Job Opening
Job Opening ID: 225173
Job Network : Management and Administration
Job Family : Finance
Category and Level : Professional and Higher Categories, P-5
Duty Station : NEW YORK
Department/Office : Department of Operational Support
Date Posted : Jan 29, 2024
Deadline : Mar 13, 2024

Org. Setting and Reporting
This position is located in the Finance Section, Executive Office component of the Headquarters Client Support Service (HQCSS), Division of Administration (DOA), Department of Operational Support (DOS). The Senior Finance and Budget Officer/Section Chief reports to the Chief HQCSS.

HQCSS is responsible for all financial, personnel and general administrative matters concerning the Department of Operational Support, and the Office of Information Communications and Technology. In addition, HQCSS provides administrative support to the Global Compact Office (GCO), Human Security Unit (HSU), Office of Administration of Justice (OAJ), Office of the Secretary-General’s Envoy on Technology, United Nations Sustainable Development Group (UNSDG) System-Wide Evaluation Office, Office of Special Coordinator on Improving the United Nations Response to Sexual Exploitation and Abuse, Office of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Children and Armed Conflict (OSRSG-CAAC), Office of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Sexual Violence in Conflict (OSRSG-SVC), Office of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Violence Against Children (OSRSG-VAC), Office of the United Nations Ombudsman and Mediation Services, Office of Victims’ Rights Advocate (OVRA), United Nations Ethics Office, United Nations Office for Partnerships (UNOP), United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC), Liaison offices of the: United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification in New York, and the United Nations Institute for Training and Research.
Responsibilities
Within delegated authority, the Senior Finance and Budget Officer (Section Chief) will be responsible for the following duties:

Programme plan:
• Plans, organizes and manages the preparation of the annual programme plan and its revisions on the basis of departmental and entities’ submissions, taking into account recommendations and decisions of specialized intergovernmental bodies.
• Proactively supports relevant intergovernmental and expert bodies in the review of the programme plan and its revisions; secures approval from the General Assembly.
• Ensures legislative mandates are accurately translated into programme budgets.

Budget preparation:
• Plans and co-ordinates review of budget submissions.
• Reviews, analyses and finalizes cost estimates and budget proposals, in terms of staff and non-staff requirements from (a) DOS, OICT and DOS supported entities at Headquarters and in the field, including programmatic aspects; ensures compliance with the programme plan and other legislative mandates.
• Co-ordinates the preparation of budget submissions from managers.
• Reviews, analyses and finalizes programme budget/financial implications to the General Assembly statements and other initiatives in light of additional mandates.
• Provides substantive support and guidance to relevant intergovernmental and expert bodies in their budget review; secures approval from the General Assembly.

Budget administration and implementation:
• Manages/issues allotments, authorizes sub-allotments, including redeployment of funds when necessary, ensuring appropriate expenditures.
• Monitors expenditures to ensure that they remain within authorized levels by reviewing departmental requirements and overseeing procurement, property management, official travel and other miscellaneous finance activities;
• Administers and monitors extra-budgetary and cost recovery resources, including review of agreements and cost plans, ensuring compliance with regulations and rules and established policies and procedures.
• Authorizes payments to Governments, vendors and United Nations system entities;
• Oversees the review and finalization of budget performance reports; monitors variances between approved budgets and actual expenditures.
• Provides advice and support to relevant intergovernmental and expert bodies in review of budget performance reports; secures approval from the General Assembly.

