Org. Setting and Reporting

This position is located in the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus. The position is based in Nicosia. The Chief of Unit, Finance and Budget reports to the Chief of Mission Support (CMS) or his/her designate.

Responsibilities

Within the delegated authority, the Chief of Unit, Finance and Budget will be responsible for the following: • Ensures effective financial administration of the mission, including the application of authoritative advice with regard to the UN’s Financial Regulations and Rules. • Supports with the development of the mission’s annual budget development programme, providing coordination with respect to the establishment of major resourcing priorities, prepares cost estimates and budget proposals, in terms of mission’s resourcing requirements such as staff and non-staff requirements, including programmatic aspects; reviews, analyzes and revises data with respect to the finalization of the budget proposals as well as Result Based Budgeting inputs. • Plans and oversees the preparation, reviews and finalization of budget performance reports in compliance with the Legislative requirements and recommendations and Controller’s instructions; reviews and ensures valid variances between approved budgets and actual expenditures. • Supports the legislative review processes especially the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions (ACABQ) and the 5th Committee of the General Assembly. • Administrates the allotments of the mission in line with the updated policy on administration of allotments including advise, guidance and approval of redeployment/reallocation of funds in line with implementation of planned and/or prioritized activities. • Ensures the efficient and effective use of budgetary resources through robust monitoring of budget utilization to the approved budget and timely provision of information to Mission management for decision making; Provides support and guidance to fund center/programme managers on budget implementation and corrective actions where necessary. • Administers and monitor extra-budgetary resources, including review of agreements and cost plans, ensuring compliance with regulations and rules and established policies and procedures. • Prepares financial reports that informs and meets the need of senior management of the mission, programme and fund center managers throughout the mission, relevant external stakeholders as well as those acting on behalf of the mission at UNHQ. • Carries out duties consistent with the financial delegation in adherence with the UN Regulations and Rules. • Implement strong management reporting practices and business intelligence for effective and efficient budgetary and performance management. • Provides timely advice to operational counterparts and mission leadership on organizational performance of the mission in line with mission priorities. • Coordinates ongoing monitoring, analysis and reporting to ensure that organizational performance of the operations is tracking with set targets and resource requirements are aligned with mandates and other priorities. • Coordinates and effectively engages with service providers to ensure that the financial accounts of the mission are continually maintained, monitored and annual financial statements are certified in accordance with the requirements of the UN Controller and UN Financial Regulations and Rules. • Ensures that accurate and complete accounting, reporting and internal control systems are functioning and that all relevant records are maintained in accordance with the UN’s Financial Regulations and Rules and proper management of mission resources. • Responsible for the preparations of the mission’s draft responses with regards to audits findings and recommendations from both the Board of external auditors and Office of Internal Oversight Services (OIOS}; Provides advice and corrective actions. • Acts as the Secretary to the mission’s resource stewardship executive group. • Manages the staff of the unit in prioritizing, planning and assigning responsibilities, developing and maintaining needed expertise and knowledge, and identifying opportunities for improvement including their on-going learning and career development. • Performs other related duties as assigned.

Competencies

Professionalism: Knowledge and command of budget development and financial administration of resources. Ability to formulate new strategies and technical approaches to budgetary matters. Knowledge of RBB or similar budget performance management methodologies. Knowledge of International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSAS). Knowledge of financial and budgetary policies, procedures and operations within an international organizational setting. Knowledge in the use of ERP financial modules, automated budgeting and accounting systems, spreadsheets and word processing applications. 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. Communication: Speaks and writes clearly and effectively. Listens to others, correctly interprets messages from others and responds appropriately. Asks questions to clarify, and exhibits interest in having two-way communication. Tailors language, tone, style and format to match the audience. Demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed. Planning and 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. Judgement/decision making: Identifies the key issues in a complex situation, and comes to the heart of the problem quickly. Gathers relevant information before making a decision. Considers positive and negative impacts of decisions prior to making them. Takes decisions with an eye to the impact on others and on the Organization. Proposes a course of action or makes a recommendation based on all available information. Checks assumptions against facts. Determines that the actions proposed will satisfy the expressed and underlying needs for the decision. Makes tough decisions when necessary.

Education

Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in business administration, finance or related area. A first-level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree. A Certified Public Accountant (CPA) or similar recognized professional designation is desirable.

Job – Specific Qualification

Not available.

Work Experience

A minimum of seven (7) years of progressively responsible experience in finance, administration, budget, business administration or related area is required. Experience with applying in practice budgetary policies, financial regulations and rules in an international organization is required. Experience with financial systems and financial modules of ERP such as SAP is required. Experience with providing financial services and budget management in a field-mission type of environment is required. Experience with the preparation of financial statements in accordance with internationally recognized accounting standards is required. Experience in managing operational resources, planning and supervising the work of a unit and managing personnel is required. Experience in development of administrative policies and procedures in the area of finance and/or budget is desirable. Experience in preparation of written reports, presentations and briefing with financial content and analysis is desirable.

Languages

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

Assessment

Evaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise which may be followed by competency-based interview.

Special Notice

This is a recruit from roster (RfR) position. It is only open to roster applicants who are already placed on pre-approved rosters, following a review by a United Nations Central Review Body. Only roster applicants who were placed on rosters with similar functions at the same level are considered to be eligible candidates. Eligible applicants receive an email inviting them to apply. Rostered applicants are encouraged to apply only if they are interested and available to take up the position at the duty station specified in the Job Opening. The United Nations Secretariat is committed to achieving 50/50 gender balance in its staff. Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply for this position.

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. Reasonable accommodation may be provided to applicants with disabilities upon request, to support their participation in the recruitment process. By accepting a letter of appointment, staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General, who may assign them to any of the activities or offices of the United Nations in accordance with staff regulation 1.2 (c). Further, staff members in the Professional and higher category up to and including the D-2 level and the Field Service category are normally required to move periodically to discharge functions in different duty stations under conditions established in ST/AI/2023/3 on Mobility, as may be amended or revised. This condition of service applies to all position specific job openings and does not apply to temporary positions. Applicants are urged to carefully follow all instructions available in the online recruitment platform, inspira, and to refer to the Applicant Guide by clicking on “Manuals” in the “Help” tile of the inspira account-holder homepage. The evaluation of applicants will be conducted on the basis of the information submitted in the application according to the evaluation criteria of the job opening and the applicable internal legislations of the United Nations including the Charter of the United Nations, resolutions of the General Assembly, the Staff Regulations and Rules, administrative issuances and guidelines. Applicants must provide complete and accurate information pertaining to their personal profile and qualifications according to the instructions provided in inspira to be considered for the current job opening. No amendment, addition, deletion, revision or modification shall be made to applications that have been submitted. Candidates under serious consideration for selection will be subject to reference checks to verify the information provided in the application. Job openings advertised on the Careers Portal will be removed at 11:59 p.m. (New York time) on the deadline date.

No Fee

THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.