Programme and Budget Specialist

Job description

UNICEF

UNICEF Lebanon is looking for a Programme and Budget Specialist to support the country program in managing resources from Donors including the development of donor proposals and reports, and effectively and efficiently developing, monitoring and reporting on grant specific budgets in line with program,
UNICEF and donor requirements.
UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. To save their lives. To defend their rights. To help them fulfill their potential.

Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone.And we never give up.

For every child, commitment

The fundamental mission of
UNICEF is to promote the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything the Organization does, in programmes, in advocacy and in operations.

The equity strategy, emphasizing the most disadvantaged and excluded children and families, translates this commitment to children’s rights into action.

For
UNICEF, equity means that all children have an opportunity to survive, develop and reach their full potential, without discrimination, bias or favoritism.

To the degree that any child has an unequal chance in life ? in its social, political, economic, civic and cultural dimensions ? her or his rights are violated.

There is growing evidence that investing in the health, education and protection of a society’s most disadvantaged citizens ? addressing inequity ? not only will give more children the opportunity to fulfill their potential but also will lead to sustained growth and stability of countries. This is why the focus on equity is so vital.

It accelerates progress towards realizing the human rights of all children, which is the universal mandate of
UNICEF, as outlined by the Convention on the Rights of the Child, while also supporting the equitable development of nations.
Purpose of the job:

The Programme and Budget Specialist, P3 will report directly to Chief Planning and Monitoring and will support the country program in managing resources from Donors including the development of donor proposals and reports, and effectively and efficiently developing, monitoring and reporting on grant specific budgets in line with program,
UNICEF and donor requirements.

The Programme and Budget Specialist is the focal point for all grants and assists in the development or overseeing the development of budgets and technical reports when necessary.

The Programme and Budget Specialist also provides key support to the office in supervising programmatic and budgetary monitoring, compliance with donor and internal
UNICEF rules and regulations and other key functions as required.

Under the direct supervision of Chief Planning and Monitoring and general guidance of the Deputy Representative (Programmes), the Programme and Budget Specialist analyses programme and budget proposals for completeness, correctness and conformity with the programme and budget guidelines; advises programme managers and partners on the programme and budget process, from planning to implementation and reporting, providing guidance for an effective and efficient management of financial resources during the implementation of the budget; and prepares financial reports.How can you make a difference?

The Programme and Budget Specialist will work closely with Partnerships Section, Planning Monitoring Information Management section (PMI), and Front Office management team to:

• Provide strategic budget analysis, reviewing costs and programme data, analyzing and interpreting budget information and preparing reports ? including
  UNICEF’s financial contributions across programmes. Responsible for the accurate and timely Interim and final financial reports of active EU grants.
• In coordination with PMI, provide inputs to Inter-Agency reports on
  UNICEF’s overall financial contributions and provides required analysis when required internally and externally.
• Provides funding and contribution updates and analysis to strategic interagency platforms, including FTS.
• In coordination with Planning Specialist and Programmes, ensure
  UNICEF’s internal systems are consistently updated (including ensuring the maintenance of the PIDB coding).
• Ensure quality check on budgets of the E-AWP in close coordination with PMI team and Planning Manager.
• Provide programme coordination support and action tracking as required with Deputy Representative (Programmes), in particular for providing/ sourcing and collating information and inputs for strategic documents as required.
• Act as strategic partnership focal point for UN agencies (MOU’s, LOU’s etc.) and Resident Coordinator in particular.

  The Programme and Budget Specialist builds collaborative working relationships with staff within the country office, working in close coordination with the Partnerships team, and assisted by the programme budget officer on (1) the programme and budget issues regarding the process of budget planning, monitoring and reporting and, (2) the development of financial components of donor proposals and reports as needed. Close relationships are also necessary with counterparts in other UN organizations for policy and best-practice comparisons.

