OVERVIEW OF THE FUNCTIONS OF THE POST

Under the general authority of the Assistant Director-General for Administration and Managements (ADG/ADM) and of the Director of the UNESCO Regional Office for the Maghreb, based in Rabat, and the direct supervision of the Finance and Administrative Officer of the Regional Office, the Associate National Budget and Finance Officer is responsible for providing a range of financial management and budget administration support services to the UNESCO Rabat Regional Office and antennas under its coverage.

On matters of financial internal control, the Associate National Budget and Finance Officer receives a delegated authority from the Chief Finance Officer as Certifying Officer and will receive policy guidance/ instructions from the UNESCO’s Corporate Services and Programme Sector ADGs on their respective areas of responsibilities.

Specifically, the Associate National Budget and Finance Officer shall be responsible for the following:

Budget Planning & Budget Preparation

• In close coordination with the Finance and Administrative Officer, provide inputs for the regional office budget preparation process (C/5 documents and related workplans).
• Provide support to programme/project responsible officers in elaborating resource requirements for budget submissions.
• Assist programme/project responsible officers in finalizing cost estimates and budget proposals.
• Review and analyse project budgets based on donor agreements, in close coordination with the Finance and Administrative Officer, programme/project responsible officers and donors.
• Ensure donor agreement provisions are accurately translated into project budgets.
• Ensure strict compliance with UNESCO’s rules, regulations, policies and procedures and accounting standards, including IPSAS.
• In close coordination with the Finance and Administrative Officer, liaise with BFM (Bureau of Financial Management) and BSP (Bureau of Strategic Planning) on matters of budget planning and budget preparation and provide relevant information as requested.

Budget Monitoring

• Ensure that the budget data of the Regional Office and the antennas under its coverage is adequately and timely entered in the appropriate management systems, and that budgetary transactions are in compliance with regulations, rules, policies and procedures.
• Ensure the sufficient and effective use of budgetary resources through robust monitoring of budget execution and timely provision of information to the Director of the Regional Office, the Finance and Administrative Officer and the programme/project responsible officers.
• Monitor and analyse project budgets based on progress made in implementation and take corrective action if required, in close coordination with the Finance and Administrative Officer, the programme/project responsible officers and donors.
• Provide substantive advice and support to programme/project responsible officers in reviewing project budgets and propose revisions or corrective actions as necessary.
• Process, validate and follow up with Central Services on budget revisions.
• Provide timely reporting on budget implementation to the Director of the Regional Office, the Finance and Administrative Officer, programme/project responsible officers and UNESCO Central Services.
• Ensure that project closure actions are timely performed, in line with UNESCO’s rules, regulations, policies and procedures, and project agreements’ provisions.

Financial Management

• Assist the Finance and Administrative Officer in ensuring that the Regional Office’s financial resources and expenditures are fully and properly accounted for and that internal control systems are adequate and functioning.
• Act as Certifying Officer, ensuring that financial transactions are in compliance with regulations, rules, policies and procedures.
• Support the Regional Office administrative team in the proper recording and monitoring of property, plant and equipment in the Regional Office’s and projects’ records and in the transfer of ownership/disposal actions in a timely manner and in line with UNESCO’s rules, regulations, policies and procedures and project agreements’ provisions.
• Monitor commitments and payments, review and reconcile various clearing accounts, investigate erroneous/invalid entries and take appropriate corrective action, in line with UNESCO’s rules, regulations, policies and procedures.
• Analyse complex or unusual accounting transactions and open items in the accounting system and implement corrective actions in consultation with the Finance and Administrative Officer as required, in line with UNESCO’s rules, regulations, policies and procedures.
• Analyse and provide advice on cash flow requirements of the Regional Office and submit cash requests to UNESCO’s Central Services.
• Perform monthly and yearly financial closure tasks, in close coordination with the Finance and Administrative Officer, the Regional Office staff and UNESCO’s Central Services.
• Provide advice on financial interpretations to the Regional Office staff on UNESCO’s financial rules, regulations, policies and procedures.
• Provide support to project/programme officers on donor reporting and liaise closely with Headquarters services to ensure donor reports are prepared in a timely manner in line with the terms of the funding agreements signed with donors.

Capacity Development

• Contribute to raising awarness of managers within the Regional Office and antennas under its coverage on financial and budgetary principles, methodologies, rules and procedures and facilitate their training as may be required.
• Share best practices and foster knowledge sharing on financial management and budget planning, preparation and monitoring within the Regional Office and antennas under its coverage.

The Associate National Budget and Finance Officer may also be tasked with any additional activities required to ensure the success of the work team, including participation in the UN OMT (Operations Management Team) Finance Working Group and other UN BOS (Business Operations Strategy) related activities.

COMPETENCIES (Core / Managerial)

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REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education

• Advanced university degree (Master’s or equivalent) in the field of Finance, Business Administration, Accounting, or other related fields or a first level University degree (Baccalaureate + 2 years) in management, business, accounting or any related area combined with 5 to 7 years of professional experience within an administrative unit of an international entity.

Work Experience

• At least two (2) years of progressively relevant professional experience in the field of management, finance and administration, or related field, preferably within the UN system or an international organization.

Skills and Competencies

• Knowledge of and commitment to the Organization’s mandate, vision, strategic direction and priorities.
• Sense of objectivity and professional integrity, diplomacy, tact and discretion.
• Excellent organizational and coordination skills,
• Excellent oral and written communication skills, with ability to provide quality and timely support and services.
• Demonstrated analytical skills and ability to take initiative and seek innovative ways to improve results.
• Knowledge of ERP and financial or administrative management tools.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to work in a team and to establish/maintain positive and effective working relationships in a multi-cultural environment, as well as with internal and external stakeholders.
• Strong IT skills, including the ability to use computerized systems and applications, as well as IT systems.

Languages

• Excellent knowledge (written and spoken) of French and good knowledge of English would be an asset.
• Knowledge of Arabic.

DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS

Education

• Courses/degree/training in a field related to the post.
• Professionally recognized accountancy qualification would be an asset.

Work Experience

• Experience working in the UN system/international organizations or at the international level.
• Experience in financial and administrative management of projects.
• Experience in identifying solutions and making recommendations within the framework of internal guidelines and procedures.
• Experience in ensuring compliance with rules and regulations and administrative processes and providing advice to others.

Skills and Competencies

• Familiarity with the work and general functioning of the UN system and/or international organizations.
• Knowledge of the geopolitics of the Maghreb region.
• Ability to effectively contribute to UN working groups and teams.

Languages

• Knowledge of another official languages of UNESCO (Chinese, Russian or Spanish).