ASSOCIATE FINANCE AND BUDGET OFFICER, P2 , Job Ref. CIV/UNEP/0409/23-011

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.

At the 1992 Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro, world leaders agreed on a comprehensive strategy for sustainable development. A key agreement opened for signature at Rio was the Convention on Biological Diversity. The Convention has three objectives: the conservation of biological diversity, the sustainable use of its components and the fair and equitable sharing of the benefits arising out of the utilization of genetic resources. The Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity (SCBD) is located in Montreal, Canada and is administered by UNEP.

This post is located in the Secretariat of the CBD, within the Administration Division. Under the general guidance of the Head of the Administration Division and the direct supervision of the Head of the Finance and Budget Unit, the incumbent will carry out the following functions:

Responsibilities

PROGRAMME OF WORK:
– Reviews, analyses and finalizes the preparation of the programme of work and its revisions on the basis of departmental submissions, taking into account recommendations and decisions of the Convention and its Protocols’ governing bodies.
– Provides advice and support to relevant intergovernmental bodies in their review of the medium-term plan and its revisions. Assists in securing approval from the Conference of the Parties.
– Ensures legislative mandates are accurately translated into programme budgets.

BUDGET PREPARATION:
– Reviews, analyses and assists in the finalization of cost estimates and budget proposals, in terms of staff and non-staff requirements from departments, including programmatic aspects.
– Ensures compliance with the programme of work and other legislative mandates.
– Reviews and analyses programme budget/financial implications to the Conference of the Parties’ statements in light of additional mandates.
– Assists managers in the elaboration of resource requirements for budget submissions.
– Provides support to relevant intergovernmental and expert bodies in their budget review, assists in securing approval from the Conference of the Parties.

BUDGET ADMINISTRATION:
– Prepares allotments, including redeployment of funds when necessary, ensuring appropriate expenditures.
– Monitors budget implementation and recommends reallocation of funds as necessary.
– Monitors expenditures to ensure that they remain within authorized levels.
– Reviews requisitions generated by the Reality system for goods and services to ensure: correct objects of expenditure have been charged and availability of funds.
– Administers and 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.
– Reviews and assists in finalization of budget performance reports, analyzing variances between approved budgets and actual expenditures.
– Assists in providing substantive support to intergovernmental and expert bodies.

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.
– Contributes to the collection and analysis of data as well as identification of trends or patterns and provides draft insights through graphs, charts, tables and reports using data visualization methods for data-driven planning, decision-making, presentation and reporting.
– Performs other related duties as assigned.

Competencies

PROFESSIONALISM: Knowledge of financial principles and practices. Ability to identify and resolve budgetary problems and identify sources for data collection. Ability to analyze and interpret data in support of decision-making and convey resulting information to management. Shows pride in work and in achievements and is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results; 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.

ACCOUNTABILITY: Takes ownership of all responsibilities and honor’s 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.

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.

Education

• An advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in finance, administration, budget, business administration or related area is required.
• A first-level university degree in combination with two (2) additional years of qualifying work 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 desirable.

Work Experience

• A minimum of 2 years of progressively responsible experience in finance, administration, budget, business administration or related area is required.
• Experience in working with Enterprise Resource Planning Systems is desirable.
• Experience working within the UN system or similar international organizations is desirable.
• One (1) year or more of experience in data analytics or related area is desirable (none if successful YPP or P-1 with a related degree).

Languages

• English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this post, fluency in English is required. Knowledge of French or other UN languages 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 may include a substantive assessment which will be followed by a competency-based interview.

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