Posting Title: Finance and Budget Assistant, G6
Job Code Title: FINANCE AND BUDGET ASSISTANT
Department/Office: Department of Management Strategy, Policy and Compliance Office of Programme Planning, Finance and Budget
Duty Station: NEW YORK
Posting Period: 21 February 2023 – 22 March 2023
Job Opening Number: 23-Finance-DMSPC OPPFB-200394-R-New York (O)
United Nations Core Values: Integrity, Professionalism, Respect for Diversity
Organisational Setting and ReportingThe position is located in the Contributions Section, Finance Division, the Office of Programme Planning, Finance and Budget (OPPFB), Department of Management Strategy, Policy, and Compliance (DMSPC). Acting as Secretariat to the Committee on Contributions, the Contributions Section provides support to the Committee and the General Assembly in negotiating the scale of assessments and ensures the timely issuance of assessments and information on the status of assessed contributions. The Finance & Budget Assistant usually reports to the Head of the Unit or to a Finance Officer.
Responsibilities
Within delegated authority, the Finance & Budget Assistant will be responsible for the following duties: Budget:
- Provides support with respect to the review, analyses and preparation of the programme plan and its revisions.
- Prepares supporting documents (narrative and supporting tables) with respect to finalization of cost estimates and budget proposals, in terms of staff and non-staff requirements.
- 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.
- Monitors expenditures and compares with approved budget; prepares adjustments as necessary.
- Reviews requisitions for goods and services to ensure (a) correct objects of expenditure have been charged, and (b) availability of funds.
- Assists in preparation of budget performance submissions and finalization of budget performance reports, analysing 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/ allocations to new allotments/ allocations issued.
- Co-ordinates with other finance and budget staff on related issues during preparation of budget reports.
- Periodic reconciliation of accounts in Umoja
- Prepare request to Controller’s Office on redeployment of funds and to Finance section on movement of funds
- Record in Umoja system inputs on direct disbursement and miscellaneous document
- Review data on monthly staffing complement in cost recovery funds Treasury:
- Identifies and annotates bank account movements.
- Files and archives as required. Finance:
- Scrutinizes source documents for completeness, accuracy, and validity of charges.
- Investigates erroneous charges and takes appropriate corrective accounting actions.
- Communicates with permanent missions, offices, departments, agencies, funds and programmes regarding missing documentation or any other issues related to discrepancies between their accounts.
- Reconciles and reviews accounts and ensure proper clearance procedures have been followed.
- Extracts details of income and accounts receivable from accounting system in order to analyze and verify accuracy and validity and recommends and prepares necessary journal entrees.
- Assists the Master Data Management Team and service providers to establish the cost of services and maintains cost accounting master data, allocation rules, allocation cycles and statistical key figures.
- Assists with the monitoring of expenditures to ensures they remain within authorized levels. Examines the validity of requests for increases in imprest levels; prepares disbursement vouchers to replenish imprest accounts.
- Reviews transactions in Umoja related to billing and cost recovery items prior to approval and issuance of invoices. Prepare periodic summary reminders related to billing and cost recovery transactions.
- Audits various accounting transactions, e.g., payroll, education grants, final payments, income tax returns, travel claims, etc., to ensure correctness of disbursements and adherence to relevant staff rules, financial regulations and rules, ST/AI issuances or practices.
- Serves as Approving Officer for disbursements up to an authorized level.
- Provides guidance and training to colleagues as required.
- Supervises other General Service staff as required.
- Drafts/prepares memoranda and/or cables to various offices, departments, and overseas offices.
- Responds to queries from staff members and third parties. General:
- Keeps up to date on documents/reports/guidelines that have a bearing on matters related to programme, ensuring compliance with intergovernmental recommendations and decisions as well as with United Nations policies and procedures.
- Drafts or prepares correspondence to respond to enquiries in respect to relevant financial and budget matters.
- Maintain and keep up-to-date files.
- May be responsible for providing guidance, training, and daily supervision to other general service staff in the area of responsibility.
- Performs other related duties, as assigned.
CompetenciesProfessionalism: Knowledge of and ability to apply financial rules, regulations and procedures in the UN environment. 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 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. Client orientation: Considers all those to whom services are provided to be “clients” and seeks to see things from clients’ point of view. Establishes and maintains productive partnerships with clients by gaining their trust and respect. Identifies clients’ needs and matches them to appropriate solutions. Monitors ongoing developments inside and outside the clients’ environment to keep informed and anticipate problems. Keeps clients informed of progress or setbacks in projects. Meets timeline for delivery of products or services to client.
EducationHigh school diploma or equivalent is required.
Work ExperienceA minimum of seven years of experience in finance, budget, accounting, administrative services, or related area is required. Experience with revenue generating or income producing activities is desirable. Experience with an ERP in the area of financial accounting, particularly in the area of Accounts Receivable, is desirable. 1 year or more of experience in data analytics or related area is desirable.
LanguagesEnglish and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the position advertised, fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official United Nations language is an advantage.
AssessmentEvaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise which may be followed by competency-based interview.
Special NoticeThis post is financed by voluntary contribution. Appointment against this position is for an initial period of one year. The appointment and renewal thereof are subject to the availability of the post or funds, budgetary approval or extension of the mandate. Passing the Global General Service Test (GGST) is a prerequisite for recruitment consideration in the General Services and related categories in the United Nations Secretariat. Applicants who have not passed the GGST at the time of application may be invited for the test after submitting an application. Having passed the Administrative Support Assessment Test [in English] at the United Nations headquarters, Economic Commission for Africa, Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia, United Nations Office at Geneva, United Nations Office at Vienna, International criminal tribunal for Rwanda or International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia may be accepted in lieu of the GGST. This position is subject to local recruitment pursuant to staff rule 4.4 of the United Nations Staff Rules. Applicants for positions in the General Service and related categories must be authorized to work for the United Nations in the duty station where the position is located. Eligible applicants selected from outside the duty station are responsible for any expenses in connection with their relocation to the duty station. Staff members subject to local recruitment are not eligible for allowances or benefits exclusively applicable to international recruitment. At the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the recruitment and employment of staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence and integrity, with due regard to geographic diversity. All employment decisions are made on the basis of qualifications and organizational needs. The United Nations is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment of mutual respect. The United Nations recruits and employs staff regardless of gender identity, sexual orientation, race, religious, cultural and ethnic backgrounds or disabilities. Reasonable accommodation for applicants with disabilities may be provided to support participation in the recruitment process when requested and indicated in the application.
United Nations ConsiderationsAccording 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 FeeTHE 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.