UNOPS Budget and Finance Officer

United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) helps its partners in the United Nations system meet the world’s needs for building peace, recovering from disaster, and creating sustainable development. UNOPS is known for its ability to implement complex projects in all types of environments around the globe.

Vacancy Code: VA/2011/AFO/PAR-DMO-NOC

Post Title: Budget and Finance Officer

Post Level: NO-C (National Professional Officer) – ICS 10

Org Unit: Kenya Operations Centre (KEOC)

Duration: Initial appointment of 1 year (probation period of 3 months)

Background

The Kenya Operations Centre (KEOC), under the Africa Regional Office, is responsible for projects entrusted to UNOPS in East Africa; its main clients include UNDP, UNICEF, UNEP, UNHCR, World Bank, African Union and Governments.

Duties and Responsibilities

KEOC seeks experienced individuals to provide support to UNOPS Regional project management activities. Assigned to KEOC, the Budget and Finance officer is responsible for providing the following support:

Project Administration and Budget Management:

• Maintain project awards and budgets in accordance with client agreements, MoUs and MoAs
• Perform budget revisions as and when needed
• Monitor and oversee project budgets to ensure that they are recorded accurately in ATLAS ledgers
• Timely update project status in ATLAS in accordance with changes in their lifecycle.
• Ensure timely and accurate client billing.

Project Accounting:

• Ensure that expenditure transactions are booked into project accounts in timely and accurate fashion.
• Ensure that project assets are monitored, tagged and recorded in ledgers.
• Timely analyze receivables data from HQ and provide feedback information for recording into project accounts.

Project Reporting:

• Provide project financial reporting in formats which meet both in-house and external reporting requirements.
• Prepare project delivery reports to clients when due.

Project Expenditure Review and Analysis:

• Provide analyses and reports on project expenditures as and when needed.

Risk Analysis and Monitoring:

• Continuously monitor and rectify transactional and accounting errors.
• Co-operate with internal and external audits on their findings and rectification thereof.

Required Selection Criteria

• Proven conceptual analytical and evaluative skills and ability to conduct independent research and analysis, identifying issues, formulating options and making conclusions and recommendations. A complete in-depth grasp of financial principles and practices.
• Knowledge of project management, especially with regard to project start-ups, highly desirable.
• Ability to establish priorities and to plan, coordinate and monitor own work plan and those under his/her supervision.
• Solid computer skills including proficiency in Excel.
• Knowledge of ERP would be desirable.
• Willingness to keep abreast of new developments in the area.
• Willingness to travel in area of responsibility, including to hazardous duty stations.
• Ability to communicate technical financial matters in a simple and clear manner to individuals not well-versed in the intricacies of financial management.
• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to establish and maintain effective working relations with people in a multi-cultural, multi-ethnic environment with sensitivity and respect for diversity.
• Familiarity with UN Financial rules and regulations an advantage

Academic Qualifications/Experience/Language

• University degree in Business Administration, Finance, Accounting or related discipline; or a relevant combination of academic qualification and experience in an area such as budget/finance.
• Accounting certification by a recognized accounting body.
• At least 5 years of related experience in administration or finance.
• Proven experience in a wide-spectrum of operation-oriented financial management, including financial project monitoring.
• Advanced proficiency in Excel.
• Fluency in oral and written English. Knowledge of other UN official language would be desirable.

How to apply

Qualified candidates may submit their application, including a letter of interest and an updated United Nations Personal History Form (P.11) English Version, via e-mail to vacancieskeoc@unops.org . Kindly indicate the vacancy number and the post title in the subject line when applying by email.

Closing date: 15 Mar 2011

Additional Considerations

• Applications received after the closing date will not be considered.
• Only those candidates that are short-listed for interviews will be notified.
• Qualified female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.
• UNOPS reserves the right to appoint a candidate at a level below the advertised level of the post.

For more information on UNOPS, including its core values and competencies, please visit the UNOPS website at www.unops.org.