Finance And Budget Officer

Org. Setting and Reporting

The United Nations Office at Nairobi (UNON) is the UN headquarters in Africa and the Director-General of UNON is the representative of the Secretary-General in Kenya. UNON supports programme implementation of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) and the Resident Coordination System (RCS) globally, as well as other UN offices in Kenya, by providing administrative, security, conference and information services . The post is located in Budget and Financial Management Service (BFMS), United Nations Office at Nairobi (UNON). Under the direct supervision of the Section or Unit Chief, BFMS, UNON, the incumbent is responsible for the following duties:

Responsibilities

BUDGETING:

• Provide input to the strategic planning of the organization in line with established frameworks and guidelines.
• Review and analyze data with respect to the finalization of cost estimates and budget proposals in terms of staff and non-staff requirements for regular budget and extra-budgetary resources under UNON Administration.
• Provide substantive support and documentation to relevant intergovernmental and interagency bodies in their review of budget proposals and their revisions.
• Monitor budget implementation and performance and recommend reallocation of funds as necessary.
• Ensure that resources are utilized in line with authorized budgets, the priorities of the organization and the UN financial rules and regulations.
• Review and make appropriate recommendations with respect to the finalization of budget performance reports including analyzing variances between approved budgets and actual expenditures.
• Manage the approved staffing table including approving requests for modification of positions and organizational units as well as requests for recruitment and (re)classifications.
• Execute cost recovery in line with established agreements and policies and support on the collection of associated receivables.
• Perform certifying functions of financial transactions as per delegation.
• Produce periodic and ad hoc reviews and reports and recommendations in relation to the various responsibilities assigned to the Section.

ACCOUNTING:

• Assist in preparation of financial statements for UNEP, UN-Habitat and for UNON for inclusion in the UN Financial Statements to be audited by the UN Board of Auditors.
• Perform the management of trust funds for voluntary contributions and ensure completeness and accuracy for contributions agreements and that they are reported in compliance with relevant accounting standards and UN Financial Regulations and Rules.
• Approve and confirm that financial transactions related to grants management are in accordance with the UN Financial Regulations and Rules.
• Analyze accounts receivables for contributions agreements, reviews/evaluates balances for accuracy in financial reporting including application of any expected credit losses.
• Analyze and provide information needed to respond to internal/external audit queries and observations.
• Advise and guide clients agencies concerning the United Nations Financial Regulations and rules and accounting instructions related to grants management.
• Review and confirm reconciliations and suspense accounts analysis during the year and at year end.
• Participate in the development of accounting policies and standard operation procedures.
• Analyze and monitor open item managed accounts (OIM) in the ERP system (Umoja) and initiate corrective action. • Perform approval functions of financial transactions as per delegation.

GENERAL:

• Review and analyze various reports and advises management on any operational gaps and make recommendations for corrective action as appropriate.
• Respond to queries and review correspondence in relation to budgetary and financial matters from management, clients (internal and external), auditors and other stakeholders.
• Analyze administrative practices and procedures with the aim of identifying possible areas of improvements in order to enhance effectiveness, efficiency and transparency.
• Ensure accurate and complete accounting records and transactions; reporting and internal control systems are functioning.
• Ensure that all relevant records and audit trails are maintained.
• Supervise one or more professional staff, team leaders and/or teams and provide day-day management and supervision, training and guidance to other staff.
• Provide support to Unit Chief in planning of unit and team staff work plans, monitor and report performance against the plans.
• Knowledge retention and quality assurance focal point for the team.
• Performs other related duties as required.

Education

• Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in business administration, finance, or related field is required. A first-level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree. Professional qualification from a recognized accountancy body like Association of Chartered Accountants (ACA), Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA), Certified Public Accountants (CPA), or Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA) is required. Successful completion of both degree and non-degree programs in data analytics, business analytics or data science programs is desirable.

Work Experience

• A minimum of five (5) years of progressively responsible experience in finance, administration, budget, business administration or related area is required. Supervisory experience with performance management is required. Experience with Enterprise Resource Platform (ERP) systems specifically in the use of Systems, Applications and Products in Data Processing (SAP) ERP is required. Experience with the International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSAS) framework is required. Experience in the management of grants, trust funds and voluntary contributions accounting and reporting is required. Two (2) years or more of experience in data analytics or related area with ability to create and customize reports is desired.

Languages

• English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the position advertised, fluency in English is required. Knowledge of a second official United Nations 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.

Source: https://careers.un.org/jobSearchDescription/247060?language=en