  • Serve as the focal person, supervising the programme budget officer for contribution management in all matters relating to the multiple number of contributions received by the country office, and ensure appropriate allocation, utilization and reporting of mobilized resources in close coordination with management, programme managers, RO, PPD, PFP, DFAM and other relevant offices. Participate and facilitate donor meetings, evaluation, verification exercises and other donor related requirement as required.
  • Serve as the focal person for donor budget reports, regularly review the multiple number of donor reports to ensure the accurate and timely submission; coordinate with the management and programme team to ensure timely submission of budget modifications and financial reports; closely monitor due dates for financial reports; Provide guidance and support in processing draft contribution agreements, taking into consideration the changing donor environment and requirements. Oversee the follow up done by the programme budget officer to ensure timely utilization of all contributions in conjunction with management and programme managers, taking into account the increasing complexity of the changing donor requirements, and increased value of donor funding being received by the country office. Provide guidance and support to programme managers and relevant staff on the contribution management process, to promote efficient and effective use of resources and to ensure that guidelines, policies, rules and regulations are fully understood and correctly applied. Prepare or oversee the preparation of various reports and analysis relating to contributions as required by management and donors. Analyse and document business processes in respect to the contribution management and implementation, in order to contribute to their streamlining and simplification.
  • Oversee the programme budget officer for country offices’ management performance indicators; ensure all reporting requirements are fully met for the office; Ensure that weekly and monthly contribution management reports are being prepared by the programme budget officer, taking into consideration the increased demand of complex, analytical reports in country office. Ensure quality information management through regular maintenance of contribution related information in VISION and efiling on the office shared drive.
  • Contribute to capacity building of country office staff and partners and build budget management and reporting capacity of the budget and reporting team as well as operations and programme staff by facilitating training, following the growth in the staffing structure and partners, providing one on one follow up support and knowledge sharing. Elaborate, participate with his/her team and/or implement internal standard operating procedures in a complex emergency context and control of the financial workflows in the programme. Develop training activities to ensure effective operational performance and efficiency.
  • Conduct or supervise ad hoc complex analyses to inform management decision making and carry out or oversees the preparation of any special studies and analysis requested by management with respect to the increased programme, budget, and make appropriate recommendations on the application of the results. Participates in the preparation of all programme reports for management, donors, budget reviews, programme analysis, and annual reports as required.To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have?

    An advanced university degree in Business Administration, Project Management, Finance, Accounting or another relevant technical field is required.

    A minimum of 5 years of progressively responsible experience is required in one or more of the following areas: contribution management, development of donor reports and proposals, budget or financial management is required.Experience working with
    UNICEF/UN in an emergency context/field is considered an asset. International experience is considered an asset.

    • Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) or a local language is an asset.For every Child, you demonstrate…

      UNICEF’s Core Values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust and Accountability and Sustainability (CRITAS) underpin everything we do and how we do it.
      Get acquainted with Our Values Charter:

      UNICEF Values

      UNICEF competencies required for this post are…

      (1) Builds and maintains partnerships (2) Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness (3) Drive to achieve results for impact (4) Innovates and embraces change (5) Manages ambiguity and complexity (6) Thinks and acts strategically (7) Works collaboratively with others (8) Nurtures, leads and manages people.

      During the recruitment process, we test candidates following the competency framework.

      Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels:
      competency framework here.

      UNICEF is here to serve the world’s most disadvantaged children and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children.

      The
      UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, or any other personal characteristic.

      We offer a wide range of benefits to our staff, including paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities.
      UNICEF strongly encourages the use of flexible working arrangements.

      UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and
      UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination.
      UNICEF is committed to promote the protection and safeguarding of all children.

      All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check.

      Remarks:

      UNICEF’s active commitment towards diversity and inclusion is critical to deliver the best results for children.

      Mobility is a condition of international professional employment with
      UNICEF and an underlying premise of the international civil service.

      UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance.

      Issuance of a visa by the host country of the duty station, which will be facilitated by
      UNICEF, is required for IP positions. Appointments are also subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid).

      Government employees that are considered for employment with
      UNICEF are normally required to resign from their government before taking up an assignment with
      UNICEF.

      UNICEF reserves the right to withdraw an offer of appointment, without compensation, if a visa or medical clearance is not obtained, or necessary inoculation requirements are not met, within a reasonable period for any reason.Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.

      UNICEF does not charge any fee during any stage of the recruitment process.

      This is how cinfo can support you in the application process for this specific position:

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          Sector:
          Nonprofit/Community/Social Services/International Cooperation

          Role:
          Other

          Working hours (%

          ): 80-100%