Programme Budget Officer

Posting Title: Programme 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: 25 August 2023 - 08 October 2023

Job Opening Number: 23-Finance-DMSPC OPPFB-212724-R-New York (G)

Staffing Exercise: N/A

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

Org. Setting and Reporting

This position is located in the Policy and Coordination Unit (PCU) of the Programme, Planning and Budget Division (PPBD) in the Office of Programme, Planning, Finance and Budget (OPPFB), Department of Management Strategy, Policy and Compliance (DMSPC). The Programme Budget Officer reports directly to the Head of the Unit and the Director of PPBD.

PPBD is committed to ensuring the highest standards in the preparation and presentation of the programme budgets of the United Nations. These budgets are formulated in line with the agreed results-based budgeting methodology. PCU is responsible for the preparation, dissemination and coordination of budgetary practices, policies and guidance related to all aspects of programme budgets and for the continuous pursuit and development of improved solutions that address challenges affecting the programme budget. Given its central role, it consolidates budgetary information and presents it to a broad range of stakeholders, including internal and external clients, senior managers, specialized, oversight and intergovernmental bodies. This position would focus primarily on the strategic and programme planning portion of the programme budgets of the various UN Departments and entities funded by the regular budget.

Responsibilities

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

Programme plan:
• Reviews, analyses and finalizes 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 Departments/offices including programmatic aspects.
• Reviews, analyzes and finalizes statements of programme budget implications in light of additional mandates.
• Provides substantive support to relevant intergovernmental, oversight and expert bodies in their budget review; assists in securing approval from the General Assembly.

Budget administration:
• Monitors budget implementation and recommends reallocation of funds as necessary.
• Monitors and forecasts expenditures to ensure it remains within authorized levels.
• Reviews and makes appropriate recommendations with respect to the finalization of budget performance reports.
• Provides substantive support to relevant intergovernmental and expert bodies.

General:
• Provides advice and guidance, including training staff on budgetary and financial policies and procedures, including results-based budgeting.
• Keeps up to date on documents/reports/guidelines/audit observations that have a bearing on matters related to programme budgets, ensuring compliance with recommendations and decisions from intergovernmental, oversight and specialized bodies as well as with United Nations policies and procedures.
• Provides inputs to reports, presentations, and correspondence for intergovernmental bodies and for management on budgetary issues.
• Provides support with respect to representation of the Secretary-General in meetings of legislative organs.
• Researches, analyses and summarizes large volumes of information in an attractive and accessible manner in support of presentations to senior managers and inter-governmental and expert bodies and leverages the findings to recommend new policies, or adjustments to existing ones.
• Supports the review of budgetary practices and processes with a view to streamlining such practices and processes, including through automation.
• Explores opportunities for enhancing information systems related to budgeting, and proposes and tests such improvements, when applicable.
• 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.
• Incumbent may be asked to perform other related duties.

Competencies

Professionalism: Knowledge of budgetary principles including RBB and practices, budget development and financial administration of resources. Ability to develop and apply budgetary regulations, rules, policies and procedures. Ability to independently conduct research and analysis, formulate options and present conclusions and recommendations that are supported by facts. Demonstrated professional competence in budgetary and strategic planning, monitoring of budget execution and reporting of budgetary information. Ability to validate data and its sources, and to review, summarize and present information in a simple, accessible and attractive manner. Ability to reconcile differences and instances of non-budgetary compliance in budgetary data and propose adequate corrective actions. 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.

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.

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.

Accountability: Takes ownership of all responsibilities and honours commitments. Delivers outputs for which one has responsibility within prescribed time, cost and quality standards. Operates in compliance with organizational regulations and rules. Supports subordinates, provides oversight and takes responsibility for delegated assignments. Takes personal responsibility for his/her own shortcomings and those of the work unit, where applicable.

Education

Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in business administration, public administration, political science, strategic planning, or related field is required. A first-level university degree (Bachelor's degree or equivalent) in combination with two additional years of relevant work experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree. Successful completion of both degree and non-degree programs in data analytics, business analytics or data science programs is an advantage.

Work Experience

A minimum of seven years of progressively responsible experience in finance, budget, business or public administration, statistics, information systems, or related area is required.

Of the seven years, at least two years of experience in results-based budgeting in a large international organization is required.

At least one year of experience in the simplification of business processes and procedures, including automation is desirable.

At least one year of experience in analysing budgetary challenges (mainly programmatic), proposing policy solutions to address them, and drafting corresponding budgetary policies is desirable.

At least one year of experience in providing training on budgetary matters is desirable.

Two 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

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.

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.

For this position, applicants from the following Member States, which are unrepresented or underrepresented in the UN Secretariat as of 30 June 2023, are strongly encouraged to apply: Afghanistan, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Bahrain, Belize, Brunei Darussalam, Cabo Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, China, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Djibouti, Dominica, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Grenada, Guinea-Bissau, Israel, Japan, Kiribati, Kuwait, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Liberia, Libya, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malta, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Oman, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Qatar, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Sudan, Timor-Leste, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, United Arab Emirates, United States of America, Vanuatu.

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.

Reasonable accommodation may be provided to applicants with disabilities upon request, to support their participation in the recruitment process.

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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