Senior Finance Officer

Contract

This is a P-4 contract. This kind of contract is known as Professional and Director staff. It is normally internationally recruited only. It's a staff contract. It usually requires 7 years of experience, depending on education.

Salary

The salary for this job should be between 171,387 USD and 220,969 USD.

Please keep in mind that the salary displayed here is an estimation by UN Talent based on the location and the type of contract. It may vary depending on the organization. The recruiter should be able to inform you about the exact salary range. In case the job description contains another salary information, please refer to this one.

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 in the Treasury Section of the Finance Division of the Department of Program Planning and Finance.

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 incumbent performs a variety of complex financial functions related to treasury activities including managing the Organization's cash holdings, investments, currency requirements and banking relationships. Working closely with the Treasurer, he/she will also lead the adherence of risk management (middle-office) processes for the Treasury Section. The incumbent utilizes and participates in the development of WIPO financial systems and contributes to an efficient, transparent, and controlled financial process. The incumbent interacts with a range of colleagues within the Division and within the wider Organization and with external parties, such as Patent Offices, UN organizations and financial institutions.

c. Reporting Lines

The incumbent works under the supervision of the Treasurer, Treasury Section.

d. Work Relations

The incumbent interacts with external and internal counterparties. External counterparties comprise mainly financial market participants, financial institutions, UN agencies and international Patent Offices. Internal counterparts comprise colleagues mainly within the Department of Program Planning and Finance, but also within other departments when providing support on Treasury processes.

2. Duties and Responsibilities

The incumbent will perform the following principal duties:

a. Develop and improve the current treasury risk metrics and evaluate financial risk exposures for foreign exchange, interest rates, counterparty credit and investments. Perform stress scenario modeling. Identify emerging treasury risks and partner with subject matter experts to define appropriate thresholds in accordance with WIPO's risk appetite.

b. Manage middle-office functions and provide risk management oversight for the Treasury Section. Monitor and ensure ongoing application of established treasury controls. Engage with internal stakeholders to increase operating efficiency, implement process improvements, and enhance financial controls.

c. Prepare investment analysis and reporting for WIPO's Advisory Committee on Investments (ACI), including risk and performance measurement. Develop effective reporting tools to ensure risk data and information are available for various levels of the Organization.

d. Manage functionalities and technical requirements of the Treasury Risk Management System (TRMS), foreign exchange and investment trading platforms, e-banking systems, and financial market data analytic platforms. Ensure effective integration of all treasury platforms with AIMS FSCM.

e. Lead treasury projects and manage treasury initiatives across WIPO. Suggest system improvements, foster innovation, and work towards automation from treasury transaction execution to record and reporting.

f. Keep abreast of changes in accounting standards including IPSAS, and best practices to ensure WIPO's continued compliance with financial reporting requirements. Advise the Financial Reporting Section on technical issues related to the reporting of treasury transactions in the General Ledger.

g. Develop banking relationships and manage global banking offerings to meet WIPO's treasury requirements in investments, foreign exchange, and cash management. Stay informed on new products or changes to services or regulations that would impact existing operations or enhance future operations.

h. Prepare and review compliance and bank documentation as needed and have overall responsibility for updating, organizing, and maintaining related schedules and documentation.

i. Deputize for all Treasury Front Office activities including transaction execution in foreign exchange, investments, and the Fee Transfer Service. Provide substantive input to treasury planning and monitor the implementation of its budget and work plan.

j. Supports the establishment of and oversees the application of treasury policies and procedures, technology and tools, and governance process.

k. Perform other related duties as required.

3. Requirements

Education (Essential)

Advanced university degree in accounting, finance, economics, or a related discipline. A first-level university degree in one of the aforementioned fields in combination with a proven professional track record of nine years or more relevant experience in accounting or finance may be acceptable in lieu of an advanced university degree.

Education (Desirable)

Industry certification such as ACT (CertT), Certified Treasury Professional (CTP), Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA), Financial Risk Manager (FRM) or Certified Public Accountant (CPA) or equivalent an advantage.

