Senior Finance and Budget Assistant Job at UNEP

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• Job Opening ID: 249781
• Job Network : Management and Administration
• Job Family : Finance
• Category and Level : General Service and Related Categories, G-7
• Duty Station : NAIROBI
• Department/Office : United Nations Environment Programme
• Date Posted : Feb 28, 2025
• Deadline : Mar 29, 2025

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Org. Setting and Reporting

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. The overall objective of UNEP’s Climate Change Division is to deliver effective strategic guidance and high-impact action in support of the transition towards climate stability. Its work is guided by ambition, innovation, credible science, and alignment to global climate goals and needs of individual countries.

The Climate Change Division works with Members States and Partners to accelerate and support a just transition by addressing climate change mitigation and adaptation through enhancing implementation capacity, provision of data information and knowledge, access to finance and technology, and building resilience. It promotes sustainable development and effective policies for climate stability; support action so that countries progress on decarbonization, dematerialization, and resilience pathways in line with their climate commitments, aspirations, and needs; and foster transparency in reporting.

This post is in UNEP’s Climate Change Division, Mitigation Branch, Global Environment Facility (GEF) Climate Mitigation Unit, Nairobi duty station. Under the direct supervision of the GEF Administrative Officer, and the overall supervision of the GEF Head of Unit & Senior Programme Management Officer, the incumbent will be responsible for the following:

Responsibilities

Finance & Budget

• Undertakes reviews, analyses, and preparation of the project documents and its revisions.
• Reviews, analyses, and assists in the finalization of cost estimates and budget proposals, in terms of staff and non-staff requirements, including programmatic aspects; ensures compliance with the approved formats and other legislative mandates.
• Assists managers in the elaboration of resource requirements for budget submissions.
• Undertakes research and provides support to higher-level Finance & Budget Officers with respect to budget reviews of relevant intergovernmental and expert bodies.
• Provides input into the preparation of allotments, including redeployment of funds when necessary, ensuring appropriate expenditures.
• Monitors budget implementation/expenditures and recommend reallocation of funds as necessary.
• Reviews requisitions for goods and services to ensure (a) correct objects of expenditure have been charged, and (b) availability of funds.
• Monitors extra-budgetary resources, including review of agreements and cost plans, ensuring compliance with regulations and rules and established policies and procedures.
• Assists in the preparation of budget performance submissions.
• Assists in the finalization of budget performance reports, analyzing variances between approved budgets and actual expenditures.
• Verifies accuracy of input data, ensuring consistency of data in previous allotments to new allotments issued.
• Coordinates with other finance and budget staff on related issues during the preparation of budget reports.

Accounting:

• Responsible for the processing of financial documents in line with the financial rules and regulations. • Review and analysis of various accounting data, financial statements input and preparation of reports.
• Scrutinize supporting documents for completeness, accuracy and validity of requests in line with applicable policies, procedures, rules and regulations.
• Verify accuracy of postings and process corrections as appropriate.
• Analyze and monitor open item managed accounts (OIM) in the ERP system (Umoja) and initiate corrective action.
• Perform certification functions of financial transactions as per delegated authority.

Treasury:

• Reviews incoming payment instructions with regard to banking details and sources of funds.
• Prepares payments for final disbursement.
• Notifies payees of the status of payments.
• Assists staff members and Fund Management Officers regarding queries on payment and deposit-related issues.
• Monitors Grant Cash balances.
• Liaises with UNON regarding outstanding items and payment instructions. • Investigates complaints on non-receipts.
• Monitors/reviews methods used to remit payments.

General:

• Prepare and analyze reports with a view to identify anomalies and unusual trends and recommend corrective action as appropriate.
• Perform data extraction and prepare various reports for management review.
• Monitors integrity of various financial databases.
• Respond to queries and draft correspondence in relation to budgetary and financial matters from management, clients (internal and external), auditors, and other stakeholders.
• Follows up on audit recommendations.
• Follows up on fraud cases.
• Ensure that internal control systems are functioning.
• Ensure that all relevant records and audit trails are maintained.
• Act as team leader and provide day-to-day management and supervision, training, and guidance to other general services staff.
• Keeps up to date on documents/reports/guidelines that have a bearing on matters related to programme and/or peacekeeping budgets, ensuring compliance with intergovernmental recommendations and decisions as well as with United Nations policies and procedures.
• Drafts or prepares correspondence to respond to enquiries with respect to relevant financial and budget matters.
• Reviews inter and intra-unit processes with the aim to optimize workflow and customer orientation.
• 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 in programme/project administration, implementation and review, planning and monitoring. Ability to work well with figures, undertake basic research and gather information from standard sources. Ability to identify issues, analyze and participate in the resolution of issues/problems. Ability to apply judgment in the context of assignment given, plan own work and manage conflicting priorities. Knowledge of UN and GEF rules and procedures and an understanding of global environment issues; Shows pride in work and in achievements; 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.

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.

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 decisions, even when such decisions may not entirely reflect own position; Shares credit for team accomplishments and accepts joint responsibility for team shortcomings.

Education

• High school diploma or equivalent is required.

Job – Specific Qualification

• Certification as a Certified Public Accountant (CPA), Chartered Accountant (CA) or Equivalent is required

Work Experience

• A minimum of Ten (10) years of relevant experience in Administration/ Finance, Budget, Accounting, or related area is required. The minimum years of relevant experience is reduced to eight (8) years for candidates who possess a first-level university degree or higher.
• Proven experience working with Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems such as Systems Applications and Products (SAP) is required.
• Experience supervising teams is required.
• Experience with international or UN financial rules and regulations and the International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSAS) accounting standards is desirable.
• Experience in Global Environment Facility (GEF) project/grant management, budgeting, accounting, and financial management is desirable Experience working in the United Nations or a similar international organization in finance, accounting, budgeting, financial analysis and reporting is desirable.
• Work experience of one (1) year or more in data analytics or related area 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 for this position may include a substantive assessment, such as a written test, which will be followed by a competency-based interview by phone or teleconference.

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