Programme Assurance Associate at United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) – Budapest (Gsc)
Recruiter: United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)
About United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)
UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, is a global organization mandated to protect refugees, forcibly displaced communities, and stateless people, and to assist in their voluntary repatriation, local integration, or resettlement. Founded in 1950, UNHCR operates in over 130 countries, working to ensure that everybody has the right to seek asylum and find safe refuge.
Job Summary
This position offers an opportunity to contribute to administrative management within United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)’s important work in international cooperation and sustainable development. Working in Budapest (Gsc), you will collaborate with international colleagues and partners to address global challenges and promote sustainable development. This role provides an excellent opportunity for professional growth while making a meaningful contribution to international cooperation and global peace and security.
Full Job Description
Deadline for Applications March 18, 2026 Hardship Level H (no hardship) Family Type Family Residential location (if applicable) Grade GS6 Staff Member / Affiliate Type General Service Reason Regular > Regular Assignment Target Start Date 2026-04-01 Standard Job Description Programme Assurance Associate Organizational Setting and Work Relationships The Programme Assurance Associate is based in DSPR/HQ and normally reports to a (Senior) Programme Assurance Officer/Associate or other senior staff member who provides general guidance and work plans. The incumbent works independently on regular assignments. The incumbent will support the improved integration of risk management and mitigation into the programming and operational cycle including in the formulation/design of projects, the selection of project managers/partners, and the monitoring, verification and auditing processes. The Programme Assurance Associate will be expected to support the work of communities of practice in the areas of project control and assurance, provides support to field operations in monitoring the accuracy of project and partner related information in MSRP and other systems, and supports the annual process of auditing of partnership agreements. The incumbent will be mindful of the dimensions of partnerships in accordance with the Principles of Partnership, the Code of Conduct, UN/UNHCR’s financial rules, policies and regulations and other relevant documents. All UNHCR staff members are accountable to perform their duties as reflected in their job description. They do so within their delegated authorities, in line with the regulatory framework of UNHCR which includes the UN Charter, UN Staff Regulations and Rules, UNHCR Policies and Administrative Instructions as well as relevant accountability frameworks. In addition, staff members are required to discharge their responsibilities in a manner consistent with the core, functional, cross-functional and managerial competencies and UNHCR’s core values of professionalism, integrity and respect for diversity. Duties – Keep up-to-date with all UNHCR rules, regulations and procedures on projects implemented by partners or direct implementation by UNHCR and support the effective application of them. – Provide support for the risk management and quality assurance processes/exercises in programmes management, through partnership or by direct implementation. – Track and verify that expenditure for direct implementation by UNHCR or implementing partners is in line with the approved budget. – Ensure accurate and timely recording of all project related data and reports in MSRP and other required formats. – Monitor open items according to the yearly workplan. Review supporting documentation for the selected, high value open items and contra items (opposite sign). – Support the monitoring for compliance and quality assurance over processes and procedures related to projects (implemented by partners or direct implementation) project risks in collaboration with the relevant entities and report major risks to senior management. – Provide input for the preparation of audit opinions for the review of the supervisor and subsequent use by senior management and external auditors. – Work on actions for the clearance of outstanding audit recommendations and proposed solutions. – Analyse project audit certificates (financial reports and management letters) and assist in the identification of financial and internal control risks, errors, fraud, and challenges related to project audits. – Follow up with the operations on outstanding recommendations and propose solutions and monitor implementation of corrective measures. Support timely project closure in coordination with key stakeholders, follow up, if needed, with counterparts on outstanding audit recommendations and proposed solutions and actions undertaken. – Monitor compliance with the year-end closing schedules. – Provide support with the resolution of problems in the daily usage of MSRP and respond to Global Service Desk incidents or assign incidents to appropriate staff as necessary. – Advise on improvements related to project management and internal controls. – Support the identification and management of risks and seek to seize opportunities impacting objectives in the area of responsibility. Ensure decision making in risk based in the functional area of work. Raise risks, issues and concerns to a supervisor or to relevant functional colleague(s). – Perform other related duties as required. Minimum Qualifications Years of Experience / Degree Level For G6 – 3 years relevant experience with High School Diploma; or 2 years relevant work experience with Bachelor or equivalent or higher Field(s) of Education Not applicable. Certificates and/or Licenses Accounting, Finance, Public Administration, Business Administration, Auditing, IPSAS-Accrual Account/Basics, Certified Public Accountant, Chartered Accountant (CA) (Certificates and Licenses marked with an asterisk* are essential) Relevant Job Experience Essential Excellent communication skills. Work experience relevant to the job. Desirable Good knowledge of United Nations financial rules and procedures. Good understanding of accrual accounting (such as IPSAS or IFRS). Working experience with ERP financial modules (such as PeopleSoft, Oracle or SAP). Functional Skills FI-Financial Accrual Accounting under internationally accepted standards (IFRS,IPSAS,etc) FI-Financial auditing IT-Computer Literacy IT-ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) Functional Knowledge RM-Risk Management (Functional Skills marked with an asterisk* are essential) Language Requirements For International Professional and Field Service jobs: Knowledge of English and UN working language of the duty station if not English. For National Professional jobs: Knowledge of English and UN working language of the duty station if not English and local language. For General Service jobs: Knowledge of English and/or UN working language of the duty station if not English. All UNHCR workforce members must individually and collectively, contribute towards a working environment where each person feels safe, and empowered to perform their duties. This includes by demonstrating no tolerance for sexual exploitation and abuse, harassment including sexual harassment, sexism, gender inequality, discrimination and abuse of power. As individuals and as managers, all must be proactive in preventing and responding to inappropriate conduct, support ongoing dialogue on these matters and speaking up and seeking guidance and support from relevant UNHCR resources when these issues arise. This is a Standard Job Description for all UNHCR jobs with this job title and grade level. The Operational Context may contain additional essential and/or desirable qualifications relating to the specific operation and/or position. Any such requirements are incorporated by reference in this Job Description and will be considered for the screening, shortlisting and selection of candidates. Desired Candidate Profile The Programme Assurance Associate will work within the Partnership Financials Support team of the Assurance and Compliance Section (ACS) in Programme and Technical Support Service (PTSS) within the Division of Emergency and Programme Support (DEPS), providing technical support to enhance risk management processes focusing on partnership financial transactions processed globally through PROMS and reflected in the Cloud ERP. As the position is Budapest based and is a second line function, the candidate is expected to have solid knowledge on financial recording of partnership agreements and programming activities to ensure UNHCR can correctly record partner and programme related expenditures. The ideal candidate brings:
- Strong knowledge of Cloud ERP, particularly in Purchase Orders, Accounts Payable, Accounts Receivable, and Receipts.
- Advanced Excel skills and strong analytical ability to interpret raw data and structured system reports (ERP, Power BI, PROMS).
- Hands-on experience with ServiceNow, including managing and escalating…
Key Details
- Job Title: Programme Assurance Associate
- Grade: GS-6
- Location: Budapest, Budapest (Gsc)
- Department: United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)
- Contract Type: General Service Staff
- Salary Range:$70,000 – $120,000 USD annually
Qualifications
- Not specified in the official posting
Skills
- Not specified in the official posting
Benefits
- Competitive compensation package
- Professional development opportunities
- Comprehensive health and wellness benefits
- Inclusive and collaborative work environment
How to Apply
Applications must be submitted through the official UN careers portal. Female candidates and candidates from underrepresented groups are strongly encouraged to apply.
