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

This position is located in UNEP's Corporate Services Division's Budget Unit at the Nairobi duty station. Under the direct supervision of the Head of Budget Unit, the Finance & Budget Assistant will be responsible for the following duties:

Responsibilities

BUDGET:

• Act as Certifying Officer for the Corporate Services Division and Executive Office.
• Provide support to managers with respect to the elaboration of resource requirements and assist in the preparation and submission of the budget proposals and allocations for the Regular Budget, Environment Fund, and Programme Support Cost (PSC).
• Provide support in the preparation and monitoring of the UN Environment Assembly (UNEA) budget and funding status.
• Assist in the preparation of budget performance submissions as well as periodic and ad-hoc reports including monthly budget dashboard reports to senior management, Programme Performance Reports (PPR) to UN Environment Senior Management as well as to the Committee of Permanent Representatives (CPR).
• Provide support with respect to the review, analyses and preparation of the Programme of Work and its revisions.
• Prepare supporting documents (narrative and supporting tables) with respect to finalization of cost estimates and budget proposals, in terms of staff and non-staff requirements.
• Assist managers in the elaboration of resource requirements for budget submissions.
• Undertake research and provides support to higher level Finance & Budget Officers with respect to budget reviews of relevant intergovernmental and expert bodies.
• Monitor expenditures and compares with approved budget; prepares 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, analysing 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.
• Periodic reconciliation of accounts. Prepare request to Controller's Office on redeployment of funds and to Finance Section on movement of funds
• Record in ERP system inputs on direct disbursement and miscellaneous document.
• Process fund distribution received from HQ and input allotment advice in Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system.

GENERAL:

• Keep up-to-date on documents/reports/guidelines that have a bearing on matters related to programme, ensuring compliance with intergovernmental requirements.
• Develop and maintain Budget related Business Intelligence (BI) Webi Reports to be shared and utilized by all Programme and Fund Management Officer across UNEP.
• Manage approved staffing table for Corporate Services Division, Executive Office, and Evaluation office.
• Prepare monthly post incumbency reports and update the positions' cost distribution in ERP system to ensure correct coding blocks are charged recommendations and decisions as well as with United Nations policies and procedures.
• Draft or prepares correspondence to respond to enquiries in respect to relevant financial and budget matters.
• Maintain and keep 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.
• Perform other related duties, as assigned.

Competencies

• PROFESSIONALISM: Ability to perform a broad range of administrative functions, e.g., budget/work programme, human resources, database management. Ability to apply knowledge of various United Nations administrative, financial and human resources rules and regulations in work situations. Ability to perform analysis, modeling and interpretation of data in support of decision-making. 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.
• 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.

Education

• High school diploma or equivalent is required. Supplemental training in accounting and finance or related field is required.
• 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 experience in finance, budget, accounting, administrative services or related area is required.
• Experience with Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) Systems such as Systems and Applications Products (SAP) in finance and budget modules is required.
• Experience and training in ERP Business Intelligence (BI) reporting tool is required.
• Experience with MS office in particular excel is desirable.
• One (1) year or more of experience in data analytics or related area is desirable.