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

Responsibilities

PROJECT DESIGN & DEVELOPMENT:

• Verify documents for overall budgetary accuracy, consistency and uniformity in presentation and ensure comprehensiveness and compliance with formats prescribed.
• Cross-check consistency of figures in tables with the text of the reports, and verify references to other reports and documents, suggest corrections to be made to the Fund Management Officer concerned.
• Co-ordinate with other finance and programme staff in preparing budgets with respect to project document.
• Liaise with Executing Agency and UNON to obtain third party/payee details.

PROJECT IMPLEMENTATION:

• Prepare/review funding documents for budget allotments, review expenditure reports from executing agencies to ensure (a) correct account and objects of expenditure have been charged (b) validity of charges (c) availability of funds.
• Review/prepare project structure and commitments in Umoja.
• Review and process cash advances, UNDP authorizations and fund transfers to EAs, ensuring that the advances are within the approved budget and approved by FMO.
• Initiate processing of cash advances and expenditures through UNON applications portal and follow up with UNON for remittances of funds and liquidation of expenditure reports.
• Notify payees of status of payments and investigate complaints of non-receipt.
• Assist FMO with regular review of UNDP IOVs to ensure that they have been properly recorded.
• Monitor expenditures to ensure they remain within authorized levels.
• Analyze variances between approved budgets and expenditures and prepare adjustments as necessary.
• Assist in annual project revisions and supporting schedules.
• Reconcile project accounts against independent audit certificates received from executing agencies.

PROJECT EVALUATION AND CLOSURE:

• Update project database with relevant project information on revision/closure of project.
• Provide financial information required in Project Implementation Review (PIR), Mid-term review/evaluation and Terminal Evaluation.
• Assist in the preparation of project completion and closing revision and supporting schedules. Process disposal of non-expendable equipment in accordance with UNEP procedures before closure of projects.
• Prepare request for refund of unspent balances for approval by Fund Management Officer.
• Track receipt of expected income through Treasury deposit report and ensures credit is posted correctly to the proper Trust Fund.

GENERAL:

• Provide general administrative support to Fund Management Officer and other team members.
• Provide guidance and training to colleagues and supervise other General Service staff as required.
• Track and follow-up on administrative processes in progress.
• Maintain and keep up-to-date project files. Archive documentation as required, Keep log of archived files and track of archived information.
• 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: Good knowledge of general administrative processes and procedures in particular those related to programme/project administration, implementation and evaluation. 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; Takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas 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.
• COMMUNICATION: Speaks and writes clearly and effectively; Listens to others, correctly interprets messages from others and responds appropriately; Asks questions to clarify, and exhibits interest in having two-way communication; Tailors language, tone, style and format to match audience; Demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed.

Education

• High school diploma or equivalent 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 work experience in finance, budget, accounting, administrative services or related area is required.Experience in grants management, funds management and financial management modules in an Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system such as Systems Applications and Products (SAP) is required.Experience with Global funds such as Global Environment Facility (GEF), Adaptation Fund (AF) and/or Green Climate Fund (GCF) is desirable.
• One (1) year or more of experience in data analytics or related area is desirable.
• Work experience in the UN system or a similar international organization is desirable.

Closing: 13 December 2022