Finance and Budget Assistant at United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC)

Responsibilities
Within assigned authority, the Finance and Budget Assistant will be responsible for the following duties:  

Budget:

• Provide support with respect to the review, analyses and preparation of the projects budgets, workplan, budget submissions for GPCAE in the region and support headquarters submissions.
• Prepare supporting documents (narrative and supporting tables) with respect to finalization of cost estimates and budget proposals, in terms of staff and non-staff requirements.
• Track, monitor and verify expenditures and compare with approved budget; prepare adjustments as necessary.
• Ensure timely review and budget releases for the GPCAE, as well as monitoring of available funds in the system.
• Review requisitions for goods and services to ensure (a) correct objects of expenditure have been charged, and (b) availability of funds.
• Assist in preparation of budget performance submissions and finalization of budget performance reports, analyzing variances between approved budgets and actual expenditures and the reconciliation of expenditures.
• Co-ordinate with all project staff on related issues during preparation of expenditure reports.
• Provide support to higher level Officers in the development of budgets for project proposals.
• Ensure timely monitoring and completion of related reporting obligations, payments for the ongoing implementation.
• Collect and verify reports from UNODC implementing partners, including financial reports and make the proposals for the subsequent funds disbursements in line with the donor requirements. 

Claims:

• Review, analyse and process payments to third-parties, commercial entities and individuals.
• Prepare and submit relevant requests for delivery and payment of contractual and procurement services and ensure tracking and monitoring of all relevant expenditures.

Asset Management:

• Ensure that the asset register is accurate and up to date.
• Review the asset register and make necessary adjustments as required.
• Support senior Officers in carrying out annual asset verification.

General:

• Keep up-to-date on documents/reports/guidelines that have a bearing on matters related to the GPCAE, ensuring compliance with intergovernmental recommendations and decisions as well as with United Nations policies and procedures.
• Assist in drafting or preparing correspondence to respond to enquiries in respect to relevant financial and budget matters.
• Assist with the collection and analysis of data as well as preparation of data presentations and reports for information sharing, responding to queries, knowledge management, planning and decision making.
• Assist with visualizations and updating information material such as web pages or brochures. 
• Maintain and keep up-to-date files.
• Perform other work-related duties, as assigned.

Competencies

• Professionalism: Has knowledge of, and ability to apply financial rules, regulations and procedures in the UN environment.  Has knowledge, skills and ability to extract, interpret, analyze and format data across the full range of finance and budget functions, including programme development and database management, claims and treasury operations.  Is able to identify and resolve data discrepancies and operational problems. Has ability to perform analysis, modeling, and interpretation of data in support of decision-making.  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.
• 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.
• 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; builds consensus for task purpose and direction with team members; supports and acts in accordance with final group decisions, 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.

Work Experience

• A minimum of seven years of experience in finance, budget, accounting, and administrative services in programme management or related areas is required. The minimum number of years of relevant experience is reduced to five for candidates who possess a first-level university degree or higher.
• Work experience with an Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system is required.
• Work experience with SAP/Umoja is desirable
• Work experience within the United Nations system or similar international organization 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 United Nations official language is an advantage.