General Service (GS) Roster – Temporary Budget and Finance Associate

OBJECTIVES OF THE PROGRAMME

The Department of Business Operations (BOS) is responsible for providing efficient and effective support services to all programmes and activities of the organization in the Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMR) in respect of budget and finance, human resources and talent management, administration, procurement, information technology, security and staff health and well-being. Budget and Finance Services (BFS) provides support to the budget and finance operations of the regional office and 22 country/desk offices in EMR. BFS is entrusted with ensuring compliance with WHO's financial regulations and rules, policies and procedures and maintaining strong internal controls to effectively discharge WHO's accountability obligations to Member States and donors. BFS supports departments and country offices in delivering WHO's programmes by providing guidance, review, and oversight on financial and administrative transactions, policies, and procedures.
 

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES

Budget and Finance Services is organized into two main units - Budget and Finance - and additionally operates the regional processing arm of Staff Health Insurance. The Budget unit is responsible for supporting budget centres in budget planning, administration, and monitoring; award management; and financial reporting to contributors. The Finance unit is responsible for regional financial operations including accounts payable and disbursements; general accounting; bank and imprest reconciliations; and assurance activities. Both units are involved in regional review and clearance of transactions in relation to programme implementation through third parties. The incumbent may be assigned to perform duties of similar complexity in either unit including:

1. Initiate or review/verify and process budgetary and financial transactions in accordance with applicable policies and procedures.
2. Provide budgetary and financial clearances in relation to both routine and complex awards, HR, imprest, and third-party contracts ensuring compliance with relevant eManual provisions and standard operating procedures (SOPs). Clearances may be subject to further clearance by senior management within BOS and enable further processing by colleagues in the regional office, Global Service Centre (GSC); or country offices (WCOs).
3. Update data in the Global Management System (GSM) to ensure the highest quality and consistency of budget and financial data in relation to salary and activity workplans.
4. Prepare or review/admin approve, and process expenditure batches and journal vouchers. 
5. Validate and provide inputs to ensure consistency of both routine and complex donor budgets and financial aspects of donor agreements in accordance with budget best practices.
6. Review financial reports or requests for certified financial reports to donors and provide feedback to BC focal points to address any deficiencies before endorsement/clearance by the Budget and Finance Officer. 
7. Analyze budgetary and financial data and identify and implement corrective actions or highlight to BCs to resolve exceptions.
8. Perform account analyses, reconciliations, and identify and correct financial errors to ensure high quality and accurate information for decision-making and reporting. 
9. Monitor budgetary and financial status and lead the coordination with BCs and teammates within BFS to address issues impacting project implementation.
10. Quality check monthly imprest reconciliations and the Operational Advances SharePoint, ensuring that monthly reporting deadlines are met.
11. Participate in the annual closure of accounts and biennial closure by reviewing and validating financial information to ensure accuracy of financial reporting in accordance with IPSAS. 
12. Train and build capacity of teammates, finance, and non-finance staff in the regional and country offices to properly implement financial policies and procedures.
13. Identify opportunities to streamline and improve business processes.
14. Respond to queries of clients across the region and provide quality feedback on all budget and finance issues.
15. Provide regular feedback reports and communications on the performance of WCOs. 
16. Contribute to capacity assessment of implementing partners. 
17. Conduct assurance activities in relation to imprest, DFC, DI, GLOA implementation modalities to ensure that funds are used for the purpose specified. Such activities may include desk or mission reviews to meet with partners, assess controls and check supporting documentation for FACE reports submitted. 
18. Perform any related duties and responsibilities incidental to the above that are necessary for improving internal control and financial accountability in the region.
     

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education

Essential: Completion of secondary school with additional training in budget, finance,and accounting.
Desirable: University degree in finance, accounting, commerce, business administration or a related field. Fully or partly qualified professional accounting certification.
 

Experience

Essential: At least 8 years of progressively responsible experience in budget, finance, accounting, and audit activities.
Desirable: Experience in a United Nations or international non-profit organization in finance and accounting will be an asset.
 

Skills

• Demonstrated knowledge of general accounting principles, procedures, and practices.
• Strong analytical skills and attention to detail.
• Ability to understand, interpret and apply regulations, rules, policies, and procedures to routine and non-routine transactions.
• Proactive and able to problem solve while maintaining good working relationships with clients and stakeholders.
• Good time management and prioritizing skills to deliver quality results in pressing and conflicting situations.
• Strong collaboration skills.
   

