Budget Specialist

Job Posting Organization:
UNICEF, established in 1946, is a United Nations agency that works in over 190 countries and territories to advocate for the rights of children and to help them fulfill their potential. The organization focuses on reaching the most disadvantaged children in some of the world's toughest places, aiming to save lives and defend children's rights. UNICEF Nigeria is one of the largest country offices globally, working in a complex humanitarian and development setting to fulfill and protect children's rights in partnership with the government, civil society, children, and families. The organization is committed to building a better world for every child, every day, and never gives up on this mission.

Job Overview:
The Budget Specialist position at UNICEF involves significant responsibilities under the direct supervision of the Senior Health Manager/Polio Team Leader. The primary role is to track, analyze, and report on income and expenditures related to Polio and other programs, including donor contributions. The specialist will be accountable for analyzing needs, preparing, managing, and monitoring contributions from various sources of funds across outputs, contributing to the overall management of funds in the health section. This role requires integrating and analyzing data from diverse sources, identifying trends, and making informed judgments based on the analyses. The Budget Specialist will also support the formulation of strategies and concepts, aligning contribution management with health and HIV program outputs, and developing capacity-building plans for effective budget management. The position is crucial for ensuring compliance with donor conditions and for monitoring the utilization of resources effectively.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Support Polio Budget analysis and other outputs, focusing on achieving results by integrating and analyzing potentially conflicting numerical, verbal, and other data from various sources. Identify key trends across data sets and recognize inter-relationships among multiple issues. Make logical judgments based on analyses. Liaise with RO/HQ and technical colleagues to inform the section chief on budget management policies and guidelines.
• Support the formulation of strategies and concepts by assisting program assistants in aligning contribution management with health and HIV program outputs. Develop medium to long-term plans for effective budget management and capacity-building plans for the section.
• Participate in developing budget-related components of the Health and HIV section workplan, including Polio and Resource Mobilization strategies. Monitor compliance and ensure timely allocation of new grants, while also monitoring grants expiry dates.
• Manage financial dashboard reports and Polio staffing quarterly dashboards, generating financial progress reports and submitting monthly Management Indicator reports.
• Support the preparation and review of financial reports to donors, ensuring alignment with VISION reports and adherence to donor guidelines. Prepare budget-related documentation for fundraising functions and produce the Financial SitRep for Emergency appeals.

Required Qualifications:
The position requires an advanced university degree in Social Sciences, Statistics, Engineering, Business Administration, Finance/Accounts Management, or a related area of study. A minimum of five years of professional experience in areas such as program finance and budget management, operations, monitoring and reporting, public affairs, program management, resource mobilization, or external relations is essential. Experience in managing donors and partnerships, as well as multi-year grants, is required. Additionally, experience in polio and immunization grant management and working with UN agencies is considered an asset.

Educational Background:
Candidates must possess an advanced university degree in relevant fields such as Social Sciences, Statistics, Engineering, Business Administration, Finance/Accounts Management, or a related area. This educational background is crucial for understanding the complexities of budget management and financial reporting within UNICEF's operational framework.

Experience:
The role demands a minimum of five years of professional experience in relevant fields, particularly in program finance and budget management, operations, monitoring and reporting, public affairs, program management, resource mobilization, or external relations. Candidates should have experience managing donors and partnerships, as well as multi-year grants, with specific experience in polio and immunization grant management being highly desirable. Experience working with UN agencies is also beneficial.

Languages:
Fluency in English is required for this position. Proficiency in additional languages may be considered an asset, enhancing communication and collaboration within diverse teams and with various stakeholders.

Additional Notes:
This position is a temporary assignment, and UNICEF staff members holding fixed-term, continuing, or permanent appointments may apply. Selected candidates with a start date before December 31, 2025, may take it up as a temporary assignment. The conditions of the temporary assignment, including relocation entitlements, will depend on the staff member’s original appointment status. UNICEF promotes flexible working arrangements and has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct incompatible with its aims and objectives. All selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and adherence to UNICEF's standards and principles is expected.