In accordance with the UN Rules and Regulations. Depending on professional background and experience, the Executive Director reserves the right to appoint a candidate at a level lower than the advertised level of the post.

With the delegated authority from the Executive Director and under the supervision of the Chief, Finance and Budget Unit, the incumbent will be responsible for the following duties:

1. Budget Management

Assist the Chief of Finance and Budget Unit in the overall implementation of the budgetary functions in UNITAR with an aim to successfully implement the institutes programs by:

• Reviewing and making appropriate recommendations with respect to the finalization of budgets, analyzing variances between approved budgets and actual expenditures.
• Monitoring allotments, including redeployment of funds when necessary, ensuring appropriate expenditures.
• Reviewing working tables and analyses of the distribution of budgetary sub-allotments
• Administering and monitoring all types of budgetary resources, monitoring cost plans and recoveries, while ensuring compliance with full cost recovery policy, financial regulations and rules as well as established policies and procedures.
• Providing information on status of allotments; obligations/expenditures and unliquidated obligations.
• Providing regular management information; variance analysis for the Chief of Unit in the financial clearances for obligating funds.
• Providing on-going advice to the program staff on budget balances, future obligations and expenditure management.
• Supporting the Chief of Unit in timely preparation of the biennium budget for the Institute.

2. Revenue and Expenditure Management

Assist the Chief of Finance and Budget Unit in the overall implementation of the IPSAS accounting system by:

• Developing and maintaining forecasting mechanisms to reflect the expenditure and cash planning for the institute.
• Monitoring actual expenditures against the budget, ensuring they remain within authorized levels and reporting variances for appropriate action.
• Tracking the grant agreements closely, recording revenues accurately as per the agreements and recording the accounts receivables.
• Monitoring the cash balances, budget balances and allocation balances and advising the managers on taking corrective actions where required.

3. Account Analysis and Monitoring

Assist the Chief of Finance and Budget Unit in ensuring Integrity of financial systems and accuracy of financial information by:

• Timely and periodically reviewing and reconciling accounts for accuracy and completeness in the posting of various financial modules in the ERP system.
• Producing management accounts as tools for monitoring performance and offer advice to Programmes and Senior management.
• Reviewing the financial reports received from various sources and identifying problem transactions and irregularities in related accounts and resolving them in a timely manner.
• Ensuring that accounting, reporting and internal control systems are functioning and that all relevant records are maintained.
• Providing support to the Chief of Unit by responding to queries, investigating and formulating solutions.
• Researching and analyzing information needed to respond to managers, program staff and audit findings.
• Reviewing quarterly and year-end progress and financial reports, including budget and allocation reports, confirms accuracy, or adjusts accordingly.
• Researching and analyzing information needed to respond to various queries including program, donor requests and audit findings.

4. Financial Reporting

Assist and support the Chief of Finance and Budget Unit in the timely issuance and accurate financial reporting to stake holders by:

• Preparing and reviewing financial reports to donors on the use of funds.
• Initiating the monthly and annual closing in the preparation of UNITAR IPSAS Financial Statements.
• Assisting in analyzing and providing all accounts information for the preparation of financial statements.
• Coordinating with Program Managers on fund utilizations and balances; and preparing financial statements to the donors.

5. Transactional support

Support the program implementation processes by exercising delegated authority for verifying and processing financial transactions by:

• Ensuring accuracy and integrity of the transactions being processed, in accordance with the Financial Regulations and Rules, maintain accurate records of financial entries including supporting documentation.
• Working with the team members together with other members of the group to ensure accurate and timely processing of payments in an effective manner and in compliance with established procedures.
• Serving as a contact point for staff members throughout UNITAR, agencies, external counterparts by providing advice and guidance to facilitate the processing of all financial transactions.
• Recommending and making improvements in the financial transactional processes to bring-in standardizations and efficiencies in the transactional processes.

6. General

• Performing other duties as required by the Chief of Finance and Budget and the nature of the job.

• Professionalism - Ability to identify and resolve accounting or budgetary issues. Demonstrates professional competence and mastery of accounting and budgetary areas. Ability to analyze and interpret data in support of decision-making and convey resulting information to supervisor. 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 - Identifies priority activities and assignments; adjusts priorities as required; allocates appropriate amount of time and resources for completing work; 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; shares credit for team accomplishments and accepts joint responsibility for team shortcomings.
• Client orientation - Establishes and maintains productive partnerships with clients by gaining their trust and respect; identifies clients’ needs and matches them to appropriate solutions; keeps clients informed of progress or setbacks in projects; meets timeline for delivery of products or services to client.
• Technological awareness - Keeps abreast of available technology. Understands applicability and limitations of technology to the work of the Institute. Actively seek to apply technology to appropriate tasks. Show willingness to learn new technology.

Education: Master’s degree in accounting/finance or a related field from a recognized academic institution is required. A bachelor’s degree and at least 4 years of relevant professional experience in accounting/finance field in a large office will be considered as equivalent in lieu of the required qualification. Professional certification as a Certified Public Accountant (CPA), Chartered Accountant (CA) or equivalent is desirable.
Experience: At least 2 years of progressively responsible experience in financial, accounting and budgeting systems. Demonstrated experience with UN financial regulations and rules; international institutions knowledge of International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSAS). Knowledge of Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system such as Oracle, SAP, etc. Advance knowledge of MS Office products, specifically Excel, and good computer literacy skills required. Knowledge of data analytics is desirable.
Language: Fluency in English is required; knowledge of French is desirable. Knowledge of another UN official language is an advantage.