Finance & Budget Officer

Job Posting Organization:
The position is located within the Finance Division of the Office of Programme Planning, Finance, and Budget (OPPFB), which is part of the Department of Management Strategy, Policy, and Compliance (DMSPC) of the United Nations. The Finance Division is tasked with the critical responsibility of accounting for and reporting on the utilization of United Nations financial resources to the appropriate authorities. The Financial Reporting Service within this division primarily prepares IPSAS-compliant financial statements for all funding sources, ensuring the sustainability of IPSAS-compliant accounting and reporting. The Financial Analytics & Reporting Section plays a vital role in analyzing financial data, reconciling accounts, and coordinating global oversight and support for financial accounting-related activities to maintain a robust enterprise system. This organization is dedicated to upholding the highest standards of financial integrity and transparency in its operations, contributing to the overall mission of the United Nations.

Job Overview:
The Finance & Budget Officer will be responsible for a range of functions that are essential to the financial management and budgetary processes of the United Nations. This role involves budget preparation, where the officer will review and analyze data related to cost estimates and budget proposals, ensuring that both staff and non-staff requirements are adequately addressed. The officer will provide support to managers in developing resource requirements for budget submissions and will play a key role in finalizing program budget implications for the security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">Security Council statements. In terms of budget administration, the officer will monitor budget implementation, recommend reallocations of funds when necessary, and ensure that expenditures remain within authorized levels. The officer will also review requisitions for goods and services to ensure correct expenditure classifications and administer extra-budgetary resources while ensuring compliance with regulations and established policies. The finance responsibilities include analyzing accounts, reviewing financial reports, identifying irregularities, and ensuring accurate accounting and reporting systems are in place. The officer will also provide training and guidance on financial regulations and processes, contributing to the development of accounting policies and responding to audit findings. Overall, this position requires a proactive approach to financial management, with a strong emphasis on analytical skills and attention to detail.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The Finance & Budget Officer will undertake a comprehensive set of duties and responsibilities, including but not limited to:

• Budget Preparation: Reviewing and analyzing data for cost estimates and budget proposals, providing support to managers for resource requirements, and finalizing program budget implications for Security Council statements.
• Budget Administration: Monitoring budget implementation, recommending fund reallocations, ensuring expenditures remain within authorized levels, reviewing requisitions for goods and services, administering extra-budgetary resources, and preparing documentation for budget performance submissions.
• analysis" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">Financial Analysis: Analyzing accounts, reviewing financial reports, identifying problem transactions, reconciling clearing accounts, and ensuring compliance with financial regulations.
• Training and Guidance: Providing training and advice on financial regulations, assisting in the preparation of financial statements, and responding to audit observations.
• Data Analysis: Collecting and analyzing financial data to identify trends, providing insights through data visualization methods, and participating in the development of accounting policies.
• General Responsibilities: Keeping up-to-date with financial regulations, supervising staff as required, and performing other related duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications:
The position requires a comprehensive set of qualifications, including:

• Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in business administration, finance, accounting, or a related field.
• A first-level university degree (Bachelor's degree or equivalent) may be accepted in combination with two additional years of relevant work experience.
• Successful completion of degree and non-degree programs in data analytics, business analytics, or data science is an advantage.
• Certification as a Certified Public Accountant (CPA), Chartered Accountant (CA), or equivalent is desirable.
• Strong knowledge of accounting principles, procedures, and standards, with the ability to apply analytical and evaluative skills in accounting operations.

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 (Bachelor's degree or equivalent) combined with two additional years of relevant work experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced degree. Additionally, successful completion of both degree and non-degree programs in data analytics, business analytics, or data science programs is considered an advantage for this position.

Experience:
Candidates should have a minimum of five years of progressively responsible professional experience in accounting, finance, or a related area. This experience must include complex bank reconciliations of accounts with a large volume of transactions, reviewing and investigating financial accounting transactions, preparation of financial statements, and correcting accounting errors. Experience in applying private sector or public sector accounting standards such as IFRS or IPSAS is required. Familiarity with SAP Financial Accounting or an equivalent ERP system is desirable, as is experience in developing data models and performing data analysis for two or more years.

Languages:
Fluency in English is required for this position, as English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. Knowledge of another official United Nations language is considered an advantage, enhancing the candidate's ability to communicate effectively in a multilingual environment.

Additional Notes:
This position is financed by Extra Budgetary Funds and is temporarily available for a duration of 3 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 appointment and renewal are subject to the availability of the post or funds, budgetary approval, or extension of the mandate. This temporary assignment may provide the successful applicant with an opportunity to gain new work experience, but it is important to note that the selection for this position is for a limited period and does not affect the future incumbency of the post. Eligibility for this temporary job opening may be limited to candidates based at the duty station, and it may be restricted to 'internal candidates' who have been recruited through a competitive examination or staff selection process. Additionally, staff members of the United Nations common system organizations who are approaching the mandatory age of separation or retirement within the duration of the current temporary need period are not eligible to apply. The United Nations does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process, and candidates are urged to follow all instructions available in the online recruitment platform.