United Nation Economic Commission for Africa (ECA)
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Job Description
The Economic Commission for Africa’s (ECA) mission is to deliver ideas and actions for an empowered and transformed Africa; informed by the 2030 Agenda and Agenda 2063. The mission will be guided by ECA’s five new strategic directions which are: Advancing ECA’s position as a premier knowledge institution that builds on its unique position and privilege to bring global solutions to the continent’s problems and take local solution to the continent; developing macroeconomic and structural policy options to accelerate economic diversification and job creation; designing and implementing innovative financing models for infrastructure, and for human, physical and social assets for a transforming Africa; contributing solutions to regional and transboundary challenges, with a focus on peace security and social inclusion as an important development nexus; advocating Africa’s position at the global level and developing regional responses as a contribution to global governance issues. This position is located in the Finance and Budget Section (FBS) in the Administration and Conference Management Division (ACMD) in the Economic Commission for Africa. The Chief, Finance and Budget Section, reports to the Director of ACMD.
Responsibilities
Within delegated authority, the Finance and Budget Section Chief will be responsible for the following duties: Medium-term plan:
Plans, organizes and manages the preparation of the medium-term plan and its revisions on the basis of departmental submissions, taking into account recommendations and decisions of specialized intergovernmental bodies.
Proactively supports relevant intergovernmental and expert bodies in the review of the medium-term plan and its revisions; secures approval from the General Assembly.
Ensures legislative mandates are accurately translated into programme budgets. Budget preparation: • Plans and co-ordinates review of budget submissions.
Reviews, analyses and finalizes cost estimates and budget proposals, in terms of staff and non-staff requirements from (a) Departments/offices at Headquarters and in the field, including programmatic aspects; (b) peacekeeping operations; ensures compliance with the medium-term plan and other legislative mandates. • Co-ordinates the preparation of budget submissions from managers. • Reviews, analyses and finalizes programme budget/financial implications to the Security Council statements in light of additional mandates. • Provides substantive support and guidance to relevant intergovernmental and expert bodies in their budget review; secures approval from the General Assembly. Budget administration: • Manages/issues allotments, authorizes sub-allotments, including redeployment of funds when necessary, ensuring appropriate expenditures. • Monitors expenditures to ensure that they remain within authorized levels. • Administers and monitors extra-budgetary resources, including review of agreements and cost plans, ensuring compliance with regulations and rules and established policies and procedures. • Authorizes payment to Governments for settlement of certified death and disability, contingent-owned equipment and letters-of-assist claims; determines average monthly troop strengths, establishing amounts reimbursable and initiating payments for reimbursement to troop-contributing countries. • Oversees the review and finalization of budget performance reports; monitors variances between approved budgets and actual expenditures. • Provides advice and support to relevant intergovernmental and expert bodies in review of budget performance reports; secure approval from the General Assembly. General: • Provides advice and guidance, including training, to Headquarters (ECA Addis Ababa) and field staff (SROs and IDEP) on budgetary and financial policies and procedures, including results-based budgeting. • Participates in inter-departmental meetings and/or technical survey missions on matters related to resource requirements, programming and budgetary issues. • 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. • Prepares/finalizes reports for intergovernmental bodies and for management on budgetary issues, and correspondence, including guidelines, instructions. • Reviews and analyses budgetary policies and procedures, makes recommendations for changes and/or modifications. • Acts as Certifying Officer under Financial Rule 110.4 to ensure that proposed obligations and expenditures are in accordance with budgets and established regulations and rules. • Ensures the integrity of financial and management systems and the controls that underpin them. • Represents ECA in meetings of legislative organs; represents the Division or the Section in inter and intra-departmental meetings • Plans, organizes and manages staff and work programme; plans and discusses individual work programmes with staff and evaluates their performance. • Leads team members efforts to collect and analyze data and provides insight to identify trends or patterns for data-driven planning, decision-making, presentation and reporting. Ensures that everyone can discover, access, integrate and share the data they need. • Performs other related duties, as assigned.
Competencies
- Professionalism: Knowledge of financial and budgetary principles and practices, budget management and financial administration of resources. Proven analytical skills and ability to provide technical advice in budget management to managers. Ability to manage a programme in a field operation and formulate new strategies and approaches to budget management issues. 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. Able to analyze and interpret data in support of decision-making and convey resulting information to management. The ability to analyze and interpret data in support of decision-making and convey resulting information to management. • 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. • Accountability: Takes ownership of all responsibilities and honours 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. • Leadership: Serves as a role model that other people want to follow: empowers others to translate vision into results; is proactive in developing strategies to accomplish objectives; establishes and maintains relationships with a broad range of people to understand needs and gain support; anticipates and resolves conflicts by pursuing mutually agreeable solutions; drives for change and improvements; does not accept the status quo; shows the courage to take unpopular stands. Provides leadership and takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work; demonstrates knowledge of strategies and commitment to the goal of gender balance in staffing. • 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.
Job Qualification
- Education: An advanced university degree (Master’s or Doctorate degree, or equivalent) in business administration, finance, or related field or related fields is required. A first-level degree (Bachelor’s degree or equivalent) in the specified fields of studies with two additional years of relevant work experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree. Successful completion of both degree and non-degree programs in data analytics, business analytics or data science programs is an advantage.
- Work Experience: 10 years of work experience Progressively responsible experience in finance, administration, budget, business administration or related area is required. Experience in data analytics or related area is desirable.
How To Apply
Application Link: https://careers.un.org/jobSearchDescription/276958?language=en