Finance and Budget Officer at Office of the Special Envoy of the Secretary

Responsibilities

• The position involves a variety of tasks which include the complete and homogeneous management of the Mission's financial system, including planning, preparation, monitoring and reporting on all programme submissions, fund re- deployments, and the overall Mission budget.
• Additional tasks include the coordination of effective financial services with the Regional Service Center, Entebbe (RSCE) and the United Nations Office at Nairobi (UNON).

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

Strategic Resourcing and Stewardship

• Prepares cost estimates and budget proposals, in terms of mission's resourcing requirements such as a staff and non-staff requirements, including programmatic aspects, reviews, analyses
• and revises data with respect to the finalization of budget proposal as well as Result Based Budgeting inputs.
• Provides support to programme/fund center managers with respect to the elaboration of resources requirements for budget submissions.
• Administrates the mission's allotments in accordance with the established procedures including redeployment/reallocation of funds.
• Administers and monitors extra-budgetary resources, including review of agreements and cost plans, ensuring compliance with regulations and rules and established policies and procedures.
• Ensures the sufficient and effective use of budgetary resources through robust monitoring of budget utilization of the approved budget and timely provision of information to the Mission management for decision making.
• Prepares the budget performance report of the mission and ensures that correct and accurate data and information are provided in compliance with the Controller's instructions. Reviews
• and finalizes the performance report ensuring adequate variance explanations between approved budgets and actual expenditures.
• Acts as a Certifying Officer for the Mission within authority delegated by the Head of Mission.
• Ensures that expenditures are incurred in compliance with the financial policy framework of the United Nations.
• Reviews all requisitions for goods and services to ensure correct objects of expenditure have been charged and ensures availability of funds; verifies that appropriate relevant supporting documents have been provided for the processing of payment for goods and services.
• Ensures that only valid year-end budget commitments are carried forward.
• Ensures that internal controls are established and exercised in compliance with the UN Financial Rules and Regulations and carries out duties consistent with the financial delegation.
• Provides advice, financial interpretations, adaptations, and corrective actions in response to audits and other queries to ensure adherence to the UN Financial Regulations and Rules, Staff Rules, Administrative Instructions, Bulletins and Circulars.

Performance Monitoring

• Performs analysis, preparation and delivery of strategic support and business intelligence to operational counterparts and mission leadership on financial resourcing and stewardship, and
• organizational performance of the mission, in line with mission priorities. Actively participates and engages in planning, monitoring, and reporting of financial and operational performance.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Competencies

• Professionalism: Knowledge of accounting principles, procedures and standards. Ability to apply conceptual, analytical and evaluative skills in accounting operations. Ability to conduct independent research and analysis, identify issues, formulate options and make 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 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

• An advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent) in business administration, finance, accounting or in a related area. A first-level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience in accounting, budget, and finance, may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Work Experience

• A minimum of five (5) years of progressively responsible professional experience in finance, budget, accounting, business administration is required.
• Experience in cost management, budget formulation, financial monitoring, accounting, audit, financial reporting, or other related areas is required.
• Experience with Financial Systems/financial modules of enterprise resource planning (ERP) such as oracle, SAP, PeopleSoft is required.
• Experience in translating strategies into financial plans and operations is desirable.
• Experience working with international or multi-national organizations is desirable.
• Experience in budgetary functions, cost recovery, monitoring of complex projects/programmes and trust fund management within UN system is desirable.

Languages

• English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the position advertised, fluency in English is required, and knowledge of French is desirable.