Programme Budget Specialist

Under the guidance of the Senior Programme Manager (Outbreak Response) and the NYHQ Finance Manager, you will support the Polio Outbreak team, and closely collaborate with the Regional Outbreak Response Group (RORG), Incident Management Team (IMST) as well as UNICEF Regional (ROs) and Country Offices (COs), in leading on the management of polio resources. Responsibilities will include supporting the development of work plans, budgets and reports, and effectively and efficiently developing, monitoring and reporting on outbreak grant-specific budgets in line with program, UNICEF and donor requirements. The Programme Budget Specialist also provides key support to the RORG/IMST in outbreak budgetary monitoring, guidance to the ROs/COs on compliance with donor and internal UNICEF rules and regulations and other key functions as required. The incumbent will be deployed to polio outbreak countries as needed, to support monitoring polio resources, analyze reasons for under/over implementation and flag any issues encountered as per agreed workplan in line with Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) outbreak response Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs). The incumbent should also oversee the reporting of monitoring indicators to senior management groups, in particular ensuring that the SC have the necessary data to have informed discussions about the outbreak response strategy and budget.

Key functions and accountabilities include the following:

Support to financial planning and management

• Lead on the financial management of outbreak response funding and ensure financial data are regularly updated and shared with the outbreak response technical team.
• Keep track of all approved and allocated funding to outbreak countries; Monitor and analyze outbreak budget implementation and determine/recommend reallocation/pullback of funds when necessary.

Establish a cadence to:

• Review the ORPG smartsheet to ensure continuous quality assurance of data entries in the SMARTSHEET and monthly reconciliation between the SMARTSHEET and dynamic budgeting results.
• Perform spot checks of the internal surge recruitment tracker (including deployments) for outbreak countries; liaise with RORG/IMST Budget Specialists or focal points for a comprehensive review and required follow-up to address any bottlenecks and support (as necessary) with taking corrective action.
• Follow-up with the RRT/IMST/COs to ensure all outbreak finance and budget-related issues are promptly identified and resolved for the efficient functioning of polio outbreak funds.
• Liaise with RORG/IMST Budget Specialists or focal points to Identify and track in-country balances from previous allocation(s) for both SIA and surge to be accounted for in future allocations.
• Liaise with RORG/IMST/CO/HQ focal points on any outbreak financial related issues.
• Review and analyze outbreak budgets in coordination with RORG/IMST/HQ and ORPG finance team.

Donor reporting

• Coordinate timely reviews and submission of high-quality donor proposals for outbreak response, reports and related documentation in coordination with RO/CO and HQ.

Provide financial technical expertise

• Train country office Polio team on financial monitoring tools and GPEI budget templates.
• Represent UNICEF Outbreak team at the CO/RO level and with GPEI partners on financial related issues.
• In collaboration with the RORG/IMST, provide country support in terms of capacity building and filling gaps in finance, operations to ensure that the high investment of the Polio Programme in country offices is implemented as per the GPEI and organization expectations.

Innovation, knowledge management and capacity building

• Lead on the development/update of SOPs for Polio Outbreak Response funds allocation and disbursement
• Collaborate with colleagues in WHO, RORG/IMST to develop user friendly tools on finance-related outbreak data
• Focal point/Lead/Manage the automation process of outbreak monitoring reports to ensure accuracy of finance data to be shared to different management groups.

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…

The following minimum requirements:

Education:

• An advanced university degree (Master’s or higher) in financial planning/management, or another related field

Work Experience: 

• Minimum of five years of relevant work experience in the development field, with financial, Programme budget and contributions management and report writing, accompanied by knowledge of developing countries’ financial issues.
• In depth knowledge of UNICEF’s financial systems and policies including vision and insight required

Language Requirements: 

• Fluency in English is required.

Source: https://jobs.unicef.org/en-us/job/571338/programme-budget-specialist-p3-fixed-term-polio-eradication-programme-nairobi-kenya-128174