FINANCE AND BUDGET ASSISTANT (Temporary Job Opening)

Organizational Context

The Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) aims to drive transformative ideas and actions for an empowered Africa, aligning with the 2030 SDGs and Agenda 2063. This Finance and Budget Assistant role is situated within the Chief's Office of the Finance and Budget Section, under the Administration & Conference Management Division in Addis Ababa.

Job Purpose

The Finance and Budget Assistant provides crucial support to the Finance and Budget Section, contributing to ECA's strategic objectives. This role involves assisting in the review, analysis, and preparation of medium-term plans and annual business plans, as well as cost estimates and budget proposals for staff and non-staff requirements. The assistant will monitor expenditures, reconcile accounts, and ensure the integrity of financial databases. Key contributions include providing technical support on Umoja funds management, preparing budget performance reports, analyzing variances, and liaising with relevant departments for digitization projects. The role also supports higher-level officers in budget reviews and ensures compliance with UN policies and procedures, ultimately facilitating efficient resource utilization and operational performance.

Responsibilities

The Finance and Budget Assistant is responsible for supporting the review, analysis, and preparation of medium-term plans and annual business plans, including cost estimates and budget proposals. Duties include monitoring and reporting on budgets, providing technical support for Umoja funds management, and assisting in budget performance submissions and variance analysis. The role involves reviewing requisitions, ensuring fund availability, and maintaining the integrity of financial databases through data verification and reconciliation of General Ledger accounts. Additionally, the assistant will liaise with IT departments on digitization projects, produce regular and ad-hoc budget reports using Business Intelligence, and draft correspondence and reports. General duties include staying updated on financial guidelines, collaborating with team members, and performing other assigned budget and administrative tasks to ensure compliance and efficient operations.

Work Experience

Seven years of experience in finance, budget, accounting, or administrative services is required. Experience with SAP-Umoja, BI reporting, and Umoja Analytics is mandatory. This requirement is reduced to five years for candidates with a first-level university degree or higher. Experience in budgeting, financial report analysis, and applying UN Financial Rules and Regulations is desirable.

Skills

Professionalism in applying UN financial rules and regulations; ability to extract, interpret, and analyze financial data; client orientation; technological awareness; ability to identify and resolve data discrepancies; strong analytical and problem-solving skills; ability to manage commitments and achieve results under pressure.

Explore related opportunities