Description
Do you want to build a career that is truly worthwhile? Working at the World Bank Group provides a unique opportunity for you to help our clients solve their greatest development challenges. The World Bank Group 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, increasing shared prosperity and promoting sustainable development. 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. Visit www.worldbank.org.
Governance Global Practice Context
An effective and accountable governance framework in the form of functioning institutions is a necessary precondition for sustainable poverty reduction. Fragile, ineffective or inexistent institutions have long been presented as key constraints to effective service delivery and hence to the achievement of development objectives in many countries. Furthermore, poor governance and structural deficiencies in public and private institutions are often prevalent in fragile and conflict affected states. In addition, cross-country empirics have confirmed that higher institutional quality is correlated with higher levels of per capita income and greater economic growth. Thus, governance mechanisms and institutions are critical to sustained growth and poverty alleviation.
The Governance Global Practice (GGP) brings together professionals in financial management, public investment management, procurement, taxation, regulatory policy, transparency, digital governance, justice, anticorruption, and social accountability to develop innovative, integrated solutions to pernicious institutional problems. The GGP utilizes a problem-driven, diagnostic approach, combining global comparative knowledge of reform successes and failures with keen understanding of the institutional challenges and opportunities of developing countries.
https://www.worldbank.org/en/topic/governance
Regional Context
The World Bank Group serves 31 client countries in the Latin America and the Caribbean Region (LCR). Clients range from large rapidly growing sophisticated middle-income clients to IDA countries to small Caribbean states, and include one fragile state (Haiti). Despite immense resources, dynamic societies and an average annual per capita income of about US$4,000, deep inequalities persist in most LCR countries, with nearly a quarter of the Region's people living in poverty.
The latest Bank strategy for LCR is focused on three pillars: (a) supporting the foundations for inclusive growth; (b) investing in human capital and protecting the poor; and (c) building resilience. The basic elements of the strategy include: accelerating growth, investing in human capital, including in health, and building resilience. In the aftermath of the COVID19 pandemic, the implementation of this strategy should take into account necessary adjustments to better support the region deal with the unprecedented health and economic crises.
The World Bank in Latin America and the Caribbean https://www.worldbank.org/en/region/lac
Country Management Unit (CMU) Context
The LC7 CMU is responsible for Bank operations in Argentina, Paraguay, and Uruguay, and is composed of a decentralized office in Buenos Aires, where the Country Director (CD) and the Operations Manager (OM) are based, an Anchor Office at Headquarters; and Country Offices in Asunción and Montevideo, each led by a Resident Representative (RR). The Buenos Aires office is large (around 80 staff) covering all aspects of the operational business from the field. The CMU oversees a wide range of Bank activities, including a large number of operations and a diverse knowledge program. A relatively large EFI team is based in Buenos Aires, covering most activities for the sector in the three countries of the CMU
Unit Context
The Financial Management (FM) unit of the GGP in LCR has the following key functions: (i) carrying out high quality financial management services (i.e. project preparation and implementation support) in Bank-financed operations and advancing the use of country Public Financial Management (PFM) systems to enhance development effectiveness; (ii) supporting partner countries in enhancing their PFM performance and capacity, working collaboratively with other Global Practices (GPs) and regional and corporate Bank units; and (iii) supporting partner countries in developing their professional accountancy institutions, and corporate financial reporting performance (including accounting and auditing standards).
The Unit is looking for a Senior Financial Management Specialist (FMS) based in Buenos Aires, Argentina to work with LC7 countries (Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay). The Senior FMS will be part of the regional GGP staff and will report to the Practice Manager of the Unit.
Duties and Accountability
The Senior FMS will work on all financial management (FM) aspects of the Bank’s operations in LC7 countries, and as required by the Practice Manager. This will include:
Part I. Fiduciary Assurance Functions
* Assessing the adequacy of project financial management arrangements;
* Providing implementation support and supervising projects;
* Ensuring compliance with the Bank’s audit and other FM requirements;
* Ensuring that the project operations are carried out in accordance with sound financial management practices;
* Performing analytical work on financial management and accountability issues;
* Carrying out capacity building activities as part of the Governance team; and
* Contributing to corporate tasks such as the preparation of country briefs, policy and thematic notes, and regional, Global Practice, and corporate knowledge products.
The Senior FMS is expected to take a proactive role in providing advice and support to clients and for the adoption and use of agile and innovative approaches to strengthening fiduciary assurance over the use of funds.
Part II. Public Financial Management (PFM) Functions
The Senior FMS is expected to undertake an active role, and when applicable, lead initiatives on:
* supporting partner countries in enhancing their PFM performance capacity, including FM information systems integration, treasury and accounting reforms, performance budgeting, and fiscal transparency, working collaboratively with other Bank units;
* Public Institutions, supporting partner countries in developing their professional accountancy institutions, and in strengthening corporate financial reporting performance (including accounting and auditing standards); and
* Supporting Supreme Audit Institutions as part of the Bank’s Transparency, Accountability and Good Governance efforts to improve the quality and transparency of fiscal and financial information, strengthen accountability, and increase collaboration between governments, the private sector and civil society.
The selected candidate will work with designated country teams, which includes Task Team Leaders, and other technical specialists, and Administrative and Client Service (ACS) staff. The selected candidate will be required to undertake frequent travel within the LC7 countries.
Selection Criteria
The position requires:
- A highly motivated and passionate senior financial management specialist with strong client orientation, interpersonal and integrative thinking skills;
- A qualified professional accountant (CPA, CA, ACCA or equivalent membership of an internationally recognized professional accountancy body);
- A Master’s degree in a relevant field (e.g., accounting, public financial management, finance, public policy) or another related field;
- At least 8 years of relevant professional experience;
- Relevant professional experience in public sector financial management and PFM analytical work, including in treasury management, budget execution, internal controls, public sector accounting and fiscal reporting, and the audit of public finances;
- Financial Management knowledge of and experience in public sector operations;
- Experience in project management, including leading, coordinating and exercising quality control functions over other staff and consultants as relevant;
- Strong written and verbal communication skills in English and Spanish are required.
The WBG Core Competencies: https://bit.ly/2kbIA7O
World Bank Group Core Competencies
The World Bank Group offers comprehensive benefits, including a retirement plan; medical, life and disability insurance; and paid leave, including parental leave, as well as reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities.
We are proud to be an equal opportunity and inclusive employer with a dedicated and committed workforce, and do not discriminate based on gender, gender identity, religion, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or disability.
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This vacancy is archived.