Budgetary Review Consultant

Background

The United Nations Trust Fund in Support of Actions to Eliminate Violence against Women (the Trust Fund) is a multilateral grant-making mechanism established in 1996 pursuant to General Assembly resolution 50/166. It is administered by the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN-Women) on behalf of the United Nations system.  

The Trust Fund supports local, national, regional and cross-regional programmes to prevent and respond to all forms of violence against women and girls in all contexts. It provides funding for proven, innovative and catalytic multi-year programmes by national and local governments, civil society organizations and United Nations country teams. Since 1996, the UN Trust Fund has awarded US$ 182 million in grants to 572 initiatives in 140 countries. Currently, the UN Trust Fund portfolio includes over 150 active grants. 

Under the guidance and direct supervision of the UN Trust Fund Operations Analyst following a client-oriented approach, the Budgetary Review Consultant provides administrative and budget support services in relation to Latin America and Caribbean grants portfolio ensuring effective and transparent utilization of financial resources and integrity of work in accordance with UN Women Financial Regulations and rules, UN Trust Fund operational guidelines and UN Women Policies, Finance Manual and instructions. 

Duties and Responsibilities

BUDGETARY/FINANCE DELIVERABLES

In anticipation of the high volume of upcoming financial reports from Cycle 22, 23, 24 and new 25 grantees, additional administrative support for budget verification and financial review exercises is essential in the coming months. 

Under the direct guidance and supervision of the UNTF Operations Analyst, the Budgetary Review Consultant will carry out the following tasks:

• In coordination with Operations Analyst and Portfolio Managers, support the review of financial reports from Cycle 22, 23, 24 and new 25 grantees to ensure that expenses are being properly recorded by grantees, money spent in accordance to UN Women financial rules and regulations and communicated to grantees. 
• Validate the accuracy of the financial reports by ensuring that the supporting documents submitted by French-speaking grantees match the reported transactions. 
• Provide feedback and accounting advice to grantees on technical accounting and operational topics (ai. foreign currency exchange rates use, accruing staff costs, etc). 
• Prepare supporting documentation package and all the necessary checklists for the approval of the Portfolio Managers and further processing by the Operations Analyst or Finance Associate 
• Prepare supporting documentation package for the disbursement of funds to grants recipients and follow up on successful receipt of funds by the grantees. 
• Review submitted Full-Fledged proposals and NGO assessment forms and provide detailed feedback on the requested budgets and validating supporting documents. 
• Provide support in the budget management for Cycle 22, 23, 24 and new 25 grants projects: provide guidance and corrective recommendations on budgets submitted by selected grantee organizations to the Fund for its approval and advise on any finance issues arising.  
• Timely response to requests to resolve financial data issues. 
• Maintain and update financial worksheets for French-language grants from Cycle 22, 23, 24 and new 25 grantees
• Update Portfolio Matrix and Financial Worksheets for Cycle 22, 23, 24 and new 25 grants
• Update the disbursement table with the exchange rate of the received funds for Cycle 22, 23, 24 and new 25 grants
• Prepare Cost Recovery Letters for Centralized Evaluation, Audit and Capacity Development for French-language grants 
• Assist in Capacity Assessment for applicants for the Cycle 25 Call for Proposal 
• Assist in vendor creation for grantees selected from the Cycle 25 Call for Proposal
• Timely response to requests to resolve financial data issues related to Cycle 22, 23, 24 and new 25 grants
• Keep abreast of and ensure full compliance with all UNW Financial Regulations and Rules, Operations manuals, Internal Control policies and procedures, Standard operating procedures, Finance manual, and Delegations of Authority to ensure consistency across UN Trust Fund and UN Women. 
• Other duties as required.

Competencies

Core Values and Guiding Principles

• Integrity: Demonstrating consistency in upholding and promoting the values of UN Women in actions and decisions, in line with the UN Code of Conduct.
• Cultural Sensitivity/Valuing diversity: Demonstrating an appreciation of the multicultural nature of the organization and the diversity of its staff. Demonstrating an international outlook, appreciating differences in values and learning from cultural diversity.

Core Competencies

• Ethics and Values: Demonstrating / Safeguarding Ethics and Integrity
• Organizational Awareness: Demonstrate corporate knowledge and sound judgment
• Client orientation
• Working in Teams: Acting as a team player and facilitating teamwork
• Communicating Information and Ideas: Facilitating and encouraging open communication in the team, communicating effectively
• Self-management and Emotional intelligence: Creating synergies through self-control
• Conflict Management / Negotiating and Resolving Disagreements
• Knowledge Sharing / Continuous Learning: Learning and sharing knowledge and encourage the learning of others

Functional Competencies

• Ability to perform a broad range of specialized activities related to financial resources management, including managing non-core budgets, maintaining Accounts Receivables and
• Accounts Payables, and management reporting;
• Knowledge of financial rules and regulations, and accounting;
• Strong IT skills;
• Ability to provide input to business processes re-engineering, implementation of new systems.

Required Skills and Experience

Education

• Completion of Secondary education. University degree in Accounting or Finance would be an asset.

Experience

• 3 years of progressively relevant work experience is required;
• Experience in the usage of computers and office software packages (MS Word, Excel, etc) and knowledge of database packages, working experience in web-based ERP financial systems (i.e.SAP, PeopleSoft, Oracle, SUN, etc.);
• Knowledge of IPSAS and IFRS is desirable.

Language Requirements

•  Fluency in written and spoken English is required; Proficiency in another UN language will be an asset.