WHO Competencies

Teamwork
Respecting and promoting individual and cultural differences
Communication
Producing results
Setting an example
 

Use of Language Skills

Essential: Expert knowledge of English. Expert knowledge of Arabic.
Desirable: Intermediate knowledge of French.

 

REMUNERATION

WHO offers staff in the General Services category an attractive remuneration package, which for the above position includes an annual net base salary starting at USD 22,486 (subject to mandatory deductions for pension contributions and health insurance, as applicable) and 30 days of annual leave.
 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

• Staff members who have been separated as a result of the 2025 Prioritization and Realignment Process will be given special consideration.

• This vacancy notice may be used to fill other similar positions at the same grade level.

• Only candidates under serious consideration will be contacted.

• A written test and/or an asynchronous video assessment may be used as a form of screening.

• In the event that your candidature is retained for an interview, you will be required to provide, in advance, a scanned copy of the degree(s)/diploma(s)/certificate(s) required for this position. WHO only considers higher educational qualifications obtained from an institution accredited/recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED), a list updated by the International Association of Universities (IAU)/United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The list can be accessed through the link: http://www.whed.net/. Some professional certificates may not appear in the WHED and will require individual review.

• 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. Due regard will be paid to the importance of recruiting the staff on as wide a geographical basis as possible.

• Any appointment/extension of appointment is subject to WHO Staff Regulations, Staff Rules and eManual.

• The Director-General retains the discretion to not make any appointment to this vacancy, to make an appointment at a lower grade, or to make an appointment with a modified job description, including shortening the duration of the appointment.

• WHO is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment of mutual respect. WHO recruits and employs staff regardless of disability status, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, language, race, marital status, religious, cultural, ethnic and socio-economic backgrounds, or any other personal characteristics.

• WHO is committed to achieving gender parity and geographical diversity in its staff. Women, persons with disabilities, and nationals of unrepresented and underrepresented Member States (https://www.who.int/careers/diversity-equity-and-inclusion) are strongly encouraged to apply.

• Persons with disabilities may request reasonable accommodations (modifications or adjustments to the application or recruitment process) to support their participation in the application and recruitment process. Please send an email to reasonableaccommodation@who.int with your full name, the vacancy number you are applying for, and specific details of the accommodation needed in your request.

• An impeccable record for integrity and professional ethical standards is essential. WHO prides itself on a workforce that adheres to the highest ethical and professional standards and that is committed to put the WHO Values Charter into practice.

• WHO has zero tolerance towards sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA), sexual harassment and other types of abusive conduct (i.e., discrimination, abuse of authority and harassment). All members of the WHO workforce have a role to play in promoting a safe and respectful workplace and should report to WHO any actual or suspected cases of SEA, sexual harassment and other types of abusive conduct. To ensure that individuals with a substantiated history of SEA, sexual harassment or other types of abusive conduct are not hired by the Organization, WHO will conduct a background verification of final candidates.

• WHO has a smoke-free environment and does not recruit smokers or users of any form of tobacco.

• For information on WHO's operations please visit: http://www.who.int.

• WHO also offers wide range of benefits to staff, including parental leave and attractive flexible work arrangements to help promote a healthy work-life balance and to allow all staff members to express and develop their talents fully.

• The statutory retirement age for staff appointments is 65 years. For external applicants, only those who are expected to complete the term of appointment will normally be considered.

• Please note that WHO's contracts are conditional on members of the workforce confirming that they are vaccinated as required by WHO before undertaking a WHO assignment, except where a medical condition does not allow such vaccination, as certified by the WHO Staff Health and Wellbeing Services (SHW). The successful candidate will be asked to provide relevant evidence related to this condition. A copy of the updated vaccination card must be shared with WHO medical service in the medical clearance process. Please note that certain countries require proof of specific vaccinations for entry or exit. For example, official proof /certification of yellow fever vaccination is required to enter many countries. Country-specific vaccine recommendations can be found on the WHO international travel and Staff Health and Wellbeing website. For vaccination-related queries please directly contact SHW directly at shws@who.int.

• This post is subject to local recruitment and will be filled by persons recruited in the local commuting area of the duty station.

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