Senior Finance and Budget Assistant - Temporary Job Opening (TJO) at United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)

Responsibilities
The Senior Finance & Budget Assistant will be responsible for the following duties:  

Budget and Finance:

• Acts as Certifying Officer on behalf of and in the absence of the Fund Management Officer;
• Undertakes reviews, analysis and preparation of the medium-term plan and its revisions;
• Reviews, analyses and assists in the finalization of cost estimates and budget proposals, in terms of staff and non-staff requirements, including programmatic aspects;
• Ensures compliance with the medium-term plan and other legislative mandates;
• Assists managers in the elaboration of resource requirements for budget submissions;
• Undertakes research and provides support to higher level Finance & Budget Officers with respect to budget reviews of relevant intergovernmental and expert bodies;
• Provides input into the preparation of allotments, including redeployment of funds when necessary, ensuring appropriate expenditures;
• Maintains and update sub-programme specific management information on the status of Environment Fund, Trust Fund, counterpart contributions allocations, project commitments, proposed revisions extensions and submitting reports to the Director, Deputy Director and donors;
• Checks financial reports for existence and correctness of budget lines, create the non-existent lines in UMOJA as and when necessitated;
• Monitors budget implementation/expenditures and recommends reallocation of funds as necessary;
• Reviews requisitions for goods and services to ensure (a) correct objects of expenditure have been charged, and (b) availability of funds;
• Monitors extra-budgetary resources, including review of agreements and cost plans, ensuring compliance with regulations and rules and established policies and procedures;
• Assists in the preparation of budget performance submissions;
• Assists in finalization of budget performance reports, analyzing variances between approved budgets and actual expenditures;
• Monitors integrity of various financial databases;
• Verifies accuracy of input data, ensuring consistency of data in previous allotments to new allotments issued;
• Co-ordinates with other finance and budget staff on related issues during preparation of budget reports.

Project Implementation and Monitoring:

• Checks financial reports for existence and correctness of budget lines to facilitate payments and recording of expenditures;
• Monitors reports for commitments and expenditures against approved project budgets and obligations, verify availability of funds, and notify of any variances and inaccuracies and provide solutions if possible; 
• Reviews and study financial reports/statements from implementing agencies for conformity with funds sent to them and to ensure expenditures are properly recorded, are within commitments and match approved project documents/ revisions. 
• Reallocates funds as and when necessary;
• Liaises with other organizational units to initiate necessary actions at all stages of project implementation; Prepares payments for final disbursement by Cashier;
• Notifies payees of status of payments;
• Assists staff members, Fund Management Officers and donors regarding queries on payment and deposit-related issues;
• Follows-up on audit recommendations;
• Files and archives as required.

General:

• Keeps up to date on documents/reports/guidelines that have a bearing on matters related to programme of Work budgets, ensuring compliance with intergovernmental recommendations and decisions as well as with United Nations policies and procedures.
• Drafts correspondence to respond to enquiries in respect to relevant financial and budget matters.
• Provides guidance, training and daily supervision to other general service staff in the area of responsibility.
• Assists 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.
• Assists with visualizations and updating information material such as web pages or brochures

Competencies

• PROFESSIONALISM: Knowledge of, and ability to apply financial rules, regulations and procedures. Knowledge, skills and ability to extract, interpret, analyse and format data across the full range of finance and budget functions, including programme development and database management, claims and treasury operations. Ability to identify and resolve data discrepancies and operational problems. 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.
• 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 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

• High school diploma or equivalent is required.

Job - Specific Qualification

• Supplemental training in accounting and finance or related field is required.

Work Experience

• A minimum of ten (10) years of progressively responsible experience in finance, budget,
• accounting, administrative services or related area is required. The minimum years of relevant experience is reduced to eight (8) years for candidates who possess a first-level university degree or higher.
• Experience in an Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) accounting and finance system and International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSAS) is required.
• Experience in the United Nations system or other comparable international organization is desirable.
• Experience in supervising staff or work of others is desirable.
• A minimum of One (1) year or more of experience in data analytics or related area is desirable.

Languages

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