Finance and Budget Officer - Temporary, P3 at United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC)

Org. Setting and Reporting

The post is located in the Regional Office for Eastern Africa (ROEA) of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) in Nairobi, Kenya. The incumbent will work under the direct supervision of the UNODC Regional Representative, ROEA and in close cooperation with the Financial Resources Management Service (FRMS) of UNODC based in Vienna.

Responsibilities

The incumbent will be responsible for providing substantive and technical expertise in the area of financial, budgetary and accounting management in conformity with United Nations (UN) Financial Rules and Regulations and policies for the implementation of UNODC project and programme work and implementation. Within assigned authority, the Finance and Budget Officer will be responsible for the following duties:

• Hold full responsibility and accountability for official UNODC ROEA payments as designated Head of Payment.
• Participate in the formulation of finance management policies, strategies and procedures and in their monitoring and implementation ensure to optimize efficiency in management.
• Prepare the financial management reports in accordance with the terms and conditions of donor agreements to provide information for control and decision making.
• Provide advice and support the programme staff on financial and administrative matters.
• Ensure compliance with United Nations (UN) financial policies, procedures, rules and regulations.
• Ensure transparent and efficient utilization of the Programme’s financial resources.
• Prepare and provide the Programme’s biennium budgets, budget implementation and monitoring reports.
• Undertake missions to UNODC programme offices, including Ethiopia and Somalia.
• Propose, develop and implement financial policies and procedures.
• Set up proper internal controls to ensure that proper monitoring mechanisms are in place and that they can be used to identify weaknesses and address them immediately.
• Coordinate financial closure for entrusted imprest accounts.
• Respond to audit queries and follow up on audit recommendations.
• Ensure integrity and consistency of data in the SAP system (UMOJA).
• Draft correspondence and internal procedural directives relating to budgetary and financial matters.
• Contribute to preparedness actions such as early warning, risk analysis and contingency planning and make the necessary recommendations. Periodically monitor the management of risks and report on any actions taken.
• Monitor and supervise the work of subordinate staff as maybe required.
• Perform any other work-related duties as required.

Competencies

• Professionalism: Has knowledge and understanding of theories, concepts and approaches relevant to budgetary, finance and accounting management and administration related fields. Has knowledge of the mandates of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime. Is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results; is motivated by professional rather than personal concerns; 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; 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 to solve problems to meet client needs; promotes and persuades others to consider new ideas; takes calculated risks on new and unusual ideas, thinks “outside the box”; takes an interest in new ideas and new ways of doing things; is not bound by current thinking or traditional approaches.
•  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 finance, business administration, accounting or other related discipline is required. A first-level university degree in similar fields in combination with two additional years of experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Work Experience

• A minimum of five years of progressively responsible professional experience in finance, business administration, accounting or other related discipline with greater independence and decision making and managing complex budget is required.
• Experience in working with European Union (EU) funding is required.
• Work experience within an international organization or the United Nations system is highly desirable.
• Experience working in developing countries is an asset.

Languages

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the position advertised, fluency in English, including good drafting skills, is required. Knowledge of another official United Nations language is an advantage.

Assessment

Evaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise and a competency-based interview.

Special Notice

This position is temporarily available until 30 April 2020. Filling of this position and actual duration of the assignment is subject to availability of funding. If the selected candidate is a staff member from the United Nations Secretariat, the selection will be administered as a temporary assignment.

While this temporary assignment may provide the successful applicant with an opportunity to gain new work experience, the selection for this position is for a limited period and has no bearing on the future incumbency of the post.

Staff members of the United Nations common system organizations who will reach the mandatory age of separation or retirement within the duration of the current temporary need period are not eligible to apply.Submitting an application or selection for the current temporary job opening does not delay or increase the mandatory age of separation.

Retirees above the mandatory age of separation who wish to be considered for the current temporary job opening must indicate the reason for their last separation as "retirement." Such retirees shall not be employed by the Organization, unless (a) the operational requirements of the Organization cannot be met by staff members who are qualified and available to perform the required functions; and (b) the proposed employment would not adversely affect the career development or redeployment opportunities of other staff members and represents both a cost-effective and operationally sound solution to meet the needs of the service.

Nairobi is classified a B duty station.

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.

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.