Job Detail

Job Opening number:20-Finance-UNIDIR-134929-R-Geneva (X)

Posting period: 05 May 2020 - 18 June 2020

Org. Setting and Reporting

The post is in the United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research (UNIDIR) based in Geneva. The incumbent will report to the Chief of the Staff.

The United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research is an autonomous institution within the framework of the United Nations, established by the General Assembly for the purpose of undertaking independent research on disarmament and related problems, particularly international security issues. Under General Assembly resolution 39/148, the Institute is mandated to: (a) Provide the international community with more diversified and complete data on problems relating to international security, the armaments race and disarmament in all fields, particularly in the nuclear field, so as to facilitate progress, through negotiations, towards greater security for all States and towards the economic and social development of all peoples; (b) Promote informed participation by all States in disarmament efforts; (c) Assist ongoing negotiations on disarmament and continuing efforts to ensure greater international security at a progressively lower level of armaments, particularly nuclear armaments, by means of objective and factual studies and analyses; (d) Carry out more in-depth, forward- looking and long-term research on disarmament, so as to provide a general insight into the problems involved, and stimulating new initiatives for new negotiations.

Responsibilities

Planning and advice

• Carries out strategic financial planning and management of UNIDIR financial resources in accordance with UNIDIR vision and UN financial rules.


• Reviews, analyses and finalizes the preparation of plans and their revisions, taking into account recommendations and decisions of specialized intergovernmental bodies, such as the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions.


• Provides expert advice in the area of finance, budget and grant management to the UNIDIR Director, Chief of Staff and other senior colleagues.


• Provides advice and guidance, including training, to staff on budgetary and financial policies and procedures, including results-based budgeting.


• Participates in inter-departmental meetings on matters related to resource requirements, programming and budgetary issues.


• Reviews the operational objectives and related financial policies and procedures affecting UNIDIR's financial, budget and grant management systems; makes recommendations for changes and/or modifications; takes the lead in designing and implementing required changes.

Budget preparation:

• Reviews, analyses and finalizes cost estimates and budget proposals, in terms of staff and non-staff requirements; ensure compliance with plans and other legislative mandates.


• Provides detailed input with respect to resource requirements for budget submissions.


• Provides substantive support to relevant intergovernmental and expert bodies (General Assembly, Fifth Committee, Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions) in their review of budgets and plans; assists in securing approval from the General Assembly.

Budget administration:

• Acts as Certifying Officer under Financial Rule 110.4 to ensure that proposed obligations


• and expenditures are in accordance with approved budgets and established regulations and rules.


• Issues allotments, authorizes sub-allotments, including redeployment of funds when necessary, ensuring appropriate expenditures.


• Manages and monitors budget implementation and recommends reallocation of funds as necessary.


• Monitors expenditures to ensure that they remain within authorized levels.


• Administers and monitors extra-budgetary resources, including review of agreements and cost plans, ensuring compliance with regulations and rules and established policies and procedures.


• Prepares budget performance submissions.


• Reviews and finalizes budget performance reports, analyzing variances between approved budgets and actual expenditures.

Grant Management

• Supports the preparation of budgets for programmes, projects and donor proposals.


• Supports the development and submits final funding agreements to donors.


• Supervises creation and closure of UNIDIR grants in UMOJA.


• Oversees and/or coordinates the submission of interim and final reports (narrative and financial) to donors (ensuring accurate financial information is provided).


• Drafts official documentation to donors.

Competencies

• Professionalism: Extensive knowledge of finance, budget and grant management disciplines, including best practices both in and beyond the United Nations. Expert knowledge of UN financial rules and regulations, administrative instructions, including guidance on the administration of UN Trust Funds, travel, human resources, and procurement. Highly organized, keen attention to detail while maintaining a strategic approach. Ability to manage complex tasks and projects independently, prioritize quickly in rapidly changing environments and to multi-task. Excellent judgement and initiative, resourcefulness, energy and tact. Proven project development skills, including competency with RBB methodology, logframes, and Gantt charts. Shows pride in work and in achievements. Demonstrates professional competence and mastery of subject matter. Is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results. Is motivated by professional rather than personal concerns. Shows persistence when faced with difficult problems or challenges; remains calm in stressful situations. Takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work.


• Teamwork: Works collaboratively with colleagues to achieve organizational goals. Solicits input by genuinely valuing others' ideas and expertise; is willing to learn from others. Places team agenda before personal agenda. Supports and acts in accordance with final group decision, even when such decisions may not entirely reflect own position. Shares credit for team accomplishments and accepts joint responsibility for team shortcomings.


• Planning and organizing: Develops clear goals that are consistent with agreed strategies. Identifies priority activities and assignments; adjusts priorities as required. Allocates appropriate amount of time and resources for completing work. Foresees risks and allows for contingencies when planning. Monitors and adjusts plans and actions as necessary. Uses time efficiently.


• Judgement/decision making: Identifies the key issues in a complex situation, and comes to the heart of the problem quickly. Gathers relevant information before making a decision. Considers positive and negative impacts of decisions prior to making them. Takes decisions with an eye to the impact on others and on the Organization. Proposes a course of action or makes a recommendation based on all available information. Checks assumptions against facts. Determines that the actions proposed will satisfy the expressed and underlying needs for the decision. Makes tough decisions when necessary.

Qualifications

Education: Advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent degree) in business administration, finance, or related field. A first-level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Work Experience:

• A minimum of seven years of progressively responsible professional experience in finance, administration, budget, business administration or related area is required.


• Experience with budgetary policies and practices, financial regulations and rules is required.


• Experience in preparing reports for intergovernmental or expert bodies is required.


• Experience in the use of information technology tools for financial analysis and monitoring of budgets is required.


• Experience in preparing and drafting written reports , including financial, budgetary, and donor (proposals, agreements, interim, final) is required.


• Experience in results-based approaches to budgeting is desirable.


• Experience with financial systems/finance modules or enterprise resource planning (ERP) is desirable.


• Experience with the operations of inter-governmental and legislative machinery is desirable.

Language: English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the position advertised, fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official United Nations language is an advantage

Assessment: Evaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise which may be followed by competency-based interview.

Interested in this position?

Please apply to JO ID 134929 on www.inspira.org. Applications will not be accepted by email.

The application deadline is 18 June 2020.