Finance and Budget Assistant

Org. Setting and Reporting

The position is located in the Financial Reporting Service, Finance Division, Office of Programme Planning, Finance and Budget (OPPFB), Department of Management Strategy, Policy and Compliance (DMSPC). The Financial Reporting Service is mainly responsible for the preparation of IPSAS-compliant financial statements for all funding sources and ensures the sustainability of IPSAS-compliant accounting and reporting. The Finance and Budget Assistant reports to the Head of the Unit or to a Finance and Budget Officer.

Responsibilities

Budget

• Provides support with respect to the review, analysis, 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, 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/appropriations to new allotments/appropriations issued.
• Co-ordinates with other finance and budget staff on related issues during preparation of budget reports.

Finance

• Scrutinizes source documents for completeness, accuracy, and validity of charges.
• Investigates erroneous charges and takes appropriate corrective accounting actions.
• Communicates with field offices regarding missing documentation or any other issues related to discrepancies between their accounts and those maintained at Headquarters.
• Reconciles and reviews suspense accounts and ensures proper clearance procedures have been followed.
• Extracts details of income, expenditure, assets, and liability from accounting system in order to analyze and verify accuracy and validity.
• Consolidates data into financial statements.
• Assists with the monitoring of expenditures to ensure they remain within authorized levels.
• Examines the validity of requests for increases in imprest levels; prepares disbursement vouchers to replenish imprest accounts.
• Prepares worksheets and assists with the preparation of financial statements.
• Audits various accounting transactions to ensure correctness of disbursements and adherence to relevant staff rules and financial regulations.
• 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.
• Maintains and keeps up-to-date files.
• May be responsible for providing 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.
• Performs other related duties, as assigned.

Competencies

• Professionalism: Knowledge of, and ability to apply financial rules, regulations, and procedures in the UN environment. Ability to extract, interpret, analyze and format data across the full range of finance and budget functions. Shows pride in work and achievements; is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments.
• Planning and Organizing: Develops clear goals consistent with agreed strategies. Identifies priority activities and assignments; adjusts priorities as required. Uses time efficiently.
• Client Orientation: Considers all those to whom services are provided as clients and seeks to see things from their perspective. Establishes and maintains productive partnerships with clients.

Education

High school diploma or equivalent is required.

Work Experience

A minimum of seven years of experience in finance, budget, accounting, administrative services, or related area is required. Reduced to 5 years for candidates with a first-level university degree or higher. Experience with an enterprise resource planning system such as SAP in accounting/finance/budget modules is required.

Languages

Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language is an advantage.

Assessment

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

Special Notice

The position is financed by Extra-budgetary funds. Appointment is for an initial period of one year, subject to the availability of the post or funds. Local recruitment applies.

No Fee

THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS.