Associate Finance Officer

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 Setting

    

   The post is located in the Financial Reporting Section, Finance Division, Department of Program Planning and Finance, Administration and Management Sector.

    

2. Purpose Statement

    

   The Financial Reporting Section is responsible for the preparation of financial reporting (including annual financial statements and reports to FITS donors) for both WIPO and UPOV. In this regard, the Section is responsible for ensuring that annual financial statements are prepared in accordance with applicable accounting standards. In addition, the Section is charged with the receipt of assessed and voluntary contributions for both WIPO and UPOV, together with all the related accounting and correspondence and is also responsible for the preparation of bank and other reconciliations and for maintaining the accounting records regarding the Organization's fixed assets.

    

3. Reporting Lines

    

   The incumbent performs tasks relating to the preparation of financial reporting and related reconciliations for trust funds, together with the analysis and reconciliation of fixed assets.

    

4. Work Relations

    

   The incumbent reports to the Finance Officer in charge of trust funds and assessed contributions.

    

    

 

The incumbent will perform the following principal duties\:

 

a.  Establish quarterly reconciliations of trust funds, including transfers or reimbursements to the Organization, accounting for these transfers and administrative support costs, bank charges and bank interest; analyze accounting records and liaise with the Program Performance and Budget Division and Program Managers in this respect.

 

b.  Prepare and review accounting records and financial data for inclusion in financial reporting for certain donors and in WIPO' s financial reports and prepare financial reports for donors, under the guidance of the Finance Officer in charge of trust funds and assessed contributions.

 

c.  Contribute to the review of draft MoUs establishing funds-in-trust between WIPO (or UPOV) and donors.

 

d.  Review cost estimates prepared by the Human Resources Management Department (HRMD) for employment of staff financed by trust funds and monitor actual staff costs for reporting purposes.

 

e.  Participate in the annual billing and assist when required in the accounting records and issuance of acknowledgement of receipts of payments of assessed contributions for WIPO and UPOV.

 

f.   Maintain the accounting records regarding the Organization's fixed assets. Reconcile the Asset Management module data with the General Ledger for all assets (buildings, equipment, software) on a quarterly basis; ensure that any differences are corrected or can be explained.

 

g.  Perform the analysis of assets for the purposes of reporting under International Public Sector Accountings Standards (IPSAS) and in the preparation of financial reports on the Organization's assets when required; prepare data downloads and maintain excel models to support both the review of current project expenditure and the analysis of capitalized expenditure.

 

h.  Establish the annual request for reimbursement of withholding tax to be sent to the Swiss federal authorities for WIPO and UPOV (including trust funds).

 

i.   Advise staff across the Organization on the correct application of finance regulations, rules or procedures to cases and provide information to external and internal auditors and other professional advisors, as required.

 

j.   Perform any other duties as required.

 

 

 

Education

Essential

First-level university degree in finance, accounting or a related discipline, or a first-level university degree with a professional accounting qualification.

 

Desirable

Professional accounting qualification.

 

Experience

Essential

At least three years of relevant experience in accounting and financial reporting.  An advanced university degree in one of the aforementioned disciplines may be accepted in lieu of two years of relevant experience.

 

Experience of an ERP (ideally PeopleSoft Financials) gained in a financial or accounting role.

 

Desirable

Experience working in a UN common system organization.

 

Language

Essential

Excellent level of written and spoken English.

 

Good level of written and spoken French with a commitment to acquire an excellent level rapidly.

 

The successful candidate will be required to provide evidence of a level of French that is equivalent to 'advanced' as per the description of language levels available in WIPO's recruitment system by the end of the probationary period. The level of French will be assessed through a formal language test. Passing the language test is one condition for the appointment to be confirmed at the end of the probationary period.

 

Desirable

Knowledge of written and spoken Spanish.

 

Job Related Competencies

Essential

 

Accuracy and attention to detail.

 

Organizational skills with the ability to work under pressure and to respect deadlines.

 

High degree of independence, flexibility and initiative.

 

Competent user of Microsoft Office applications including Word, Excel, Outlook and PowerPoint and the internet, and the ability to work with databases and adapt quickly to new software.

 

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

 

 

 

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.

    

    

 

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.  The post adjustment (cost of living allowance) is variable and subject to change without notice.  The figures quoted below are based on the September 2019 rate of 76.4%

 

P2
Annual salary	$47,322
Post adjustment	$36,154
Total Salary	$83,476
Currency USD

 

 

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

 

Additional Information

 

Initial period of two years, renewable, subject to satisfactory performance.  No fixed-term appointment or any extension hereof shall carry with it any expectancy of, nor imply any right to, (further) extensions or conversion to a permanent appointment.

 

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.