Job Title : Finance Assistant (Financial Reporting & Corporate Finance)
ID : 35117
Location : ROME
Date of issue : 04/15/2026
Close Date : (Midnight, Rome Time) 05/04/2026
Organizational Unit : Financial Controller's Div.
Full/Part Time : Full-Time
Regular/Temporary : Regular
Assignment Duration : 2 Years
Grade : G-5
Organizational Setting
The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) is an international financial institution and a specialized United Nations agency dedicated to eradicating rural poverty and hunger. It does so by investing in rural people. IFAD finances programmes and projects that increase agricultural productivity and raise rural incomes, andadvocates at the local, national and international level for policies that contribute to rural transformation.
The Financial Operations Department (FOD) is a dynamic financial, strategic and responsive business partner and service provider fully supporting IFAD in developing its financial strategy and managing its financial, investments and material resources. FOD ensures that these resources are efficiently, economically and effectively used to achieve IFADs objectives in the long-term and deliver on its development commitments. FOD is led by an Associate Vice President and is comprised of three (3) divisions: the Treasury Services Division (TRE), the Financial Controller's Division (FCD) and the Procurement and Financial Management Division (PFM).
The Financial Controller's Division (FCD) safeguards financial integrity, including the financial statements audit processes and the internal control system assessment, drives innovative, efficient, and technology-driven solutions in financial reporting, loan portfolio management and servicing, disbursements, integrity, and controllership, ensuring IFAD remains robust and financially sound.
The IFAD Financial Controller's Division (FCD) is a specialized finance Division providing solutions to IFAD in the field, in headquarters and to its partners globally. FCD supports development results through its Controllership function which improves the stewardship of resources globally. FCD's Disbursement function ensures approval of over $1 billion of resources annually. FCD's Financial Crime function protects IFAD and its data from sanctions, money laundering, terrorism financing, fraud and related risks. FCD's Financial Reporting and Corporate Finance function ensures clean audit opinions per IFRS, donor sustainability reporting statutory reporting to protect IFAD's credit rating. It provides corporate financial services focuses on capacity building such as the IFAD-CIPFA corporate finance qualification programme. It is also the functional Secretariat to the IFAD Audit Committee.
The position is located in the Financial Reporting and Corporate Finance function and the incumbent works under the direct supervision of Finance Analyst.
Job Role
The focus of finance positions is on the provision of both standard and specialized activities pertaining, Loan debt Servicing, Disbursements (i.e. loans and grants, payroll and payments), Financial Reporting and Corporate Finance, Controllership, and 3rd Party Integrity Due Diligence (IDD). Specialized activities pertain to the application of finance regulations and rules requiring the selection, interpretation and assembly of information and data from several sources, in examining problems for which several possible solutions exist but which are normally covered by general practice and where issues requiring clarification and decision are directed to the supervisor. Standard activities include all other processes not requiring the application of formal regulations and rules.
With the FCD mission of enabling and protecting IFAD, all finance staff support the Fund's finance strategy as well as commitment to financial integrity by acting as a responsive service provider with a focus on results and driven by IFAD's mission and values. Finance Assistants are credible, trusted assistant to the client offices served and the Department/Division/Unit where assigned.
The Finance Assistants are required to be flexible and dynamic as they could be required to shift into different work tasks across teams/units in FCD to ensure effective use of resources considering workload peaks and troughs.
Position specific:
The incumbent will focus on financial reporting and corporate finance activities by executing effective accounting operations in particular is accountable for the correctness of computation of loan debt servicing and basic maintenance of some of IFAD ERP tools (FXC and PeopleSoft).
Key Functions and Results
1.GENERAL FINANCE / OFFICE SUPPORT: The Finance Assistant performs a full range of standard activities in support of FOD to ensure effective communications with client departments/divisions/offices and efficient provision of support to finance staff. Activities include (a) review, and upon satisfactory review, process financial accounting transactions, preparing journal entries and performing accounts reconciliations; (b) drafting and/or reviewing, and upon satisfactory review, processing a variety of correspondence and other communications; (c) setting up and maintaining files/records (electronic and paper); (d) monitoring deadlines; (e) undertaking research on a range of finance-related issues; (f) maintaining the PeopleSoft and other automated databases containing related statistics, analysing data and generating periodic reports; and (g) final formatting of financial reports, (i) verifying overall accuracy, consistency and uniformity in the presentation, and ensuring comprehensiveness and compliance with the proscribed formats; (ii) cross-checking consistency of figures in tables with the text of the reports; and (iii) verifying references to other financial reports and documents, bringing errors to the attention of the Finance Specialist concerned. The Finance Assistant at this level is also accountable for specialized support pertaining to complex financial processes requiring interpretation and application of rules and practices as well as an understanding of the Fund's policies and programmes. Illustrative accountabilities/key results expected are identified below by occupation.
