FINANCE AND BUDGET OFFICER – UNITAMS
Job Opening
Posting Title | FINANCE AND BUDGET OFFICER, P3 |
Job Code Title | FINANCE AND BUDGET OFFICER |
Duty Station | KHARTOUM |
Issuing Date | 07/03/2023 |
Closing Date | 20/03/2023 |
Org. Setting and Reporting
The position is located in the United Nations Integrated Transition Assistance Mission in Sudan (UNITAMS). The United Nations Security Council adopted resolution 2524 (2020) authorizing the mandate of UNITAMS which is to assist the political transition, progress towards democratic governance, in the protection and promotion of human rights, and sustainable peace; support peace processes and implementation of future peace agreements; assist peacebuilding, civilian protection and rule of law, in particular in Blue Nile and South Kordofan (the Two Areas) and Darfur; and support the mobilisation of economic and development assistance and coordination of humanitarian assistance.
The position is based in Khartoum, Sudan and is located in the Finance Unit, within Operations and Resource Management Section. The incumbent will report to the Chief Finance and Budget Officer.
Responsibilities
Within the limits of delegated authority, the Finance and Budget Officer will be responsible for performing the following duties:
Strategic Resourcing and Stewardship
•Prepares cost estimates and budget proposals, in terms of Mission’s resourcing requirements such as staff and non-staff requirements, including programmatic aspects; reviews, analyses and revises data with respect to the finalization of the budget proposals as well as Result Based Budgeting inputs;
•Provides support to programme/fund centre managers (Substantive and Support Sections) with respect to the elaboration of resource requirements for budget submissions;
•Administers and monitors extra-budgetary resources, including review of agreements and cost plans, ensuring compliance with regulations and rules and established policies and procedures;
•Administers the Mission’s allotments in accordance with the established procedures including redeployment/reallocation of funds;
•Ensures the efficient and effective use of budgetary resources through robust monitoring of budget utilization to the approved budget and timely provision of information to Mission management for decision making; provides support and guidance to fund centre/programme managers on budget implementation and corrective actions where necessary;
•Prepares the budget performance report of the Mission and ensures that correct and accurate data and information are provided by the various programme /fund centre managers in compliance with the Controller’s instructions. Reviews and finalises the performance reports ensuring valid and adequate variance explanations between approved budgets and actual expenditures;
•Advises and ensures that only valid year-end budget commitments confirming with established procedures are valid for carrying forward;
•Carries out duties consistent with the financial delegation in adherence with the UN Regulations and Rules;
•Provides advice, financial interpretations, adaptations and corrective actions in response to audits and other queries to ensure adherence to the UN Financial Regulations and Rules, Staff Rules, Administrative Instructions, Bulletins and Circulars under the supervision/guidance of the CMS.
Performance Monitoring
• Performs analysis, preparation and delivery of strategic support and business intelligence to operational counterparts and Mission leadership on financial resourcing and stewardship, and
organizational performance of the Mission, in line with Mission priorities. Actively participates and engages in planning, monitoring and reporting of financial and operational performance.
Finance:
• Analyses and reviews/evaluates enterprise risk management registers from departments/offices and Peacekeeping Missions. Identifies inconsistencies with the Mission’s internal control framework resolving them in a timely and effective manner.
• Approves/Confirms that proposed obligations or expenditure for services, facilities supplies and equipment expenses, as well as those pertaining to personnel, are in accordance with the Financial Regulations and Rules of the UN, relevant appropriations and staffing tables and corresponding approved allotments/appropriations.
• Ensures that accurate and complete reporting and internal control systems are functioning and that all relevant records are maintained.
• Assists, prepares, or consolidates the reports on cases of fraud and presumptive fraud for inclusion in the UN Financial Statements to be audited. Responds to internal/external audit observations.
• Provides advice and guidance concerning the United Nations’ Financial Regulations and Rules, policies and guidelines and Financial Instructions.
• Provides authoritative interpretation of requirements for implementing the Secretariat’s internal control framework.
• Monitors, analyses transactions recorded into the governance risk compliance system.
• Defines requirements and works with systems units with respect to relevant risk compliance reports.
• Participates in the development of financial and budgetary policies.
• Provides information needed to respond to audit findings.
