Finance and Budget Assistant Job at UNEP

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• Job Opening ID: 259519
• Job Network : Management and Administration
• Job Family : Finance
• Category and Level : General Service and Related Categories, G-5
• Duty Station : NAIROBI
• Department/Office : United Nations Environment Programme
• Date Posted : Jun 13, 2025
• Deadline : Jul 12, 2025

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Org. Setting and Reporting

The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is the leading global environment authority that sets the global environment 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. The Corporate Services Division (CSD) is the guardian of UNEP’s corporate interest, mitigating the organization’s exposure to risk and supporting it with up-to-date management tools, guidelines and capacity building. CSD oversees UNEP’s efficient and effective management as well as adherence to the core values of the UN in line with relevant accountability requirements, rules and regulations.

This position is located in the Programme and Budget Unit of the Corporate Services Division in Nairobi, Kenya. Under the overall supervision of the Head of Unit of PBU and the direct supervision of the Senior Finance and Budget Assistant, the incumbent will be responsible for the following:

Responsibilities

BUDGET:

• Assists in the preparation of supporting documents (narrative and supporting tables) with respect to finalization of cost estimates and budget proposals, in terms of staff and non-staff requirements.
• Supports in extracting information and generating expenditure reports from computerized information system databases; assists in preliminary analyses of the extracted information and the reports generated, and highlights areas of concern for the attention of the seniors.
• Assists in the development of resource requirements for budget submissions and in the preparation of budget performance submissions.
• Researches/compiles data and other information in the review and analysis of relevant proposals.
• Consolidates data and provides support with respect to budget reviews of relevant intergovernmental and expert bodies.
• Assists in the preparation/finalization of budget performance reports, performing preliminary analysis of variances between approved budgets and actual expenditures.
• Assists in the issuance of allotments and related staffing table authorizations.
• Verifies accuracy of input data, ensuring consistency of data in previous allotments to new allotments issued and reconcile Consumable Budget against cash received.
• Monitors expenditures and compares with approved budget; prepares adjustments as necessary.
• Assists with the collection and analysis of data as well as preparation of data and reports for information sharing, responding to queries, knowledge management, planning and decision making.

FINANCE:

• Prepares pre-commitments and commitments in Umoja and review them to ensure that funds are available and the correct budget line has been used.
• Assists in the financial backstopping of trust funds, including monitoring the status of voluntary contributions, generating expenditure reports from Umoja and monitoring reporting requirements by donors.
• Reviews draft reports, verifying overall accuracy, consistency and uniformity in the presentation, and ensuring comprehensiveness and compliance with Umoja; cross-checks consistency of figures in tables with the text of the reports, and verifies references to other reports and documents, bringing errors to the attention of seniors; ensures that all necessary corrections are incorporated in the reports; co-ordinates with other finance and budget staff on related issues during preparation of budget reports.
• Tracking of invoices to ensure timely payments to vendors.
• Assist in the start to end Grant Management actions, donor reporting, closure and revision of projects and project structures.
• Processes payments to Implementing Partners (IP) and IP expenditure reports as submitted and certified by the Finance and Budget Officer.
• Maintains an internal tracking tool for all legal agreements and ensure advances to implementing partners are cleared in time.
• Notifies payees of status of payments and follows up on rejected/unsuccessful payments.
• Assists staff members, managers and donors regarding queries on payment and deposit-related issues.

GENERAL

• Keeps up-to-date on documents/reports/guidelines that have a bearing on matters related to programme budgets, ensuring compliance with intergovernmental recommendations and decisions as well as with United Nations policies and procedures.
• Drafts routine correspondence with respect to enquiries related to relevant financial and budget matters.
• Maintains and keep up-to-date files and archives documentation as required.
• Provides administrative/budget/finance tasks to the Head of the Unit, and/or other staff of the Unit, as required.
• Assists with the collection and analysis of data as well as preparation of data presentations and reports for information sharing, responding to queries, knowledge management, planning and decision making.
• Assists with visualizations and updating information material such as web pages or brochures.
• Performs other related duties, as assigned.

Competencies

PROFESSIONALISM: Knowledge of, and ability to apply financial rules, regulations and procedures in UNEP. Ability to maintain accurate financial and budgetary records, review and interpret a wide variety of data. Ability to identify and resolve data discrepancies and operational problems. Shows pride in work and in achievements; demonstrates professional competence and mastery of subject matter; is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results; is motivated by professional rather than personal concerns; shows persistence when faced with difficult problems or challenges; remains calm in stressful situations. Commitment to implementing the goal of gender equality by ensuring the equal participation and full involvement of women and men in all aspects of work. The ability to perform analysis, modeling and interpretation of data in support of decision-making.

TEAMWORK: Works collaboratively with colleagues to achieve organizational goals; solicits input by genuinely valuing others’ ideas and expertise; is willing to learn from others; places team agenda before personal agenda; supports and acts in accordance with final group decision, even when such decisions may not entirely reflect own position; shares credit for team accomplishments and accepts joint responsibility for team shortcomings.

ACCOUNTABILITY: Takes ownership of all responsibilities and honours commitments; delivers outputs for which one has responsibility within prescribed time, cost and quality standards; operates in compliance with organizational regulations and rules; supports subordinates, provides oversight and takes responsibility for delegated assignments; takes personal responsibility for his/her own shortcomings and those of the work unit, where applicable.

Education

• High school diploma or equivalent is required.

Job – Specific Qualification

• Supplementary training in accounting, finance and/or budget is desirable.

Work Experience

• A minimum of five (5) years’ experience in finance, budget, accounting, administrative services or related area is required. The minimum years of relevant experience is reduced to three (3) for candidates who possess a first-level university degree or higher.
• Experience in working with Microsoft Word and Excel is required.
• Proven experience working with Enterprise Resource Platform (ERP) systems such as Umoja, specifically on Funds Management Modules, Grants and Umoja Analytics Reporting Tool is desirable.
• One (1) year or more of experience in data analytics or related area is desirable.
• Experience with the UN Common System or a comparable international organization is desirable.

Languages

• English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the post advertised, fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another UN official language is desirable.
• NOTE: ”Fluency” equals a rating of ”fluent” in all four areas (read, write, speak, understand) and ”Knowledge of” equals a rating of ”confident” in two of the four areas.

Assessment

• Evaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise which may be followed by competency-based interview.

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