The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) is an international financial institution and a specialized United Nations agency dedicated to eradicating rural poverty and hunger. It does so by investing in rural people. IFAD finances programmes and projects that increase agricultural productivity and raise rural incomes, and advocates at the local, national and international level for policies that contribute to rural transformation.
The Office of Strategic Budgeting (OSB), as a part of Corporate Services Support Group (CSSG), aims to strengthen IFAD's budgeting function and is responsible for ensuring a strong link between planning, resource allocation, results monitoring and strategy. Within a ten-year Strategic Framework, the process aligns medium-term priorities to the allocation of financial and human resources. OSB is responsible for implementing results-based budgeting through this process and tracking costs from activities to results. By leading these functions, OSB helps IFAD think and act strategically to enhance performance, impact and value for money.
The key processes the office manages are: (i) strategically focused budget consultations, and earlier communication of budget envelopes; (ii) results-based budgeting and enhanced systems to enable cost tracking at the activity and output levels; (iii) consolidation of corporate planning functions through facilitation of a strategic prioritization process with the Executive Management Committee (iv) flexibility for budget holders to manage staff and non-staff budgets; (v) management of positions and workforce planning with the redistribution of key responsibilities of the organizational developmentfunction within IFAD and (vi) strategic advice on efficient result based budgeting and support to divisions in the decentralized context.
Budget Analysts work under the overall strategic, policy and management guidance of the Director and the direct supervision of a Senior or mid-level Budget Specialist.
Budget Analysts typically work with a higher-level Budget Specialist in monitoring financial performance and preparing and evaluating financial reports; the incumbent may alternatively supervise a homogeneous portion of a financial operation which is predominantly process oriented.
The position holds a Budget Holder resposibility in a decentralised context, where increasingly budget authority and budget administration is delegated to regional and country offices.
1. BUDGET BUSINESS PARTNER: The Budget Analyst is a credible, trusted partner to the client offices served. The incumbent supports the Fund's Budget strategy, provides technical and procedural support to the disperse and diverse network of budget and administrative analysts/assistants and plans as well as models a commitment to financial integrity by acting as a responsive and constructive service provider with a focus on results. The Analyst supports budget execution management and provides verbal and written advice and guidance to supervisors and staff on Budget regulations, resource allocation rules and procedures, facilitating a mutual understanding of roles and fiduciary accountabilities in support of the integrity in the management of the Fund's financial resources. The Budget Analyst's focus is on building her/his knowledge base of the Fund's governing structure, mandate, long-term business strategy, organizational dynamics and culture.
2. FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT: At this level Budget Analysts are establishing expertise in the UN's financial principles, policies, regulations, rules and procedures. Representative activities include:
(i) reviewing, approving, reconciling and processing a range of transactions on a regular and recurring basis;
(ii) reviewing, analysing and projecting programme budgeting implications in light of additional mandates or other programme changes;
(iii) analyzing and evaluating reports produced on a regular basis, explaining variances and producing reports and correspondence as required;
(iv) ensuring the timely and correct entry into the General Ledger of all input in accordance with corporate accounting practices, approving and posting all payable, receivable and correction journals;
(v) monitoring allotments and expenditures to ensure that they remain within authorized parameters and resolving emergent financial issues.
3. AGENT OF CHANGE: The Budget Analyst maintains an awareness of the principles of change management and proactively serves as a role model for transformation and capacity for acceptance of change. The incumbent uses a knowledge of results-based management and budgeting, enterprise resource planning (ERP) and other information technology to analyze and promote acceptance of new methods of work and automated work flows. At this level the Analyst manages change through consultations with Budget colleagues and outreach to client offices to ensure open and regular communications pertaining to current and planned changes in the Fund's financial administration.
4. MANAGERIAL FUNCTIONS: The Budget Analyst is accountable for integrity, transparency, and equity in the personal use of assigned IFAD resources, including equipment, supplies and, as applicable, staff supervised.
Budget Analysts analyze unusual transactions and recommends actions to be taken and/or exceptions to be made in the application of financial regulations, rules and procedures. Budget Analyst positions have access to advice and on-the-job training from specialists in the individual Budget occupations in the resolution of on-going non-routine work.
Position specific: The KPIs are properly applied financial regulations and budget procedures across IFAD.
