Finance and Budget Assistant (two posts), G5

Posting Title:	Finance and Budget Assistant (two posts), G5
Job Code Title:	FINANCE AND BUDGET ASSISTANT
Department/Office:	Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs
Duty Station:	NEW YORK
Posting Period:	01 July 2020 - 30 July 2020
Job Opening Number:	20-Finance-OCHA-137793-R-New York (X)
Staffing Exercise	N/A

Org. Setting and Reporting

This Job Opening is for two posts. These posts are located in the Country Based Pooled Fund Section, Pooled Fund Management Branch (New York), Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). 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.

The incumbents of these posts report to the Finance and Budget Officer. Responsibilities

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

BUDGET: • Assists in monitoring the availability of funds for financial commitments; reviews requisition of services/goods. • Requests registration of third parties/payees and associated banking details for payments • Prepares payment invoices, follows-up on status of payments. • Prepares financial cables authorizing United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to incur expenditure. • Assists in the preparation of supporting documents (narrative and supporting tables) with respect to finalization of cost estimates and budget proposals, in terms of staff and non-staff requirements. • Supports the Finance/Budget Officers(s) in extracting information and generating expenditure reports from computerized information system databases; assists in preliminary analyses of the extracted information and the reports generated, and highlights areas of concern for the attention of the Finance/Budget Officer(s). • Assists in the development of resource requirements for budget submissions and in the preparation of budget performance submissions. • Researches/compiles data and other information required by the Finance Budget Officer(s) in the review and analysis of relevant proposals. • Consolidates data and provides support to Finance/Budget Officer(s) with respect to budget reviews of relevant Country Based Pooled Funds (CBPF). • Assists the Finance/Budget Officer(s) in the preparation/finalization of budget performance reports, performing preliminary analysis of variances between approved budgets and actual expenditures. • Prepares pre-encumbrances and obligations in IMIS and review them to ensure that funds are available and the correct account has been used. • Assists the Finance/Officer(s) with data input in the budget instructions for CBPF operations. • Assists in monitoring the status of voluntary contributions, generating expenditure reports from IMIS and monitoring reporting requirements by donors. • Verifies accuracy of input data, ensuring consistency of data in previous allotments to new allotments issued. TREASURY: • Reviews incoming payment instructions with regard to banking details and sources of funds. • Creates receipts and deposits for all incoming funds. • Notifies payees of status of payments. • Assists staff members, Fund Management Officers and donors regarding queries on payment and deposit-related issues. • Identifies and annotates bank account movements. • Files and archives documentation as required. GENERAL • Keeps up-to-date on documents/reports/guidelines that have a bearing on matters related to programme budgets, ensuring compliance with intergovernmental recommendations and decisions as well as with United Nations policies and procedures. • Drafts routine correspondence with respect to enquiries related to relevant financial and budget matters. • Maintains and keep up-to-date files. • Provides administrative support to the Head of the organizational unit and/or Finance/Budget Officer(s), as required. • Performs other related duties, as assigned. Competencies

• PROFESSIONALISM: Knowledge of, and ability to apply financial rules, regulations and procedures in the UN environment. Ability to maintain accurate records, review and interpret a wide variety of data. Ability to identify and resolve data discrepancies and operational problems. 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. Commitment to implementing the goal of gender equality by ensuring the equal participation and full involvement of women and men in all aspects of work.

• PLANNING AND ORGANIZING: Develops clear goals that are consistent with agreed strategies; identifies priority activities and assignments; adjusts priorities as required; allocates appropriate amount of time and resources for completing work; foresees risks and allows for contingencies when planning; monitors and adjusts plans and actions as necessary; uses time efficiently. • ACCOUNTABILITY: Takes ownership of all responsibilities and honours commitments; delivers outputs for which one has responsibility within prescribed time, cost and quality standards; operates in compliance with organizational regulations and rules; supports subordinates, provides oversight and takes responsibility for delegated assignments; takes personal responsibility for his/her own shortcomings and those of the work unit, where applicable. Education

High school diploma or equivalent. Must have passed the United Nations Administrative Support Assessment Test (ASAT) at Headquarters or an equivalent locally-administered test at Offices Away from Headquarters.

Work Experience

Five years of experience in finance, budget, accounting, administrative services or related area is required. Relevant experience within the context of humanitarian affairs is desirable. Relevant experience in the UN Common System organization or other comparable international organization is desirable. Experience with extra-budgetary funding is desirable.

Languages

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the post advertised, fluency in oral and written English is required. Knowledge of another official United Nations language is desirable.

Assessment

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

Special Notice

These two positions are funded for a finite period of one year. Extension of the appointment is subject to extension of the mandate and the availability of the funds.

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. These positions are subject to local recruitment pursuant to staff rule 4.4 of the United Nations Staff Rules. All staff in the General Service and related categories shall be recruited in the country or within commuting distance of each office, irrespective of their nationality and of the length of time they may have been in the country. A staff member subject to local recruitment shall not be eligible for the allowances or benefits exclusively applicable to international recruitment. 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. 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.

APPLY HERE

Tags: Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA)