Finance and Budget Assistant

UNEP Finance and Budget Assistant vacancy

Job Title: Finance and Budget Assistant, G5
Department: United Nations Environment Programme
Deadline 4 March 2014
Job Opening number:14-FIN-UNEP-33024-R-NAIROBI (X)



Org. Setting and Reporting
The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is the United Nations system’s designated entity for addressing environmental issues at the global and regional level. Its mandate is to coordinate the development of environmental policy consensus by keeping the global environment under review and bringing emerging issues to the attention of governments and the international community for action. UNEP’s Division of Early Warning and Assessment (DEWA) is responsible for analyzing the state of the global environment, providing early warning information and assessing global and regional environmental trends to catalyse and promote international cooperation and action on the environment.
This post is located in UNEP/DEWA in Nairobi. Under the overall guidance of the Director, DEWA and the direct supervision of the Fund Management Officer, Programme Support Unit, the incumbent will perform the following tasks:

Responsibilities
Budget:
•Assists in the preparation of supporting documents (narrative and supporting tables) with respect to finalization of cost estimates and budget proposals, in terms of staff and non-staff requirements. •Supports the Fund Management Officer in extracting information and generating expenditure reports from computerized information system databases; assists in preliminary analyses of the extracted information and the reports generated, and highlights areas of concern for the attention of the Fund Management Officer. •Assists in the development of resource requirements for budget submissions and in the preparation of budget performance submissions. •Researches/compiles data and other information required by the Fund Management Officer in the review and analysis of relevant proposals.
•Consolidates data and provides support to Fund Management Officer with respect to budget reviews of relevant intergovernmental and expert bodies. •Assists the Fund Management Officer in the preparation/finalization of finance and budget performance reports, performing preliminary analysis of variances between approved budgets and actual expenditures. •Prepares pre-encumbrances and obligations in IMIS and review them to ensure that funds are available and the correct account has been used. •Assists in drafting the initial versions of the Financial Reports for submission to Donors and legislative bodies.
•Assists the Fund Management Officer with tabulation and data input for project documents.
•Assists in the financial backstopping of trust funds, including monitoring the status of voluntary contributions, generating expenditure reports from IMIS and monitoring reporting requirements by donors. •Assists the Fund Management Officer in the issuance of allotments and related staffing table authorizations. •Verifies accuracy of input data, ensuring consistency of data in previous allotments to new allotments issued. •Reviews draft reports, verifying overall accuracy, consistency and uniformity in the presentation, and ensuring comprehensiveness and compliance with the prescribed formats; cross-checks consistency of figures in tables with the text of the reports, and verifies references to other reports and documents, bringing errors to the attention of the Fund Management Officer concerned; ensures that all necessary corrections are incorporated in the reports; co-ordinates with other finance and budget staff on related issues during preparation of budget reports.•Verifies and prepares payments to third parties, commercial entities, and Partners as well as assists in the processing of payments to Governments and vendors for good and services. This includes calculating, inputting, and checking payments for correctness and communicating discrepancies to supervisors. •Records and reconciles more complex accounting transactions. •Examines and records financial transactions of Offices-away-from-Headquarters /other UN organisations and prepares remittances for disbursement. •Reconciles more complex bank accounts in various currencies.
•Drafts/prepares memoranda and/or faxes to various offices, departments and overseas offices.
General:
•Keeps up-to-date on documents/reports/guidelines that have a bearing on matters related to programme budgets, ensuring compliance with intergovernmental recommendations and decisions as well as with United Nations policies and procedures. •Drafts routine correspondence with respect to enquiries related to relevant financial and budget matters.
•Maintains and keep up-to-date files. •Provides administrative support to the Chief of the Programme Support Unit and/or Fund Management Officer. •Responds to queries from staff members and third parties. •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 maintain accurate records, review and interpret financial and accounting data. Ability to identify and resolve finance and accounting discrepancies and operational problems. Shows pride in work and in achievements; demonstrates professional competence and mastery of finance and accounting. 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.

•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.

•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.

•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
Completion of secondary education or equivalent is required. Supplementary training in finance or accounting qualification would be an asset
Work Experience
Five years of experience in finance, budget and accounting in international organisations. Practical experience in an ERP accounting and finance system and IPSAS is an asset. Experience in the United Nations is an asset
Languages
English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the post advertised, fluency in oral and written English is required. Knowledge of another official United Nations language is an advantage.
Special Notice
Appointment against this post is on a local basis. External candidates will be considered only when no suitable internal candidate from the duty station is identified. The candidate is responsible for any travel expenses incurred in order to take-up the appointment. Staff members are subject to the authority of and assignment by the Secretary-General. All staff are expected to move periodically to new functions in their careers in accordance with established rules and procedures. 1. All applicants are strongly encouraged to apply on-line as soon as possible after the job opening has been posted and well before the deadline stated in the job opening. On-line applications will be acknowledged where an email address has been provided. 2. If you do not receive an e-mail acknowledgement within 24 hours of submission, your application may not have been received. In such cases, please resubmit the application, if necessary. If the problem persists, please seek technical assistance through the Inspira "Need Help?" link

United Nations Considerations
The United Nations shall place 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. (Charter of the United Nations - Chapter 3, article 8). The United Nations Secretariat is a non-smoking environment.
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