Org. Setting and Reporting
UNRWA is a United Nations agency established by the General Assembly in 1949 and is mandated to provide assistance and protection to a population of some 5.8 million registered Palestine refugees. Its mission is to help Palestine refugees in Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, West Bank and the Gaza Strip to achieve their full potential in human development, pending a just solution to their plight. UNRWA’s services encompass education, health care, relief and social services, camp infrastructure and improvement, microfinance, and emergency assistance. UNRWA is the largest UN operation in the Middle East with more than 30,000 staff. UNRWA is funded almost entirely by voluntary contributions. If you are looking for a rewarding opportunity to make a tangible difference for one of the most vulnerable communities in the world, UNRWA would like to hear from you. Budget Officer reports to the Head, Programme Budget Section or Senior Budget Officer as assigned.
Responsibilities
– Manages the day-to-day operations of subordinate staff by providing advice, guidance, encouraging teamwork and facilitating related professional work processes in order to achieve high performance standards; assists in planning, leading, monitoring and evaluating staff performance; provides technical guidance and ensures that the staff are sufficiently trained; provides training to non-finance staff as necessary. – Assists in the coordination of the formulation of Programme budgets (PB), Projects, Emergency Appeals (EA) within Budget Division and with the respective HQ Departments/ Divisions and Field Offices, using established methodologies and tools such as the Business, Planning and Consolidation Budgeting (BPC); circulates budget instructions and ensures timely submissions of budget; responds to queries on matters concerning budget allotments, expenditure, and coordinates any necessary corrective action; ensures timely and accurate preparation of the Agency’s Budgets and Blue Book. – Reviews annual/biennial budget submissions by Field Offices and Headquarters (HQ) Departments/Divisions and checks budget and adjustments and reports to ensure conformity with Agency’s relevant policies and instructions, budget and workforce ceilings, non-staff budget elements for programme/operation standards and norms; proposes staff costs adjustments for staff norms and related future requirements. – Advises on and facilitates the preparation of the budget ceilings and in their prospective allocations to Agency’s activities; controls and adjusts the Agency’s staff and standard cost budget, including financial control over the standard costs table and the staffing table for staff of all contractual modalities. – Reviews and controls budget adjustment requests, supervises the monthly reports and quarterly expenditure review including, but not limited to, with respect to staff costs, payrolls and standard costs to ensure compliance with relevant financial instructions. identifies and reports changing patterns of expenditure. – Reviews and updates the Agency’s area and international staff standard costs and loading factors as well as the quantitative and monetary standards for all areas of the Agency’s budget, to which standards can reasonably be applied in coordination with functional programmes and departments; amends relevant Budget Technical Instructions as necessary; validates the costing related to structural/programmatic reforms and standard cost actions; prepares the budget status report, other statistical data/reports for the Agency’s budgetary position, annual fascicle and operating budgets; liaises with Headquarters Departments /Divisions/Offices and Field Offices and coordinates actions as and when required in managing cost recoveries and Programme Budget relieving activities including periodic reporting. – Plans, coordinates and processes the reception, verification, and approvals of the requests for budget actions including, but not limited to, post actions; calculates and advises the stakeholders including budget holders, Human Resources and Finance staff at the Fields and HQs, on potential financial impact of such actions and proposed changes in standards of the Agency’s funding, and adjusts the budget accordingly. – Coordinates with the HQs / Field Finance, HR, Projects, Programme to ensure that all the payroll transactions are posted in a timely manner; reviews the payroll runs and identifies any errors, arranges to solve the budget shortage and other issues related to those errors; follows up on the status of HQs and Fields payroll posting and informs the related parties on the updated status of the payroll and any identified issues. – Assists in the review of past performance analysis, expenditure forecasts, and provides other budgetary technical support, including consultations regarding current and future funding requirements; drafts reports and presentations based on such analysis to support informed decision-making process; supports the enhancement and improvement of budget and forecast processes using tools and formats as required; provides financial and narrative analyses and proposes recommendations for consideration. – Assists in the Budget Division technological activities including enhancement of ERP system, reporting tools such as Power BI reports, business processes and workflows; assists in the review of the Activity Based Costing (ABC) tools, assumptions, and coordinates findings with budget holders, develops various management reports as required; drafts responses to queries, observations and recommendations relating to areas of responsibility from internal and external audits as well as verifications. – Acts on behalf of direct supervisor in his/her absence and performs other duties as may be assigned by the supervisor(s).
Competencies
UN Core Values of Integrity, Professionalism and Respect for Diversity, and Core Competencies of Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results apply by default. – Applying Technical Expertise. – Analyzing. – Leading and Supervising. – Deciding and initiating action. – Planning and Organizing. For guidance on how to prepare for competency-based interviews: https://careers.un. org/lbw/home.aspx?viewtype=AYI
Education
– A university degree from an accredited educational institution in accountancy, business administration or related field.
