Org. Setting and Reporting

This national position is located in the Strategic Planning, Budget and Finance Section (SPBFS), Executive Office, at the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), in Istanbul, Türkiye. OCHA is part of the United Nations Secretariat responsible for bringing together humanitarian actors to ensure a coherent response to emergencies. OCHA also ensures there is a framework within which each actor can contribute to the overall response efforts. OCHA’s mission is to mobilize and coordinate effective and principled humanitarian action in disasters and emergencies; advocate the rights of people in need; promote preparedness and prevention and facilitate sustainable solutions.

The Associate Finance and Budget Officer (NOB) reports to the Finance and Budget Officer (P3) in SPBFS.

Responsibilities

Within delegated authority, the Associate Finance and Budget Officer (NOB) will be responsible for the following duties:

Medium-term plan:
• Reviews, analyses, and finalizes the preparation of the medium-term plan and its revisions. Provides advice and support to relevant intergovernmental and expert bodies in their review of the medium-term plan and its revisions; assists in securing approval from the General Assembly.
• Ensures legislative mandates are accurately translated into programme budgets.

Budget preparation:
• Reviews, analyses, and assists in the finalization of cost estimates and budget proposals, in terms of staff and non-staff requirements ensures compliance with the medium-term plan and other legislative mandates.
• Reviews and analyses programme budget/financial implications.
• Assists managers in the elaboration of resource requirements for budget submissions.
• Provides support to relevant intergovernmental and expert bodies in their budget review.

Budget, finance, and administration:
• Prepares allotments, including redeployment of funds when necessary, ensuring appropriate expenditures.
• Monitors budget implementation and recommends reallocation of funds as necessary.
• Monitors expenditures to ensure that they remain within authorized levels.
• Reviews requisitions generated for goods and services to ensure (a) correct objects of expenditure have been charged, and (b)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.
• Assists in the preparation of budget performance submissions.
• Reviews and assists in finalization of budget performance reports, analyzing variances between approved budgets and actual expenditures.
• Assists in providing substantive support to intergovernmental and expert bodies.
• Prepares financial statements and management reports.
• Reviews monthly inter-office vouchers from UNDP and other monthly financial reports related to HQ and field presences to ensure validity, accuracy, and compliance with UNFRRs prior to upload to ERP system.
• Liaises with OCHA Head of Office in Istanbul on all finance and budget related matters.
• Liaises with counterparts in other UN agencies.
• Assists with field surge support to OCHA field offices when required.

General:
• 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;
• Performs other related duties, as assigned.
• Provides guidance and training to other staff in area of responsibility.

Competencies

• Professionalism: Knowledge of administrative, budgetary, and financial procedures. Ability to identify and resolve budgetary problems and identify sources for data collection. 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.

• 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.

• 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.

Education

A first-level university degree in business administration, finance, or related field is required.

Work Experience

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

Experience working with MS Excel is required.

Experience in using the financial functions of an ERP system such as Umoja, SAP or Oracle is required.

Experience in the budgeting process and analysing financial data and reports is required.

Experience in the UN Common System (or comparable international organization) financial rules and regulations and the application of the IPSAS accounting standards is desirable.

Languages

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this position fluency in English (both written and oral) is required. Fluency in Turkish is also required. Knowledge of another UN official language is desirable.

Assessment

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

Special Notice

This position is funded for a finite period of one year. Extension of the appointment is subject to extension of the mandate and the availability of the funds. The contract will be administered by United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) on behalf of OCHA.

Appointment against this post is on a local basis.

Staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-general and to assignment by him or her. In this context, all staff are expected to move periodically to new functions in their careers in accordance with established rules and procedures.

The United Nations Secretariat is committed to achieving 50/50 gender balance in its staff. Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply for this position.

An impeccable record for integrity and professional ethical standards is essential.

Candidates for the National Professional Officer category shall be of the nationality of the country where this position is located (limited to Turkish nationals).

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.

The paramount consideration in the appointment, transfer, or promotion of staff shall be the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity. By accepting an offer of appointment, United Nations staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General and assignment by him or her to any activities or offices of the United Nations in accordance with staff regulation 1.2 (c). In this context, all internationally recruited staff members shall be required to move periodically to discharge new functions within or across duty stations under conditions established by the Secretary-General.

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 follow carefully all instructions available in the online recruitment platform, inspira. For more detailed guidance, applicants may refer to the Manual for the Applicant, which can be accessed by clicking on “Manuals” hyper-link on the upper right side 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.

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.