Associate National Project Officer (Budget & Finance)

job Description

Associate National Project Officer (Budget & Finance)
OVERVIEW
Position Number: 6ZWADM0031PA
Grade: NO-B
Parent Sector: Sector For Administration and Management (ADM)
Duty Station: Harare
Job Family: Administration
Contract Type: Project Appointment
Duration of contract: 1 year
Recruitment open to: Internal and external candidates
Application deadline (Midnight Paris Time): 17/03/2026

ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT
Under the overall authority of the Director of the Harare Regional Office, the direct supervision of the Senior Operations Officer of the Regional Office, the Associate Project Officer (Budget and Finance) will be responsible for providing a range of financial management and budget administration support services to the projects Our Rights, Our Lives, Our Future (O3) and O3 PLUS. For matters of financial internal control, he/she receives delegated authority from the Chief Finance Officer as the certifying officer. He/she will receive policy guidance/ instructions from UNESCO’s Corporate Services and Programme Sector ADGs on their respective areas of responsibility.

Duties and Responsibilities

Budget planning and budget preparation
-In close coordination with the Senior Operations Officer, provide inputs for the budget preparation and review process.
-Provide support to programme/project responsible officers in elaborating resource requirements for budget submissions.
-Assist programme/project responsible officers in finalizing cost estimates and budget proposals.
-Review and analyse project budgets based on donor agreements, in close coordination with the Senior -Operations Officer, programme/project responsible officers, and donors.
-Ensure donor agreement provisions are accurately translated into project budgets.
-Ensure strict compliance with UNESCO’s rules, regulations, policies, and procedures and accounting standards, including IPSAS.
-In close coordination with the Senior Operations Officer, liaise with BFM and BSP on matters of budget planning and budget preparation, and provide relevant information as requested.

Long Description
Budget monitoring
-Ensure that the budget data under its coverage is adequately and timely entered in the appropriate management systems, and that budgetary transactions are in compliance with regulations, rules, policies, and procedures.
-Ensure the sufficient and effective use of budgetary resources through robust monitoring of budget execution and timely provision of information to the Senior Operations Officer and the programme/project responsible officers.
-Monitor and analyse project budgets based on progress made in implementation and take corrective action if required, in close coordination with the Senior Operations Officer, the programme/project responsible officers, and donors.
-Provide substantive advice and support to programme/project responsible officers in reviewing project budgets and propose revisions or corrective actions as necessary.
-Process, validate, and follow up with Central Services on budget revisions.
-Ensure that project closure actions are timely performed, in line with UNESCO’s rules, regulations, policies, and procedures, and project agreements’ provisions.

Financial Management
-Act as Certifying Officer, ensuring that financial transactions are in compliance with regulations, rules, policies, and procedures.
-Monitor commitments and payments, review and reconcile various clearing accounts, investigate erroneous/invalid entries and take appropriate corrective action, in line with UNESCO’s rules, regulations, policies and procedures.
-Analyse complex or unusual accounting transactions and open items in the accounting system and implement corrective actions in consultation with the Senior Operations Officer as required, in line with UNESCO’s rules, regulations, policies, and procedures.
-Provide advice on financial interpretations to the programme/project responsible officers on UNESCO’s financial rules, regulations, policies, and procedures.
-Provide support to project/programme officers on donor reporting and liaise closely with Headquarters services to ensure donor reports are prepared in a timely manner in line with the terms of the funding agreements signed with donors.

Qualifications and Experience

EDUCATION
Advanced university degree (Master's or equivalent) in the field of Finance, Business Administration, Accounting, or closely related field(s).

WORK EXPERIENCE
Minimum 2 years of relevant professional experience in administration, finance, accounting or related areas.

Long Description
SKILLS AND COMPETENCIES
-Demonstrated analytical and organizational skills and ability to identify issues and formulate options/recommendations.
-Capacity to lead and supervise teams and to oversee finance, general administration, and procurement functions.
-Experience in implementing internal control systems.
-Ability to communicate effectively and persuasively and use tact and diplomacy.
-Demonstrated experience in solving routine and non-routine Human Resources, finance, and budgeting issues.
-Ability to provide quality and timely support and services.
-Ability to work in a multicultural environment and to establish good working relationships with external and internal partners.
-Ability to take initiative and seek innovative ways to improve results.
-Good IT skills and knowledge of ERP, financial, human resources, and administrative management tools.

LANGUAGES
Excellent knowledge (written and spoken) of English.