Budget Officer, NOA, Fixed Term, Dhaka, Bangladesh, #127973

UNICEF works in over 190 countries and territories to save children’s lives, defend their rights, and help them fulfill their potential, from early childhood through adolescence.

At UNICEF, we are committed, passionate, and proud of what we do. Promoting the rights of every child is not just a job – it is a calling.
UNICEF is a place where careers are built: we offer our staff diverse opportunities for personal and professional development that will help them develop a fulfilling career while delivering on a rewarding mission. We pride ourselves on a culture that helps staff thrive, coupled with an attractive compensation and benefits package.

Visit our website to learn more about what we do at UNICEF.

For every child, a future

Purpose for the job:

Budget Officer is expected to provide effective and efficient budget management services to Bangladesh country office, exercise effective oversight support regarding the programme budget management and work closely with programme colleagues at both national and field offices in ensuring that funds are monitored, and grants are effectively managed. In addition, the incumbent of the post will provide technical assistance to programme staff as required in ensuring that programme funds are optimally utilized.

The incumbent will assist for all programme budget and VISION programme budget related support and reporting for Bangladesh Country Office (BCO), perform a variety of specialized tasks in support of the preparation, monitoring and control of the budget, involving several different funding sources and several programme outcomes and outputs.  

How can you make a difference?

1. Effective and Efficient coding and maintenance of Country Programme Structure, Budget planning and allocation management:

• Assist in maintaining the Country Programme structure in line with UNICEF PIDB Coding, approved Country Programme Document (CPD) and signed Work Plans. Manages timely funding source allotments, allocation, revaluations and rephasing, making sure that data is updated correctly.
• Assist in liaising with the Resource Mobilization section for budget allocation for programme support and cross-sectoral costs.

2. Effective monitoring and optimum utilization of programme funds:

• Provide support to ensure the smooth and effective monitoring of the budget across all outcomes and outputs. Reconcile all Grants and resolve discrepancies as required. Make recommendations for appropriate actions to be taken to optimize the use of programme funds.
• Monitor compliance of utilization levels to ensure that objectives and targets are met and achieved as per global / office agreed benchmarks.
• Monitor Dashboard KPI on Budget Management and take timely actions to ensure the status of the Dashboard is green.
• Assist in managing cost distribution and payroll of PMR, other cross-sectoral staff members and all BCO staff when required and retrieves information on staff costs and related costs from automated files, complies them in standardized and customized reports.
• Work with Programme staff and relevant counterparts on providing business support for budget, monitoring fund utilization and grants management related issues.
• As required and appropriate, provide support to liaise with appropriate Divisions / Sections in Regional and Headquarters offices on budget and issues related to contributions.
• Assist in year-end closure of accounts by monitoring open commitments, communicating with programme and all staff making sure grants are 100% utilized.

3. Support Grants life cycle Management:

• Supports Grants Management and monitors grant expiry, levels of commitments and expenditures to ensure timely, accurate and appropriate budget management information and actions, including the need for timely Grant extension requests and financial closure.
• Supports staff and provides advice on how to rectify programme budget errors and discrepancies as detected.
• Maintains and monitors donor contribution financial database and financial utilization report to donors.
• Provide support in enabling an institutional memory within the office through development and maintenance of record keeping of allocations forms and emails; ensures the filing of and access to all the financial and budget related files on proposals, donor reports and all other financial documents.

4. Country Programme Budget Reports Management:

• Assist in ensuring that management and programmes are supported by timely, complete, and accurate budget reports that indicate appropriate status, trend analysis, funding gaps, alerts, and areas for action.
• Provide support to the preparation of specific reports and monitor, analyze, keep track of indicators status and advice on corrective actions. This would include designing/customizing (where appropriate) specific reports in collaboration with appropriate colleagues and share monthly and quarterly reports.
• Monitor insight, Fiori dashboard alerts and management reports, generate routine reports, specific financial reports reflecting utilisation levels, expenditures, donor funds utilisation reports, etc. Make recommendations and ensure key issues are raised with management.

5. Support Capacity Building initiatives aimed to strengthen UNICEF Staff and IP knowledge on Programme Budget Management skills:

• Assist in conducting training and other appropriate capacity building initiatives on budget management for UNICEF and IP staff. This includes training UNICEF staff on the appropriate use of corporate and office-wide systems such as financial management, vision, Fiori, insight, and reporting.
• Provide support in the capacity development of programme staff to improve the description of expenditures that appear in financial reports; ensures that donor reports receive timely budget/financial information.

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…

• University degree in Accounting, Finance, or any other discipline of Business Administration. Knowledge of automated budgeting and accounting systems and of the budget preparation and implementation process in the organization. 

• At least 1 year of practical experience in relevant disciplines – professional work experience in an international organization is desirable.

• Understanding of IPSAS accounting principle and its applications is considered as an asset.

• Prior experience in budget management, Finance and Grant management is considered as an asset.

• Advanced level of skill and expertise in MS Excel, financial/accounting database management is desirable.

• Working knowledge of Power BI is an asset.

• Relevant experience in a UN system agency is considered as an asset.

• Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) or a local language is an asset.

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF’s Core Values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust and Accountability and Sustainability (CRITAS) underpin everything we do and how we do it. Get acquainted with Our Values Charter: UNICEF Values

The UNICEF competencies required for this post are…

(1) Builds and maintains partnerships (2) Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness (3) Drive to achieve results for impact (4) Innovates and embraces change (5) Manages ambiguity and complexity (6) Thinks and acts strategically (7) Works collaboratively with others. 

Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels.

UNICEF is here to serve the world’s most disadvantaged children and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, or any other personal characteristic.

We offer a wide range of benefits to our staff, including paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks, and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF strongly encourages the use of flexible working arrangements.

UNICEF does not hire candidates who are married to children (persons under 18). UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority, and discrimination. UNICEF is committed to promoting the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference and background checks and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check.

UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance.  Issuance of a visa by the host country of the duty station is required for IP positions and will be facilitated by UNICEF. Appointments may also be subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid). Should you be selected for a position with UNICEF, you either must be inoculated as required or receive a medical exemption from the relevant department of the UN. Otherwise, the selection will be canceled.

Remarks:

As per 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.

UNICEF’s active commitment to diversity and inclusion is critical to deliver the best results for children. For this position, eligible and suitable female candidates are encouraged to apply.

Internal candidates who are legally permitted to work for UNICEF in Bangladesh, independently of UNICEF appointment, will also be considered.

Government employees who are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally required to resign from their government positions before taking up an assignment with UNICEF. UNICEF reserves the right to withdraw an offer of appointment, without compensation, if a visa or medical clearance is not obtained, or necessary inoculation requirements are not met, within a reasonable period for any reason. 

UNICEF does not charge a processing fee at any stage of its recruitment, selection, and hiring processes (i.e., application stage, interview stage, validation stage, or appointment and training). UNICEF will not ask for applicants’ bank account information.

All UNICEF positions are advertised, and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process. An internal candidate performing at the level of the post in the relevant functional area, or an internal/external candidate in the corresponding Talent Group, may be selected, if suitable for the post, without assessment of other candidates.

Additional information about working for UNICEF can be found here.