General:
• Provides advice and guidance, including training, to Headquarters staff on budgetary and financial policies and procedures, including results-based budgeting, extra-budgetary and cost recovery resources.
• Participates in inter-departmental meetings on matters related to resource requirements, programming and budgetary issues.
• Develops and implements financial planning, implementing and monitoring systems and procedures for activities funded from extra-budgetary and cost recovery resources.
• Keeps up-to-date on documents/reports/guidelines that have a bearing on matters related to programme budgets, ensuring compliance with intergovernmental recommendations, donor agreements and decisions as well as with United Nations policies and procedures.
• Prepares/finalizes reports for intergovernmental bodies and for management on budgetary issues, and correspondence, including guidelines, instructions.
• Reviews and analyses budgetary policies and procedures, makes recommendations for changes and/or modifications.
• Reviews financial arrangements with United Nations system entities with umbrella or framework agreements, as well as agreements with donors for voluntary contributions, and gifts.
• Acts as Certifying Officer under the Financial Regulations and Rules to ensure that proposed obligations and expenditures are in accordance with budgets and established regulations and rules.
• Ensures the integrity of financial and management systems and the controls that underpin them.
• Represents the Secretary-General in meetings of legislative organs; represents DOS, OICT and DOS administered entities in inter and intra-departmental meetings and is the focal point when interacting with the Controller, Under-Secretaries-General, Assistant Secretaries-General and senior managers regarding financial matters and legislative body processes, on financial and budgetary issues.
• Plans, organizes and manages staff and work programme; plans and discusses individual work programmes with staff and evaluates their performance.
• Performs other related duties, as assigned.

Work implies frequent interaction with the following:
Budget, finance, accounts, and administrative and substantive officers in the Secretariat and in missions;
Office of Internal Oversight Services (OIOS); external auditors;
Senior officials in the United Nations common system organizations and other international organizations.
Senior Member State representatives in permanent missions, delegations, governments.
Competencies
Professionalism: Solid and applied knowledge of financial regulations and rules, or similar, as well as of financial and budgetary principles and practices, budget management and financial administration of resources. Proven analytical skills and ability to provide technical advice in budge management to managers. Ability to manage a programme in a field operation and formulate new strategies and approaches to budget management issues. 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. Provides leadership and takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work; demonstrates knowledge of strategies and commitment to the goal of gender balance in staffing.

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.

Client orientation: Considers all those to whom services are provided to be “clients” and seeks to see things from clients’ point of view. Establishes and maintains productive partnerships with clients by gaining their trust and respect. Identifies clients’ needs and matches them to appropriate solutions. Monitors ongoing developments inside and outside the clients’ environment to keep informed and anticipate problems. Keeps clients informed of progress or setbacks in projects. Meets timeline for delivery of products or services to client.

Leadership: Serves as a role model that other people want to follow. Empowers others to translate vision into results. Is proactive in developing strategies to accomplish objectives. Establishes and maintains relationships with a broad range of people to understand needs and gain support. Anticipates and resolves conflicts by pursuing mutually agreeable solutions. Drives for change and improvement; does not accept the status quo. Shows the courage to take unpopular stands. Provides leadership and takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work; demonstrates knowledge of strategies and commitment to the goal of gender balance in staffing.

Judgement/decision making: Identifies the key issues in a complex situation, and comes to the heart of the problem quickly. Gathers relevant information before making a decision. Considers positive and negative impacts of decisions prior to making them. Takes decisions with an eye to the impact on others and on the Organization. Proposes a course of action or makes a recommendation based on all available information. Checks assumptions against facts. Determines that the actions proposed will satisfy the expressed and underlying needs for the decision. Makes tough decisions when necessary.
Education
Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent degree) in business administration, finance, or related field. A first-level university degree in combination with two years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
Job – Specific Qualification
Certification in International Public Sector Financial Reporting or International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSAS) is desirable.

Work Experience
A minimum of ten (10) years of progressively responsible experience in finance, administration, budget, business administration or related area is required.

At least five (5) years of experience in managing financial resources, developing and applying budgetary policies and practices, financial regulations, rules and administrative procedures including extra-budgetary and cost recovery resources with the United Nations common system or similar international organization is required.

Experience in preparing and reviewing of intergovernmental documentation , covering the programme plan, administrative, financial and budgetary issues or related area is required.

At least the most recent three (3) of the last ten years of experience liaising with donors/Governments and in developing and negotiating agreements is required.

Experience with an (ERP) system comprising Strategic Management, budgeting, grants and project management (SAP or similar) is required.

At least three(3) years of experience managing an organizational unit and leading a team is required.

At least five(5) years of experience in setting up financial management systems or processes and procedures is desirable.
Languages
English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the position advertised, fluency in English is required; Knowledge of another official United Nations language is desirable.