The United Nations Environment Programme (UN Environment) 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 Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) is an international agreement between governments. Its aim is to ensure that international trade in specimens of wild animals and plants does not threaten their survival. This position is located in the Monitoring the Illegal Killing of Elephants (MIKE) team of UNEP’s Secretariat of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), in Nairobi. Under the overall supervision and guidance of the Coordinator, MIKE Programme and within delegated authority, the Finance & Budget Assistant will be responsible for the following duties:
Responsibilities
Budget:
•Prepares supporting documents (narrative and supporting tables) with respect to finalization of cost estimates and budget proposals, in terms of staff and non-staff requirements.
• 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.
• Monitors expenditures and compares with approved budget; prepares adjustments as necessary, with a particular focus on implementing partner expenses, including reviewing financial reports submitted, identifying adjustments needed, and verifying expenses reported and supporting evidence submitted.
• Prepares and/or reviews requisitions for equipment, goods and services to ensure (a) correct objects of expenditure have been charged, and (b) availability of funds.
• Assists in preparation of budget performance submissions and finalization of budget performance reports, analyzing variances between approved budgets and actual expenditures for submission to donors and UNEP or UNON as required.
• Monitors cash balances within the CITES MIKE Programme and retained by implementing partners to ensure, and request, review and process advance requests by implementing partners in accordance with UN procedures.
• Verifies accuracy of input data, ensuring consistency of data in previous allotments to new allotments issued, with a particular focus on the billing and reporting of staff time costs (including CITES staff, consultants and any implementing partner staff time recorded and billed).
• Co-ordinates with other finance and budget staff on related issues during preparation of budget reports.
Treasury:
• Identifies and annotates bank account movements.
• Files and archives as required.
General:
• Keeps up-to-date on documents/reports/guidelines that have a bearing on matters related to programme, ensuring compliance with intergovernmental recommendations and decisions as well as with United Nations policies and procedures.
• Monitors, maintains and manages records of implementing partner procurement and equipment management, and verifies the processes and procedures followed to ensure they are in line with the required standards.
• Drafts or prepares internal correspondence and external correspondence with implementing partners to respond to enquiries in respect to relevant financial and budget matters.
• Maintains and keeps up-to-date files on the MIKE Programme shared filing system, including records provided by implementing partners in fulfillment of their financial and procurement related reporting specified in legal agreements
• Assists with the logistical and travel arrangements for meetings and conferences relating to CITES or MIKE Programme activities, including raising travel requests, researching accommodation, and liaising with participants
• Reviews various reports in the ERP system to identify inaccurate balances, initiates and follows up on any necessary adjustments, independently interprets and troubleshoots any system errors encountered during review or processing of transactions and performs basic data analysis to inform donor and other reports.
• May be responsible for providing guidance, training and daily supervision to other general service staff in the area of responsibility.
• Performs other related duties, as assigned.
Competencies
PROFESSIONALISM: Knowledge of, and ability to apply financial rules, regulations and procedures in the UN environment. Knowledge, skills and ability to extract, interpret, analyse and format data across the full range of finance and budget functions, including programme development and database management, claims and treasury operations. 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.
PLANNING & ORGANIZING: Develops clear goals that are consistent with agreed strategies; identifies priority activities and assignments; adjusts priorities as required; allocates appropriate amount of time and resources for completing work; foresees risks and allows for contingencies when planning; monitors and adjusts plans and actions as necessary; uses time efficiently.
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 decision, even when such decisions may not entirely reflect own position. Shares credit for team accomplishments and accepts joint responsibility for team shortcomings. Supports subordinates, provides oversight and takes responsibility for delegated tasks.
Education
High school diploma or equivalent is required. Additional training or qualification in finance, budget or accounting is highly desirable.
Work Experience
A minimum of seven (7) years of progressively responsible experience in finance, budget, accounting, administrative services or related area is required. Knowledge of the UN Financial Rules and Regulations is an advantage. Experience with SAP or similar Enterprise Resource Planning system (ERP) is required. An accounting/Financial Management background is an asset.
Languages
English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the post advertised, fluency in oral and written English is required. Knowledge of another official United Nations language is an advantage.
Assessment
Evaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise which may be followed by competency-based interview.
Special Notice
This job opening is only open to the staff members of the United Nations Secretariat who (1) serve in the duty station specified in the job opening; (2) hold a permanent, continuing or fixed-term appointment; and (3) have been appointed following the review of the Central Review Panel, or upon meeting other regular requirements for the duty station, job level and category and functional area. Staff members holding an appointment limited to service to a specific entity are not eligible to be considered if this position is outside that entity. Staff members holding a temporary appointment are not eligible for consideration.
Appointment against this post is for an initial period of one year and may be subject to extension. Staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General and to assignment by him or her. In this context, all staff are expected to move periodically to new functions in their careers in accordance with established rules and procedures.
All applicants are strongly encouraged to apply on-line as soon as possible after the job opening has been posted and well before the deadline stated in the job opening. On-line applications will be acknowledged where an email address has been provided. If you do not receive an e-mail acknowledgement within 24 hours of submission, your application may not have been received. If the problem persists, please seek technical assistance through the Inspira “Need Help?” link.
Internal Applicants – when completing the PHP, ensure ALL fields, ALL professional experience and contact information are completed and up to date. This information is the basis for the hiring manager to assess your eligibility and suitability for the position and to contact you.
United Nations Considerations
According to article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity. Candidates will not be considered for employment with the United Nations if they have committed violations of international human rights law, violations of international humanitarian law, sexual exploitation, sexual abuse, or sexual harassment, or if there are reasonable grounds to believe that they have been involved in the commission of any of these acts. The term “sexual exploitation” means any actual or attempted abuse of a position of vulnerability, differential power, or trust, for sexual purposes, including, but not limited to, profiting monetarily, socially or politically from the sexual exploitation of another. The term “sexual abuse” means the actual or threatened physical intrusion of a sexual nature, whether by force or under unequal or coercive conditions. The term “sexual harassment” means any unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature that might reasonably be expected or be perceived to cause offence or humiliation, when such conduct interferes with work, is made a condition of employment or creates an intimidating, hostile or offensive work environment, and when the gravity of the conduct warrants the termination of the perpetrator’s working relationship. Candidates who have committed crimes other than minor traffic offences may not be considered for employment.
Due regard will be paid to the importance of recruiting the staff on as wide a geographical basis as possible. The United Nations places no restrictions on the eligibility of men and women to participate in any capacity and under conditions of equality in its principal and subsidiary organs. The United Nations Secretariat is a non-smoking environment.
Applicants are urged to follow carefully all instructions available in the online recruitment platform, inspira. For more detailed guidance, applicants may refer to the Manual for the Applicant, which can be accessed by clicking on “Manuals” hyper-link on the upper right side of the inspira account-holder homepage.
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