Finance and Budget Assistant, G6 at United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)

This position is located in the Monitoring the Illegal Killing of Elephants (MIKE) team of CITES, in Nairobi. This is a project-funded position with the MIKE team, under the overall supervision and guidance of the Coordinator, MIKE Programme.

Within delegated authority, the Finance and Budget Assistant will be responsible for the following duties:

Responsibilities

Budget:

• Assist Managers in the elaboration of resource requirements for budget submissions.
• Undertake research and provide support to higher level Finance & Budget Officers with respect to budget reviews of relevant intergovernmental, implementing partners and expert bodies.
• Monitor expenditures and compare with approved budget; prepare adjustments as necessary.
• Review requisitions for goods and services to ensure (a) correct objects of expenditure have been charged, and (b) availability of funds.
• Assist in preparation of budget performance submissions and finalization of budget performance reports, analyse variances between approved budgets and actual expenditures.
• Monitor integrity of various financial databases.
• Verify accuracy of input data, ensuring consistency of data in previous allotments to new allotments issued.
• Co-ordinate with other finance and budget staff on related issues during preparation of budget reports.

Treasury:

• Identify and annotate bank account movements.
• File and archive as required.

General:

• Make logistical and organizational arrangements for meetings, workshops and training courses, including bookings and travel arrangements.
• Lead the recruitment of MIKE CCU staff and consultants as required through Inspira.
• Manage CCU's procurements. Maintain an inventory of its furniture and equipment.
• Maintain and keep up-to-date files, including an inventory of MIKE Programme contacts.
• Oversee and support the development and dissemination of publicity and awareness raising materials, including the programme website and newsletters.
• Perform other related duties, as assigned.

Competencies

• PROFESSIONALISM: 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.
• 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

• High school diploma or equivalent is required. Additional training or qualification in finance, budget or administration is desirable.
• 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. Successful passing of the Administrative Support Assessment Test (ASAT) in English at the United Nations Headquarters (UNHQ), Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA), United Nations Office at Geneva (UNOG), United Nations Office at Vienna (UNOV), International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR) or International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) may be accepted in lieu of the GGST.
• The GGST is administered to applicants when required before the administration of a written assessment and/or interview.

Work Experience

• A minimum of seven (7) years of progressively responsible work experience in finance, budget, accounting, administrative services or related area is required.
• Experience working with finance and budget module of an Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system such as SAP or similar is required.
• Experience in the UN Financial Rules and Regulations or similar international organization is desirable.
• Experience in the use of Finance and Budget tools, such as spreadsheets and databases is desirable.

Languages

• English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the position advertised, fluency in oral and written English is required. Knowledge of another official United Nations language is desirable.

Closing date 6 May 2022