Finance and Budget Officer

Org. Setting and Reporting

This post is located in the Finance Unit, Country Based Pooled Funds Section (CBPFS), Pooled Funds Management Branch, Humanitarian Financing and Resource Mobilization Division, Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), based in New York. OCHA is the part of the United Nations Secretariat responsible for bringing together humanitarian actors to ensure a coherent response to emergencies. OCHA also ensures there is a framework within which each actor can contribute to the overall response effort. OCHA’s mission is to mobilize and coordinate effective and principled humanitarian action in partnership with national and international actors in order to alleviate human suffering in disasters and emergencies; advocate for the rights of people in need; promote preparedness and prevention and facilitate sustainable solutions.

The Finance & Budget Officer will report to the Head of Finance Unit, CBPF Section, with functional reporting relationship to the Executive Officer of OCHA, on financial matters.

Responsibilities

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

Budget and grant administration:

• Reviews budgets, budget amendments, grant agreements and relevant documents submitted by CBPFs partners;
• Approves implementing partners' budgets, grants, service entry sheets and other records in the accounting ERP;
• Acts as Approving and Certifying Officer to approve Grant Master Data and facilitate payments;
• Monitors budget implementation and periodic financial reporting from implementing partners;
• Approve expenditure report and certify subsequent payments as per Grant Agreements;
• Coordinates the maintenance of the list of advances to Implementing Partners;
• Monitors the level of accounts receivables and takes actions to clear outstanding advances;
• Obtains outstanding reports and assesses them in line with grant agreements;
• Monitors budget implementation and determines/recommends reallocation of funds when necessary;
• Reviews and certifies Statement of Accounts and ad-hoc financial reports;
• Monitors voluntary contributions to and expenditures of CBPFs, resolve any discrepancies, and prepares cashflow statements;
• Reviews financial reports and confirms the amount for additional disbursements;
• Reviews audit reports, and records major audit findings in the audit matrix;
• Liaises internally (within OCHA) and externally (with relevant counterparts in UNDP, Funds Managers, Finance Division, Treasury and other partners) regarding financial matters related to OCHA CBPF;
• Submits information for reporting to UNDP Multi-Partner Trusts Fund Office (MPTFO), and undertake relevant data reconciliation;
• Participates in the development of financial and budgetary guidelines and systems of CBPFs;
• Provides guidance and training on financial and budgetary management of CBPFs to the fields Finance Officers and Fund Managers;
• Supports the financial settlement of fraud and forensic audit cases;
• Receives audits on financial and budgetary matters of CBPFs;
• Provides input for the preparation of Country-based pooled funds Annual Reports.

Budget preparation and implementation:

• Reviews and analyses data with respect to the cost estimates and budget proposals in terms of staffing and non-staffing requirements of CBPFS;
• Reviews, analyses and provides inputs to the finalization of programme budget/financial implications for the CBPFS budget in line with the workplan and mandates;
• Provides substantive support to relevant intergovernmental and expert bodies in their budget review, and assists in securing approval from relevant governing mechanisms;
• Monitors CBPFS budget implementation and determines/recommends reallocation of funds when necessary.

General:

• Keeps up to date on documents/reports/guidelines that have a bearing on matters related to programme from extra budgetary resources, ensuring compliance with intergovernmental recommendations and decisions as well as with United Nations policies and procedures;
• Monitors supervise and train subordinate staff as required (both in New York and in the field);
• Performs other related duties, as assigned.

Competencies

• Professionalism: Knowledge of financial and budgetary principles and practices. Ability to independently conduct research and analysis, formulate options and present conclusions and recommendations. 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.

• Planning & 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 honors 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 degree) in business administration, finance, or related field is required. A first-level university degree in combination with two years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Work Experience

A minimum of five years of progressively responsible experience in finance, budget, accounting, business administration or related area is required.

Experience working in a finance capacity in the UN Common System, NGO, Multilateral Aid Agency or comparable international organization is required.

A minimum of two years of recent international humanitarian field experience is desirable.

Experience working with financial processes of pooled funds is desirable.

Experience in financial functions in an Enterprise Resource Planning System (such as UMOJA) or any grant management system is desirable.

Languages

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this post fluency in English is required. Knowledge of French is desirable. Knowledge of another UN official language is desirable.

Assessment

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

Special Notice

This position is funded for a finite period of one year. Extension of the appointment is subject to extension of the mandate and the availability of the funds.

Staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-general and to assignment by him or her. In this context, all staff are expected to move periodically to new functions in their careers in accordance with established rules and procedures.

The United Nations Secretariat is committed to achieving 50/50 gender balance in its staff. Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply for this position.

An impeccable record for integrity and professional ethical standards is essential.

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.