Posted by T.K. Balakrishnan, Manager, Financial Management, Latin America and Caribbean Region, World Bank
The World Bank has openings for the following Financial Management (FM) positions:
(i) Senior Financial Management Specialist based in Washington DC; and
(ii) Financial Management Specialist based in Port-au-Prince, Haiti.
Job descriptions and qualifications needed are detailed in the job announcements, posted on the World Bank's website (click on these links):
1. Senior Financial Management Specialist based in Washington DC (Job #101168)
2. Financial Management Specialist based in Port-au-Prince, Haiti (Job #101172)
The Closing Date is June 13, 2010.
For convenience, we provide the PFM Blog readers with two excerpts from the Job Announcement for Job # 101168 (Senior Financial Management Specialist).
Duties and Accountabilities:
The Senior Financial Management Specialist (FMS) will be part of the Regional FM team, and will work as FM Coordinator for Haiti, and will report to the Regional Manager for Financial Management (RMFM). The Senior FMS is also expected to carry out other responsibilities that may be assigned by the RMFM including work on other countries and relevant thematic areas in the LCR Region. The Senior FMS will be based in Washington DC, and is expected to travel frequently to Haiti, with significant time spent in-country.
As an experienced staff member, the Senior FMS is expected to perform the full range of operational duties with minimal supervision and work independently on complex issues. The specific duties and responsibilities of the Senior FM Specialist will include the following operational tasks:
- Leadership and coordination for FM work in the country. Have overall responsibility for FM work program delivery and quality: ensure adequate quality, relevance and timeliness of FM work; ensure adequate work planning and appropriate allocation of projects among FM staff; and provide substantive inputs into budget and work program discussions. Represent FM views in key meetings and forums.
- Ensure technical oversight, and carry out quality assurance applying appropriate fiduciary principles.
- Handle FM responsibilities on projects and DPLs, including on complex and higher risk projects. Assess the adequacy of the Borrower’s project financial management systems. Provide implementation support and carry out supervision to ensure that project financial management systems are functioning appropriately.
- Support the country in development of public financial management, and development of accounting and auditing standards and institutional infrastructure in the country. Lead analytic work (e.g. CFAA, PEFA, FM policy/operational notes); technical assistance; and development and implementation support of projects or components as appropriate, on public and the private sector FM issues.
- Provide substantive technical input into policy and strategic work in the field of financial management – e.g., providing inputs to the country strategic documents (CPS, CAS, Progress Reports etc).
- Develop strategies for harmonizing financial management approaches with other development partners.
- Provide guidance, mentoring and coaching for other FM team members.
- Take a proactive role in defining practices and working in new areas of business and operational approaches– e.g. programmatic lending; use of country systems; sector wide programs; other financial management sector work e.g. governance and anti-corruption, new lending products.
- Take a proactive role to disseminate specific financial management country experiences with sector staff and task teams working in the Country Team.
- Play a significant role in departmental or institutional task forces on developing and implementing changes to financial management policies and practices, fiduciary issues and the efficiency and effectiveness of business processes.
- Carry out other responsibilities that may be assigned by the RMFM.
Selection Criteria:
Education/experience/language:
- The candidate should be a professional accountant (CPA, CA or equivalent membership of an internationally recognized professional accounting institute) with a Bachelors degree in accounting, business, finance, economics or related subject.
- A minimum of 8 years of relevant experience in financial management.
- Language: Fluency in English and French is required.
Technical and other skills:
- Strong knowledge of International Accounting Standards and International Standards on Auditing.
Experience in designing and assessing internal control systems and procedures, using internationally accepted control frameworks such as COSO. - Strong knowledge in the application of accounting, auditing and financial reporting systems and software packages.
- Strong knowledge of current issues in financial management, including relating to the public sector and relating to developing country issues.
- Demonstrated ability to integrate sector specific knowledge with broader operational strategy and policies. Ability to understand cross-cutting issues beyond financial management (e.g. procurement, governance, public sector management) at sector/country level.
- Proven ability to conceptualize, design and implement country or sector level financial management capacity building initiatives. Ability to promote client/beneficiary participation and commitment to financial management and accountability.
- Experience in evaluating audits, assessing auditor competence, and following up on issues raised by the audits. Experience in interpreting financial and project management reports and determining appropriate follow-up actions.
- Understanding of Bank policies and practices related to financial management including disbursements (or ability to learn these quickly).
- Ability to assess the quality of portfolio performance on financial management.
- Ability to distill and disseminate financial management knowledge. Experience in advising clients on the design and implementation of financial management systems, including financial and management reports.
- Experience in financial statement analysis, their use in comparison with industry benchmarks and their application to particular circumstances.
- Strong planning, organization and time management skills to function in a team and contribute towards a common goal. Ability to manage multiple tasks and projects. Willingness to work flexibly on a range of assignments, and adjust to and prioritize a variety of complex evolving tasks
- Demonstrated ability to function as a team leader and team member, and to work collaboratively with various client stakeholders, including country teams and colleagues, government officials, and other donors; to search for common ground, to resolve problems, and where appropriate, to recommend decisive action.
- Strong analytical capabilities and proven skills to deal with FM issues innovatively and independently.
- Ability to deal sensitively in multi-cultural environments and discuss politically charged issues with confidence and finesse; to inspire trust and confidence in clients and colleagues at all levels.
- Ability to communicate effectively, in writing and orally, including situations requiring negotiation.
- Good understanding of information systems and the application of new technology.
- Willingness and ability to travel frequently.