The work relationships of Budget Analysts involves both written and verbal communications to obtain and provide information regarding decisions on specific cases or to explain why an action has been taken or to obtain information needed to take decisions or support further financial processes. Internal Fund contacts extend to supervisors and staff throughout the Fund to promote understanding of Budget regulations, rules and/or procedures pertaining mainly to routine Budget matters within their area of assignment. This requires skill in building constructive, effective relationships. External contacts are predominantly with banks, institutions or suppliers/vendors, Borrowers and Cooperating institutions, etc. and are for the purpose of exchanging information and making commitments within predetermined parameters.
Position specific: The incumbent works closely with the network of budget and administrative analysts/assistants.
Organizational Competencies:
Level 1:
Building relationships and partnerships - Builds and maintains effective working relationships Communicating and negotiating - Communicates effectively; creates understanding between self and others Demonstrating leadership - Personal leadership and attitude to change Focusing on clients - Focuses on clients Learning, sharing knowledge and innovating - Continuously seeks to learn, shares knowledge & innovates Managing performance and developing staff Managing time, resources and information - Manages own time, information and resources effectively Problem-solving and decision-making - Demonstrates sound problem-solving and decision-making ability Strategic thinking and organizational development - Personal influence Team working - Contributes effectively to the teamEducation:
Level - Advanced university degree Areas - accounting, finance, business administration or other job related field Degree must be an accredited institution listed on https://www.whed.net/home.phpExperience:
At least two (2) years of progressively relevant experience is required. Position-specific experience: Professional experience in accounting, financial management, budget analysis or management analysis in a multi-cultural organization or national organization providing support on a global scope is highly desirable.Languages:
Required English (4 – Excellent) Desirable: French, Spanish, or ArabicSkills:
Budgeting, resource management: Know-how in budget administration and accounting, resource allocation and planning at divisional level Budgeting: Know-how in corporate strategic budgeting and financial planning & monitoring (including tracking of costs) Financial reporting & accounting: Know-how in financial reporting, statutory and other reporting as well as advanced application of IFRS standards, derivatives, loan credit risk, financial regulations, policies, rules and procedures applicable to IFAD and IFIs Advanced data analytics: Statistical & econometrics research, forensic and advanced data analytics / data mining Analytical skills: Outstanding ability to analyse and synthesize qualitative and/or quantitative information from a variety of sources and filter out key insights and recommendations Data management: Data collection, cleaning, transformation and consolidation; data-base architecture & development; data presentation Basic ICT & digital fluency: Expertise relevant to the specific role (e.g. in-depth, computer information systems, including micro-computer operating systems software, hardware and applications software and other office technology equipment), end-user computing configuration management Corporate approach: Ability to bring in corporate vision and priorities into one's area of work (e.g. budgeting going beyond simple budgetary considerations, taking into account strategic priorities) Synthesis: Outstanding ability to synthesize and simplify complex technical information for a variety of (non-technical) audiences Verbal communication: Clear, succinct and convincing verbal communication; highly professional, balanced and diplomatic languageIFAD staff members are international civil servants subject to the authority of the President of IFAD. In accordance with IFAD's Human Resources Policy, the President can decide to assign them to any of the activities of the Fund. All International Professional staff members are required to be geographically mobile and positions in the professional category are subject to changes in location at any time in line with strategic priorities and reform initiatives in IFAD.
IFAD is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of ethnic, social or political background, colour, nationality, religion, age, gender, disability, marital status, family size or sexual orientation.
Please be aware of fraudulent job offers. IFAD does not charge any fees at any stage of the recruitment process. Official communication from IFAD will always come from e-mails ending in @ifad.org
In accordance with IFAD’s provisions, all new staff members will normally be placed at the first step in the grade level for which they have been selected. For information on IFAD’s remuneration package, please visit IFAD’s compensation and benefits page on our website. Applicants are invited to use the ICSC compensation calculator to estimate the salary and benefit entitlements.
In the interest of making most cost-effective use of funds and resources, we are only able to respond to applicants who are short-listed for interview. Candidates who do not receive any feedback within three months should consider their application unsuccessful.
Candidates may undergo pre-screening tests and to deliver a presentation as well as participate in interviews.