regulations as well as hands-on experience in the use of ATLAS and transition to QUANTUM ERP; above average skills in using MS Excel tools.

Special Notice:

UNITAR is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Qualified women, individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups, and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidentiality.

English and French are the two working languages of UNITAR. Priority will be given to the applicants from the under-represented regions at UNITAR. There will be a probation period of 3 months.

UNITAR staff members are subject to the authority of the UNITAR Executive Director and their appointments are limited to service with the Institute.

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. UNITAR is a non-smoking environment.

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 Staff Regulations and Rules and UNITAR administrative issuances and guidelines. Applicants must provide complete and accurate information pertaining to their personal profile and qualifications 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.

No Fee:

UNITAR DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). UNITAR DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.