Finance and Budget Officer

Job Posting Organization:
The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is the leading global environmental authority that sets the global environmental agenda, promotes the coherent implementation of the environmental dimension of sustainable development within the United Nations system, and serves as an authoritative advocate for the global environment. UNEP was established in 1972 and operates in over 150 countries, employing thousands of staff members dedicated to environmental issues. Its mission is to encourage sustainable development through sound environmental practices, and it plays a crucial role in coordinating responses to environmental challenges on a global scale.

Job Overview:
The Finance and Budget Officer position is located within UNEP's Law Division, specifically in the OzonAction Branch. The incumbent will work under the direct supervision of the Head of the OzonAction Branch and will be responsible for a variety of financial and budgetary functions. This includes reviewing and finalizing the preparation of the medium-term plan and its revisions, ensuring that legislative mandates are accurately translated into program budgets, and providing substantive support to intergovernmental and expert bodies during budget reviews. The role requires a strong understanding of financial principles and practices, as well as the ability to analyze and interpret data to support decision-making. The officer will also be involved in budget administration, including issuing allotments, monitoring expenditures, and preparing budget performance reports. Additionally, the position entails collecting and analyzing data to identify trends and providing insights for data-driven planning and reporting. The Finance and Budget Officer will also be expected to provide guidance on budgetary policies and procedures and participate in inter-departmental meetings regarding resource requirements and budgetary issues.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The duties and responsibilities of the Finance and Budget Officer include: reviewing, analyzing, and finalizing the preparation of the medium-term plan; providing substantive support to intergovernmental bodies in their review of the medium-term plan; ensuring compliance with legislative mandates in program budgets; reviewing and finalizing cost estimates and budget proposals; managing and monitoring budget implementation; administering extra-budgetary resources; preparing budget performance submissions; leading the annual Financial Progress Report process; collecting and analyzing data for insights; providing advice and guidance on budgetary policies; participating in inter-departmental meetings; drafting reports for intergovernmental bodies; conducting research and analysis of budgetary policies; acting as Certifying Officer under Financial Rule 110.4; liaising with UNEP's Corporate Services Division and other UN offices; ensuring the integrity of financial systems; and representing the Law Division in meetings.

Required Qualifications:
The position requires an advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent) in business administration, finance, accounting, or a related area. A first-level university degree combined with two additional years of relevant work experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced degree. Additionally, a finance or accounting qualification, such as Certification in Public Accounting (CPA) or Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA), is required. Successful completion of degree and non-degree programs in data analytics, business analytics, or data science is desirable.

Educational Background:
Candidates must possess an advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent) in business administration, finance, accounting, or a related field. Alternatively, a first-level university degree along with two additional years of relevant work experience may be accepted. It is also desirable for candidates to have completed programs in data analytics or business analytics.

Experience:
Candidates must have a minimum of seven years of progressively responsible experience in finance, administration, budget, or business administration. Experience with Systems Application and Products (SAP) or another Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system is required. Additionally, candidates should have experience in preparing and analyzing financial statements according to private or public sector accounting standards, as well as experience in providing financial management services to Multilateral Environmental Agreements (MEAs) or International Environmental treaties. Experience in data analysis, reconciliations, and reporting is also required, while experience in preparing reports for intergovernmental bodies or donors is desirable.

Languages:
English is required for this position, with a minimum proficiency level of UN Level II in reading, writing, listening, and speaking. French is also a working language of the United Nations Secretariat, but proficiency in French is not mandatory for this position.

Additional Notes:
The appointment for this position is limited to the United Nations Environment Programme and is for an initial period of one year, subject to extension based on the continued existence of the mandate and availability of funding. The position is classified as fixed-term appointment limited (FTA-limited). The United Nations is committed to achieving gender balance and encourages female candidates to apply. Reasonable accommodation may be provided for applicants with disabilities upon request. The United Nations does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process.