Finance and Budget Assistant

Job Advertisement

Position Title: Finance and Budget Assistant
Location: Nairobi
Country: Kenya
Deadline Date: Not specified

Job Details

Job Posting Organization:
The United Nations Office at Nairobi (UNON) serves as the UN headquarters in Africa and is the office of the Secretary-General. Established to support the implementation of various UN programs, including the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), UN Resident Coordination System (RCS), and the UN Human Settlements Programme (UN-HABITAT), UNON provides essential administrative, conference, and information services to other UN offices in Kenya and globally. The organization is committed to promoting gender equality and diversity within its workforce, ensuring that all staff members contribute to a collaborative and inclusive environment.

Job Overview:
The Finance and Budget Assistant position is integral to the operations of the Budget and Financial Management Services (BFMS) within the Division of Administrative Services (DAS) at UNON. The role involves assisting in the preparation of budget proposals, monitoring budget implementation, and ensuring compliance with UN financial regulations. The incumbent will be responsible for processing financial documents, auditing transactions, and maintaining accurate accounting records. This position requires a strong understanding of financial rules and the ability to analyze data to support decision-making processes. The assistant will work closely with other finance and budget staff, providing support in various financial tasks and ensuring that all operations align with the organization's priorities and regulations.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The Finance and Budget Assistant will undertake a variety of duties, including:

• Assisting in the collection of data for cost estimates and budget proposals related to both staff and non-staff requirements.
• Preparing reports for management and monitoring budget performance.
• Ensuring requisitions for goods and services comply with authorized budgets and UN financial rules.
• Processing financial documents such as accounts payable and payroll, and auditing transactions for correctness.
• Reviewing and analyzing accounting data, ensuring completeness and accuracy of supporting documents.
• Performing reconciliations of accounts and clearing suspense accounts.
• Responding to queries and drafting correspondence for clients and stakeholders.
• Assisting in data extraction and analysis for regular and ad hoc reports.
• Supervising junior staff and interns, and performing backup duties as required. 1
• Contributing to the creation of visual materials and updating information resources.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess a high school diploma or equivalent, with supplementary training in finance, administration, information technology, or project management being desirable. A minimum of five years of progressively responsible work experience in finance, budget, or related fields is required. Candidates with a first-level university degree may have the minimum experience requirement reduced by two years. Experience with Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems and finance systems such as Oracle or SAP is highly desirable, as is experience in data analytics.

Educational Background:
The educational requirement for this position includes the completion of a high school diploma or equivalent. Additional training in finance, administration, information technology, or project management is considered an asset and may enhance a candidate's application.

Experience:
The position requires a minimum of five years of relevant work experience in finance, budget, or program management. Candidates with a first-level university degree may have this requirement reduced to three years. Experience with ERP systems and integrated business processes is desirable, as well as at least one year of experience in data analytics or a related area.

Languages:
Fluency in English is mandatory for this position, as it is one of the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. Knowledge of another official UN language is considered desirable. Fluency is defined as a rating of 'fluent' in all four areas: reading, writing, speaking, and understanding. Knowledge of another language is defined as being 'confident' in two of the four areas.

Additional Notes:
The appointment for this position is for an initial period of one year, with the possibility of extension subject to the availability of funds. This position is subject to local recruitment, meaning that candidates must be residents of Kenya or within commuting distance. Staff members recruited locally are not eligible for international recruitment benefits. The United Nations is committed to achieving gender balance and encourages female candidates to apply. All applicants are advised to apply online as soon as possible after the job opening has been posted.