Programme and Budget Analyst

Background/Purpose:

The Programme/Budget Analyst is located in the Regional Office (RO). Under the guidance and overall supervision of the International Operations Manager (IOM),

The Programme and Budget Analyst is part of the Operations Team of the RO and will be working closely with the Deputy Regional Director (DRD) as liaison and advisory support for development of the Global Regional Interventions (GRI) in line with UNFPA-LACRO strategic plan and the Resource Results Framework (RRF). 

Also She/He takes a client oriented, result-focused approach to interpreting rules, procedures and guidelines, provides programmatic support and guidance to the RO program staff within the RO, Country Offices (COs) and the Sub Regional Office (SRO) to accelerate the achievement of the three transformative results and advancing the ICPD Agenda.

Major duties and Responsibilities include:

The incumbent supports resource planning through the following areas of activities:

1. Budget planning and formulation and integrated funds allocation

2. Integrated resource management, monitoring and oversight

3. Support assurance activities of implementing partners

4. Capacity building, training, advisory services and technical guidance

5. Policies and tools for resource planning and management

6. Support decision-making and UNFPA strategic priorities

Key Expected Results

1. Budget planning and formulation and integrated funds allocation

• Support the coordination and development of the Integrated Budget of the 4-year cycle of the GRI and the annual work plans (WP) and budgets of the regional office and ensure compliance with corporate processes
• Serves as the program support focal point for the regional office and country offices and provide advice to ensure adherence to procedures policies, systems and best practices to support program planning, implementation, monitoring and reporting of the regional program
• Provides support to program specialists with respect of the elaboration of resource requirement and submissions, including redeployment of funds and prepares relevant documentation with respect to budget performance submissions.
• Support the DRD and IOM in the allocation, monitoring and analysis of core and non-core funds throughout the program cycle and report on the output delivery to the RO management, program and operations staff in their areas of competence for decision making processes.

2. Integrated resource management, monitoring and oversight

• Use analytical tools to monitor or RO program budget expenditures and analyze together with program staff implications for achievement of program goals and objectives
• Review and analyze past and current expenditures including trends in pattern of resource allocation in order to prepare recommendations and proposals for distribution of income and utilization of resources provided to the countries and to regional program in the region
• Support regular reporting including financial performance management reporting, interim donor reporting where appropriate, facilitate approval of workplans and monitoring from budget perspective
• Develop proposals to improve implementation.
• Facilitates close collaboration between HQ support units, the RO and COs to provide and coordinate guidance in the design, implementation, monitoring and reporting of program.
• Ensure compliance in programmatic and financial reporting from partners, as outlined in funding agreements.
• Coordinate submission of financial reports, including the review and finalization of inputs for financial reports for donors.
• Receive, analyze, and respond to inquiries from UNFPA business units concerning resource planning and budgeting
• Implement resource planning and budgeting decisions at the operational level using Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) and other software as needed
• Participate in team-wide problem-solving for inquiries, and use inquiries to discover potential gaps in communication and policy that can be ameliorated
• Assists in the management of the Country Office budget by budget formulation, controlling allotments, monitoring expenditures, and preparing revisions according to the needs of the Country Office.
• Assist in the management of the RO information system, by setting up of indicators, targets and milestones for the management and operations, and in the follow up of reporting quarterly in the system.

3. Support assurance activities of implementing partners

• Serves as focal point for Harmonized Approach for Cash Transfer (HACT) implementation and works closely with operations counterparts to ensure that global, regional, and country teams can adhere to policies and procedures in areas such as: project management and modalities of engagement with implementing partners

• Support the coordination of implementing partners (IPs) assurance activities such as, audits and spotchecks at the regional level and monitor implementation of audit recommendations for IPs and for internal audits of LACRO and in COs in LAC region

• Works closely with operations counterparts to ensure regional and country teams can meet policies and procedures in areas such as engagement with IPs.

4. Capacity building, training, advisory services and technical guidance

• Support the RO’s efforts to build capacity for resource planning and budgeting in all offices using all tools available (trainings, on-line tools, facilitated platforms etc.);
• Review funding proposals for consistency and compliance with relevant policy, and provide constructive feedback to inform negotiations with prospective donors

5. Policies and tools for resource planning and management

• Support field offices in matters of programme budgeting and policies and procedures for resource planning, using policy and costing tools as appropriate

6. Support decision-making and UNFPA strategic priorities

• Provide quality assurance for documents supporting senior management decision-making
• Support programme development from a resource planning perspective, including country programme document process for regional programs
• Participate in internal meetings and workstreams involving resource planning aspects
• Support to the initiatives of the regional office to improve BOS in COs to contribute with the UN Reform for a new generation of country teams

Supervision of other colleagues:

• The Programme and budget analyst will be responsible for the supervision of the Finance Associate in his/her roll of build capacities for the operations unit of the regional office.

Education:

• Master’s degree in Business/Public Administration, finance and accounting, or similar discipline. Bachelor level degree may be accepted if supplemented with an additional 2 years of relevant work experience as shown below;

Knowledge and Experience:

• 2 years of professional experience in the field of budget management.
• Experience with UN finance regulations and procedures will be a decided advantage.
• Experience in working in team and leading team projects is highly desirable.
• Excellent working knowledge of MS Office (in particular, applications related to database and data analysis), ERP (e.g. PeopleSoft, Oracle, SAP), E-filing system and other software applications is required.

Languages:

• Fluency in Spanish and English.

Values:

• Exemplifying integrity, 
• Demonstrating commitment to UNFPA and the UN system, 
• Embracing cultural diversity, 
• Embracing change

Core Competencies: 

• Achieving results,
• Being accountable,
• Developing and applying professional expertise/business acumen,
• Thinking analytically and strategically,
• Working in teams/managing ourselves and our relationships,

Functional Competencies:

• Managing the organization’s financial resources
• Developing ICT standards and applications
• Client orientation
• Implementing management systems
• Innovation/ marketing of new approaches
• Organizational Awareness