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

Responsibilities
Budget:

• Acts as Certifying Officers on behalf of and in the absence of programme managers at offices outside headquarters.  
• Undertakes reviews, analyses and preparation of the medium-term plan and its revisions.      
• Reviews, analyses and assists in the finalization of cost estimates and budget proposals, in terms of staff and non-staff requirements, including programmatic aspects; ensures compliance with the medium-term plan and other legislative mandates.
• Assists managers in the elaboration of resource requirements for budget submissions.  
• Undertakes research and provides support to higher level Finance and Budget Officers with respect to budget reviews of relevant intergovernmental and expert bodies.
• Provides input into the preparation of allotments, including redeployment of funds when necessary, ensuring appropriate expenditures. Monitors budget implementation/expenditures and recommends reallocation of funds as necessary.
• Reviews requisitions for goods and services to ensure (a) correct objects of expenditure have been charged, and (b) availability of funds.
• Monitors extra-budgetary resources, including review of agreements and cost plans, ensuring compliance with regulations and rules and established policies and procedures.
• Assists in the preparation of budget performance submissions.
• Assists in finalization of budget performance reports, analysing 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 to new allotments issued.
• Co-ordinates with other finance and budget staff on related issues during preparation of budget reports.  

Claims:

• Reviews, analyses and processes payments to third-parties and commercial entities, stores, pay and allowances, and letters of assist claims.  

Treasury:

• Reviews incoming payment instructions with regard to banking details and sources of funds.
• Prepares payments for final disbursement by Cashier.
• Dispatches payment instructions and cheques to banks.
• Creates receipts and deposits for all incoming funds.
• Notifies payees of status of payments.
• Assists staff members, Fund Management Officers and donors regarding queries on payment and deposit-related issues.
• Identifies and annotates bank account movements.  
• Monitors bank balances worldwide.
• Assists the Funds Management Officer in cash management and investment issues, including cash flow forecasts.
• Liaises with banks worldwide regarding outstanding items and payment instructions.
• Investigates complaints on non-receipts.
• Monitors cheque stock and orders new stock as required.
• Reviews inter and intra-unit processes with aim to optimise workflow and customer orientation.
• Monitors/reviews methods used to remit payments.
• Assist in preparation of periodical reports: cash flow, contributions, etc.
• Follows-up on audit recommendations.
• Follows-up on fraud cases.
• Files and archives as required.  

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.
• Provides 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. 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. 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.  
• PLANNING AND ORGANISING:  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

• High school diploma or equivalent is required.

Job - Specific Qualification

• Additional training or qualification in finance, budget or accounting is desirable.    

Work Experience

• A minimum of ten (10) years of progressively responsible experience in finance, budget, accounting, administrative services or related area is required.    
• Work experience with an Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system such as Oracle or SAP is required.    
• Experience in monitoring the financial performance of implementing partners is desirable.    
• Experience in developing guidelines/standard operating procedures and training materials is desirable.    
• Experience in an international organization such as the United Nations is desirable.    
• One (1) year or more of experience in data analytics or related area is desirable.