Senior Finance and Budget Assistant

### Org. Setting and Reporting The United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) is mandated by the UN General Assembly to promote socially and environmentally sustainable towns and cities. UN-Habitat is the focal point for all urbanization and human settlement matters within the UN system. UN-Habitat works with partners to build inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable cities and communities. UN-Habitat promotes urbanization as a positive transformative force for people and communities, reducing inequality, discrimination and poverty. The position is located in the Budget, Finance and Operational Support Section (BFOSS) within the Corporate Management Division (CMD) at the Nairobi duty station. CMD provides strategic guidance and coordinates the administrative, operational, and programme support services required for the successful delivery of UN-Habitat’s mandate. These services are provided either directly by the Division or through the effective management of external service providers. Under the supervision of the Budget and Finance Officers in the Budget, Finance and Operational Support Section, the incumbent will be responsible for the following duties: ### Responsibilities BUDGET: • Acts as Certifying Officers on behalf of and in the absence of programme management officers at offices outside headquarters. • Undertakes reviews, analyses and preparation of the programme plan and its revisions. • Reviews, analyses and assists in the finalization of cost estimates and budget proposals, in terms of staff and non-staff requirements, including programmatic aspects; ensures compliance with the programme plan and other legislative mandates. • Assists managers in the elaboration of resource requirements for budget submissions. • Undertakes research and provides support to higher level Finance and Budget Officers with respect to budget reviews of relevant intergovernmental and expert bodies. • Provides input into the preparation of allotments, including redeployment of funds when necessary, ensuring appropriate expenditures. • Monitors budget implementation/expenditures and recommends reallocation of funds as necessary including the regular review of commitments against budget. • Reviews requisitions for goods and services to ensure correct objects of expenditure have been charged and confirms availability of funds. • Monitors extra-budgetary resources, including review of agreements and cost plans for cost recovery activities, ensuring compliance with regulations and rules and established policies and procedures. • Assists in the preparation of budget performance submissions. • Assists in finalization of budget performance reports, analysing variances between approved budgets and actual expenditures. • Monitors integrity of various financial databases. • Verifies accuracy of input data, ensuring consistency of data in previous allotments to new allotments issued. • Co-ordinates with other finance and budget staff on related issues during preparation of budget reports. FINANCE: • Analyses complex and/or unusual cost recovery accounting transactions and difficult claims. • Makes recommendations to Finance and Budget Officers on appropriate follow-up procedures. • Assists with the processing of billing related to internal work/service orders, client support and external parties. • Reviews and reconciles various clearing accounts to ensure appropriate balances. • Investigates erroneous/invalid entries and takes appropriate corrective accounting action. • Assists the Master Data Management Team and service providers to establish the cost of services and maintains cost accounting master data, allocation rules, allocation cycles and statistical key figures; • Assists in the preparation of financial statements for various funds, e.g., general, technical co-operation, trust funds, revenue and other special accounts. • Certifies and processes organization management (OM) adjustments ensuring compliance with relevant rules and control procedures. • Assists with monitoring the level of income received from cost recovery and advises senior management on availability of funds and possible corrective measures. • Provides guidance and training (including the preparation of training materials) to staff at Headquarters and in the field with respect to transaction processing and the use of various systems. • Drafts/prepares memoranda and responds to queries by staff members, internal and external auditors and from their counterparts in offices away from Headquarters. • Files and archives as required. GENERAL: • Keeps up-to-date on documents/reports/guidelines that have a bearing on matters related to programme budgets, ensuring compliance with intergovernmental recommendations and decisions as well as with United Nations policies and procedures. • Drafts or prepares correspondence to respond to enquiries in respect to relevant financial and budget matters. • Assists with the coordination of post management functions for both core and project activities. • Provides guidance, training and daily supervision to other general service staff in the area of responsibility. • Keeps up-to-date on current financial regulations/professional publications and accepted principles. • Assists with the collection and analysis of data as well as preparation of data presentations and reports for information sharing, responding to queries, knowledge management, planning and decision making. • Assists with visualizations and updating information material such as web pages or brochures. • 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: 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. 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. ### Education Completion of High school diploma or equivalent is required. Supplemental training in accounting, finance and budget or related fields is desirable. ### Job - Specific Qualification Not available. ### Work Experience A minimum of ten (10) years of progressively responsible experience in finance, budget, accounting or administrative services is required. The minimum years of relevant experience is reduced by two (2) years for candidates who possess a first level University degree. A minimum of five (5) years of experience in budgetary and financial operations, procedures and practices is required. Experience with an Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system such as Oracle or SAP in finance and budget modules is required. Experience with the UN Financial rules and regulations or similar intern