Finance and Budget Officer

Posting Title: Finance and Budget Officer, P4
Job Code Title: FINANCE AND BUDGET OFFICER
Department/Office: Office of Information and Communications Technology
Duty Station: NEW YORK
Posting Period: 20 April 2023 – 03 June 2023
Job Opening Number: 23-Finance-OICT-206367-R-New York (X)
Staffing Exercise N/A

Org. Setting and Reporting
This position is located in the Enterprise Programme Management Section (EPMS) of the Office of Information and Communications Technology (OICT). The Finance and Budget Officer reports directly to the Section Chief.

The Office of Information and Communications Technology (OICT) is leading the digital transformation of the Organization to enable a better, safer, more sustainable future through secure, reliable, and innovative technology solutions. OICT is committed to achieving 50/50 gender balance and geographical diversity in its staff, and female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply for this position. OICT supports the principles of work-life balance and flexible work arrangements.

Responsibilities
Within delegated authority and under the overall guidance of the Chief of the Enterprise Programme Management Section (EPMS), the Finance & Budget Officer will be responsible for the following duties:

Budget preparation:

•  Reviews, analyses and finalizes cost estimates and budget proposals, in terms of staff and non-staff requirements; ensure compliance with the Programme Plan and other legislative mandates.
•  Provides detailed input with respect to resource requirements for budget submissions.
•  Reviews, analyzes and finalizes program budget/financial implications in light of additional mandates.
•  Provides substantive support to relevant intergovernmental and expert bodies in their budget review; assists in securing approval from the General Assembly.

Budget administration:

•  Issues allotments, authorizes sub-allotments, including redeployment of funds when necessary, ensuring appropriate expenditures.
•  Manages and monitors budget implementation and recommends reallocation of funds as necessary.
•  Monitors expenditures to ensure that they remain within authorized levels.
•  Authorizes payment to vendors and service providers.
•  Prepares budget performance submissions.
•  Oversees the review and finalization of budget performance reports; monitors variances between approved budgets and actual expenditures.
•  Provides substantive support to relevant intergovernmental and expert bodies.

Cost Recovery:

•  Manages and coordinates cost recovery related processes from end to end, including continuous improvement efforts.
•  Prepares budget instructions, guides cost plan development and analysis.
•  Closely works with internal service providers and management to agree on resource levels and changes to the cost recovery regime.
•  Coordinates the annual review and update of rate cards and advises service providers on pricing options and requirements. Ensures updates are properly approved and reflected in the Umoja service catalogue.
•  Oversees the billing process and monitoring of variances including workload volumes and outstanding receivables.
•  Ensures the cost recovery regime complies with applicable policies and procedures and that the financial health of cost recovery funded activities is maintained.
•  Monitors implementation, and proactively takes corrective action and in close collaboration with concerned parties.
•  Analyzes cost plan amendment requests and makes recommendations to management to resolve problems.
•  Responds promptly to address client entity concerns and coordinates issue resolution cross-functionally.

General:

•  Provides advice and guidance, including training, to headquarters and field staff on budgetary and financial policies and procedures, including results-based budgeting.
•  Participates in inter-departmental meetings and/or technical survey missions on matters related to resource requirements, programming and budgetary issues.
•  Keeps up to date on documents/reports/guidelines that have a bearing on matters related to program and/or peacekeeping budgets, ensuring compliance with intergovernmental recommendations and decisions as well as with United Nations policies and procedures.
•  Drafts reports for intergovernmental bodies and for management on budgetary issues, and correspondence.
•  Acts as Certifying Officer under Financial Rule 110.4 to ensure that proposed obligations and expenditures are in accordance with approved budgets and established regulations and rules.
•  Ensures the integrity of financial and management systems and the controls that underpin them.
•  Represents OICT in inter- and intra-departmental meetings.
•  Plans, organizes, manages and supervises the work of the Finance and Budget Unit.
•  Incumbents may be asked to perform other related duties.

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 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.

Client Orientation: Considers all those to whom services are provided to be “clients” and seeks to see things from clients’ point of view; establishes and maintains productive partnerships with clients by gaining their trust and respect; identifies clients’ needs and matches them to appropriate solutions; monitors ongoing developments inside and outside the clients’ environment to keep informed and anticipate problems; keeps clients informed of progress or setbacks in projects; meets timeline for delivery of products or services to client.

Education
An Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent degree) in business administration, finance, or related area is required. A first-level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Job – Specific Qualification

• A certification as a Certified Public Accountant (CPA), as a Chartered Management Accountant (CIMA) or equivalent is desirable.

Work Experience

• A minimum of seven years of progressively responsible experience in finance, administration, budget, business administration or related area is required.
•  Experience in the use of SAP and business intelligence tools in the management of extra-budgetary resources is required.
•  Experience with revenue generating or income producing activities is required.
• Experience handling, analyzing and interpreting complex financial data using analytical and reporting tools is desirable.
•  Experience leading budget and finance teams including preparing complex multi-funded budgets is desirable.
•  Experience with the operations of inter-governmental and legislative machinery 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 another official United Nations language is a desirable.

Assessment

Evaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise which may be followed by competency-based interview.

• Special Notice
  Staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General and to assignment by him or her. In this context, all staff are expected to move periodically to new functions in their careers in accordance with established rules and procedures
•  This post is financed by an extrabudgetary funding source for OICT. The appointment or assignment and renewal is therefore subject to the availability of the post or funds, budgetary approval or extension of the mandate.
•  The United Nations Secretariat is committed to achieving 50/50 gender balance and geographical diversity in its staff. Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply for this position.
•  At the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the recruitment and employment of staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence and integrity, with due regard to geographic diversity. All employment decisions are made on the basis of qualifications and organizational needs. The United Nations is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment of mutual respect. The United Nations recruits and employs staff regardless of gender identity, sexual orientation, race, religious, cultural and ethnic backgrounds or disabilities. Reasonable accommodation for applicants with disabilities may be provided to support participation in the recruitment process when requested and indicated in the application.

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.