2. DISBURSEMENTS (i.e. loans and grants, payroll and payments) The Finance Assistant is responsible for (a) supporting the loan and grant administration and other financial management tasks (including banking information, fraud checks and reviews for sanctions screening and financial crime checks), (b) setting up, maintaining and reconciling of loans and grants data, including advance accounts, expenditure category descriptions, approved disbursement methods and other disbursement arrangements in the Loan and Grant System, (c) assisting and reviewing the process of payroll across IFAD and all payments (i.e. Consultants, Suppliers, other partners), (d) ICO support for advances, and (e) receiving, reviewing and processing Withdrawal Applications (WAs) through IFAD Client Portal (ICP) ensuring compliance with financing agreements and with IFAD policies and operational procedures as well as following up with appropriate IFAD divisions/units and cooperating institutions.
3. FINANCIAL REPORTING AND CORPORATE FINANCE: The Finance Assistant is responsible for (a) review, and upon satisfactory review processing financial accounting transactions, preparing journal entries and performing accounts reconciliations; (b) supporting the delivery of statutory financial statements (IFAD, ILC, etc.) per IFRS standards, Donor Reports, other statutory reports including Borrowing, financial ratios, and financial closures; (c) providing support for corporate finance and corporate fiduciary services including Contributions management (e.g. Replenishments), as well as the financial accounting and reporting of banks and investments, fixed assets, loans and grants, borrowings, investments and travel; (d) supporting budget and financial services for Supplementary Funds and hosted entities, EC Verifications support; (e) contribute to the reconciliations and financial services to Implementing Partners; (f) supporting for the data integrity maintenance and interface control of key corporate financial systems such as IFAD's core banking system and Oracle-PeopleSoft Financials, as the business owner and user of the IFAD Client Portal, and provide assistance with financial system innovation/data integrity and transparency, and (g) support debt servicing activities (e.g. issuance loan billings, applying repayments).
4. CONTROLLERSHIP: as IFAD established a Controllership function, the Finance Assistant is responsible for supporting the implementation of internal controls across material business processes in IFAD to oversee compliance with the Delegation of Authority (DOA) and to support protecting IFAD's audit opinion. The Assistants will provide support to safeguard the Internal Control Framework (ICF), and will be responsible for supporting the process of internal controls review of processes for inclusion in the Controller's Scorecard, which reports on the financial health of an ICO/HQ Unit.
5. 3RD PARTY INTEGRITY DUE DILIGENCE (IDD): as established on IFAD's policy on Anti-money laundering (ML) and countering Terrorism Financing (TF), the assistants are responsible for supporting the implementation of the procedures to combat ML and TF. They are responsible for contributing to maintain a systematic method of sanctions screening and assessing for ML and TF through a system solution in order to perform ongoing monitoring and reporting to stakeholders.
6.MANAGERIAL FUNCTIONS: Is accountable for integrity, transparency, and equity in the personal use of assigned IFAD resources, including equipment, supplies and, as applicable, staff supervised.
Position specific:
The incumbent will focus in particular in supporting for the data integrity maintenance and interface control of key corporate financial systems, such as IFAD's core banking system and Oracle-PeopleSoft Financials, as the business owner and user of the IFAD Client Portal, and provide assistance with financial system innovation/data integrity and transparency, and support debt servicing activities (e.g. issuance loan billings, applying repayments).
Key Performance Indicators
Finance Assistants are expected to perform one occupation among a variety of Disbursements, Financial Reporting and Corporate Finance, Controllership, 3rd Party Integrity Due Diligence (IDD), FCD Front Office. The impact of the work of the Finance Assistant affects the delivery of discrete activities and is closely interrelated with the work of other members of the finance team to which assigned. The work performed affects not only the timely delivery of financial processes but also indirectly the delivery of the client departments/divisions/offices programmes. They play a key role, as a member of the team, in providing routine and some specialized information both to client's departments and to more senior members of the team on finance procedures and the progress of delivery against standards and deadlines. The incumbents work with minimal supervision, seeking advice from and/or reporting to supervisor as needed for processes where the guidelines and procedures are not clear.
Position specific:
The incumbent is responsible for execution of timely and qualitative accounting operations and reconciliations. He/she is accountable for the correctness or computations within a group of accounts as per above functions.
Working Relationships
Finance Assistants are constantly involved in working closely with colleagues in the finance team and with client departments and staff in the handling and resolving of standard as well as specialized processes and delivery of financial services (i.e. disbursements, Corporate Finance and Financial Reporting, Controllership, 3rd Party Integrity Due Diligence (IDD), FCD Front Office etc.) These relationships are important to ensure that (a) finance deadlines are met, (b) actions adhere to financial policies and rules and (c) the Fund's staff are kept aware of the importance of financial integrity in all operations.
Position specific:
incumbent establishes effective working relationship with other stakeholders in the institution, country directors and with borrowers.
