Posting Title: SENIOR FINANCE AND BUDGET ASSISTANT, G7 (Temporary Job Opening)
Job Code Title: Senior Finance and Budget Assistant
Department/Office: Executive Office of the Secretary-General
Duty Station: NEW YORK
Posting Period: 21 March 2023 – 27 March 2023
Job Opening Number: 23-Finance-EOSG-205058-J-New York (R)
United Nations Core Values: Integrity, Professionalism, Respect for Diversity
Organisational Setting and ReportingThis position is located in the Executive Office of the Secretary-General. The incumbent will report to the Finance and Budget Officer and to the Executive Officer.
Responsibilities
Within delegated authority, the Senior Finance and Budget Assistant will be responsible for the following duties: Finance and Budget:
- Reviews, analyses and assists in the finalization of cost estimates and budget proposals, in terms of staff and non-staff requirements. 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. Monitors budget implementation/expenditures and recommends reallocation of funds as necessary.
- Assists in finalization of budget performance reports, analysing variances between approved budgets and actual expenditures. Verifies accuracy of input data, ensuring consistency of data in previous allotments to new allotments issued. Trust Fund Administration:
- Provides full range of assistance in trust fund management and implementation at all phases of the cycle of trust fund projects; ensuring compliance with regulations and rules and established policies and procedures.
- Responsible for preparation of cost estimates, budget release and provides input to the preparation of allotments; provides assistance to Programme Managers in the formulation of donor project proposals; ensures that pledges, contributions and expenditures are recorded in compliance with IPSAS.
- Performs grants management functions in Umoja including ensuring the correct structure for grants and WBSE, releasing budgets and recording implementing partner expenditures.
- Works closely with donor counterparts and/or funding agencies in the finalization of contribution agreements.
- Prepares and monitors submission of substantive and financial reporting; coordinates with the Accounts Division in connection with donor contributions, IPSAS reporting and Umoja transacting. General:
- Keeps up-to-date on documents/reports/guidelines that have a bearing on matters related to programme and/or peacekeeping budgets, 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.
- Assists with the creation of travel requests and expense reports for delegations and Senior Officials.
- Performs other related duties, as assigned.
CompetenciesProfessionalism: Knowledge, skills and ability to extract, interpret, analyse and format data across the full range of finance and budget functions (e.g., budget/work programme development, database management, etc.). Knowledge and application of relevant administrative and financial rules and procedures. Ability to identify issues, formulate opinions, 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. 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; Effective organizational skills and ability to establish priorities and to plan; Monitor own work plan and that of more junior staff and meet deadlines; Identify priority activities and assignments; adjusts priorities as required; Allocates appropriate amount of time and resources for completing work; Monitors and adjusts plans and actions as necessary; Uses time efficiently. 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; supports and acts in accordance with final group decision, even when such decisions may not entirely reflect own position; shares credit for team accomplishments and accepts joint responsibility for team shortcomings.
EducationHigh school diploma or equivalent.
Work ExperienceA minimum of ten years of experience in finance, budget, accounting, administrative services or related area is required. Experience with IPSAS and UMOJA (Funds and Grants Management), or similar enterprise resource planning systems is required. Experience using Microsoft Excel and other related software applications is desirable. Experience in applying the financial rules, regulations, and procedures of the United Nations or those of a similar international organization is desirable. Experience with trust fund management is desirable.
LanguagesEnglish and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the post advertised, fluency in English is required.
AssessmentEvaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise which may be followed by competency-based interview.
Special NoticeThis position is temporarily available until 31 December 2023 with a possibility of extension. 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. This position is subject to local recruitment pursuant to staff rule 4.4 of the United Nations Staff Rules. All staff in the General Service and related categories shall be recruited in the country or within commuting distance of each office, irrespective of their nationality and of the length of time they may have been in the country. A staff member subject to local recruitment shall not be eligible for the allowances or benefits exclusively applicable to international recruitment. 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. The United Nations Secretariat is committed to achieving 50/50 gender balance and geographical diversity in its staff. Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply for this position. 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. 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 disability. Reasonable accommodation for applicants with disability 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.