Senior Accounting Officer

Do you want to build a career that is truly worthwhile? Working at the World Bank provides a unique opportunity for you to join us to help our clients solve their greatest development challenges.  The World Bank is one of the largest sources of funding and knowledge for developing countries; a unique global partnership of five institutions dedicated to ending extreme poverty on a livable planet. With 189 member countries and more than 120+ offices worldwide, we work with public and private sector partners, investing in groundbreaking projects and using data, research, and technology to develop solutions to the most urgent global challenges. For more information, visit www.worldbank.org.

The WB Finance & Accounting (WFA) Vice Presidency is responsible for all aspects of the financial reporting and internal control framework for IBRD and IDA, and the extensive Trust Fund/Partnership portfolio of WB entities. It supports an appropriate fiduciary control framework and administering disbursements for Bank lending and leads the client service function for the WB’s corporate expenses. WFA mandate also supports both internal and external clients while we focus on delivery, optimization, impact, and people & culture.  

Organizationally, WFA is comprised of three departments: (1) Corporate Accounting and Reporting, (2) Trust Funds and Loans, and (3) Financial Controls.

WFA’s Payroll, Accounts receivable, and Tax Division (WFAPT), part of the Financial Controls Department, is responsible for recording and reporting the World Bank ’s administrative expenses, such as payroll, accounts receivable, and tax allowance. WFAPT also provides strategic leadership and guidance to business units across the World Bank on developing and maintaining an effective system of internal controls over processing and reporting administrative expenses.  The team is located in Washington DC and Chennai. 

WFAPT is currently seeking a Senior Accounting Officer for its team in Washington, DC. 

How your contributions will help us achieve our goals:

The Senior Accounting Officer plays a lead role in undertaking and overseeing the Payroll and Accounts Receivable activities for the WB. You will collaborate with the Payroll and Accounts Receivable leads in Chennai, to jointly deliver activities of WB Accounts Receivable and Payroll.  You will also perform a variety of broad responsibilities of the division, including analyzing a diverse range of issues and designing and implementing significant business process and system improvements.

  As a Senior Financial Officer, you will report to the Division Manager.

What you will do:

• Work Program delivery: Maintain integrity of accounts receivable and payroll process by ensuring all key deadlines are met and control activities are performed as scheduled
• Technical Leadership: Provide technical accounting and internal controls guidance to the team; Play a key role in engaging with stakeholders on accounting policies, financial reporting, internal control, and business matters
• Reporting: Oversee timely and accurate completion of periodic trial balances and year-end activities
• Portfolio management: Manage accounts receivable portfolio; prepare reports and analysis
• Control environment: Ensure integrity of respective systems and ICFR, including control activities relating to PeopleSoft and other designated access controls
• Business continuity: Lead and participate in Business Continuity Tests for Payroll and Accounts Receivable
• Projects management: Manage project scope, deliverables, timeline, and resources for Payroll and Accounts receivable projects
• Accounts Receivable transformation: Manage transformation of accounts receivable function and ERP implementation
• Stakeholder collaboration: Collaborate effectively with key stakeholders – Human resources (HR), Treasury, Information & Technology Solutions (ITS), Budget, Performance Review and Strategic Planning (BPS), Operational units, WFA, and WB staff
• Innovation: Identify opportunities to continuously improve and provide innovative solutions.  Encourage team and work with others to discover, incubate and implement novel solutions
• Team leadership and talent development: Although position does not have formal direct reports, it involves leading a team of strong professionals and providing direction and training to staff and input for their performance evaluation, as well as supporting the manager in setting the tone for the unit

Selection Criteria

What you will bring:

Education and Experience:

• Professional accounting qualification (ACA / ACCA / CPA or equivalent)
• Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting with 10 years of relevant experience (or)
• Master’s/MBA in Finance, Accounting with 8 years of experience

Knowledge and Skills:

• Fundamental Controllership Knowledge: Has a strong understanding of general accounting principles, risks and controls, and financial concepts and transaction processes
• Business Processes: Has an expert understanding of business processes and systems (preferably PeopleSoft for payroll, and SAP for receivables) to lead the analysis, enhance internal controls, and implement changes
• Accounting Policy: Solid understanding of US Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) or International Accounting Standards.  Ability to translate standards into policies and procedures
• Risk Management & Internal Controls: Solid knowledge of internal controls and procedures related to administrative expenses, particularly payroll and accounts receivable; Ability to advise on risks and control issues and risk mitigation
• Project Management: Expert knowledge and understanding of the project management concepts, as they relate to the implementation of complex, multi-functional projects
• Team Leadership: Demonstrate inspirational leadership combined with practical delivery of large-scale projects
• Client Orientation: Translates insight into practice across disciplines, hierarchies, and organizational units in service of clients; Proven experience in providing innovative solutions
• Drive for Results: Ensures successful implementation and delivery of key programs and projects; Develops and implements solutions that show stakeholder understanding
• Collaboration and Inclusion: Creates a team climate of practical and innovative action, facilitating collaboration between competing interests and stakeholders

Source: https://worldbankgroup.csod.com/ats/careersite/JobDetails.aspx?id=28681&site=1