Senior Finance and Budget Assistant

United Nations Secretariat - New York, NY

Full-time - Mid Level

New York, NY

About the position

The Senior Finance and Budget Assistant position is located in the Office of the High Representative for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States (UN-OHRLLS). This office is tasked with mobilizing and coordinating international support and resources for the effective implementation of the Programme Action for the Least Developed Countries. The incumbent will play a crucial role in enhancing monitoring and follow-up activities while raising awareness and advocating for the special needs of least developed countries. Reporting to the Senior Programme Management Officer of Subprogramme 1, the Senior Finance and Budget Assistant will be responsible for a variety of financial and administrative tasks that are essential for the smooth operation of the office. In terms of budget responsibilities, the Senior Finance and Budget Assistant will undertake reviews, analyses, and preparation of the annual programme plan and its revisions. This includes reviewing and assisting in the finalization of cost estimates and budget proposals, ensuring compliance with the annual programme plan and legislative mandates. The role also involves assisting managers in the elaboration of resource requirements for budget submissions, providing input into the preparation of allotments, and monitoring budget implementation and expenditures. The incumbent will also be responsible for reviewing requisitions for goods and services, monitoring extra-budgetary resources, and assisting in the preparation of project proposals and related reporting. General administrative duties will include reviewing consultant and contractor requests, drafting host country agreements, and coordinating extensively with service units. The Senior Finance and Budget Assistant will also assist with data collection and analysis, preparation of reports, and support management during audits and reviews. Additionally, the role involves contract administration, including auditing contractor invoices and processing payments. This position requires a high level of professionalism, teamwork, and organizational skills to effectively manage the diverse responsibilities associated with finance and budget functions within the UN environment.

Responsibilities

• Undertakes reviews, analyses and preparation of the annual programme plan and its revisions.
• Reviews, analyses and assists in the finalization of cost estimates and budget proposals, ensuring compliance with the annual programme plan and legislative mandates.
• Assists managers in the elaboration of resource requirements for budget submissions.
• Undertakes research and provides support to senior management 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 recommends reallocation of funds as necessary.
• Reviews requisitions for goods and services to ensure correct objects of expenditure have been charged and availability of funds.
• Monitors extra-budgetary resources, ensuring compliance with regulations and established policies and procedures.
• Assists managers in preparation of project proposals and related reporting of project implementation.
• Assists in the preparation of budget performance submissions and finalization of budget performance reports, analysing variances between approved budgets and actual expenditures.
• Monitors integrity of various financial databases and verifies accuracy of input data.
• Coordinates with other finance and budget staff on related issues during preparation of budget reports.
• Reviews consultant and individual contractor requests for compliance with administrative instructions and ensures timely submission of requests for approval.
• Provides assistance in drafting host country agreements, budget agreements, or contributions for grants or other activities.
• Identifies and resolves diverse issues/problems as they arise and determines appropriate actions.
• Coordinates extensively with service units and liaises frequently with internal team members.
• Performs other related administrative duties, such as operational travel programme and monitoring accounts and payments.
• Assists with the collection and analysis of data and preparation of data presentations and reports.
• Supports management during audits and reviews by oversight bodies.
• Acts as conference pay master during international conferences and meetings as delegated.

Requirements

• High school diploma or equivalent is required.
• A minimum of ten years of experience in finance, budget, accounting, administrative services or related area is required.
• The minimum years of relevant experience is reduced to eight years for candidates who possess a first-level university degree or higher.
• Experience as a user of an Enterprise Resource Planning system (ERP), or similar system, is desirable.
• Fluency in oral and written English is required; knowledge of another official United Nations language is an advantage.

Nice-to-haves

• Knowledge of financial rules, regulations and procedures in the UN environment.
• Ability to extract, interpret, analyse and format data across finance and budget functions.
• Experience in programme development and database management.

Benefits

• Health insurance coverage.
• Paid holidays.
• Professional development opportunities.