Other
• Oversees the daily operation of the Office;
• Ensures that daily activities are in compliance with the DOS Environmental and Waste Management policies and in line with the DOS Environment Strategy objectives;
• Performs other 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 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 and Organizing: Develops clear goals that are consistent with agreed strategies; Identifies priority activities and assignments and 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
An advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in business administration, public administration, finance or in a related area is required. A first-level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience in accounting, budget or finance may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
Work Experience
A minimum of five years of progressively responsible experience in finance, budget, administration, public administration, business administration or related area is required.
Experience in cost management, budget formulation, financial monitoring, accounting, audit, financial reporting or other related area is required.
Experience in translating strategies into financial plans and operations is desirable.
Experience working in a volatile, conflict or post conflict settings is desirable.
Experience in the United Nations system or a comparable international organization is desirable.
Experience in applying private sector or public sector accounting standards such as International Financial Report Standard (IFRS) or International Public Sector Accounting Standard (IPSAS) is required.
Working experience with Systems Application and Products (SAP) or another Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system is required.
Experience preparing Financial Statements is desirable.
Experience in data analytics or related area is desirable
Languages
English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the position advertised, fluency in English is required. Knowledge of Arabic is desirable.
Assessment
Previously rostered candidates are not subject to any further assessment and as such, will not be invited for such an assessment.
Special Notice
The selected candidate is expected to start as soon as possible.
This “Recruit from Roster” job opening is only open to roster applicants who are already placed on pre-approved rosters, following a review by a United Nations Central Review Body. Only roster applicants who were placed on rosters with similar functions at the same level are considered to be eligible candidates. Eligible applicants receive an email inviting them to apply. Rostered applicants are encouraged to apply only if they are interested and available to take up the position at the duty station specified in the Job Opening.
Applying to this job opening carries an expectation to accept the offer, if selected. The United Nations Secretariat is committed to achieving 50/50 gender balance in its staff. Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply for this position. In this context, all staff are expected to move periodically to new functions in their careers in accordance with established rules and procedures. An impeccable record for integrity and professional ethical standards, is essential.
United Nations Considerations
According to article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity. Candidates will not be considered for employment with the United Nations if they have committed violations of international human rights law, violations of international humanitarian law, sexual exploitation, sexual abuse, or sexual harassment, or if there are reasonable grounds to believe that they have been involved in the commission of any of these acts. The term “sexual exploitation” means any actual or attempted abuse of a position of vulnerability, differential power, or trust, for sexual purposes, including, but not limited to, profiting monetarily, socially or politically from the sexual exploitation of another. The term “sexual abuse” means the actual or threatened physical intrusion of a sexual nature, whether by force or under unequal or coercive conditions. The term “sexual harassment” means any unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature that might reasonably be expected or be perceived to cause offence or humiliation, when such conduct interferes with work, is made a condition of employment or creates an intimidating, hostile or offensive work environment, and when the gravity of the conduct warrants the termination of the perpetrator’s working relationship. Candidates who have committed crimes other than minor traffic offences may not be considered for employment.
Due regard will be paid to the importance of recruiting the staff on as wide a geographical basis as possible. The United Nations places no restrictions on the eligibility of men and women to participate in any capacity and under conditions of equality in its principal and subsidiary organs. The United Nations Secretariat is a non-smoking environment.
The paramount consideration in the appointment, transfer, or promotion of staff shall be the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity. By accepting an offer of appointment, United Nations staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General and assignment by him or her to any activities or offices of the United Nations in accordance with staff regulation 1.2 (c). In this context, all internationally recruited staff members shall be required to move periodically to discharge new functions within or across duty stations under conditions established by the Secretary-General.
Applicants are urged to follow carefully all instructions available in the online recruitment platform, inspira. For more detailed guidance, applicants may refer to the Manual for the Applicant, which can be accessed by clicking on “Manuals” hyper-link on the upper right side of the inspira account-holder homepage.
The evaluation of applicants will be conducted on the basis of the information submitted in the application according to the evaluation criteria of the job opening and the applicable internal legislations of the United Nations including the Charter of the United Nations, resolutions of the General Assembly, the Staff Regulations and Rules, administrative issuances and guidelines. Applicants must provide complete and accurate information pertaining to their personal profile and qualifications according to the instructions provided in inspira to be considered for the current job opening. No amendment, addition, deletion, revision or modification shall be made to applications that have been submitted. Candidates under serious consideration for selection will be subject to reference checks to verify the information provided in the application.
Job openings advertised on the Careers Portal will be removed at 11:59 p.m. (New York time) on the deadline date.
No Fee
THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.