Chief of Section, Finance and Budget, P5

The Chief of Section, Finance and Budget, serves as the Chief of the Accounts Payable Section within the Financial Operations Service of the Common Administrative Platform at United Nations Headquarters. The role involves managing programme planning, budget preparation and administration, finance operations, and leading business process improvements including ERP system optimization.

Responsibilities

• Plans, organizes and manages the preparation of the programme plan and its revisions based on departmental submissions and intergovernmental recommendations.
• Supports intergovernmental and expert bodies in the review and approval of the programme plan and budget.
• Ensures legislative mandates are accurately translated into programme budgets.
• Plans and coordinates review of budget submissions and finalizes cost estimates and budget proposals for Headquarters, field offices, and peacekeeping operations.
• Manages budget administration including allotments, sub-allotments, monitoring expenditures, and administering extra-budgetary resources.
• Authorizes payments including those to Governments for troop reimbursements and other claims.
• Oversees review and finalization of budget performance reports and monitors variances between approved budgets and actual expenditures.
• Administers and approves payments related to staff advances, contractual workers, insurance premiums, and troop reimbursements.
• Leads business process re-engineering, automation, and continuous improvement initiatives including optimization of ERP systems and workflows.
• Provides advice and guidance on budgetary and financial policies and procedures to Headquarters and field staff.
• Participates in inter-departmental meetings and technical survey missions related to resource requirements and budgetary issues.
• Prepares reports and official documentation for intergovernmental bodies and troop-contributing countries.
• Reviews and analyses financial policies and procedures and recommends changes.
• Exercises delegated financial authority ensuring compliance with UN Financial Regulations, IPSAS, and internal control frameworks.
• Represents the Secretary-General in meetings of legislative organs and other inter- and intra-departmental meetings.
• Plans, organizes and manages staff and work programme; evaluates staff performance.
• Leads team efforts to collect and analyze data for data-driven planning and reporting.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Requirements

• Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in business administration, finance, accounting, or related field is required.
• A first-level university degree in combination with qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
• A minimum of 10 years of progressively responsible experience in finance, accounting, budget, or business administration is required.
• At least 5 years of experience with business development and enhancement of the finance and budget modules including Accounts Payable and payroll accounting of an Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system is required.
• At least 5 years of experience with data analytics and building complex financial data models is required.
• Experience working with the United Nations or a large global organization’s systems and procedures, Staff and Financial Regulations, and Rules and procedures is desirable.
• Experience providing advice to senior leadership, including in supporting business process improvements, is desirable.
• Experience in coordinating with internal and external auditors is desirable.
• English language proficiency at UN Level III for reading, writing, listening, and speaking is required.

Skills

• Finance Management
• Budget Preparation
• Accounting
• Business Administration
• Enterprise Resource Planning
• Accounts payable
• Payroll Administration
• Data Analytics
• Financial Data Modeling
• Business Process Improvement
• ERP System Optimization
• Coordination with Auditors
• Staff and Financial Regulations
• Financial Operations
• Programme Planning

Languages

English