Finance and Budget Officer
Organizational Context
The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) within the UN Secretariat coordinates humanitarian actors for effective emergency response. This Finance and Budget Officer position is based in New York, reporting to the Chief of the Budget and Finance Section, and supports OCHA's mission to mobilize and coordinate principled humanitarian action.
Job Purpose
The Finance and Budget Officer is responsible for managing and overseeing the financial and budgetary aspects of OCHA's operations. This includes reviewing, analyzing, and finalizing program budgets, cost estimates, and budget proposals, ensuring alignment with legislative mandates and intergovernmental body decisions. The role involves administering and monitoring both regular and extra-budgetary resources, managing allotments, and ensuring expenditures remain within authorized levels. Additionally, the officer provides guidance and training on financial policies, participates in relevant meetings, and contributes to the integrity of financial systems, ultimately supporting OCHA's mission to alleviate human suffering through effective humanitarian action.
Responsibilities
The Finance and Budget Officer is responsible for the comprehensive management of program budgets, including preparation, review, and finalization of the Programme Plan Budget (PPB) and its revisions, ensuring alignment with legislative mandates. This involves providing substantive support to intergovernmental bodies and liaising with the UN Controller’s office. The role includes preparing and analyzing cost estimates and budget proposals for staff and non-staff requirements, and assessing financial implications of resolutions. Budget administration duties encompass issuing allotments, authorizing sub-allotments, managing and monitoring budget implementation, and overseeing extra-budgetary resources. The officer also prepares and reviews budget performance reports, analyzes variances, and provides guidance and training on budgetary policies. Further responsibilities include participating in inter-departmental meetings, conducting research on budgetary policies, acting as an Approving Officer, ensuring system integrity, and potentially supervising a unit.
Work Experience
A minimum of seven years of progressive experience in finance, administration, budget, or business administration is required. Essential experience includes working with trust funds, programme support costs, and the regular budget within an international organization, as well as with ERP financial functions. Experience supporting senior leadership in budget presentations and in a supervisory role is desirable.
Skills
Professionalism in financial and budgetary principles, budget development, and administration. Ability to develop budgetary policies and strategies. Strong planning, organizing, and time management skills. Accountability for commitments and adherence to organizational rules. Data analysis and interpretation for decision-making. Knowledge of financial systems and ERP functionalities.