FINANCE AND BUDGET OFFICER

Organizational Context

The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is the leading global environmental authority, setting the environmental agenda and promoting sustainable development within the UN system. This Finance and Budget Officer role is situated within UNEP's Law Division, OzonAction Branch in Nairobi, reporting directly to the Head of the OzonAction Branch.

Job Purpose

The Finance and Budget Officer is responsible for comprehensive financial management and budget administration within UNEP's OzonAction Branch. This includes providing corporate financial guidance, overseeing pledge processing, invoice preparation, and contribution recording. The role manages grants, monitors project lifecycles, and ensures accurate financial records for annual statements. It also involves liaising with auditors, reviewing legal agreements, and developing relationships with implementing partners. Additionally, the incumbent serves as a Certifying Officer, analyzing cost estimates and budget proposals for extra-budgetary activities, supporting managers in resource planning, and providing input for programme budgets and financial implications. The position ensures compliance with UN policies and procedures, monitors budget implementation, and prepares financial reports for various bodies.

Responsibilities

Key responsibilities include providing financial guidance and policy compliance oversight to OzonAction finance staff. This involves managing the processing of pledges, preparing invoices, and ensuring accurate recording of contributions. The role oversees the establishment and financial lifecycle of grants and projects, including monitoring cash balances and cleaning up closed funds. Ensuring the accuracy of UNEP's financial records and their reflection in annual statements is critical, alongside regular analysis of financial data and donor reports. The officer will liaise with internal and external auditors, coordinate information requests, and follow up on audit recommendations. Reviewing legal instruments for donor and implementing partner agreements and developing a corporate approach to these relationships are also key duties. As a Certifying Officer, the role involves reviewing and analyzing data for cost estimates and budget proposals for extra-budgetary activities, supporting managers in resource requirement elaboration, and providing input for programme budgets and financial implications. Budget administration includes issuing allotments, monitoring budget implementation, recommending fund reallocations, and administering extra-budgetary resources. The officer prepares documentation for budget performance submissions, reviews performance reports, analyzes variances, leads the annual Financial Progress Report process, and manages audit processes and recommendations. Maintaining up-to-date knowledge of relevant documents and policies, supervising staff as required, and utilizing data visualization for analysis and reporting are also integral.

Work Experience

A minimum of five years of progressive experience in accounting, finance, budget, or business administration is required. Experience with IFRS/IPSAS, SAP or other ERP systems, and data analysis/reporting using Microsoft Excel is mandatory. Experience managing and monitoring international organization implementing partners, grant management modules, and coordination at policy levels is desirable.

Skills

Professionalism, Planning & Organizing, Teamwork, Financial principles and practices, Research and analysis, Data interpretation and analysis, Meeting commitments, Problem-solving, Goal setting, Time management, Collaboration, Adaptability.

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