Budget and Finance Officer at World Health Organization (WHO)

Objectives of the Programme

• The mission of WHO's Health Emergencies Programme (The Programme) is to build the capacity of Member States to manage health emergency risks and, when national capacities are overwhelmed, to lead and coordinate the international health response to contain outbreaks and to provide effective relief and recovery to affected populations.

Description of Duties
Reporting to the Operations Officer, and under the overall guidance of the Incident Manager, the incumbent will plan and implement budget and finance operations, including all aspects of financial management and financial reporting. The Budget and Finance Officer, reviews financial data, participates in evaluating financial risk assessment, provides inputs on financial issues, and prepares financial reports.

The incumbent ensures adherence to the International Public Sector Accounting Standards' (IPSAS), applicable emergency Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), and financial policies and procedures. The incumbent liaises closely with counterparts and budget & finance focal points in WHO country, regional and HQ offices, other UN agencies and Donors in carrying out their duties. The incumbent might be required to supervise a team of support staff. Some of the activities to be performed by the incumbent include:

• Organize the day-to-day budget and financial operations encompassing quality control, monitoring and clearance, financial accounting and reporting, workplan and award management including cash flow forecasting and monitoring, while liaising with relevant team members.
• Manage funding allocations and awards process, prepare necessary forms for the awards' cycle and implements all budgetary and financial actions in the Global Management System (GSM), this includes workplan funding requests, submission of award budgets, reprogramming of awards and preparation of expenditure batches, while ensuring speedy response to the incident management team's financial requests. Ensure expenditures are appropriately charged to awards in line with the conditions in agreements with donors.
• Monitor and follow-up on donor reporting deadlines; verify and provide budgetary clearance to proposals and reports for resource mobilization team, ensure compliance with relevant financial policies, procedures and emergency SOPs.
• Track and report on financing against budget: monitor implementation rates, consolidate financial data, analyze and prepare periodic/ad hoc budgetary and financial statements and returns, identify financial gaps, and recommend remedial or alternative action to mangers as appropriate.
• Develop, update and maintain an accurate tracking system of all financial activities pertaining to the emergency preparedness, recovery and response operations at the country level.
• Oversee the accurate recording of financial transactions, calculation and payment of salaries, allowances and other payments to staff, non- staff, contractors and vendors.
• Brief/debrief staff members, consultants and WHO responders, on relevant financial and budgetary rules and procedures.
• Draft audit responses, review and follow- up on any outstanding audit recommendations related to area of work.
• Perform any other related incident-specific duties, as required by the functional supervisor.

Required Qualifications
Education:

• Essential: A first-level university degree in Accounting, Financial Management, Business or Public Administration or Economics with specialization in budgeting/accounting from an accredited/recognized institute.
• Desirable: An advanced university degree (Masters level or above) in business administration, finance, accounting, or public administration. Professional qualification or licensure in Accounting/Accountancy.

Experience:

• Essential: At least two years’ professional experience, at the national and international level, in finance, budget/accounting. Demonstrated experience in accounting and consolidation of financial data using ERP systems or similar packages
• Desirable: Prior experience in supporting emergency or health outbreak operations at the field level. Relevant experience with WHO, other UN agencies or with an international Non-Governmental Organization.

Skills:

• Good command of MS office software: Word, Excel, Access, PowerPoint and use of the Internet.

WHO Competencies:

• Technical expertise
• Overall attitude to work
• Teamwork
• Respecting and promoting individual and cultural differences
• Communication

Use of Language Skills:

• Essential: Excellent command of English
• Desirable: Knowledge of other UN language would be an asset