Finance and Budget Assistant

Job Posting Organization:
The United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) is an agency of the United Nations established to promote socially and environmentally sustainable towns and cities. It serves as the focal point for all urbanization and human settlement matters within the UN system. UN-Habitat collaborates with various partners to build inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable cities and communities, aiming to reduce inequality, discrimination, and poverty through positive urbanization.

Job Overview:
The Finance and Budget Assistant position is integral to the Management Advisory and Compliance Service (MACS) at UN-Habitat, located in Nairobi. The incumbent will work under the guidance of the Chief of the Budget and Finance Unit and the direct supervision of the Associate Finance Officer. The role encompasses a variety of functions including financial management, donor reporting, project management, and compliance with International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSAS). The assistant will be responsible for creating budget revisions, providing administrative support, producing financial reports, and ensuring compliance with financial regulations. The position also involves training interns and new staff, as well as assisting with data analysis and presentation for decision-making purposes.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Programme and Financial Management: Create budget revisions and allotments in Umoja and other financial systems; provide finance and administrative support to various units and projects; produce annual financial reports; assist with clearing Inter Office Vouchers (IOVs); monitor outstanding commitments and liaise with Programme Management Officers (PMOs).
• Donor Reporting: Prepare and verify donor reports and receipts.
• Project Management and Budget: Assist in project creation and budget coding; prepare Country Activity Reports and monthly fund reports.
• IPSAS Compliance: Compile IPSAS balances and monitor compliance with accrual accounting requirements.
• Umoja ERP System: Manage grant data uploads, participate in data cleansing, and generate Grant Management Reports.
• Support to Audit: Prepare documents for auditors, assist in donor report preparation, and draft correspondence.
• Training: Provide guidance to interns and new staff.
• Data Analysis: Assist in data collection and preparation of presentations.
• Visualizations: Update information materials such as web pages. 1
• Other Duties: Perform additional related tasks as assigned.

Required Qualifications:
Completion of a high school diploma or equivalent is required. Supplementary training in accounting, finance, or related fields is essential. Candidates should possess a minimum of five years of relevant work experience in accounting, finance, or project administration. This requirement is reduced to three years for candidates with a first-level university degree or higher. Experience with Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems, particularly SAP, is required, along with desirable experience within the United Nations System or similar organizations. Experience in data analytics is also a plus.

Educational Background:
A high school diploma or equivalent is mandatory, with supplementary training in accounting and finance or related fields being required. A first-level university degree can reduce the experience requirement, making candidates eligible with three years of relevant experience instead of five.

Experience:
Candidates must have a minimum of five years of work experience in accounting, finance, program or project administration, or a related area. This requirement is reduced to three years for those with a first-level university degree or higher. Experience with ERP systems like SAP is essential, and familiarity with the United Nations System or similar international organizations is desirable. Additionally, having at least one year of experience in data analytics or a related area is considered beneficial.

Languages:
Fluency in English is required for this position, as it is one of the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. Knowledge of another United Nations official language, such as French, is desirable. Fluency is defined as being rated 'fluent' in all four areas: reading, writing, speaking, and understanding, while knowledge is rated as '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. This role is subject to local recruitment, meaning that candidates must be recruited within the country or commuting distance of the office, regardless of nationality. Staff members in this category are not eligible for allowances or benefits exclusive to international recruitment. The United Nations is committed to achieving gender balance and encourages female candidates to apply. All applicants are urged to apply online as soon as possible after the job opening is posted and well before the stated deadline. The United Nations does not charge any fees during the recruitment process.