Org. Setting and Reporting

This position is located in the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO). The position is based in Laayoune. The Chief of Unit, Finance and Budget reports to the Chief Operations and Resource Management. This is a temporary job opening. This position is available from 1 July 2024 for a period of 1 year.

Responsibilities

Within the delegated authority, the Chief of Unit, Finance and Budget will be responsible for the following: • Ensures effective financial administration of the mission, including the application of authoritative advice with regard to the UN’s Financial Regulations and Rules. • Supports the development of the mission’s annual budget programme, providing coordination with respect to the establishment of major resourcing priorities, prepares cost estimates and budget proposals in terms of mission’s resourcing requirements both for personnel and non-personnel requirements, including programmatic aspects; reviews, analyzes and revises data with respect to the finalization of the budget proposals as well as Result Based Budgeting inputs. • Plans and oversees the preparation, reviews and finalization of budget performance reports in compliance with the Legislative requirements and recommendations and Controller’s instructions; reviews and ensures valid variances between approved budgets and actual expenditures. • Supports the legislative review processes especially the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions (ACABQ) and the 5th Committee of the General Assembly. • Administrates the allotments of the mission in line with the updated policy on administration of allotments including advise, guidance and approval of redeployment/reallocation of funds in line with implementation of planned and/or prioritised activities. • Ensures the efficient and effective use of budgetary resources through 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 centre/programme managers on budget implementation and corrective actions where necessary. • Administers and monitor extra-budgetary resources, including review of agreements and cost plans, ensuring compliance with regulations and rules and established policies and procedures. • Prepares financial reports that inform and meet the need of senior management of the mission, programme and fund center managers throughout the mission, relevant external stakeholders, as well as those acting on behalf of the mission at UNHQ. • Carries out duties consistent with the financial delegation in adherence with the UN Regulations and Rules. • Implement strong management reporting practices and business intelligence for effective and efficient budgetary and performance management. • Provides timely advice to operational counterparts and mission leadership on organizational performance of the mission in line with mission priorities. • Coordinates ongoing monitoring, analysis and reporting to ensure that organizational performance of the operations is tracking with set targets and resource requirements are aligned with mandates and other priorities. • Coordinates and effectively engages with service providers to ensure that the financial accounts of the mission are continually maintained, monitored and annual financial statements are certified in accordance with the requirements of the UN Controller and UN Financial Regulations and Rules. • Ensures that accurate and complete accounting, reporting and internal control systems are functioning and that all relevant records are maintained in accordance with the UN’s Financial Regulations and Rules and proper management of mission resources. • Responsible for the preparations of the mission’s draft responses with regards to audits findings and recommendations from both the Board of external auditors and Office of Internal Oversight Services (OIOS}; Provides advice and corrective actions. • Acts as the Secretary to the mission’s resource stewardship executive group. • Manages the staff of the unit in prioritizing, planning and assigning responsibilities, developing and maintaining needed expertise and knowledge, and identifying opportunities for improvement including their on-going learning and career development; manages performance and ensures high quality of the products prepared by the Finance and Budget Section. • Collects and analyzes data to identify trends or patterns and provide insights through graphs, charts, tables and reports using data visualization methods to enable data-driven planning, decision-making, presentation and reporting. • Performs other related duties as assigned.

Competencies

Professionalism: Knowledge and command of budget development and financial administration of resources. Ability to formulate new strategies and technical approaches to budgetary matters. Knowledge of Result Based Budgeting or similar budget performance management methodologies. Knowledge of International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSAS). Knowledge of financial and budgetary policies, procedures and operations within an international organizational setting. Knowledge in the use of ERP financial modules, automated budgeting and accounting systems, spreadsheets and word processing applications. 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. Planning and Organizing: Develops clear goals that are consistent with agreed strategies. Identifies priority activities and assignments; adjusts priorities as required. Allocates appropriate amount of time and resources for completing work. Foresees risks and allows for contingencies when planning. Monitors and adjusts plans and actions as necessary. Uses time efficiently. Communication: Speaks and writes clearly and effectively. Listens to others, correctly interprets messages from others and responds appropriately. Asks questions to clarify, and exhibits interest in having two-way communication. Tailors language, tone, style and format to match the audience. Demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed. Managerial Competencies: 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) in business administration, finance or related area. A first-level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree. A Certified Public Accountant (CPA) or similar recognized professional designation is desirable.

Job – Specific Qualification

Not available.

Work Experience

A minimum of seven years of progressively responsible experience in finance, administration, budget, business administration or related area is required Experience with financial systems and financial modules of ERP such as SAP is desirable. Experience with providing financial services and budget management in a field-mission type of environment is required. Experience with the preparation of financial statements in accordance with internationally recognized accounting standards is required. Experience in managing operational resources, planning and supervising the work of an unit and managing personnel is required. Experience with preparation of a complete budget proposal for a field-based mandate implementation, encompassing a Result Based Budgeting programmatic framework, planning assumptions, personnel and non-personnel requirements and resource analysis is required. Experience with monitoring budget implementation, preparing complex financial and budget analytical reports, briefings and presentations to senior management is desirable.

Languages

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the position advertised, fluency in English is required.

Assessment

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

Special Notice

Applying to this job opening carries an expectation to accept the offer, if selected. The United Nations Secretariat is committed to achieving 50/50 gender balance in its staff. Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply for this position. In this context, all staff are expected to move periodically to new functions in their careers in accordance with established rules and procedures. An impeccable record for integrity and professional ethical standards is essential. This job opening is advertised to fill a temporarily vacant position during the absence of the regular incumbent for a period of one year or longer. The regular incumbent is entitled to return to this position at the expiry of the temporary vacancy period. If the regular incumbent exercises the right to return, the appointment or temporary assignment or promotion of the candidate selected for this job opening will not be renewed or extended. The selection process for this job opening will be conducted pursuant to ST/AI/2010/3 on the “Staff Selection System” and include the compliance review process by a review body described in staff rule 4.15. In case of selection, a staff member of the United Nations Secretariat who meets the definition of “internal candidate” in staff rule 4.10 will be placed on a temporary assignment if he or she holds the same grade as the job opening; and a temporary promotion if he or she holds a lower grade than the job opening. If the regular incumbent vacates the position during such temporary assignment or promotion, the selected staff member will be laterally assigned, promoted or transferred to the position without further selection process under ST/AI/2010/3.

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. Reasonable accommodation may be provided to applicants with disabilities upon request, to support their participation in the recruitment process. By accepting a letter of appointment, staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General, who may assign them to any of the activities or offices of the United Nations in accordance with staff regulation 1.2 (c). Further, staff members in the Professional and higher category up to and including the D-2 level and the Field Service category are normally required to move periodically to discharge functions in different duty stations under conditions established in ST/AI/2023/3 on Mobility, as may be amended or revised. This condition of service applies to all position specific job openings and does not apply to temporary positions. Applicants are urged to carefully follow all instructions available in the online recruitment platform, inspira, and to refer to the Applicant Guide by clicking on “Manuals” in the “Help” tile 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.