CHIEF OF SECTION, FINANCE AND BUDGET, P5

This position is located in the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), Juba. Juba is classified in the "E" category and as a non-family duty station. The Chief of Section, Finance and Budget reports to the Chief, Operations and Resource Management. The focus of the position is on the overall financial management of the Mission that includes the implementation of the budgetary resources and financial transactions and performance of the mission ensuring optimal use of the approved funds.

Within delegated authority, the Chief of Section, Finance and Budget will be responsible for the following duties: •Acts as the principal advisor to senior leadership of the Mission on questions related to financial resourcing and stewardship, and organizational performance in line with Mission priorities and provides advice on new approaches and practices. •Leads the Finance and Budget Section guiding and coordinating the efforts towards the achievement of programme objectives. Strategic Resourcing: •Leads the Mission’s budget development programme, providing guidance and coordination with respect to the establishment of major resourcing priorities, preparation of comprehensive budget submissions, application of results-based budgeting principles, analysis of the costs and benefits of major new proposals, and coordination of performance reporting. •Provides leadership and guidance to programme and resource managers throughout the Mission, and acting on behalf of the Mission at UNHQ, in the monitoring of budgetary execution and financial performance to identify issues, priorities timely solutions, and exceptions warranting further action as well as in participating in projects to enhance the cost-effectiveness of mission activities, monitors achievement of objectives. •Effectively leads the financial management of the Mission, including the provision of authoritative advice with regard to the UN’s Financial Regulations and Rules. •Prepares financial models, estimates and cost-benefit analysis in response to planning for and implementing major operational changes including the preparation of financial implications of mandates or programme adjustments. •Supports the legislative review processes especially the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions (ACABQ) and the 5th Committee of the General Assembly. •Ensures that the financial accounts of the Mission are continually maintained, monitored and that annual financial statements are certified in accordance with the requirements of the UN Controller and UN Financial Regulations and Rules. •Ensures that accurate and completing accounting, reporting and internal control systems are functioning and that all relevant records are maintained in accordance with the UN’s Financial Regulations and Rules and proper management of Mission resources. •Leads the preparation of the Mission’s draft responses with regard to audits findings and recommendations from both the Board of external Auditors (BOA) and Office of Internal Oversight Services (OIOS). Provides advice and corrective actions. Performance Monitoring: •Ensures strong management reporting practices and business intelligence for effective and efficient budgetary and performance management, integrating all aspects of the Mission’s operations and identifying remedial actions. •Leads ongoing monitoring, analysis, and reporting to ensure that the Mission’s organizational performance is tracking with set targets and resource requirements are aligned with mandates and other priorities. Other •Plans, organizes, directs the activities of multiple teams and resources of the Section. Manages the staff if Section in prioritizing, planning, and assigning responsibilities, developing, and maintaining needed expertise and knowledge, and identifying opportunities for improvement, including their on-going learning and career development. •Represents the Mission on cross-cutting projects and initiatives to improve resource management, financial operations in the field operations. •Ensure an effective cashier as needed. •Serves on formal oversight and decision-making bodies established in the Mission, including the Local Committee on Contracts, and Local Property Survey Board. - Performs other budgeting duties, as assigned.

Professionalism: Demonstrated expertise in applying contemporary principles and practices to financial management and resource planning, accounting and financial reporting, and financial operations, in a complex organizational setting; ability to develop and implement new policies, procedures and other improvement initiatives to promote cost-effective resource management and strengthen financial stewardship and control; extensive experience in preparing and/or interpreting financial information in an IPSAS-compliant or similar accounting environment; proven capacity to provide valued input to a strategic organizational planning and/or oversight framework; demonstrated success in addressing challenging scenarios and problems from a strategic perspective and with effective solutions; significant experience in defining operational and organizational objectives in a results-based resourcing framework; capacity to provide strategic support to senior leadership; demonstrated commitment to incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work. Communication: Superior capacity to speak and write with influence in communicating with senior leadership and peers throughout the Mission and at UNHQ; demonstrated experience in conveying technical financial issues to non-practitioners, adapting language, tone, style and format to the audience; listens to others, correctly interpreting messages and responding appropriately; demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed. 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. 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 Organization; proposes a course of action or makes a recommendation based on all available information; checks assumptions against facts; determines the actions proposed will satisfy the expressed and underlying needs for the decision; makes tough decisions when necessary.

Advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent) in business administration, public administration, finance, or related field is required. A first-level university degree, in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

A Certified Public Accountant (CPA) or similar recognized professional designation is desirable.

A minimum of ten (10) years of progressively responsible experience in finance, budget, administration, public administration, business administration, or related area is required. Experience in managing a large, multi-functional team is required. Experience in cost management, budget formulation, financial monitoring, accounting, audit and financial reporting is required. Experience in translating strategies into financial plans and operations is required. Experience in working directly with legislative bodies and respective secretariats in providing technical advice and comments on the performance report and budget proposals to desk officers and members of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions and delegates of the Fifth Committee of the General Assembly is required. Experience in supporting international operations involving military/security, logistics, infrastructure development, or a similar undertaking is desirable. Experience 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 setting is desirable.

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

• This position is temporarily available until 30 June 2027, possibility of extension subject to availability of funds. If the selected candidate is a staff member from the United Nations Secretariat, the selection will be administered as a temporary assignment. • While this temporary assignment may provide the successful applicant with an opportunity to gain new work experience, the selection for this position is for a limited period and has no bearing on the future incumbency of the post. • Subject to the funding source of the position, the eligibility for this temporary job opening may be limited to candidates based at the duty station. • This temporary job opening may be limited to “internal candidates,” who have been recruited through a competitive examination administered according to staff rule 4.16 or staff selection process including the review of a central review body established according to staff rule 4.15. • Staff members of the United Nations common system organizations who will reach the mandatory age of separation or retirement within the duration of the current temporary need period are not eligible to apply.Submitting an application or selection for the current temporary job opening does not delay or increase the mandatory age of separation. • Retirees above the mandatory age of separation who wish to be considered for the current temporary job opening must indicate the reason for their last separation as "retirement." Such retirees shall not be employed by the Organization, unless (a) the operational requirements of the Organization cannot be met by staff members who are qualified and available to perform the required functions; and (b) the proposed employment would not adversely affect the career development or redeployment opportunities of other staff members and represents both a cost-effective and operationally sound solution to meet the needs of the service. •Qualified women that meet the requirements of this job opening are particularly encouraged to apply and will be given full consideration in accordance with the United Nations efforts to increase women participation in its workforce. Please note that pursuant to the Staff selection system policy (ST/AI/2025/2): (1) Applicants for positions in the Field Service category cannot be of the nationality of the country where the position is located, and (2) Applicants for positions in the Professional and higher categories in a mission, field operation, or resident coordinator’s office cannot be of the nationality of the country where the position is located. For currently serving staff of a United Nations Common System organization, only the UN-recognized nationality will be considered for the purposes of these restrictions.

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, sexual abuse, or sexual harassment, 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. The term “sexual harassment” means any unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature that might reasonably be expected or be perceived to cause offence or humiliation, when such conduct interferes with work, is made a condition of employment or creates an intimidating, hostile or offensive work environment, and when the gravity of the conduct warrants the termination of the perpetrator’s working relationship. Candidates who have committed crimes other than minor traffic offences may not be considered for employment. 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. Reasonable accommodation may be provided to applicants with disabilities upon request, to support their participation in the recruitment process. By accepting a letter of appointment, staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General, who may assign them to any of the activities or offices of the United Nations in accordance with staff regulation 1.2 (c). Further, staff members in the Professional and higher category up to and including the D-2 level and the Field Service category are normally required to move periodically to discharge functions in different duty stations under conditions established in ST/AI/2023/3 on Mobility, as may be amended or revised. This condition of service applies to all position specific job openings and does not apply to temporary positions. Applicants are urged to carefully follow all instructions available in the online recruitment platform, inspira, and to refer to the Applicant Guide by clicking on “Manuals” in the “Help” tile 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. All external candidates recruited in accordance with section ‎2.2 (a) of ST/AI/2025/3 for a fixed term appointment without limitation and all external candidates recruited in accordance with section 2.2. (c) of ST/AI/2025/3 for a fixed term appointment limited to the entity are subject to an initial probationary period of one year under a fixed-term appointment. Job openings advertised on the Careers Portal will be removed at 11:59 p.m. (New York time) on the deadline date.