Org. Setting and Reporting

This position is located within the Finance Unit of the United Nations Support Mission in Libya. The position is currently based in Tunis, Tunisia. Tunis is classified as a Hardship “A” duty station and a family duty station. However, applicants should expect to travel on a regular basis to Tripoli and spend a significant portion of their time in Libya (and eventually be relocated to Tripoli) as the Mission moves forward with its plan to redeploy staff members into Libya (Libya is classified as a Hardship “E” duty station and a non-family duty station). The incumbent will be under the overall supervision of the Chief Finance and Budget Officer.

UNSMIL’s mandate as renewed in SC resolution 2434 of 13 September 2018 includes, as an immediate priority, support to the Libyan political process, as well as the undertaking of: (a) support to key Libyan institutions; (b) support for the provision of essential services and delivery of humanitarian assistance; (c) human rights monitoring and reporting; (d) support for securing uncontrolled arms and related materiel and countering their proliferation; and (e) coordination of international assistance, and provision of advice and assistance to GNA-led efforts to stabilize post-conflict zones.

Responsibilities

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

•Prepare cost estimates and budget proposals, of mission’s resourcing requirements such as staff and non-staff requirements, including programmatic aspects; review, analyse and revise data with respect to the finalization of the budget proposals as well as Result Based Budgeting inputs.

•Provide support to programme/fund centre managers across the mission with respect to the elaboration of resource requirements for budget submissions.

•Administer and monitor extra-budgetary resources, including review of agreements and cost plans, ensuring compliance with regulations and rules and established policies and procedures

•Administrate the mission’s allotments in accordance with the established procedures including redeployment/reallocation of funds

•Ensure the efficient and effective use of budgetary resources through robust monitoring of budget utilization to the approved budget and timely provision of information to Mission management for decision making; Provide support and guidance to fund centre/programme managers on budget implementation and corrective actions where necessary

•Prepare the budget performance report of the mission and ensure that correct and accurate data and information are provided by the various programme /fund centre managers in compliance with the Controller’s instructions. Review and finalise the performance reports ensuring valid and adequate variance explanations between approved budgets and actual expenditures.

•Analyzes complex/unusual accounting transactions and open items in the accounting system and implement corrective actions.

•Reviews and reconciles various clearing accounts, investigate erroneous/invalid entries and take appropriate corrective accounting action.

•Processes incoming/outgoing interoffice vouchers (IOVs), interoffice billings (IOBs) and intermission billings (IMBs) from/to HQs, agencies, funds, programs and other field missions.

•Advise and ensure that only valid year-end budget commitments confirming with established criteria are valid for carrying forward. 

•Reviews and verifies that appropriate relevant supporting documents have been provided for the processing of payments for goods and services received; 

•Prepares staff members’ entitlements including salaries, claims, danger pay, daily subsistence allowance, mission subsistence allowance, volunteer living allowance and any other allowances for payments in conformity and adherence to applicable United Nations policies e.g., staff rules, financial regulations and rules, ST/AI issuances or practices, IPSAS policy framework.

•Prepare year-end reports for the United Nations Joint Staff Pension Fund (UNJSPF) on all pension contributions made by national staff. 

•Supervises the disbursement of payments and monitor house bank account balances and transaction.

•Manages cash flow requirements of the mission; Verifies imprest documentation and prepare imprest statements.

•Prepares bank reconciliations for the Mission house banks 

•Act as a Certifying Officer under Financial Rule 105.5 or Approving Officer under Financial Rule 105.4 in adherence with the UN Regulations and Rules

•Provides advice, financial interpretations, adaptations and corrective actions in response to audits and other queries to ensure adherence to the UN Financial Regulations and Rules, Staff Rules, Administrative Instructions, Bulletins and Circulars under the supervision/guidance of the Chief Finance and Budget Officer.

•In the absence of a Chief Finance and Budget officer, oversee the daily operation of the Office.

•Carry out other duties as designed.

Competencies

Professionalism: Knowledge in the use and application of the Organization’s financial regulations and rules as well as accounting policies and practices. Ability to extract, interpret, and analyse a wide variety of data and to resolve data discrepancies and other problems. 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.

Accountability: Takes ownership of all responsibilities and honors 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.

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.

Managing Performance: Delegates the appropriate responsibility, accountability and decision-making authority; Makes sure that roles, responsibilities and reporting lines are clear to each staff member; Accurately judges the amount of time and resources needed to accomplish a task and matches task to skills; Monitors progress against milestones and deadlines; Regularly discusses performance and provides feedback and coaching to staff; Encourages risk-taking and supports creativity and initiative; Actively supports the development and career aspirations of staff; Appraises performance fairly

Education

High school diploma or equivalent. Technical or vocational certificate in accounting, finance, budget or related fields is required.

Work Experience

At least ten (10) years of progressive experience within the United Nations system or in the private sector at the national or international level in accounting, budgeting or financial management 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 in a conflict or post conflict environment is required. Knowledge of UN financial rules and regulations is highly desirable. Knowledge of the International Public Sector Accounting standards is desirable. Hands-on experience on financial ERP systems (i.e Umoja) is highly desirable.

Languages

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the position advertised, fluency in English and Arabic is required.

Assessment

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

Special Notice

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.

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 or sexual abuse, or crimes other than minor traffic offences, 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.

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.

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.