Org. Setting and Reporting

This post is located in the Office of the Chief of Mission Support for Central Africa and Head of the United Nations Regional Office for Central Africa (UNOCA). The incumbent will be based in Libreville and will report to the Chief of Mission Support,

Responsibilities

Within delegated authority, the Finance & Budget Officer will be responsible for the following duties: Management: * Provides advice to Chief of Mission Support and management in finance/budget matters and resource management, including planning, Results-Based Budgeting (RBB), resource requirement; expenditure control and performance management, oversight and evaluation; and accurate legislative mandate translation into programme budget.

Approves all proposed obligations and expenditure for services, facilities, supplies and equipment expenses as well as those pertaining to personnel in accordance with appropriate UN financial rules/regulations, relevant appropriations and staffing tables and corresponding approved allotment.
Provides advice and guidance to UNOCA management regarding UN financial rules, policies and procedures and authoritative interpretation of allocating internal/external costs
Coordinates and responds to OIOS and Audit observations relating to UNOCA.
Contribute to the development of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) Finance: A. Accounts Management:
Reviews and verifies the closing of monthly accounts and preparation of financial statements for submission to Headquarters.
Verifies the data reported in the financial statements.
Scrutinizes source documents for completeness, accuracy and validity of charges.
Reviews and approves various vouchers and accounting transactions, e.g., payroll, payment of staff entitlements, final payments, travel claims, vendor invoices, agencies, field missions, etc., to ensure adherence to relevant staff rules, financial regulations and rules, guidelines or practices.
Maintains internal control procedures to ensure vouchers are processed and correctly posted in Umoja.
Investigates erroneous charges and takes appropriate corrective accounting actions.
Reviews and verifies bank reconciliations on a monthly basis.
Examines details of income, expenditure, assets and liability from accounting system in order to analyze and verify accuracy and validity of IPSAS-compliant statements.
Examines the validity of requests for increases in petty cash levels; approve disbursement vouchers to replenish petty cash accounts.
Approves the recording of obligations in Umoja.
Serves as Approving Officer for the Finance Section. B. Funds Management:
Monitors/reviews methods used to remit payments and supervises investigation of non-receipt of payments.
Responsible for monitoring the transmittal of payments worldwide.
Reviews incoming payment instructions with regard to banking details and sources of funds.
Prepares payments for final disbursement.
Monitors the dispatch of payment instructions and cheques to banks.
Verifies receipts and deposit slips for all incoming funds.
Assists staff members regarding queries on payment and deposit-related issues.
Responsible for cash management, including preparing cash flow forecasts.
Investigates complaints of non-receipt.
Monitors cheque stock and cash receipt vouchers and requests for new stock as required. Budget: A. Budget Preparation:
Provides support to managers with respect to the elaboration of resource requirements for budget submissions using the RBB framework
Reviews and analyze data with respect to the finalization of UNOCA cost estimates and budget proposals, in terms of staff and non-staff requirements, including programmatic aspects
Reviews, analyses and provides input into finalization of programme budget/financial implications to the Security Council statements in light of additional mandates.
Provides substantive support to relevant intergovernmental and expert bodies in their budget review; assists in securing approval from the General Assembly B. Budget Administration:
Issues allotments, including redeployment of funds when necessary, ensuring appropriate expenditures.
Monitors budget implementation and determines/recommends reallocation of funds when necessary.
Monitors expenditures to ensure that they remain within authorized levels.
Reviews all requisitions generated in UMOJA/SAP for goods and services to ensure correct objects of expenditure have been charged, ensuring availability of funds.
Administers and monitors extra-budgetary resources, including review of agreements and cost plans, ensuring compliance with regulations and rules and established policies and procedures
Provides substantive support to intergovernmental and legislative bodies.
Prepares budget performance reports, analyzing variances between approved budgets and actual expenditures General Administration
Organizes and leads training sessions on budget preparation and administration for UNOCA with program managers; and on UMOJA funds management and payment processing for mission support/self-accounting units.
Oversees the overall UNOCA IPSAS and Umoja implementation process.
Given that UNOCA is a very small office and the Finance and Budget unit consists of only one international staff (head of unit) and one NPO, reliance on the Finance and Budget Officer in guiding the unit in discharging its functions is key success.
Keeps up to date on documents/reports/guidelines that have a bearing on matters related to programme and/or peacekeeping budgets, ensuring compliance with intergovernmental recommendations and decisions as well as with United Nations policies and procedures
Monitors and supervises the work of subordinate staff as required
Performs other related duties, as assigned.

Competencies

Professionalism: Knowledge of financial principles and practices. Ability to independently conduct research and analysis, formulate options and present conclusions and recommendations. 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.

Communication: Speaks and writes clearly and effectively; listens to others, correctly interprets messages from others and responds appropriately; asks questions to clarify, and exhibits interest in having two-way communication; tailors language, tone, style and format to match audience; demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed.
Planning& 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.
Accountability: Takes ownership of all responsibilities and honours commitments; delivers outputs for which one has responsibility within prescribed time, cost and quality standards; operates in compliance with organizational regulations and rules; supports subordinates, provides oversight and takes responsibility for delegated assignments; takes personal responsibility for his/her own shortcomings and those of the work unit, where applicable.
Client Orientation: Considers all those to whom services are provided to be "clients" and seeks to see things from clients' point of view; establishes and maintains productive partnerships with clients by gaining their trust and respect; identifies clients' needs and matches them to appropriate solutions; monitors ongoing developments inside and outside the clients' environment to keep informed and anticipate problems; keeps clients informed of progress or setbacks in projects; meets timeline for delivery of products or services to client.

