Finance and Budget Officer

About the Organization

The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) serves as the foremost global authority on environmental matters, guiding the environmental agenda worldwide, ensuring integrated implementation of sustainable development within the UN system, and acting as a credible advocate for the environment internationally. This position is based at UNEP's Law Division, OzonAction Branch located in Nairobi, Kenya.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide leadership and guidance to UNEP OzonAction finance personnel by issuing financial policies and ensuring adherence to established procedures.
• Ensure prompt processing of financial pledges and preparation of invoices in alignment with UNEP governing decisions and the Multilateral Fund Executive Committee directives.
• Manage accurate recording of contributions and resolution of unidentified deposits per existing policies.
• Compile and deliver financial reports to donors, intergovernmental, and legislative bodies.
• Oversee the financial lifecycle of grants and projects from initiation through closure, including trust funds.
• Track cash and loan balances related to grants diligently.
• Guarantee that UNEP's financial records reflect accurate, current standing as depicted in the Annual Financial Statements.
• Regularly review cash, receivable balances, and analyze donor reports for accuracy.
• Collaborate with internal and external auditors, coordinating information requests and implementing finance-related audit recommendations; preparing reports for UN entities.
• Examine legal documents associated with donor and Implementing Partner agreements.
• Develop and implement a cohesive organizational approach to managing relationships with Implementing Partners.
• Review and analyze budget proposals and cost estimates for extra-budgetary funded activities, including staff and non-staff resource needs across headquarters and field offices.
• Support managers in detailing resource requirements for budget submissions and refining program budgets with financial implications.
• Provide expert support during budget reviews with intergovernmental and expert bodies to facilitate budget approvals.
• Manage issuance of budget allotments and reallocations, ensuring expenditures comply with authorizations.
• Monitor budget utilization to maintain expenditures within authorized limits.
• Administer and supervise extra-budgetary funding resources, ensuring alignment with regulations, policies, and procedures.
• Prepare documentation for budget performance evaluation and analyze discrepancies between approved budgets and actual spending.
• Lead annual Financial Progress Reports and financial communications with intergovernmental bodies and the UN General Assembly.
• Oversee audit processes and track implementation of audit recommendations.
• Maintain awareness of relevant documents, reports, and guidelines relating to program and budgeting matters.
• Ensure compliance with intergovernmental and UN policies and decisions.
• Supervise subordinate staff as needed.
• Collect and analyze data patterns to generate insights with visual tools such as graphs, charts, and tables to aid planning, decision-making, and reporting.
• Carry out additional related duties as assigned.

Qualifications and Experience

• Possession of an advanced university degree (Master's or equivalent) in business administration, finance, accounting, or a closely related discipline is required.
• A first-level university degree plus two additional years of relevant work experience may be accepted instead of an advanced degree.
• Completion of degree or non-degree courses in data analytics, business analytics, or data science is advantageous.
• At least five years of progressive experience in finance, budgeting, accounting, business administration, or related fields is necessary.
• Proven skills in preparing and analyzing financial statements in accordance with private or public sector standards like IFRS or IPSAS.
• Experience using SAP or comparable Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems is required.
• Proficiency in data analysis, reconciliations, and reporting via Microsoft Excel is essential.
• Experience overseeing Implementing Partners within international organizations including conducting audits or financial checks is beneficial.
• Familiarity with Grantor Management or Implementing Partner Modules is desirable.
• Experience coordinating at both procedural and policy levels within international organizations is desirable.
• Exposure to work in international institutions such as the United Nations or others is a plus.
• Two or more years of experience in data analytics is considered favorable.
• Fluent command of English language is mandatory.