Finance and Budget Officer

Org. Setting and Reporting

This position is located in the Field Operations Finance Division in the Office of Programme Planning, Finance and Budget (OPPFB) in the Department of Management Strategy, Policy and Compliance (DMSPC). The Finance and Budget Officer reports to Section Chief. FOFD supports the Controller in exercising accountability for the financial resources made available by Member States. The Division is committed to ensuring the highest effectiveness and efficiency standards in budget preparation and presentation, including results-based approach to budgeting. The main partners of the Division are the peacekeeping operations and special political missions under each Section’s purview, the Department of Peace Operations, the Department of Political and Peace-building Affairs and the legislative bodies. The working environment of field operations is dynamic and the FOFD team is committed to meet the corresponding demands.

Responsibilities

Within delegated authority, the Finance and Budget Officer will be responsible for the following duties:

Budget preparation:

• Reviews and analyses data with respect to the finalization of cost estimates and budget proposals, in terms of staff and non-staff requirements from (a) Departments/offices at Headquarters and in the field, including programmatic aspects; and (b) medium-sized peacekeeping operations and prepares budgets for peacekeeping operations as well as backstopping activities.
• Provides support to managers with respect to the elaboration of resource requirements for budget submissions.
• Reviews, analyses and provides input into finalization of financial implications to the Security Council statements in light of additional mandates.
• Provides substantive support to relevant intergovernmental and expert bodies in their budget review; assists in securing approval from the General Assembly.

Budget administration:

• Issues allotments/appropriations, including redeployment of funds when necessary, ensuring appropriate expenditures.
• Monitors budget implementation and determines/recommends reallocation of funds when necessary.
• Monitors expenditures to ensure that they remain within authorized levels.
• Prepares budget performance submissions and relevant documentation.
• Reviews and makes appropriate recommendations with respect to the finalization of budget performance reports, analysing variances between approved budgets and actual expenditures.
• Provides substantive support to intergovernmental and legislative bodies.

General:

• Drafts official correspondence and background papers including briefing for senior management.
• Conducts research and prepares communication to member states on financial issues.
• The incumbent may be requested to perform other related duties, including those related to management of the Office of the Directors, support the Director in the consideration of all matters requiring his/her attention; drafting of talking points, papers, briefing notes and special financing reports; undertaking research and analysis and providing assistance to the Director on financial aspects of trust funds and human resources issues in the Division, as well as other tasks.
• Keeps up-to-date on documents/reports/guidelines that have a bearing on matters related to programme and/or peacekeeping budgets, ensuring compliance with intergovernmental recommendations and decisions as well as with United Nations policies and procedures; Monitors and supervises the work of subordinate staff as required (usually in the field).
• 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.

Education

• Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in business administration, finance, or related field is required. A first-level university degree (Bachelor’s degree or equivalent) in combination with two additional years of relevant work experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree. Successful completion of both degree and non-degree programs in data analytics, business analytics or data science programs is an advantage.

Work Experience

• A minimum of five (5) years of progressively responsible professional experience in accounting, finance, administration, budget, business administration or related area is required. Experience with budgetary policies and practices, financial regulations and rules is required. Experience in preparing reports for intergovernmental or expert bodies is required. Experience in the use of information technology tools for financial and budgetary analysis and monitoring of budgets is required.
• Experience in preparing and drafting written reports is required. Experience in results-based approaches to budgeting is desirable. Experience with financial systems/finance modules of an enterprise resource planning (ERP) is desirable. Experience with peace operations is desirable. Experience with the operations of inter-governmental and legislative machinery is desirable. 2 years or more of experience in data analytics or related area 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 French is desirable. Knowledge of another official United Nations language is an advantage.

Source: https://careers.un.org/jobSearchDescription/245984?language=en