Finance Assistant

Since its inception in 1972, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) has been the global authority that sets the environmental agenda, promotes the coherent implementation of the environmental dimension of sustainable development within the United Nations system and serves as an authoritative advocate for the global environment.

UNEP’s mission is to provide leadership and encourage partnership in caring for the environment by inspiring, informing, and enabling nations and peoples to improve their quality of life without compromising that of future generations.

Headquartered in Nairobi, Kenya, UNEP works through its divisions as well as regional, liaison and out-posted offices and a growing network of collaborating centres of excellence.

The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is the United Nations systems designated entity for addressing environmental issues at the global and regional level. Its mandate is to coordinate the development of environmental policy consensus by keeping the global environment under review and bringing emerging issues to the attention of governments and the international community for action. UNEP is one of three original, founding implementing agencies of the Global Environment Facility (GEF), alongside the World Bank and the UN Development Programme (UNDP). The GEF also partners with 15 other Agencies to help developing countries and those with economies in transition to meet the agreed incremental costs of measures designed to achieve global environmental benefits in six focal areas: biological diversity, climate change (both mitigation and adaptation), international waters, chemicals and wastes management and, land degradation. This position is located in the GEF Coordination Office of the Policy and Programmes Division (PPD) at the Nairobi Duty Station. The GEF Coordination Office plays a central role in UNEP's GEF-related activities. Its core functions include formulating and reviewing UNEP’s policies and strategies for GEF operations, preparing the UNEP/GEF Business Plan, and providing guidance to project proposers on eligibility, quality, and cost-effectiveness. Additionally, it oversees GEF activity administration within UNEP, serves as UNEP’s GEF focal point. The UNV will support the Finance team in the GEF Coordination Office.

Within the delegated authority and under the supervision of the Finance and Budget Officer, the UNV Finance Assistant will:


· Provide support in preparation of financial reports for various stakeholders
· Monitor expenditures and compare with approved budgets; prepare adjustments as necessary.
· Assist in preparation of budget performance submissions and finalization of budget performance reports, analyse variances between approved budgets and actual expenditures.
· Periodic reconciliation of accounts.
· Review cash advance requests for replenishment of project grants.
· Review incoming financial documents/reports and upon certification by the fund management officer input in relevant databases/systems.
· Notify payees on status of payments.
· Assist fund management officers regarding queries related to financial issues and draft related correspondence.
· Maintain updated files and archives as required.
· Verify accuracy of input data, ensuring consistency of data.
· Monitor integrity of various financial databases.
· Review project completion and closing revisions including all supporting documents.
· Perform other related duties/tasks as assigned by the supervisor.


Furthermore, UN Volunteers are encouraged to integrate the UN Volunteers programme mandate within their assignment and promote voluntary action through engagement with communities in the course of their work. As such, UN Volunteers should dedicate a part of their working time to some of the following suggested activities:


· Strengthen their knowledge and understanding of the concept of volunteerism by reading relevant UNV and external publications and take active part in UNV activities (for instance in events that mark International Volunteer Day);
· Be acquainted with and build on traditional and/or local forms of volunteerism in the host country;