FINANCE AND BUDGET OFFICER

Org. Setting and ReportingThe position is located in the Capacity Development Programme Management Office (CDPMO) of the Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA). Under delegated authority from Under Secretary-General, DESA, CDPMO provides full financial and administrative support with respect to the management of DESA’s capacity development programmes and projects, including the Regular Programme of Technical Cooperation, the Development Account and all extra-budgetary funding. CDPMO also provides financial and administrative support to capacity development programmes of the UN Secretariat, including the Junior Professional Officers and Fellowship Programmes. The incumbent reports directly to the Senior Finance Officer under the overall guidance and supervision of the Chief of the Capacity Development Programme Management Office. The focus of the jobs is to lead the financial implementation, monitoring and evaluation of programmes, operation and other activities in an assigned functional area. ResponsibilitiesUnder the direct supervision of the Chief of Section and the overall guidance of the Director, the incumbent is responsible for the following duties: Medium-term plan: • Reviews, analyses and finalizes the preparation of the medium-term plan and its revisions on the basis of departmental submissions, taking into account recommendations and decisions of specialized inter-governmental bodies. • Provides substantive support to relevant intergovernmental and expert bodies in their review of the medium-term plan and its revisions; assists in securing approval from the General Assembly. • Ensures legislative mandates are accurately translated into programme budgets. Budget preparation: • Reviews and analyses data with respect to the finalization of cost estimates and budget proposals, in terms of staff and non-staff requirements from (a) Departments/offices at Headquarters and in the field, including programmatic aspects • Provides support to managers with respect to the elaboration of resource requirements for budget submissions. • Provides substantive support to relevant intergovernmental and expert bodies in their budget review; assists in securing approval from the General Assembly. Budget administration: • Issues allotments, including redeployment of funds when necessary, ensuring appropriate expenditures. • Monitors budget implementation and determines/recommends reallocation of funds when necessary. • Monitors expenditures to ensure that they remain within authorized levels by conducting comprehensive financial data analysis, including travel-related expenditures, with a focus on air ticket purchasing trends, cost efficiency and vendor performance. • Administers and monitors extra-budgetary resources, including review of agreements and cost plans, ensuring timely liquidation of commitments and accurate reconciliation of outstanding balances, compliance with regulations and rules and established policies and procedures. • Prepares relevant documentation with respect to budget performance submissions. • Reviews and makes appropriate recommendations with respect to the finalization of budget performance reports, analysing variances between approved budgets and actual expenditures, and identify anomalies, inefficiencies and opportunities for process improvement through detailed examination of financial data and transactions. • Provides substantive support to intergovernmental and legislative bodies. • Design, develop, and maintain dashboards, reports, and analytical tools to support evidence-based decision-making and enhance transparency in financial performance. General: • 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; • Monitors and supervises the work of subordinate staff as required (usually in the field); • Collects and analyzes data to identify trends or patterns and provide insights through graphs, charts, tables and reports using data visualization methods to enable data-driven planning, decision-making, presentation and reporting. • Performs other related duties, as assigned. CompetenciesProfessionalism: Knowledge of financial principles and practices. Ability to independently conduct research and analysis, formulate options and present conclusions and recommendations. 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. Takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work. Client Orientation: Considers all those to whom services are provided to be “clients” and seeks to see things from clients’ point of view; establishes and maintains productive partnerships with clients by gaining their trust and respect; identifies clients’ needs and matches them to appropriate solutions; monitors ongoing developments inside and outside the clients’ environment to keep informed and anticipate problems; keeps clients informed of progress or setbacks in projects; meets timeline for delivery of products or services to client. Technological Awareness: Keeps abreast of available technology; understands applicability and limitation of technology to the work of the office; actively seeks to apply technology to appropriate tasks; shows willingness to learn new technology. EducationAdvanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in business administration, finance, or related field. A first-level university degree in combination with qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree. Successful completion of both degree and non-degree programs in data analytics, business analytics or data science programs is an advantage. Job - Specific QualificationNot available. Work ExperienceA minimum of five years of progressively responsible experience in finance, administration, budget, business administration or related area is required. Experience in financial analysis and reporting including designing, developing and maintaining dashboards is required. Experience with finance and budget modules of ERP systems is required. Experience in the coordination of activities related to fund-raising, budgeting, the preparation of the related documents (progress reports, financial statements, work programme and programme budget) for multi-donor trust funds is required Experience in substantive support to intergovernmental and legislative bodies is required. Experience in management of cost recovery and related budget process is required. Experience in drafting Standard Operating Procedures or operational guidelines relating to budget and finance within the UN common system or other international organization is desirable. LanguagesEnglish and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this job opening, English is required. The table below shows the minimum required level for each skill in these languages, according to the UN Language Framework (please consult https://languages.un.org for details).