Education

An advanced university degree (Master’s or Doctorate degree, or equivalent) in Business Administration, Finance or related or related fields is required. A first-level degree (Bachelor’s degree or equivalent) in the specified fields of studies with two additional years of relevant work experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Work Experience

Minimum of five (7) years of progressively responsible professional experience in finance, budget, administration, public administration, business administration, or related area is required. Experience in leading a Finance Section in Peacekeeping/SPM or international non-governmental organization, or the private sector is required Relevant experience in budgetary and financial administration working in a United Nations common system field operation (inclusive of peacekeeping, political missions and UN agencies, funds, and programmes) - or similar international organization or non-governmental organization environment is required.

Languages

Language	Reading	Writing	Listening	Speaking
English	UN Level II	UN Level II	UN Level II	UN Level II

Assessment

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

Special Notice

This position is temporarily available until 30th June 2027. If the selected candidate is a staff member from the United Nations Secretariat, the selection will be administered as a temporary assignment.

While this temporary assignment may provide the successful applicant with an opportunity to gain new work experience, the selection for this position is for a limited period and has no bearing on the future incumbency of the post.
Subject to the funding source of the position, the eligibility for this temporary job opening may be limited to candidates based at the duty station.
This temporary job opening may be limited to “internal candidates,” who have been recruited through a competitive examination administered according to staff rule 4.16 or staff selection process including the review of a central review body established according to staff rule 4.15.
Staff members of the United Nations common system organizations who will reach the mandatory age of separation or retirement within the duration of the current temporary need period are not eligible to apply.Submitting an application or selection for the current temporary job opening does not delay or increase the mandatory age of separation.
Retirees above the mandatory age of separation who wish to be considered for the current temporary job opening must indicate the reason for their last separation as "retirement." Such retirees shall not be employed by the Organization, unless (a) the operational requirements of the Organization cannot be met by staff members who are qualified and available to perform the required functions; and (b) the proposed employment would not adversely affect the career development or redeployment opportunities of other staff members and represents both a cost-effective and operationally sound solution to meet the needs of the service. Please note that pursuant to the Staff selection system policy (ST/AI/2025/2): (1) Applicants for positions in the Field Service category cannot be of the nationality of the country where the position is located, and (2) Applicants for positions in the Professional and higher categories in a mission, field operation, or resident coordinator’s office cannot be of the nationality of the country where the position is located. For currently serving staff of a United Nations Common System organization, only the UN-recognized nationality will be considered for the purposes of these restrictions.

United Nations Considerations

According to article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity. Candidates will not be considered for employment with the United Nations if they have committed violations of international human rights law, violations of international humanitarian law, sexual exploitation, sexual abuse, or sexual harassment, or if there are reasonable grounds to believe that they have been involved in the commission of any of these acts. The term “sexual exploitation” means any actual or attempted abuse of a position of vulnerability, differential power, or trust, for sexual purposes, including, but not limited to, profiting monetarily, socially or politically from the sexual exploitation of another. The term “sexual abuse” means the actual or threatened physical intrusion of a sexual nature, whether by force or under unequal or coercive conditions. The term “sexual harassment” means any unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature that might reasonably be expected or be perceived to cause offence or humiliation, when such conduct interferes with work, is made a condition of employment or creates an intimidating, hostile or offensive work environment, and when the gravity of the conduct warrants the termination of the perpetrator’s working relationship. Candidates who have committed crimes other than minor traffic offences may not be considered for employment. Due regard will be paid to the importance of recruiting the staff on as wide a geographical basis as possible. The United Nations places no restrictions on the eligibility of men and women to participate in any capacity and under conditions of equality in its principal and subsidiary organs. The United Nations Secretariat is a non-smoking environment. Reasonable accommodation may be provided to applicants with disabilities upon request, to support their participation in the recruitment process. By accepting a letter of appointment, staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General, who may assign them to any of the activities or offices of the United Nations in accordance with staff regulation 1.2 (c). Further, staff members in the Professional and higher category up to and including the D-2 level and the Field Service category are normally required to move periodically to discharge functions in different duty stations under conditions established in ST/AI/2023/3 on Mobility, as may be amended or revised. This condition of service applies to all position specific job openings and does not apply to temporary positions. Applicants are urged to carefully follow all instructions available in the online recruitment platform, inspira, and to refer to the Applicant Guide by clicking on “Manuals” in the “Help” tile of the inspira account-holder homepage. The evaluation of applicants will be conducted on the basis of the information submitted in the application according to the evaluation criteria of the job opening and the applicable internal legislations of the United Nations including the Charter of the United Nations, resolutions of the General Assembly, the Staff Regulations and Rules, administrative issuances and guidelines. Applicants must provide complete and accurate information pertaining to their personal profile and qualifications according to the instructions provided in inspira to be considered for the current job opening. No amendment, addition, deletion, revision or modification shall be made to applications that have been submitted. Candidates under serious consideration for selection will be subject to reference checks to verify the information provided in the application. All external candidates recruited in accordance with section ‎2.2 (a) of ST/AI/2025/3 for a fixed term appointment without limitation and all external candidates recruited in accordance with section 2.2. (c) of ST/AI/2025/3 for a fixed term appointment limited to the entity are subject to an initial probationary period of one year under a fixed-term appointment. Job openings advertised on the Careers Portal will be removed at 11:59 p.m. (New York time) on the deadline date.

No Fee

THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.

FINANCE AND BUDGET OFFICER