Senior Finance and Budget Assistant

Job Posting Organization:
The Department of Operational Support (DOS) was established to provide comprehensive operational support and advisory services to various entities across the United Nations Secretariat. This includes departments, Offices Away from Headquarters, peace operations, and regional commissions. The Division of Administration, located in New York, is responsible for delivering administrative support functions such as human resources, budget, finance, and general administration, as well as facility management and commercial services to entities at UN Headquarters. The DOS aims to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of the UN's operational capabilities by consolidating common administrative functions into unified service platforms, thereby ensuring compliance with established regulations and policies. The OneEO initiative, launched on July 1, 2026, is a key part of this reform effort, focusing on providing a full range of administrative and operational services to New York-based Secretariat client entities.

Job Overview:
The Senior Finance and Budget Assistant plays a crucial role within the Common Administrative Platform at United Nations Headquarters, specifically within the One Executive Office (OneEO) under the Division of Administration in the Department of Operational Support (DOS). This position is responsible for providing administrative and operational support to various assigned entities, including the Office of Disarmament Affairs. The role involves acting as a Certifying Officer in the absence of program managers, preparing and analyzing budget proposals, ensuring compliance with legislative mandates, and assisting in the preparation of budget performance submissions. The Senior Finance and Budget Assistant will also monitor budget implementation, review requisitions for goods and services, and supervise other General Service staff as required. This position requires a strong understanding of financial regulations and the ability to work collaboratively with various stakeholders to ensure effective budget management and compliance with UN policies.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The Senior Finance and Budget Assistant will undertake a variety of responsibilities, including but not limited to: acting as Certifying Officers on behalf of program managers, reviewing and analyzing budget proposals, assisting in the preparation of cost estimates, monitoring budget implementation and expenditures, recommending fund reallocations, reviewing requisitions for goods and services, and ensuring compliance with financial regulations. The role also involves preparing financial statements for donors, monitoring extra-budgetary resources, and assisting in the finalization of budget performance reports. Additionally, the Senior Finance and Budget Assistant will provide guidance and training to other General Service staff, assist in data collection and analysis, and prepare presentations and reports for knowledge management and decision-making purposes.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess a high school diploma or equivalent. A minimum of ten years of experience in finance, budget, accounting, or administrative services is required, with a reduction to eight years for those holding a first-level university degree or higher. Candidates should have at least five years of experience using an enterprise resource planning system in budgeting, finance, or accounting, as well as intermediate-level proficiency in Excel or similar applications. Familiarity with the Financial Regulations and Rules of the United Nations or similar organizations is desirable, along with experience in data analytics or related areas.

Educational Background:
The educational requirement for this position is a high school diploma or equivalent. However, candidates with a first-level university degree or higher may have their minimum experience requirement reduced, highlighting the importance of formal education in this field.

Experience:
The position requires a minimum of ten years of relevant experience in finance, budget, accounting, or administrative services. This requirement is reduced to eight years for candidates with a first-level university degree or higher. Additionally, candidates must have at least five years of experience using an enterprise resource planning system in budgeting, finance, or accounting, and experience in data analytics is considered an asset.

Languages:
English is the mandatory working language for this position, with a required proficiency level of UN Level II in reading, writing, listening, and speaking. While French is also a working language of the United Nations Secretariat, there are no specific desirable languages for this job opening.

Additional Notes:
This position is temporarily available for an initial period of six months, with the 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 is subject to local recruitment, and applicants must be authorized to work for the United Nations in the duty station where the position is located. Eligible applicants selected from outside the duty station are responsible for any relocation expenses. The United Nations does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process, and all employment decisions are made based on qualifications and organizational needs.