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.
1. Organizational Context
a. Organizational Setting
The post is located in the Finance Division of the Department of Program Planning and Finance. The Finance Division is responsible for providing services to a wide range of entities including WIPO's fee-paying customers and users of the Global IP systems, Member States, National IP Offices, suppliers and service providers, Staff and third party travelers. The Division is also responsible for WIPO's financial accounting and reporting, treasury and investments management and compliance with the financial regulations, rules, policies and procedures. Included within these responsibilities are the management and coordination with oversight entities including the External Auditors, Internal Oversight Division, the Independent Advisory Oversight Committee (IAOC) and the Joint Inspection Unit (JIU).
b. Purpose Statement
As Director of the Division, the incumbent is responsible for planning and managing the work and resources of the Division, mentoring and motivating the teams, leading the digital transformation of financial business processes in close cooperation with key business process owners across the Organization, managing risks and continuously improving the internal controls within financial operations.
c. Reporting Lines
The incumbent works under the supervision of the Director, Program Planning and Finance (Controller) and collaborates very closely with colleagues involved with Planning and Budgeting, Management Reporting, Human Resources Management, Enterprise Risk Management, Governance and Compliance.
2. Duties and Responsibilities
The incumbent will perform the following principal duties:
a. Build and maintain strong partnerships with the full range of stakeholders, users and governance and oversight entities which would include all business areas (Global IP Systems, Academy, Arbitration and Mediation Center etc.), management functions such as Planning, Budgeting, Procurement and HR, WIPO Coordination Offices, Member States, other UN and international organizations, national IP offices, individual, private and institutional clients, etc. to ensure quality services, sharing of financial knowledge and information and the design of solutions to complex financial services issues and challenges.
b. Direct the Division’s portfolio of work and take overall management responsibility for its human and financial resources, determining priorities and allocating resources for the timely and quality delivery of work products in accordance with commitments and the results-based management framework; monitor operational performance levels, identify future skills requirements and proactively manage the talent needs through a plan to address workforce gaps through development initiatives including mobility and recruitment; ensure staff are informed of their duty to report potential fraud/abuse/misconduct.
c. Lead the development, review and continuous update of accounting policies, ensuring consistency with current professional accounting standards and compliance with WIPO's Financial Regulations and Rules (FRR), the International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSAS), and the conventions, agreements or treaties relating to the Unions of WIPO; working with inter-agency fora to influence the development and evolution of standards applicable to UN agencies.
d. Lead the digital and ERP transformation of the Finance Division, including the adoption of new and emerging technologies such as AI, in very close collaboration with teams responsible for enterprise solutions, planning, budgeting, human resources and procurement, focusing on the re-engineering of business processes based on a transformation vision and goals and best practice.
e. Identify and manage financial risks ensuring effective mitigation actions and internal controls; ensure that fraud risks are identified and appropriate action is taken towards fraud prevention and detection.
f. Provide substantive technical leadership and advice on all finance/accounting matters for WIPO and UPOV, Funds in Trust (FITs), and retirement funds.
g. Direct annual account closures, proactively partnering with sectors across the Organization to anticipate and address potential issues and drive progressive improvement to close times as finance digital maturity increases.
h. Ensure timely delivery of quality financial statements and reports; ensure the submission of required documents to the External Auditor, the Internal Auditor and the Independent Advisory and Oversight Committee; respond to audit comments and recommendations and follow up on implementation; manage the formulation and evaluation of regular and ad hoc financial reports used by other divisions and by senior management.
i. Oversee treasury and investment management functions and lead strategic engagement with banking partners and negotiation of services provided (cash management, foreign exchange, etc.).
j. Direct the preparation and review of financial management reports and documents for presentation at governing bodies of the Organization and senior level meetings, including international and inter-agency meetings; represent the Organization at such events and provide authoritative advice.
k. Perform other job related duties as required.
3. Requirements
Education (Essential)
An advanced university degree in accounting and/or finance
or
A first level university degree with two years of relevant professional experience in addition to the 15 years as referenced in the experience section below, plus Membership of a Professional Body of Accountants, e.g., ACA, CPA etc. The professional experience acquired as part of the qualification will be counted as relevant experience.
Education (Desirable)
Certification that evidences comprehensive knowledge of applicable accounting standards.
Professional certification in Treasury Management
Experience (Essential)
At least 15 years of professional experience in the financial and / or accounting field, of which at least seven years at the international level or in the United Nations Common System.
Substantial managerial experience
Experience in digital transformation and change management projects in Finance.
Experience in building strong partnerships within and outside the Organization.
Experience (Desirable)