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, based in Nairobi, reporting directly to the Head of the Branch.
Job Purpose
The Finance and Budget Officer plays a crucial role in managing UNEP's financial resources, ensuring alignment with legislative mandates and the medium-term plan. This involves detailed analysis and finalization of budget proposals, cost estimates, and financial implications, providing substantive support to intergovernmental bodies during budget reviews, and securing necessary approvals. The role also encompasses administering and monitoring both regular and extra-budgetary resources, managing budget implementation, and overseeing expenditure to ensure compliance with regulations and policies. Furthermore, the incumbent is responsible for preparing and reviewing budget performance reports, leading financial reporting processes, managing audits, and providing expert advice and training on budgetary and financial procedures, including results-based budgeting.
Responsibilities
Key responsibilities include reviewing, analyzing, and finalizing the medium-term plan and its revisions, ensuring legislative mandates are accurately translated into program budgets. The role involves preparing and analyzing cost estimates and budget proposals for staff and non-staff requirements, assessing financial implications, and providing support for budget approvals by intergovernmental bodies. Budget administration duties include issuing allotments, authorizing sub-allotments, managing and monitoring budget implementation, and recommending fund reallocations. The officer will administer and monitor extra-budgetary resources, review agreements, and ensure compliance with financial regulations. Responsibilities extend to preparing budget performance submissions, analyzing variances, leading financial reporting, managing audits, and implementing audit recommendations. Additionally, the role involves data analysis for planning and reporting, providing guidance on budgetary policies, participating in inter-departmental meetings, and drafting reports and correspondence on budgetary matters.
Work Experience
A minimum of seven years of progressive experience in finance, administration, budget, or business administration is required. Experience with SAP or another ERP system, financial statement analysis using IFRS or IPSAS, and providing financial services to Multilateral Environmental Agreements (MEAs) or UN environmental treaties is mandatory. Experience in data analysis, reconciliations, reporting, and preparing reports for intergovernmental bodies or donors is also required. Experience within an international organization is desirable.
Skills
Professionalism in financial and budgetary principles, budget development, and resource administration. Ability to develop policies, formulate strategies, and analyze data for decision-making. Teamwork and collaboration skills. Planning and organizing abilities, including setting priorities, managing resources, and anticipating risks.