Finance and Budget Officer, P3 at United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)

This position is located in UNEP's Corporate Services Division at the Nairobi duty station. Under the supervision of the Chief, Financial Management Service, the Finance and Budget Officer will be responsible for the following duties:

Responsibilities

Financial Management:

• Providing corporate guidance to UNEP finance staff, issuing policies and monitoring compliance with established procedures.
• Overseeing and managing effective and timely processing of pledges and preparation of invoices for contributions and ensuring compliance to the decisions of the governing bodies of UNEP and UNEP administered Multilateral Environment Agreements (MEAs) as well as those of individual donors.
• Overseeing and managing timely and accurate recording of contributions. Managing the unidentified deposits in line with established policies and procedures. Preparing financial reports to donors, intergovernmental and legislative bodies.
• Managing the establishment of grants and monitoring the financial life-cycle of projects including the clean-up of closed projects, grants and trust funds. Monitoring cash and loan balances of grants.
• Ensuring that UNEP financial records are accurate and up-to-date and that they are properly reflected in the Annual Financial Statements. This includes regular analysis of cash and receivable balances and review of donor reports.
• Liaising with internal and external auditors by coordinating requests for information, following up on finance related audit recommendations and preparing reports to various UN Bodies.
• Reviewing legal instruments related to donors and Implementing Partners agreements.
• Developing and managing a corporate approach to UNEP’s relationship with Implementing Partners.

 Certifying Officer functions:

• Reviewing and analysing data with respect to the finalization of cost estimates and budget proposals for extra-budgetary funded activities, in terms of staff and non-staff requirements from divisions /offices at Headquarters and in the field, including programmatic aspects.
• Providing support to managers with respect to the elaboration of resource requirements for budget submissions.
• Reviewing, analysing and providing input into finalization of programme budget/financial implications.
• Providing substantive support to relevant intergovernmental and expert bodies in their budget review; assisting in securing approval from the relevant Governing Bodies.

Budget administration:

• Issuing allotments, including redeployment of funds when necessary, ensuring appropriate expenditures.
• Monitoring budget implementation and determines/recommends reallocation of funds when necessary.
• Monitoring expenditures to ensure that they remain within authorized levels.
• Administering and monitoring extra-budgetary resources, including review of agreements and cost plans, ensuring compliance with regulations and rules and established policies and procedures.
• Preparing relevant documentation with respect to budget performance submissions.
• Reviewing and making appropriate recommendations with respect to the finalization of budget performance reports, analysing variances between approved budgets and actual expenditures.

General:

• Keeping up-to-date on documents/reports/guidelines that have a bearing on matters related to programme and/budgets, ensuring compliance with intergovernmental recommendations and decisions as well as with United Nations policies and procedures.
• Monitoring and supervising the work of subordinate staff as required.
• Performing 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.
• 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.

Education

• An advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent) in business administration, finance, accounting or in a related area is required. A first-level university degree in combination with two (2) additional years of relevant work experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
• Finance or accounting qualification, such as Certification in Public Accounting (CPA) or Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) is desirable.

Work Experience

• A minimum of five (5) years of progressively responsible experience in accounting, finance, budget, business administration or related area, is required.
• Experience in preparing/analyzing financial statements with application of private sector or public sector accounting standards such as International Financial Report Standard (s) (IFRS) or International Public Sector Accounting Standard (IPSAS) is required.
• Working experience with Systems Application and Products (SAP) system or another Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system is required.
• Experience with data analysis, reconciliations, and reporting, using Microsoft Excel, is required.
• Working experience with managing and monitoring implementing partners of international organisation, inlcuding but not limited to audits or financial spot checks, is desirable.
• Experience with the Grantor Management (Implementing Partner) Module, is desirable.
• Experience of managing external and in-house coordination, at procedural and policy levels, is desirable.
• Experience in an international organization such as the United Nations is desirable.

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 UN official language is an advantage

Closing date 27 May 2022