Background information about the job or company (e.g., role context, company overview)

UNICEF works in over 190 countries and territories to save children’s lives, defend their rights, and help them fulfill their potential, from early childhood through adolescence.

At UNICEF, we are committed, passionate, and proud of what we do for as long as we are needed. Promoting the rights of every child is not just a job – it is a calling.

UNICEF is a place where careers are built: we offer our staff diverse opportunities for professional and personal development that will help them reinforce a sense of purpose while serving children and communities across the world. We welcome everyone who wants to belong and grow in a diverse and passionate culture, coupled with an attractive compensation and benefits package.

Visit our website to learn more about what we do at UNICEF.

For every child, the right to a Future

Responsibilities or duties

Under the supervision of the Budget Officer, the Finance & Budget Associate will support the effective management of financial resources by strengthening financial stewardship, compliance, accountability, and operational efficiency. The role will provide accurate information, analysis, reporting, and monitoring to support risk-informed decision-making and organizational performance. The incumbent will contribute to finance and budget planning, monitoring, reporting, and follow-up by maintaining reliable data, supporting analysis, identifying issues and opportunities, and working closely with programme and operations teams. Through collaboration, problem-solving, attention to detail, and continuous improvement, the role will help ensure resources are managed efficiently, transparently, and in line with organizational policies and procedures, contributing to sustainable results for children.

The UNICEF Malawi Programme aims to advance the rights of children through equitable and accountable programme delivery and as a Finance & Budget Associate, you will strengthen financial stewardship, budget oversight, donor compliance, and efficient resource management for results for children.

Qualifications or requirements (e.g., education, skills)

Minimum requirements

Education: Secondary education is required. Professional and/or university courses related to budget management, finance, accounting and other related fields are highly desirable.

Skills: Strong knowledge of programme and operations budget management, financial accounting, payroll administration, reconciliations, transaction processing, and financial controls. Ability to review, analyze, and interpret financial and budget data; identify risks, variances, and discrepancies; and recommend practical solutions to support sound decision-making. Demonstrated ability to prepare budgets, forecasts, financial reports, cost estimates, year-end accounts, and documentation required for audit, assurance, and compliance purposes. Proficiency in SAP or other ERP systems, financial and budget management platforms, and advanced Microsoft Excel for planning, analysis, monitoring, reconciliation, and reporting. Excellent communication and client-service skills, with the ability to provide clear guidance, explain financial and budget requirements, and respond effectively to queries from programme and operations colleagues. Strong planning, organizational, problem-solving, and follow-up skills, with the ability to manage competing priorities, meet deadlines, and deliver accurate, high-quality work with limited supervision.

Language Requirements: Fluency in English is required.

Desirables

• Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) or a local language such as Chichewa, Chiyao, or Chitumbuka, is an asset.
• Professional certification, university qualification, or advanced studies in Finance, Accounting, Budget Management, Business Administration, Economics, or another relevant field is an asset.
• Experience applying UNICEF, UN, international organization, or public-sector financial and budget procedures is an asset.
• Familiarity with IPSAS, donor funding requirements, grants management, and financial risk management is desirable.
• Experience supporting audit, assurance, or compliance reviews in a finance or budget function is an asset.
• Relevant experience at country level, particularly in development, fragile settings and humanitarian contexts.

Experience needed

Work Experience: 6 years of relevant work experience in Financial Management, budget management, financial analysis, financial reporting, grant management, payroll administration, accounts payable, accounts receivable, funds management, internal controls, donor compliance and any other related fields.

Any other provided details (e.g., benefits, work environment, team info, or additional notes)

Additional information about working for UNICEF can be found here.

• Support the effective management of financial resources by strengthening financial stewardship, compliance, accountability, and operational efficiency.
• Provide accurate information, analysis, reporting, and monitoring to support risk-informed decision-making and organizational performance.
• Contribute to finance and budget planning, monitoring, reporting, and follow-up by maintaining reliable data, supporting analysis, identifying issues and opportunities, and working closely with programme and operations teams.
• Ensure resources are managed efficiently, transparently, and in line with organizational policies and procedures, contributing to sustainable results for children.
• Strengthen financial stewardship, budget oversight, donor compliance, and efficient resource management for results for children.

• Strong knowledge of programme and operations budget management, financial accounting, payroll administration, reconciliations, transaction processing, and financial controls.
• Ability to review, analyze, and interpret financial and budget data; identify risks, variances, and discrepancies; and recommend practical solutions to support sound decision-making.
• Demonstrated ability to prepare budgets, forecasts, financial reports, cost estimates, year-end accounts, and documentation required for audit, assurance, and compliance purposes.
• Proficiency in SAP or other ERP systems, financial and budget management platforms, and advanced Microsoft Excel for planning, analysis, monitoring, reconciliation, and reporting.
• Excellent communication and client-service skills, with the ability to provide clear guidance, explain financial and budget requirements, and respond effectively to queries from programme and operations colleagues.
• Strong planning, organizational, problem-solving, and follow-up skills, with the ability to manage competing priorities, meet deadlines, and deliver accurate, high-quality work with limited supervision.

• Secondary education is required.
• Professional and/or university courses related to budget management, finance, accounting and other related fields are highly desirable.
• Fluency in English is required.
• Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) or a local language such as Chichewa, Chiyao, or Chitumbuka, is an asset.
• Professional certification, university qualification, or advanced studies in Finance, Accounting, Budget Management, Business Administration, Economics, or another relevant field is an asset.
• Experience applying UNICEF, UN, international organization, or public-sector financial and budget procedures is an asset.
• Familiarity with IPSAS, donor funding requirements, grants management, and financial risk management is desirable.
• Experience supporting audit, assurance, or compliance reviews in a finance or budget function is an asset.
• Relevant experience at country level, particularly in development, fragile settings and humanitarian contexts.