Job Profile Requirements
Organizational Competencies - Level 1
- Strategic thinking and organizational development: Personal influence
- Demonstrating Leadership: Personal leadership and attitude to change
- Learning, sharing knowledge and innovating: Continuously seeks to learn, shares knowledge and innovates
- Focusing on clients: Focuses on clients
- Problem solving and decision making: Demonstrates sound problem solving and dcision-making ability
- Managing time, resources and information: Manages own time, information and resources effectively
- Team Work: Contributes effectively to the team
- Communicating and negotiating: Communicates effectively: creates understanding between self and others
- Building relationships and partnerships: Builds and maintains effective working relationships
- Managing performance and developing staff: Manages staff and teams effectively
Education : Level - High school diploma, Baccalaureate would be an asset.
Areas - Accounting and Financial Reporting
Certifications
Enrolment or attainment of professional qualification such as CPA, Chartered Accountant, CIPFA designation from an internationally recognized Institute of Accountancy, is desirable.
Enrolment or attainment of other relevant professional certification (e.g. Certified Information Systems Auditor, Certified Fraud Examiner, Certified Anti-money laundering specialist etc.) is an asset.
Work experience:
- At least four (4) years of progressively responsible experience in finance or related field is required.
- Position-specific experience: Demonstrable advanced analytical/excel skills and attention to detail required. Experience/knowledge of IFRS or similar international standards is highly desirable.
Languages :
- Required English (4 - Excellent)
- Desirable: French, Spanish, or Arabic (3 - Good)
- Position-specific requirement: n/a
Skills:
Job role specific
- Topical expertise - Financial Operations, Expertise specific to the role (e.g. international accounting for accountants); 3
- Procedure adherence & interpretation, Ability to strictly adhere to established, formal guidelines, including in new situations and to interpret established, formal guidelines to address and recommend solutions or further actions required; 3
- Risk & compliance, Know-how in asset liability management, risk reporting, capital adequacy, quality assurance and compliance (e.g. Anti-money laundering (AML), Know your customer (KYC) processes), etc.; 3
- Basic ICT & digital fluency, High level of digital literacy and ability to quickly get familiar with new digital tools (e.g. ability to carry out EPR data entry and extraction when budgeting; monitoring security systems, uploading content to inter/intra-net websites, etc.); 5
- Client orientation, Strong critical thinking combined with communication skills to liaise between the business and technologies to understand business problems and needs, document requirements and identify solutions; 3
- Time management, Adherence to deadlines under time constraints and pressure (e.g. to deliver governing body documents on time); ability to coordinate and manage complex workflows and in-house and external teams; 3
- Interpersonal skills, Ability to deal patiently and tactfully with others (e.g. visitors, clients, callers, etc.), including senior individuals (e.g. high-level meeting participants); 3
Position specific
- Financial reporting & accounting, Know-how in financial reporting, statutory and other reporting as well as advanced application of IFRS standards, derivatives, loan credit risk, financial regulations, policies, rules and procedures applicable to IFAD and IFIs; 2
- Highly skilled in PeopleSoft General Ledger, Accounts Payable, Accounts Receivable, Travel and Expenses Modules and in particular the Cash Management module.
Other Information
Applicants for National positions at General Service level must be legally authorized to live and work in the country of recruitment at the time of application. Any job offer is subject to evidence from the candidate to have obtained and be able to maintain the legal status to live and work in the country of recruitment.
IFAD staff members are international civil servants subject to the authority of the President of IFAD. In accordance with IFAD's Human Resources Policy, the President can decide to assign them to any of the activities of the Fund. All International Professional staff members are required to be geographically mobile and positions in the professional category are subject to changes in location at any time in line with strategic priorities and reform initiatives in IFAD.
IFAD is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of ethnic, social or political background, colour, nationality, religion, age, gender, disability, marital status, family size or sexual orientation in line with its Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Strategy and the Policy to prevent and respond to sexual harassment, sexual exploitation and abuse.
Please be aware of fraudulent job offers. IFAD does not charge any fees at any stage of the recruitment process. Official communication from IFAD will always come from e-mails ending in @ifad.org
In accordance with IFAD
- s provisions, all new staff members will normally be placed at the first step in the grade level for which they have been selected. For information on IFAD's remuneration package, please visit IFAD's compensation and benefits page on our website. Applicants are invited to use the ICSC compensation calculator to estimate the salary and benefit entitlements.
Candidates may be required to take a written test and to deliver a presentation as well as participate in interviews.
In the interest of making most cost effective use of funds and resources, we are only able to respond to applicants who are short-listed for interview. Candidates who do not receive any feedback within three months should consider their application unsuccessful.
Please be aware of fraudulent job offers. IFAD does not charge any fees at any stage of the recruitment process. Official communication from IFAD will always come from e-mails ending in @ifad.org
Applicants are required to complete the Personal History Form (PHF) in full, as this is the official document considered in the selection process. Incomplete PHFs may lead to disqualification. (Please note that CVs will not be reviewed). However, supporting documents such as certifications and covering letter may be attached.
CEFR English Level C or FAO/UN English Level C (required).