Finance and Budget Assistant

Org. Setting and Reporting

This position is located in the Administrative Section of the Registry of the United Nations Mechanism for International Criminal Tribunals (MICT) (Arusha Branch), the incumbent will work under the supervision of the Chief of Finance.

Responsibilities:

The incumbent will perform the following duties:

Financial Accounting

• Coordinates and supports the preparation and production of MICT Arusha Branch financial reports and schedules.
• Records obligation documents, accounts receivable and payable, and maintains specific general ledger accounts.
• Reviews, reconciles and prepares monthly reports for incoming receipts and outgoing expenditures and billings.
• Clarifies and interprets any intricacies that may arise in the course of the records reconciliation, including UNDP SCA reports, and billing reports with ICTR/ICTY.
• Prepares journal transactions ensuring compliance with established rules and procedures.
• Coordinates/processes payroll based on personnel actions and salary distribution forms.
• Coordinates/processes payments to ad hoc officials.
• Coordinates/processes payments in connection with the purchase of goods and services, ensuring compliance with rules, and that proper documentations and requirements have been fully met.
• Examines and processes travel claims in accordance with relevant rules, circulars and instructions; ensures that proper supporting receipts conform to the authorized itinerary.
• Ensures that funds/prior approval have been properly provided and authorized, recovering travel advances in excess of entitlements.
• Generates payments from the accounting system and effects payments in the electronic banking system, ensures that all payment vouchers are properly certified and approved before payments are effected.
• Acts as cash custodian, updates cash balances and prepares cash reconciliation.
• In the absence of the Supervisor, acts as approving officer for accounting and other financial transactions.
• Responds to queries from staff members and third parties.
• Prepares routine correspondence with respect to enquiries related to relevant financial and accounting matters.
• Maintains and keep up-to-date files.
• Liaises with the Finance Section in The Hague concerning all finance-related matters affecting the MICT Arusha Branch.
  

Budget

• Assists in the preparation of the proposed programme budget and performance reports of the MICT Arusha Branch.
• Prepares drafts of internal documents containing approved appropriations of the MICT Arusha Branch.
• Assists in overseeing the on-going budget activities throughout the year, including: budget allocations, budget implementation, redeployment of resources, performance reports, and other budget reports, as required.
• Monitors the accounts on a monthly basis, projects expenditures, and recommends appropriate redeployment of resources when required.
• Prepares cost plans and compiles statistics on vacancies and other budget-related matters as required.
• Prepares and sends monthly reports to New York on post vacancies.
• Respond to queries on budget matters.
• Liaises with the Budget Section in The Hague concerning all budget-related matters affecting the MICT Arusha Branch, including staffing table control.
nafasi za kazi
• Assists in overseeing extra-budgetary activities related to the MICT Arusha Branch.
• Maintains Panel of Certifying Officers of the MICT Arusha Branch.
• Other relevant duties as assigned by the Supervisor.

Competencies

• Professionalism: 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. Demonstrates commitment to implementing the goal of gender equality by ensuring the equal participation and full involvement of women and men in all aspects of work.
• Teamwork – Works collaboratively with colleagues to achieve organisational goals. Solicits input by genuinely valuing others’ ideas and expertise; is willing to learn from others. Places team agenda before personal agenda. Supports and acts in accordance with a final group decision, even when such decisions may not entirely reflect own position. Shares credit for team accomplishments and accepts joint responsibility for team shortcomings.
• Planning and Organising – 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.
• Judgement/Decision-making – Identifies the key issues in a complex situation, and comes to the heart of the problem quickly. Gathers relevant information before making a decision. Considers positive and negative impacts of decisions prior to making them. Takes decisions with an eye to the impact on others and on the Organisation. Proposes a course of action or makes a recommendation based on all available information. Checks assumptions against facts. Determines that the actions proposed will satisfy the expressed and underlying needs for the decision. Makes tough decisions when necessary.

Education

High school diploma or equivalent. Specialized training in finance and/or budget is an asset.

Work Experience

Eight (8) years of progressively responsible experience in financial and budget matters. Preferably in an international organization. Knowledge of SAP (FI) is required.

Languages

English and French are the working languages of the Mechanism. For the post advertised, fluency in oral and written English is required. Knowledge of French and/or Kiswahili is an asset.