Accounting Officer

Contract

This is a World Bank Group grade: GF contract. More about World Bank Group grade: GF contracts.

Accounting Officer

Description

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 (WB) is one of the largest sources of funding and knowledge for developing countries; a unique global partnership of five institutions (IBRD, IDA, IFC, MIGA, and ICSID) dedicated to ending extreme poverty, increasing shared prosperity, and promoting sustainable development 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 the 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.

Organizationally, WFA is comprised of three departments: (1) Corporate Accounting and Reporting, (2) Trust Funds and Loans, and (3) Financial Controls. In WFA, our mandate supports both internal and external clients while we focus on delivery, optimization, impact, and people & culture.

The WFA Financial Controls (WFAFC) department is responsible for providing corporate accounting business services for the WBG entities. The department consists of three divisions – WFA Accounts Receivable, Payroll and Tax (WFAPT), WFA Accounts Payable, Travel and Quality Assurance (WFATA) and WFA Country Office Accounting and Ask Accounting (WFACO).

Unit Context:

WFATA is responsible for accounts payable, fixed assets and lease accounting, quality assurance (QA) program, travel accounting, sanctions screening and SAP security oversight. It also provides strategic leadership and guidance to business units across the WBG on developing and maintaining an effective system of internal controls over these functions. The functional processes are led by senior team leads in Washington D.C. (HQ) and Chennai, who report to the division manager.

WFATA is currently seeking an Accounting Officer to lead its Global Payments team (WFAGP) in Chennai, India, which is responsible for processing invoices and payments for WBG offices in 110+ countries in 100+ currencies.

How your contributions will help us achieve our goals:

As Accounting Officer, you will lead of one of the teams that carry out Accounts Payable functions for country offices. Your primary area of responsibility is to ensure best-in-class service delivery in Accounts Payable. You will closely collaborate with the other Accounts Payable teams in Chennai and Washington DC and ensure that the processes operate efficiently and effectively. You will also serve as a functional expert for transactional issues. You will perform all supervisory duties including performance management, career development, recruiting, and coaching of team members. You will also perform a variety of broad responsibilities of the division, including designing and implementing business process and system improvements. You will use your comprehensive knowledge/ability to interpret accounting policies, and formulate and communicate related procedures.

You will interact extensively with (1) various client units based in Washington DC and country offices; (2) other WFA units in Chennai; and (3) various business partners including Corporate Procurement, the Budget, Performance Review and Strategic Planning Group (BPS) and the Information and Technology Solutions Group (ITS).

You will report to the Senior Team Lead, Global Payments unit in Chennai.

What you will do:

1. Work Program Delivery

• Provide leadership and oversight of the accounting procedures and business functions performed by the team, ensuring high quality of deliverables and internal controls. Manage service standards, client relations and escalations, and maintain service level agreements

• Develop the team’s work program in collaboration with the Senior Team Lead and monitor team performance and work allocation; guide team members on optimizing processing standards and productivity

• Investigate complex/exceptional cases and work with HQ counterparts to develop effective solutions

• Review and approve payment transactions above pre-established thresholds

• Maintain documentation of processes and BCP procedures and participate in the periodic tests

• Prepare management information and provide decision support

2. Process Automation and Monitoring

• Take initiative to continuously assess and improve processes in coordination with HQ counterparts and in partnership with WFAST, WFA’s systems and technology transformation team; adapt to changing priorities and provide innovative technical and thought leadership, with the objective to scale up automation in the end-to-end processes by leveraging Intelligent Automation and other tools

• Monitor the established KPIs with periodic assessment of cost, quality, timeliness and productivity of processes against benchmarks

• Lead the team and work with others to discover, incubate and implement advanced data analytics techniques to monitor and improve performance, and provide more value-added services to clients

3. Team/Talent Management

• Lead and supervise team members, including performance management; provide timely feedback, coaching, and mentoring support to the team to achieve desired outcomes and build a strong team; provide career development guidance

• Identify staff learning needs, both soft skills and technical, and work with WFA learning coordinators and managers to build skills necessary for digital transformation

• Maintain a harmonious working environment and respectful workplace

4. Stakeholder Relationship

• Collaborate with stakeholders and serve as a focal point for clients. Actively engage with clients at various levels to proactively understand client needs and provide appropriate solutions. Identify and provide new value-added services to clients

• Work closely and lead the team in coordinating with other Global Payments teams, HQ counterparts, WFA teams, Country offices and business partners in Chennai and HQ

• Ensure that issues related to procedures, process, policy, and controls are documented and communicated clearly and in a timely manner to the Senior Team Lead and HQ counterparts

5. Project Management:

• Participate and lead the team’s contribution to institutional and divisional projects that require developing user acceptance testing plans, assigning resources for such testing, and monitoring results and developing business procedures and documentation for new transactions and process changes

• In coordination with the Senior Team Lead and HQ counterparts, work with ITS and WFAST colleagues on system, RPA and Intelligent Automation-related matters, including analysis, design and testing, to deliver robust technology solutions as required.

Selection Criteria

What you will bring

Education:

• Professional accounting qualification (CA, CPA, ACCA or equivalent); and

• Bachelor’s or master’s degree in accounting

Experience:

• Minimum of 5 years of relevant work experience

• Experience in leading a large team in the delivery of Accounts Payable or other accounting-related shared services in an automated environment for global clients

• Project management and systems implementation experience

Knowledge and Skills:

• Fundamental Controllership Knowledge - Has a strong understanding of general accounting principles, risks and controls, financial concepts, and financial transaction processes

• Accounting Policy - Solid understanding of US Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP). Understanding of International Accounting Standards a plus. Able to interpret complex accounting and auditing standards and translate the standards into accounting and administrative policies and procedures for the organization.

• Strong understanding of controls and risks in the AP process. Good understanding of business processes and systems. In-depth understanding of and work experience in SAP FI (financial module) is desirable.

• Demonstrated ability to recommend process improvements leveraging latest technology, enhance internal controls, and design and implement changes.

• Knowledge of WBG-specific policies, processes and systems will be an advantage.

• Knowledge of analysis and reporting software (such as Power BI, Alteryx, Tableau, etc) will be a plus.

• A proven track record of problem solving in an automated accounting environment

• Skill managing complexity, leading by influence, proactivity, problem-solving, exercising judgment and discretion, and innovation, and detail orientation.

• Diplomacy and strong interpersonal skills; commitment to work in a team-oriented, multi-cultural environment with an open and collegial work style and the ability to listen and integrate ideas from diverse views.

Abilities:

• Strong communication skills, including the ability to explain and express views/opinions clearly and confidently.

• Ability to deal sensitively in a multi-cultural environment and build effective working relations with clients and colleagues.

• Ability to analyze large sets of data and complex processes, identify the underlying control risks and formulate business solutions. Ability to exercise leadership in designing solutions for processing unusual, sensitive and/or complex transactions.

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.

Learn more about working at the World Bank and IFC, including our values and inspiring stories.