Job – Specific Qualification
Not available.
Work Experience
– At least six years of relevant experience in accounting and/or finance, preferably in a large international, governmental or non-profit organization in the area of accounting and financial management or related work, using computer-based financial systems, is required. – A university degree from an accredited educational institution in accountancy, business administration or related field, is required. – Membership of an officially recognized professional accounting body, is desirable. – Strong knowledge of modern ERP systems such as SAP, is desirable. – Are you currently residing in Duty station. Please specify your current location. It is required.
Languages
– Excellent command of spoken and written English and Arabic.
Assessment
– Evaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise which may be followed by competency-based interview.
Special Notice
Type of Contract: Fixed Term Appointment Contract Type: Fixed Term Appointment for 3 years; including 1 year probation period, with the possibility of further extension, subject to the availability of funds, satisfactory performance, and continuing need. Grade and Salary: Grade 16 Monthly basic salary JD 1098.90 plus special occupational allowance (SOA) of 25% of the basic salary (SOA may change from time to time). Other benefits: Other benefits include monthly Provident Fund contribution (15.4% of basic salary paid by the Agency), compulsory medical insurance, 30 days of annual leave, and dependency allowance (if applicable). This vacancy notice is open to internal candidates only. Only candidates residing in Jordan, and within commuting distance of the duty station with authorization to work in the duty station at the time of application are eligible to apply. The Agency will not assume responsibility or accountability to support or facilitate the issuance of work permit in Jordan, and without a valid work permit, the appointment may be rescinded. Preference will be given to registered Palestine refugees and candidates assisting the Agency to meet its commitment to gender parity. UNRWA welcomes applications from qualified candidates with disabilities. A roster may be created from the selection exercise, and successful candidates may become eligible for appointment to the same post or a similar post. Only applications that have been fully completed in UNRWA’s online e-recruitment system inspira will be considered and no late applications will be accepted. The PHP should be completed with full relevant work experience under the experience tabs as per the requirements in the Job Opening. All acquired university degrees must also be stated, if applicable. Applicants applying to positions for Grades 12 to 20 or LDC Bands E to H must submit a cover letter/motivational statement in order to be considered. Additionally, providing incorrect or misleading information on an application will result in the immediate disqualification of a candidate. For UNRWA internal staff, they are required to specify and include their current UNRWA grade level. To do so applicants should select under “Category” RLG, scroll down to see all categories, then select their local grade. Equivalency: Equivalency may apply for this post. NB: Work experience alone or formal qualifications with no relevant work experience are not considered an acceptable combination. Advertisements published only in English will only accept applications in English, and Arabic submissions will not be considered. The Agency may disqualify applicants whose name appears on the UN Sanctions List or a UN database of staff separated for reason of misconduct or of staff who separated whilst misconduct processes were pending. UNRWA shares investigation and misconduct information with other UN Agencies, and past and prospective employers, about staff members who have been separated for misconduct, or who have separated whilst an investigation and/or disciplinary process for misconduct is underway; and such persons may be prohibited from employment with the United Nations. The Agency will immediately disqualify applicants who are ineligible for any reason in accordance with the Agency regulatory framework. UNRWA is funded almost entirely by voluntary contributions from UN member states, regional bodies, business foundations and individual contributions. The mission of UNRWA is to help Palestine refugees achieve their full potential in human development under the difficult circumstances in which they live. For more details on UNRWA, please visit: https://www.unrwa.org/
United Nations Considerations
Staff members are subject to the authority of the Commissioner-General of UNRWA and to assignment by him or her. UNRWA is committed to achieving gender parity at all levels of staffing under the current UN-wide gender agenda and strongly encourages applications from qualified applicants from under-represented groups. At UNRWA, the paramount consideration in the recruitment and employment of staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence and integrity, with due regard to geographic diversity. All employment decisions are made on the basis of qualifications and organizational needs. UNRWA is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment of mutual respect. Reasonable accommodation for applicants with disabilities may be provided to support participation in the recruitment process when requested and indicated in the application. UNRWA Considerations UNRWA staff are expected to uphold the highest standards of efficiency, competence, neutrality, impartiality and integrity. This includes respect for and commitment to human rights, diversity and non-violent means of dealing with all kinds of conflict. Only persons who fully and unconditionally commit to these values should consider applying for UNRWA jobs. Candidates will not be considered for employment with UNRWA 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. Candidates who have committed crimes other than minor traffic offences may not be considered for employment. The Agency may disqualify applicants who have separated for reason of misconduct, who left a UN Agency while misconduct processes were pending, or who appear on the UN Sanctions List. UNRWA is a non-smoking work 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 RELIEF AND WORKS AGENCY FOR PALESTINE REFUGEES IN THE NEAR EAST (UNRWA) DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE OR REQUEST MONEY FROM CANDIDATES AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT AND ONBOARDING PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING, ONBOARDING). UNRWA DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.