Under the supervision of the Senior Finance and Administrative Officer, the Associate Finance and Budget Officer shall act as a focal point on providing guidance and advice on ICTP's accounting and budget processes. The incumbent will ensure that all ICTP specific processes in the area of budget and finance are supporting the business needs of ICTP, are properly implemented and are aligned with UNESCO's rules and regulations and with International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSAS). The incumbent will overview the implementation of the ICTP processes in the IT systems (UNESCO systems and ICTP legacy systems) and ensure that the ICTP processes are properly supported. The incumber will also supervise the Budget and Control Unit. On matters of financial internal control, he/she receives a delegated authority from the UNESCO’s Chief Finance Officer as certifying officer.
Essential responsibilities will include:
Document and manage all ICTP processes in the area of Finance and Budgeting and verify the proper IT implementation and support:
Ensure that all ICTP processes in the area of budget and finance are supporting the business needs of ICTP, are properly implemented, aligned with UNESCO's rules and regulations and with IPSAS, and are monitored.
Draft and update Standard Operating Procedures on ICTP budget and finance matters.
Verify the proper implementation and support of the processes by the various IT applications and its interfaces.
Supervise the Budget and Control Unit and participate in the preparation of the Institute’s yearly budget for activities and staff costs and follow up on budget implementation:
Consolidate budget proposals from Sections and activities and support the creation of the budget proposal.
Provide expert advise and guidance on the elaboration of the Institute’s budgets.
Oversee the preparation of the initial staff cost estimates based on the historical data and the outlook.
Prepare various reports related to budget proposals and expenditure reports to be presented to the Supervisor and ICTP stakeholders.
Oversee the production of budget status reports on a regular basis for monitoring budget implementation and to support management decision making process.
Support the creation of budget codes based on annual Governing Board approved budget and the other extra budgetary funds after the approval from the Director, ICTP and allocate allotments.
Review and make appropriate recommendations on budget implementation and reallocation of funds when necessary.
Verify and implement requests for transfers of funds and for fund reservations.
Prepare and perform the Carry Forward activities at the beginning of the budget year.
Provide general oversight to the 'Accounting Invoice Control and Travel Team' and perform the following activities:
Monitor the periodical closure activities and review the annual IPSAS compliant Financial Statement and accompanying notes.
Create the budget related Statements and reports.
Ensure that ICTP’s financial resources and expenditures are fully and properly accounted for and that internal controls systems are adequate and functioning.
Collaborate with internal and external auditors on accounting and budget matters.
Act as Certifying Officer ensuring that financial transactions are in compliance with UNESCO’s regulations, rules, policies and procedures.
Collaborate with the Procurement Unit on the presentation of high value acquisitions and disposals to the UNESCO Contracts Committee.
Perform the financial accounting for fixed assets and oversee the asset control verification process.
Required Qualifications:
Education:
Advanced university degree (Master’s or equivalent) in the field of Finance, Business Administration, Accounting, Economics or a related discipline.
Work Experience:
A minimum of two years of relevant work experience in finance, accounting, budget or business administration.
Experience with the Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) and finance system such as Oracle or SAP.
Experience with International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSAS).
Ability to supervise staff and teams.
Languages:
Excellent knowledge (spoken and written) of English.
