Closing date: Wednesday, 10 May 2023
Posting Title: Finance and Budget Officer, P3
Job Code Title: FINANCE AND BUDGET OFFICER
Department/Office: Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs
Duty Station: NEW YORK
Posting Period: 12 April 2023 – 11 May 2023
Job Opening Number: 23-Finance-OCHA-204771-R-New York (X)
United Nations Core Values: Integrity, Professionalism, Respect for DiversityOrganisational Setting and Reporting
This post is located in Finance and Administration Unit, Country Based Pooled Fund Section, Pooled Fund Management Branch, Humanitarian Financing and Resource Mobilization Division, Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). OCHA is the part of the United Nations Secretariat responsible for bringing together humanitarian actors to ensure a coherent response to emergencies. OCHA also ensures there is a framework within which each actor can contribute to the overall response efforts. OCHA’s mission is to mobilize and coordinate effective and principled humanitarian action in partnership with national and international actors in order to alleviate human suffering in disasters and emergencies; advocate the rights of people in need; promote preparedness and prevention and facilitate sustainable solutions. The post is located in New York and the incumbent will report to the Head of the Finance and Administration Unit, with functional reporting relationship to the Executive Office of OCHA, on financial matters.
Responsibilities
Within delegated authority, the Finance and Budget Officer will be responsible for the following duties: Budget preparation:
- Reviews and analyses data with respect to the finalization of cost estimates and budget proposals, in terms of staff and non-staff requirements from (a) Departments/offices at Headquarters and in the field, including programmatic aspects; and (b) medium-sized peacekeeping operations.
- Provides support to managers with respect to the elaboration of resource requirements for budget submissions.
- Identifies process discrepancies in contribution recording between different systems used by OCHA Trust Funds Budget administration:
- Monitors budget implementation and determines/recommends reallocation of funds when necessary.
- Reviews all requisitions generated by the Reality system for goods and services to ensure correct objects of expenditure have been charged, ensuring availability 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.
- Prepares relevant documentation with respect to budget performance submissions.
- Reviews and makes appropriate recommendations with respect to the finalization of budget performance reports, analysing variances between approved budgets and actual expenditures.
- Provides substantive support to intergovernmental and legislative bodies.
- Reviews budget, financial reports, grant agreements, audits and relevant documents submitted by CBPFs partners for required processing.
- Reviews and certifies Statement of Accounts and ad-hoc financial reports;
- Liaises internally (within OCHA) and externally (Funds Managers and other partners) regarding financial matters related to OCHA CBPF. General:
- Keeps up-to-date on documents/reports/guidelines that have a bearing on matters related to programme, from extra budgetary resources, ensuring compliance with intergovernmental recommendations and decisions as well as with United Nations policies and procedures
- Monitors, supervises and trains subordinate staff as required (both in New York and in the field)
- Performs other related duties, as assigned
Competencies
- PROFESSIONALISM: Knowledge of financial principles and practices. Ability to independently conduct research and analysis, formulate options and present 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 & 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 honors 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
Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent degree) in business administration, finance, or related field is required. A first-level university degree in combination with two (2) additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.Work Experience
A minimum of five (5) years of progressively responsible experience in finance, budget, business administration or related area is required. Experience working in a finance capacity in an International Organization, NGO or Multilateral Aid Agencies or comparable organization is required. Experience working with financial processes of pooled funds is desirable. Experience with an Enterprise Resource Planning System such as SAP or any grants management system is desirable. A minimum of two (2) years in the last five (5) years of international field experience in aid operations is desirable.Languages
English and French are the languages of the UN Secretariat. For this post, fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another UN official language is an advantage.Assessment
The evaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise which may be followed by competency-based interview.Special Notice
The position is funded for a finite period of one year. Extension of the appointment is subject to extension of the mandate and availability of funds. Staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General and to assignment by him or her. In this context, all staff are expected to move periodically to new functions in their careers in accordance with established rules and procedures. The United Nations Secretariat is committed to achieving 50/50 gender balance in its staff. Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply for this position. An impeccable record for integrity and professional ethical standards is essential.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. 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.
