Finance and Accounts Officer

IMPORTANT NOTICE REGARDING APPLICATION DEADLINE:  please note that the deadline for applications is indicated in local time as per the time zone of the applicant’s location.

This post is a limited-term fixed-term post.

1.     Organizational Context

a.        Organizational Setting

The post is located in the Income Section of the Finance Division of the Department of Program Planning and Finance, Administration and Management Sector.

The Finance Division is responsible for the management of WIPO’s financial accounting and reporting, treasury management and compliance with financial policies and procedures. Included within these responsibilities are the management of the Organization’s cash position, production of statutory financial reports and other financial information, and coordination with oversight and financial control activities.

b.        Purpose Statement

The Finance and Accounts Officer supervises the work of the unit’s staff and is responsible for managing a complete operation of the Organization’s financial system, performing a range of professional accounting functions to achieve accurate and timely accounting information, and establishing financial controls and improvements in the computerized accounting process. Additionally, the incumbent is responsible for managing, processing and coordinating integrated accounts payable or receivable and control functions for a major operating component of the Finance Division. The incumbent ensures the accurate and timely processing of transactions associated with Trademark (Madrid), Designs (Hague) and Appellations of Origin (Lisbon) fees, along with other relevant distributions.

c.        Reporting Lines

The incumbent works under the supervision of the Head of the Income Section, Finance Division.

d.        Work Relations

The incumbent will liaise with a wide range of colleagues within the work unit, with clients within the Organization and with external parties, such as other UN organizations, Member States, customers and financial institutions to resolve issues and follow up on finance-related matters.

2.     Duties and Responsibilities

The incumbent will perform the following principal duties:

a.  Oversee, advise and assist Accounting Assistants, Finance Clerks and other staff working in the unit by establishing priorities and provide guidance in resolving complex issues; monitor and provide regular feedback on performance; develop and arrange training opportunities; conduct performance evaluation meetings and ensure timely completion of performance evaluation processes and inform the supervisor of recommendations/issues identified.

b.  Control a variety of complex financial documents and accounts, ensuring accuracy and compliance with applicable financial rules, regulations as well as anti-fraud policies and procedures. Verify and control invoices, vouchers and payment orders and approve payments; supervise the control of obligations on a regular basis for assigned sectors of activity.

c.  Monitor and coordinate within the Unit any change of financial processes; check and correct financial data for proper accounting distributions. Supervise the reconciliation of transactions, bank statements, financial data, etc.

d.  Anticipate and identify critical issues; resolve problem cases; carry out analysis of potential implications, risk for the Organization, and recommend approaches to the supervisor for unprecedented and unusual cases. Review the operational efficiency of the assigned organizational/account area in managerial and/or accounting aspects of the operation.

e.  Analyze and coordinate Organization-wide financial information for the preparation of management reports; prepare financial data to be included in the Annual Financial Report and Financial Statements and other Organization issuances.

f.   Respond to correspondence on a range of complex finance-related matters. Determine content and ensure the compilation of financial data to close monthly accounts and to prepare monthly and annual financial reports.

g.  Improve the efficiency and effectiveness of service delivery methods, procedures, and workflow in the unit, and ensure adequacy of resources to meet the delivery deadlines.

h.  Provide substantive input for the revision of financial policies, participate in internal meetings, projects and working groups for the rationalization, harmonization and implementation of internal work processes and systems; suggest improvements to and participate actively in the review and development of computer systems; develop guidelines and user manuals.

i.   Perform other related duties as required, including backing up other staff members of the Section.

3.     Requirements

Education (Essential)

First-level university degree in Economics, Finance, Public or Business Administration or related field.

Education (Desirable)

Project Management qualification or certification (e.g. PMP, PRINCE2, Agile).

Experience (Essential)

At least six years of accounting or finance-related work experience including experience in reconciling accounting figures and financial records.

At least two years of experience supervising or leading a team.

Experience (Desirable)

Experience within the United Nations common system or another international organization.

Participation in significant I.T transformation projects.

Experience with modern ERP systems.

Language (Essential)

Excellent written and spoken knowledge of English.

Language (Desirable)

Knowledge of other official UN languages.

Job Related Competencies (Essential)

Strong knowledge of accounting and financial principles, procedures and systems and the ability to interpret, work within and understand applicable accounting and financial rules, regulations and procedures.

Excellent time management and attention to detail.

Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

Ability to train, guide motivate and manage diverse and multicultural team.

Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills.

Strong client relationship management and customer service skills.

Team player with the ability to work with multiple parties.

Competent user of Microsoft Office applications and collaboration tools, with the ability to adapt to new software.

Job Related Competencies (Desirable)