Finance and Budget Officer

Posting Title: Finance and Budget Officer, P4

Job Code Title: Finance and Budget Officer

Organization: United Nations – Department of Management Strategy, Policy and Compliance Office of Programme Planning, Finance and Budget

Duty Station: New York, United States of America

Posting Period: 31 May 2023 - 18 August 2023

Job Opening Number: 23-Finance-DMSPC OPPFB-202804-R-New York (R)

Staffing Exercise: N/A

United Nations Core Values: Integrity, Professionalism, Respect for Diversity

Org. Setting and Reporting

The position is located in the in the Financial Policy and Internal Controls Service (FPICS) of the Finance Division (FD) Office of Programme Planning, Finance and Budget (OPPFB), Department of Management Strategy, Policy and Compliance (DMSPC). The Finance Division is responsible for securing the financing of the Organization’s expenses, pursuant to Article 17 of the Charter of the United Nations, and to ensure sound, effective and efficient integrated financial management of and reporting on United Nations resources, supported by a strong internal control environment. FPICS leads the Secretariat-wide implementation of the internal control framework and adapts the internal controls and financial policies needed to ensure prudent management of resources within a framework of decentralized delegation of authority. The Finance & Budget Officer usually reports directly to the Section Chief.

Responsibilities

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

Programme plan:
• Reviews, analyses and finalizes the preparation of the programme plan and its revisions on the basis of departmental submissions, taking into account recommendations and decisions of specialized intergovernmental bodies.
• Provides substantive support to relevant intergovernmental and expert bodies in their review of the programme plan and its revisions; secures approval from the General Assembly.
• Ensure legislative mandates are accurately translated into program budgets.

Budget preparation:
• Reviews, analyses and finalizes 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; (b) peacekeeping operations; ensure compliance with the programme plan and other legislative mandates.
• Provides detailed input with respect to resource requirements for budget submissions.
• Reviews, analyzes and finalizes program budget/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, authorizes sub-allotments/appropriations, including redeployment of funds when necessary, ensuring appropriate expenditures.
• Manages and monitors budget implementation and recommends reallocation of funds as necessary.
• Monitors expenditures to ensure that they remain within authorized levels.
• Administers and monitors extra-budgetary resources, including review of agreements and cost plans, ensuring compliance with regulations and rules and established policies and procedures.
• Authorizes payment to Governments for settlement of certified death and disability, contingent-owned equipment and letters-of-assist claims; determine average monthly troop strengths, establishing amounts reimbursable and initiating payments for reimbursement to troop-contributing countries.
• Prepares budget performance submissions.
• Reviews and finalizes budget performance reports, analyzing variances between approved budgets and actual expenditures.
• Provides substantive support to relevant intergovernmental and expert bodies.

Finance:
• Manages, reviews, and updates financial management policies, guidelines and procedures encompassing a wide variety of funding sources ensuring compliance with intergovernmental recommendations, policy documents, delegation of authority framework as well as with the UNFRRs. Makes recommendations as needed including drafting inputs to administrative instructions, circulars and guidelines.
• Approves/Confirms that proposed obligations or expenditure are in accordance with the Financial Regulations and Rules of the UN, relevant appropriations and staffing tables and corresponding approved allotments/appropriations.
• Analyses, reviews provide feedback and guidance on enterprise risk management registers from departments/offices, and Peacekeeping Missions. Proposes/implements solutions with respect to inconsistencies with the Secretariat’s internal control framework.
• Ensures that accurate and complete reporting and internal control systems are functioning and that all relevant records are maintained.
• Prepares or consolidates reports on cases of fraud and presumptive fraud for inclusion in the UN Financial Statements to be audited. Responds to internal/external audit observations.
• Produces major/complex financial reports used for development of policies and guidelines including trend analysis.
• Provides advice and guidance concerning the UN Financial Regulations and Rules, policies and guidelines.
• Takes initiative to improve financial management processes and approaches.
• Provides data for the preparation of year-end performance reports in respect of the Service.
• 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.
• Coordinates with other UN Entities on special financial management projects.
• Guides, trains and supervises staff in the function.

General:
• Provides advice and guidance, including training, to headquarters and field staff on budgetary and financial policies and procedures,
• Participates in inter-departmental meetings and/or technical survey missions on matters related to resource requirements, programming, financial and budgetary issues.
• Keeps up to date on documents/reports/guidelines that have a bearing on matters related to finance and budget, ensuring compliance with intergovernmental recommendations and decisions as well as with United Nations policies and procedures.
• Drafts reports for intergovernmental bodies and for management on financial and budgetary issues, and correspondence.
• Undertakes research and analysis of financial and budgetary policies and procedures, makes recommendations for changes and/or modifications.
• Ensures the integrity of financial and management systems and the controls that underpin them.
• Provides support with respect to representation of the Secretary-General in meetings of legislative organs.
• Represents OPPFB or division in inter and intra-departmental meetings.
• May plan, organize, manage and supervise the work of the Unit/Section assigned.
• Incumbents may be asked to perform other related duties.

Competencies

Professionalism: Knowledge of financial and budgetary principles and practices, budget management and financial administration of resources. Ability to develop budgetary and financial policies and procedures. Ability to apply UN rules, regulations, policies, and guidelines in work situations. Ability to manage a programme in a field operation and formulate financial and budgetary policies and procedures. Ability to conduct independent research and analysis, identify issues, formulate options and make conclusions and recommendations. The ability to analyze and interpret data in support of decision-making and convey resulting information to management. 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.

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 the audience. Demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed.

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.

Education

An advanced university degree (Master’s degree, or equivalent) in business administration, finance or related fields is required. A first-level university degree (Bachelor’s degree or equivalent) in the specified fields of studies with two additional years of relevant work experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Work Experience

A minimum of seven years (7) progressively responsible experience in finance, budget, business administration or related area is required.

Experience in development of policy, guidance or guidelines in financial management and budget in large international organizations is required.

Experience in the area of voluntary contributions, including review of donor agreements, or other extrabudgetary resources, such as cost sharing arrangements, in large international organizations is required.

Experience working with financial systems/finance module of enterprise resource planning (ERP) such as Oracle, SAP or similar software is required.

Experience in enterprise risk management and/or implementing an internal control framework 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 another official United Nations language is an advantage.

Assessment

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

Special Notice

The position is financed by Support Account. The appointment and renewal thereof are subject to the availability of the post or funds, budgetary approval or extension of the mandate. Appointment or assignment against this position is for an initial period of one year.

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.

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.

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.

The paramount consideration in the appointment, transfer, or promotion of staff shall be the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity. By accepting an offer of appointment, United Nations staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General and assignment by him or her to any activities or offices of the United Nations in accordance with staff regulation 1.2 (c). In this context, all internationally recruited staff members shall be required to move periodically to discharge new functions within or across duty stations under conditions established by the Secretary-General.

Applicants are urged to follow carefully all instructions available in the online recruitment platform, inspira. For more detailed guidance, applicants may refer to the Manual for the Applicant, which can be accessed by clicking on “Manuals” hyper-link on the upper right side 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.

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