Finance And Budget Assistant

Org. Setting and Reporting

This position is located in the Strategic Planning, Budget and Finance Section (SPBFS), Executive Office, at the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), in Geneva. OCHA is part of the United Nations Secretariat responsible for bringing together humanitarian actors to ensure a coherent response to emergencies. OCHA also ensures there is a framework within which each actor can contribute to the overall response efforts. OCHA’s mission is to mobilize and coordinate effective and principled humanitarian action in partnership with national and international actors in order to alleviate human suffering in disasters and emergencies; advocate the rights of people in need; promote preparedness and prevention and facilitate sustainable solutions. This position-specific job opening is being advertised for the position of Finance and Budget Assistant in the Strategic Planning, Budget and Finance Section (SPBFS), Executive Office (EO) at OCHA Geneva. Under the overall supervision of Finance and Budget Officer/Head of Unit, the incumbent will report to the Finance and Budget Officer within SPBFS.

Responsibilities

Within delegated authority, the Finance and Budget Assistant will be responsible for the following duties:

Budget and finance:

• Provides support with respect to the review, analyses and preparation of the medium-term plan and its revisions.
• Prepares supporting documents (narrative and supporting tables) with respect to finalization of cost estimates and budget proposals, in terms of staff and non-staff requirements.
• Assists managers in the elaboration of resource requirements for budget submissions.
• Undertakes research and provides support to higher level Finance & Budget Officers with respect to budget reviews.
• Monitors expenditures and compares with approved budget; prepares adjustments as necessary.
• Reviews requisitions for goods and services to ensure (a) correct objects of expenditure have been charged, and (b) availability of funds.
• Prepares financial statements and management reports.
• Reviews the monthly UNDP Inter-office Vouchers and other monthly financial reports related to HQ and field presences to ensure validity, accuracy and compliance with UNFRR (United Nations Financial Rules and Regulations) prior to the upload in Umoja.
• Coordinates with service units and liaises with internal team members both at Headquarters and in the field; performs other related administrative duties.
• Assists in preparation of budget performance submissions and finalization of budget performance reports, analyzing 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.
• Periodic reconciliation of accounts.
• Prepares request to Controller’s Office on redeployment of funds and to Finance section on movement of funds.
• Records in Umoja inputs on direct disbursement and miscellaneous document.
• Reviews data on monthly staffing complement.
• Processes fund distribution received from HQ and input allotment advice in Umoja System.

General:

• Keeps up to date on documents/reports/guidelines that have a bearing on matters related to programme, ensuring compliance with inter-governmental 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.
• Maintains and keeps up to date files.
• May be responsible for providing guidance, training and daily supervision to other general service staff in the area of responsibility.
• Performs other related duties, as assigned.

Education

• High school diploma or equivalent is required.

Work Experience

• A minimum of (7) seven years of experience in finance, budget, accounting, administrative services or related area is required. The minimum years of relevant experience is reduced to five (5) for candidates who possess a first-level university degree or higher. Experience working with Microsoft Excel is required.
• Experience in using the financial functions of an ERP systems such as Umoja, SAP or Oracle is required. Experience in the budgeting process and analyzing financial data and reports is desirable.
• Experience with the financial rules and regulations of the UN or similar international organizations, as well as experience with IPSAS accounting standards, is desirable.

Languages

• English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the post advertised, fluency in English is required. Knowledge of French is desirable.

Source: https://careers.un.org/jobSearchDescription/249106?language=en