ORGANISATIONAL CONTEXT:

These jobs are found in Headquarters (HQ), Regional Bureaux (RBs) and Country Offices (COs), and typically report to a more senior Budget and Programming Officer, Regional/Country Director or the designate. Job holders typically operate across an assigned area. They work independently, using technical knowledge and experience to analyse data, prepare reports, provide advice and solutions to problems, and identify opportunities for improvements.

JOB PURPOSE:

To lead budget and resource analysis and programming activities and/or provide technical support in HQ/RBs, partnering with senior management to apply best practice approaches that support the efficient, effective and compliant utilisation of funds.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES (not all-inclusive, within delegated authority):

1. Participate in the development and implementation of plans, policies and procedures for budget and programming activities (including PSA, Management Plan, Project budget, extra budgetary, ensuring that objectives are achieved in compliance with corporate, regional and functional strategies.
2. Create and review project budget plans and monitor ongoing project performance against budget, ensuring adherence to guidance and policies, and providing financial analysis and advice to optimise resources.
3. Monitor and provide advice on actions related to project closure and resource transfer.
4. Monitor and provide advice on fund utilisation and advance financing, loan and borrowing, repayment and refinancing arrangements; alerting Country/Regional Directors to approaching deadlines for unassigned funds and potential resource shortfalls/surpluses, and proposing appropriate solutions.
5. Monitor and manage the resource pipeline to maximise operational effectiveness, adhering to standards and processes, and providing advice on resource allocations based on severity of pipeline shortfalls using relevant pipeline tools.
6. Contribute to the preparation of food-demand plans to support management and usage of corporate Global Commodity Financial Facility, and provide information and advice to guide HQ/RB decision-making when multiple projects compete for the same stock.
7. Ensure correct budget and project documentation is created, and ensure relevant resource data is recorded in internal systems for reference, in line with WFP standards and procedures.
8. Coordinate and prepare accurate reports, to provide consistent information for stakeholders, and to identify trends/issues and propose solutions that support decision- making by senior management.
9. Analyse data and propose well-researched ideas to senior officers for improvement to systems, techniques, tools, processes and procedures to better monitor and manage budgets and funds.
10. Build capacity of WFP staff in budgeting, fund management and operational planning, through preparing and delivery training, coaching, guidelines and manuals.
11. Represent the unit at internal meetings/committees/working groups as required, in order to contribute to discussion of key issues from a budget and resource programming perspective.
12. Manage junior officers/staff to ensure appropriate development and enable high performance.
13. Contribute to preparedness actions, providing technical recommendations and guidance and monitoring the management of financial risks.
14. Other as required.

FUNCTIONAL CAPABILITIES:

Internal Controls & Compliance:  Demonstrates in-depth knowledge of internal controls and proper accounting procedures and systems to recommend improvements where necessary to address current weaknesses and mitigate risks to mission-critical WFP operations.

Performance Budgeting, Reporting and Analysis:  Manages budget, business planning, and forecasting discussions on a programme-wide level, integrating financial resource information from a portfolio of projects to analyze effectiveness and financial viability.

Resource Management:  Oversees staffing for HQ and Field resources at the programme level, taking resource usage trends and forecasting data into account.

Performance Management:  Applies knowledge of WFP’s performance management system to manage resources and relationships to undertake monitoring actions or deliver straightforward evaluations of operations, programmes, or processes to WFP monitoring and/or evaluation quality standards.

Supply Chain and Operations Knowledge:  Demonstrates thorough understanding of WFP programme and financial policies, business processes and applies these in the implementation or support of WFP programme interventions

DESIRED EXPERIENCES FOR ENTRY INTO THE ROLE:

• Has experience translating operational requirements into financial information.
• Has experience preparing budgets and reports for management.
• Had produced consolidated pipeline information, budgets, supply chain and operational plans.
• Has experience in reviewing plans and budgets.

STANDARD MINIMUM ACADEMIC QUALIFICATIONS:

Education:  Advanced University degree in Business Administration, Finance, Economics or other relevant field, or First University degree with additional years of related work experience and/or training/courses.

Language:  Fluency (level C) in English language and the duty station’s language, if different.

Application Deadline:  June 28, 2024