Job Opening
Job Opening ID: 226881
Job Network : Management and Administration
Job Family : Finance
Category and Level : General Service and Related Categories, G-7
Duty Station : NEW YORK
Department/Office : Office of Legal Affairs
Date Posted : Feb 2, 2024
Deadline : Mar 2, 2024

Org. Setting and Reporting
This position is located in the Executive Office, Office of Legal Affairs. The Senior Finance Assistant reports to the Budget and Finance Officer and the Executive Officer.

The Office of Legal Affairs is the central legal service of the Organization and provides legal advice to the Secretary-General, Secretariat departments and offices and United Nations organs in the field of public and private law; represents the Secretary-General in legal conferences and in judicial proceedings; performs substantive and secretariat functions for legal organs involved in public international law, the law of the sea and ocean affairs and international trade law; and performs the functions conferred on the Secretary-General in Article 102 of the Charter of the United Nations
Responsibilities
Within delegated authority, the Senior Finance Assistant will be responsible for the following duties:

•Acts as Certifying Officer on behalf of and in the absence of Executive Officer and/or Budget and Finance Officer.
•Undertakes reviews, analyses and preparation of the medium-term plan and its revisions.
•Reviews, analyses and assists in the finalization of cost estimates and budget proposals, in terms of staff and non-staff requirements, including programmatic aspects; ensures compliance with the medium-term plan and other legislative mandates.
•Assists managers in the elaboration of resource requirements for budget submissions.
•Undertakes research, reviews and analysis, and provides support to higher level Finance & Budget Officers with respect to budget reviews of relevant intergovernmental and expert bodies; requirements and the development of efficiency measures.
•Monitors budgetary resources, including the monitoring of allotments, analysis of budget implementation/expenditures and obligations to determine pattern of expenditures, recommending reallocation of funds as necessary, ensuring appropriate recording of expenditures, reviewing agreements and cost plans, ensuring compliance with regulations and rules and established policies and procedures
•Reviews requisitions for goods and services to ensure (a) correct objects of expenditure have been charged, and (b) availability of funds.
•Monitors extra-budgetary resources, including review of agreements and cost plans, ensuring compliance with regulations and rules and established policies and procedures.
Trust Fund Administration
•Provides full range of assistance in trust fund management and implementation at all phases of the cycle, including preparation of budget performance submissions and reports, financial data analysis and verification of data accuracy, ensuring consistency of data in previous allotments to new allotments issued.
•.Contributes to the analysis, summary and presentation of information/data on wide range of trust fund projects, highlighting noteworthy issues/trends for consideration by appropriate parties (implementing parties, donors, and substantive offices);
•Co-ordinates with other finance and budget staff on related issues during preparation of budget reports and with the receipt of donor contributions
•Provides assistance to Programme Managers in the formulation of donor project proposals;
•Establishes grant master data for grants and projects for each trust fund contribution and monitors integrity of various financial databases.General:
•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.
•Drafts or prepares correspondence to respond to enquiries in respect to relevant financial and budget matters.
•Provides guidance, training and daily supervision to other general service staff in the area of responsibility.
•Provides assistance to the Budget and Finance Officer on financial, budgetary and trust fund administration matters.
•Performs other related duties, as assigned.
Competencies
•Professionalism: Knowledge of, and ability to apply financial rules, regulations and procedures in the UN environment. Knowledge, skills and ability to extract, interpret, analyse and format data across the full range of finance and budget functions, including programme development and database management, claims and treasury operations. Ability to identify and resolve data discrepancies and operational problems. 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. Commitment to implementing the goal of gender equality by ensuring the equal participation and full involvement of women and men in all aspects of work. Able to perform analysis, modeling and interpretation of data in support of decision-making.
•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 audience; demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed.
•Teamwork: Works collaboratively with colleagues to achieve organizational goals; solicits input by genuinely valuing others’ ideas and expertise; is willing to learn from others; places team agenda before personal agenda; supports and acts in accordance with final group decision, even when such decisions may not entirely reflect own position; shares credit for team accomplishments and accepts joint responsibility for team shortcomings.
Education
High school diploma or equivalent is required.
Job – Specific Qualification
Not available.
Work Experience
A minimum of ten years of experience in finance, budget, accounting, administrative services or related area is required. The minimum years of relevant experience is reduced to eight (8) for candidates who possess a first-level university degree or higher.

Experience in an international organizational setting and in the application of policies, financial rules and regulations in a regulated environment is required.

Demonstrated proficiency and experience in grants, projects and fund management applications, is required.

Experience in processes and procedures related to travel, procurement and financial matters 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 official United Nations language is an advantage.