Finance and Budget Officer

Org. Setting and Reporting

This position is located in the Reimbursement Claims Management and Performance Section (RCMPS) of the Uniformed Capabilities Support Division (UCSD) in the Office of Supply Chain Management (OSCM), in the Department of Operational Support (DOS). The Office of Supply Chain Management includes the Office of the Assistant Secretary-General for Supply Chain Management, Logistics Division, Procurement Division, Uniformed Capabilities Support Division, Global Service Centre, Aviation Safety Section and the Enabling and Outreach Service. UCSD serves as the single point of entry within the Secretariat for operational and policy matters relating to support and reimbursement to military and police contingents deployed to United Nations field operations. Reimbursement payments to contributing countries are one of the largest costs of United Nations (UN) peacekeeping. RCMPS is responsible for the calculations, analysis and processing of reimbursement to troop-and police-contributing countries on account of contingent personnel, major equipment and self-sustainment, as well as death and disability compensation for all uniformed personnel. The incumbent reports to the Chief of RCMPS or the designated official.

Responsibilities

Within limits of delegated authority, the Finance and Budget Officer will be responsible for the following duties: • Participates in Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) negotiations with Troop-Contributing Countries (TCCs) for mission deployments to the field and finalizes the MOU for signature between the TCCs and the UN. • Reviews, analyses, certifies and processes claims in respect of Contingent Owned Equipment (COE) death and disability awards and claims from third parties, commercial entities, individuals and troop-contributing countries under letter-of-assist. • Reviews supporting documentation, verifies accuracy and reasonableness of claims, and prepares draft certification for forwarding to the Controller for final settlement of claims. • Provides substantive support, advice and guidance to Permanent Missions of TCCs/Police-Contributing Countries (PCCs) on issues pertaining to contingent personnel and equipment reimbursement frameworks, and death and disability compensation matters to relevant field operations. • Provides support to Permanent Missions by delivering briefings on COE policies and procedures to report on status of reimbursement of TCCs and PCCs; discusses matters relating to claims, participates in pre-deployment visits and negotiations with troop-contributing countries. • Coordinates the preparation and finalization of cost estimates for budget and planning purposes. • Provides briefings to Senior Management to report on status of reimbursement for TCCs/PCCs. • Prepares regular and ad hoc management reports, and reviews, analyses and updates data in claims database. • Provides substantive support and guidance to Headquarters and field missions, reviews and analyses data with respect to the finalization of cost estimates and budget proposals and monitors expenditures, in respect of major equipment and self-sustainment categories. • Monitors, reviews, and supervises the work of subordinate staff involved in routine claims verification and processing, providing guidance, basic interpretation of policies and training. • Keeps up to date on documents/reports/guidelines that have a bearing on matters related to COE levels agreed to in MOUs, ensuring compliance with signed MOUs and MOU Manual. • Performs other related duties, as assigned.

Competencies

• Professionalism: Knowledge of financial management and accounting practices; in-depth knowledge of financial administration of resources. Knowledge of MOUs and claims practices and in the application of policies, financial rules and regulations. Knowledge of exchange rates, depreciation formulas, accounting principles, and inventory management. Ability to identify issues and to use sound judgement, analytical and conceptual abilities. Ability to prepare reports, formulate positions on issues, articulate options concisely conveying maximum necessary information, and making and defending recommendations. Knowledge of the United Nations legislative machinery and procedures, budgetary policies and practices, financial regulations and rules. 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. • 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.

Education

Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent degree) in finance, management, public and business administration, accounting, economics or other finance related fields. A first-level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Job – Specific Qualification

Professional accreditation as a Certified Public Accountant (CPA), Chartered Accountant or a similar professional accreditation is desirable.

Work Experience

A minimum of five years of progressively responsible experience in finance, administration, budget, management, public and business administration, accounting, economics or other related fields is required. Experience in the use of enterprise planning systems (ERP), financial modules, automated budgeting and accounting systems, and other spreadsheets and word processing applications is required. Experience in military or police planning operations and associated equipment and concepts are desirable. Experience working in support of a field operation (inclusive of peacekeeping operations, special political missions, agencies, funds and programmes), or other similar international organizations is desirable. Experience in processing complex claims based on negotiated multi-stakeholders’ agreements are desirable. Experience working with data analytics and visualization tools and developing data analytics and visualization reports and dashboards 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 United Nations official language is desirable.

Assessment

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

Special Notice

• Appointment or assignment against this position is for an initial period of one year. • This position is funded by the Support Account for Peacekeeping Operations. • Applicants from troop and police-contributing countries who are found most suitable and recommended for selection will be given due consideration for positions in a peacekeeping operation or Headquarters support account funded positions in the Department of Peace Operations and the Department of Operational Support, taking into account their contribution to United Nations peacekeeping, in accordance with General Assembly resolutions 66/265 and 67/287. • The United Nations Secretariat is committed to achieving 50/50 gender balance and geographical diversity in its staff. Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply for this position. • Pursuant to section 7.11 of ST/AI/2012/2/Rev.1, candidates recruited through the young professionals’ programme who have not served for a minimum of two years in the position of their initial assignment are not eligible to apply to this position. • Applicants, who successfully go through a competitive recruitment process and are recommended for selection and/or inclusion in the roster of pre-approved candidates for subsequent job openings at the same level and with similar functions, may have their application information and roster status shared with other UN Organizations. Such applicants may be contacted by other UN Organizations for similar job openings, subject to the confirmation of their interest. Placement on the roster is no guarantee of a future selection. • At the United Nations, 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. The United Nations is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment of mutual respect. The United Nations recruits and employs staff regardless of gender identity, sexual orientation, race, religious, cultural and ethnic backgrounds or disabilities. Reasonable accommodation for applicants with disabilities may be provided to support participation in the recruitment process when requested and indicated in the application.

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.