Budget Assistant
Organizational Context
The Budget Assistant role is within the Budget Unit of the Finance and Budget Section, Division of Administration, at the UN Economic Commission for Africa in Addis Ababa. This position supports Finance & Budget Officers and the Chief of Unit in developing medium-term plans, budget proposals, and administering approved budgets.
Job Purpose
The purpose of this role is to provide essential support to Finance and Budget Officers and the Chief of Unit in the Economic Commission for Africa. The Budget Assistant will contribute to the accurate development of medium-term plans and budget proposals, and ensure the effective administration of all aspects of the approved budget. This includes managing claims and treasury remittances, providing technical support on fund management, and assisting with budget performance reporting and analysis. The role is crucial for maintaining financial integrity and supporting the unit's operational efficiency in Addis Ababa over a 9-month contract.
Responsibilities
The Budget Assistant will support the review, analysis, and preparation of medium-term plans and budget revisions. This includes preparing supporting documents for cost estimates and budget proposals, and assisting in the elaboration of resource requirements. The role involves monitoring and reporting on the regular budget, providing technical support on Umoja fund management, and conducting research for budget reviews. Key duties include monitoring expenditures against approved budgets, preparing adjustments, and reviewing requisitions for goods and services to ensure correct expenditure objects and fund availability. The assistant will also help finalize budget performance reports, analyze variances, and maintain the integrity of financial databases. Additional responsibilities include coordinating with finance staff, preparing fund redeployment requests, recording financial data in Umoja, processing fund distributions, and producing regular and ad-hoc budget reports using Business Intelligence tools. The role also involves drafting reports and memos, analyzing budget trends, and ensuring compliance with UN financial policies and procedures.
Work Experience
A minimum of seven years of experience in finance, budget, accounting, administrative services, or a related area is required. Experience with SAP-Umoja, BI reporting, Umoja Analytics, budgeting, analyzing financial reports, and applying UN Financial Rules and Regulations is desirable.
Skills
Budget preparation and analysis, Financial reporting, Umoja fund management, Data analysis, Umoja system operations, Business Intelligence reporting, UN Financial Rules and Regulations, Administrative support, Interpersonal and communication skills.