UN Programme Budget Officer

Job Posting Organization:
The position is located within the Office of the Director, Programme Planning and Budget Division (PPBD) of the Office of Programme, Planning, Finance and Budget (OPPFB) in the Department of Management, Strategy and Compliance (DMSPC) of the United Nations. The PPBD is responsible for formulating plans and forecasting resource requirements in accordance with legislative intent, developing and implementing policies, procedures, and methodologies related to the programme budget. The organization focuses on providing substantive services to the General Assembly and its subsidiary organs, ensuring accurate and timely estimation of activities and resources required to implement mandates, and optimizing processes through technology for continuous improvement. The United Nations aims to maintain a diverse workforce and encourages staff development and participation in change initiatives.

Job Overview:
The Programme Budget Officer plays a crucial role in the preparation and administration of the programme budget within the United Nations framework. This position involves reviewing, analyzing, and finalizing the Programme Plan and its revisions based on departmental submissions, ensuring that legislative mandates are accurately translated into program budgets. The officer provides substantive support to intergovernmental and expert bodies during their review processes and assists in securing approval from the General Assembly. The role also encompasses budget preparation, where the officer reviews and finalizes cost estimates and budget proposals, coordinates budget implications, and monitors budget implementation. The Programme Budget Officer is expected to draft high-quality communications products, coordinate day-to-day operations of the Office of the Director, and provide guidance and training on budgetary and financial policies to staff. The position requires a proactive approach to ensure compliance with intergovernmental recommendations and United Nations policies, as well as effective communication and collaboration with various stakeholders.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The Programme Budget Officer will be responsible for the following duties:

• Programme Plan: Review, analyze, and finalize the preparation of the Programme Plan and its revisions based on departmental submissions, ensuring legislative mandates are accurately translated into program budgets.
• Budget Preparation: Review, analyze, and finalize cost estimates and budget proposals, coordinating with departments and offices to ensure accuracy and compliance.
• Budget Administration: Issue allotments, authorize sub-allotments, manage budget implementation, monitor expenditures, and provide substantive support to intergovernmental bodies.
• General Duties: Draft and deliver high-quality communications products, coordinate day-to-day operations, ensure effective work planning, provide advice and guidance to staff, participate in inter-departmental meetings, and represent the division in various forums.
• Additional Duties: Perform other related duties as required, ensuring high standards of quality and accountability across all deliverables.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess a strong knowledge of financial principles and the ability to apply financial rules, regulations, and procedures. They should demonstrate professional competence in budgetary and financial planning, monitoring budget execution, and reporting budgetary information. The ability to independently perform budget analysis and compare historical and actual financial data is essential. Candidates should also have a comprehensive understanding of International Public Sector Accounting Standards and the ability to draft clear and accurate budget and strategic planning documents. A commitment to gender perspectives and equal participation in all areas of work is also required.

Educational Background:
An advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in business administration, public administration, finance, accounting, or a related field is required. Alternatively, a first-level university degree combined with an additional two years of qualifying work experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced degree.

Experience:
A minimum of seven years of experience in budgeting, administration, financial management, or a related area is required. Candidates should have at least four years of experience with results-based approaches to budgeting in a large international organization, including three years of experience in preparing reports and presentations on programmatic and budgetary issues for intergovernmental bodies. Additionally, two years of experience using data to inform decisions and strategies, including summarizing and presenting insights from large data sets, is required. Experience with financial systems or finance modules of enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems such as Oracle, SAP, or PeopleSoft is also necessary, along with experience in simplifying business processes and procedures through automation being desirable.

Languages:
English is the required working language for this position, with a minimum proficiency level of UN Level II in reading, writing, listening, and speaking. French is considered a desirable language, with a minimum proficiency level of UN Level I in reading, writing, listening, and speaking.

Additional Notes:
This position is temporarily available until 31 December 2026, with a possibility of extension. If the selected candidate is a staff member from the United Nations Secretariat, the selection will be administered as a temporary assignment. The position may be limited to internal candidates who have been recruited through a competitive examination or selection process. The United Nations is committed to achieving gender balance and encourages female candidates to apply. The organization does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process and is dedicated to creating a diverse and inclusive environment.