Senior Finance and Budget Assistant

Org. Setting and Reporting

This position is located in the Finance Section, Headquarters Client Support Service (HQCSS), Division of Administration (DOA), Department of Operational Support (DOS). The Finance & Budget Assistant reports to the Unit Chief of the Extrabudgetary Team, HQCSS. The HQCSS also 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), the Trust Fund in Support of the Multinational Security Support (MSS) Mission in Haiti; Office of the Data Protection and Privacy, Liaison offices of the: United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification in New York, United Nations Institute for Training and Research.

Responsibilities

Within delegated authority, the Senior Finance & Budget Assistant will be responsible for the following duties:

Budget:

• Acts as Certifying Officer on behalf of and in the absence of programme managers at offices outside headquarters.
• Reviews, analyses and assists in the finalization of cost estimates and budget proposals, in terms of staff and non-staff requirements, including programmatic aspects.
• Assists managers in the elaboration of resource requirements for budget submissions.
• Undertakes research and provides support to higher level Finance & Budget Officers with respect to budget reviews of relevant intergovernmental and expert bodies.
• Provides input into the preparation/issuance of allotments, including redeployment of funds when necessary, ensuring appropriate expenditures
• Monitors extra-budgetary resources, including review of agreements and cost plans, ensuring compliance with regulations and rules and established policies and procedures
• Reviews interim and final financial statements for each trust fund contribution for certification by the Finance Division/DMPSC in compliance with the reporting requirements stipulated in the relevant contribution agreements.
• Reviews and certifies requisitions for goods and services to ensure (a) correct objects of expenditure have been charged, and (b) availability of funds.
• Assists in finalization of budget performance reports, analysing variances between approved budgets and actual expenditures.
• Monitors integrity of various financial databases.
• Verifies accuracy of input data, ensuring consistency of data in previous allotments to new allotments issued.
• Co-ordinates with other finance and budget staff on related issues during preparation of budget reports.

Trust Fund Administration:

• Provides a full range of assistance in trust fund management and implementation at all phases of the cycle, seeking guidance only in exceptional circumstances, for all trust fund projects.
• Contributes to the analysis, summary and presentation of information/data, highlighting noteworthy issues/trends for consideration by appropriate parties (implementing parties, donors, and substantive offices).
• Works closely with the substantive offices on the finalization of contribution agreements.
• Monitors submission of substantive and financial reporting.
• Coordinates with the Finance Division/DMSPC in connection with the receipt of donor contributions
• Provides assistance to Programme Managers in the formulation of donor project proposals.
• Prepares requests for project codes for each trust fund contribution.
• Maintains database on trust fund contribution projects.

General:

• Keeps up-to-date on documents/reports/files relating to each trust fund contribution.
• Drafts or prepares correspondence to respond to enquiries in respect to relevant financial and budget matters.
• Provides guidance and training to junior staff in the team.
• Provides assistance to the Administrative Officers on financial, budgetary and trust fund administration matters.
• Performs other related duties, as assigned.

Education

• High school diploma or equivalent is required.

Work Experience

• A minimum of ten years of progressively responsible experience in finance, budget, accounting, administrative services or related area is required.
• The minimum years of relevant experience is reduced to eight for candidates who possess a first-level university degree or higher. Experience in the administration and management of extra-budgetary resources from voluntary contributions is required.
• Experience reviewing and certifying transactions in ERP based systems such as Umoja, SAP or other similar platforms is required.
• Experience in reviewing or formulating contributions agreements is desirable. At least one year or more of experience in data analytics or a related area is desirable. Experience working in the United Nations or similar international organization is desirable.

Languages

• English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the position advertised, fluency in English is required; and knowledge of French is desirable. Knowledge of another official United Nations language is an advantage.

Source: https://careers.un.org/jobSearchDescription/247369?language=en