Experience (Essential)

At least seven years of relevant professional experience in finance, treasury, accounting, or banking.

Experience (Desirable)

Experience with Electronic Banking Platforms and Treasury Risk Management Systems (such as COUPA).

Working knowledge of banking and cash management including international payment standards.

Experience in ERP implementation and system finance integration.

Language (Essential)

Excellent written and spoken knowledge of English.

Language (Desirable)

Knowledge of other official UN languages, preferably French.

Job Related Competencies (Essential)

Attention to detail, with a high level of service orientation.

Solid understanding of financial markets and financial instruments and techniques.

Understanding of VaR, default and settlement risk, stress testing, and mark-to-market calculations.

Good training and presentation skills and ability to communicate technical subjects to a non-technical audience.

Good organizational and time management skills.

Good analytical and problem-solving skills.

Excellent communication and interpersonal skills and ability to maintain effective partnerships and working relations in a multicultural environment with sensitivity and respect for diversity.

Competent user of Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint).

Job Related Competencies (Desirable)

Good understanding of and experience with the UN financial business processes.

4. Organizational Competencies

1. Communicating effectively.

2. Showing team spirit.

3. Demonstrating integrity.

4. Valuing diversity.

5. Producing results.

6. Showing service orientation.

7. Seeing the big picture.

8. Seeking change and innovation.

9. Developing yourself and others.

5. Information

Mobility: WIPO staff members are international civil servants subject to the authority of the Director General and may be assigned to any activities, office or duty station of the Organization. Accordingly, the selected candidate may be required to move from time to time to new functions and/or to another duty station.

Annual salary****:

Total annual salary consists of a net annual salary (net of taxes and before medical insurance and pension fund deductions) in US dollars and a post adjustment. Please note that this estimate is for information only. The post adjustment multiplier (cost of living allowance) is variable and subject to change (increase or decrease) without notice. The figures quoted below are based on the July 2024 rate of 89.2%

P4

Annual salary

$75,602

Post adjustment

$67,437

Total Salary

$143,039

Currency USD

Salaries and allowances are paid in Swiss francs at the official rate of exchange of the United Nations.

Please refer to WIPO’s Staff Regulation and Rules for detailed information concerning salaries, benefits and allowances.

Additional Information

* Initial fixed-term appointment of two years, renewable subject to satisfactory performance and other applicable conditions. The selected candidate’s appointment will be subject to an overall term of five years in this position, with no possibility of renewal beyond that term. S/he may, however, apply and be considered for other positions at WIPO.

This is not applicable to WIPO staff members on fixed-term, continuing or permanent appointments, who were recruited following a competition under Staff Regulation 4.10 (“Appointment Boards”).

This vacancy announcement may be used to fill other posts at the same grade with similar functions in accordance with Staff Rule 4.9.5.

Applications from qualified women as well as from qualified nationals of unrepresented Member States of WIPO and underrepresented geographical regions are encouraged. Please click on the following links for the list of unrepresented Member States and the list of underrepresented regions and the WIPO Member States in these regions.

The Organization reserves the right to make an appointment at a grade lower than that advertised.

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By completing an application, candidates understand that any willful misrepresentation made on this web site, or on any other documents submitted to WIPO during the application, may result in disqualification from the recruitment process, or termination of employment with WIPO at a later date, if that employment resulted from such willful misrepresentations.

In the event that your candidature is shortlisted, you will be required to provide, in advance, a scanned copy of an identification and of the degree(s)/diploma(s)/certificate(s) required for this position. WIPO only considers higher educational qualifications obtained from an institution accredited/recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED), a list updated by the International Association of Universities (IAU) / United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The list can be accessed through the link: http://www.whed.net/. Some professional certificates may not appear in the WHED and these will be reviewed individually.

Additional testing/interviewing may be used as a form of screening. Initial appointment is subject to satisfactory professional references.

Additional background checks may be required.