Org. Setting and Reporting

This position is located in the Payroll and Payments Section of the Finance Division, Office of Programme Planning, Finance and Budget (OPPFB), Department of Management Strategy, Policy and Compliance (DMSPC).

The Payroll and Payments Section administers payroll and benefits compensation of all staff members in the United Nations organization at Headquarters as well as International Staff in field missions. The Section is directly accountable for the complete management of any and all payroll-related tasks within the Umoja System. he Accounts Payable Unit supports the payables and travel finance processes of both United Nations field operations and Headquarters.

The Finance & Budget Officer reports to the Head of the Section.

Responsibilities

Within delegated authority, the Finance & Budget Officer will be responsible for the following duties:

Programme plan:

• Reviews, analyses and finalizes the preparation of the programme plan and its revisions on the basis of departmental submissions, taking into account recommendations and decisions of specialized inter-governmental bodies.
• Provides substantive support to relevant intergovernmental and expert bodies in their review of the programme plan and its revisions; assists in securing approval from the General Assembly.
• Ensures legislative mandates are accurately translated into programme budgets.

Budget preparation:

• Reviews and analyses data with respect to the finalization of cost estimates and budget proposals, in terms of staff and non-staff requirements from (a) Departments/offices at Headquarters and in the field, including programmatic aspects; and (b) medium-sized peacekeeping operations.
• Provides support to managers with respect to the elaboration of resource requirements for budget submissions.
• Reviews, analyses and provides input into finalization of programme budget/financial implications to the Security Council statements 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/appropriations, including redeployment of funds when necessary, ensuring appropriate expenditures.
• Monitors budget implementation and determines/recommends reallocation of funds when necessary.
• Monitors expenditures to ensure that they remain within authorized levels.
• Authorizes payment to Governments for settlement of certified death and disability, contingent-owned equipment and letters-of-assist claims; determines average monthly troop strengths, establishing amounts reimbursable and initiating payments for reimbursement to troop-contributing countries.
• Reviews all requisitions for goods and services to ensure correct objects of expenditure have been charged, ensuring availability of funds.
• Administers and monitors extra-budgetary resources, including review of agreements and cost plans, ensuring compliance with regulations and rules and established policies and procedures.
• Prepares relevant documentation with respect to budget performance submissions.
• Reviews and makes appropriate recommendations with respect to the finalization of budget performance reports, analysing variances between approved budgets and actual expenditures.
• Provides substantive support to intergovernmental and legislative bodies.

Finance:

• Analyses accounts and reviews/evaluates regular financial reports at Headquarters, from Offices-away-from-Headquarters and Peacekeeping Missions. Identifies problem transactions and irregularities in related accounts, 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 accounting, reporting and internal control systems are functioning and that all relevant records are maintained.
• Assists, prepares or consolidates financial statements for inclusion in the UN Financial Statements to be audited. Responds to internal/external audit observations. Reviews the financial statements of other entities for which the Controller has certification authority.
• Provides advice and guidance concerning the United Nations’ Financial Regulations and Rules and Accounting Instructions.
• Provides authoritative interpretation of requirements for handling transactions.
• Monitors, analyses transactions recorded into the accounting system.
• Defines requirements and works with systems units with respect to production of relevant financial reports.
• Participates in the development of accounting policies.
• Provides information needed to respond to audit findings.
• Keeps abreast and provides guidance on the payroll module of the UN ERP System (Umoja) procedures
• Defines requirements and works with focal points in HR and Umoja with respect to system bugs, enhancements and roll out of new functionality.

General:

• Keeps up-to-date on documents/reports/guidelines that have a bearing on matters related to programme and/or peacekeeping budgets, ensuring compliance with intergovernmental recommendations and decisions as well as with United Nations policies and procedures;
• Keeps up-to-date on current financial regulations/professional publications and accepted principles;
• Has in depth understanding of generally accepted accounting principles;
• Monitors and supervises the work of staff as required (usually in the field);
• Performs other related duties, as assigned.

Education

• Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in business administration, finance, accounting, or related field. A first-level university degree in the specified fields of studies with two additional years of relevant work experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
• Certification as a Certified Public Accountant (CPA), Chartered Accountant (CA) or equivalent is desirable.

Work Experience

• A minimum of five years progressively responsible experience in accounting, finance, administration, budget, business administration or related area is required.
• In addition, at least two of the required years of experiences should be in the administration or support of travel claims processing or other staff related entitlements processing is required.
• Experience working with Staff Regulations and Rules, Financial Regulations and Rules, and procedures of the United Nations System or similar large international organization is desirable.
• Experience in investigating, resolving and reconciling complex travel related transactions with SAP, PeopleSoft or similar ERP system is desirable.
• Experience supervising a team is desirable.

Languages

• English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the positions advertised, fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official United Nations language is an advantage.

Source:https://careers.un.org/lbw/jobdetail.aspx?id=157742