Job Title: Senior Finance Officer / Team Leader
Job Family: Financial Sector
Location: Nairobi, Kenya
Appointment: Local Hire
Job Posted: 28-Oct-2011
Closing Date: 20-Nov-2011
Language Requirements: English [Essential]; French [Desired]; Portuguese [Desired]
Background / General description
The World Bank’s Controller’s Vice Presidency (CTR) is responsible for all aspects of
the financial reporting
and internal control framework for the International Bank for Reconstruction and
Development (IBRD), the International Development Association (IDA) and the extensive Trust Fund/Partnership portfolio of these two entities.
The Controller’s Vice Presidency is also responsible for expressing Finance’s
viewpoint on controls over Bank operations particularly those which validate the
appropriateness of loan disbursements.
Organizationally, CTR comprises the
(1) Financial Instruments Accounting and Valuation,
(2) Loans, and
(3) Client Services Departments, as well as the Financial Analysis and Reporting,
Accounting Policy, Knowledge Dissemination, and Operational Risks and Controls units.
These teams collectively include approximately 400 staff; of which 150 are located
in Washington with the remaining 250 located in regional offices the largest being
in Chennai, India.
The Loan Department (CTRLD) is the focal point within the Bank for exercising
fiduciary controls over its lending operations, including responsibility for
ensuring that loan funds are used for their intended purposes.
In this regard it collaborates actively and maintains close working relationships
with Regional Management, Financial Management (FM) and Procurement (PR) Networks,
Legal Department (LEG), Treasury Department (TRE), Concessional Finance and Global
Partnerships (CFP), Department of Institutional Integrity (INT) and the Internal
Auditing Department (IAD) in discharging this responsibility.
The Loan Department also coordinates closely with Operational Policy and Country
Services (OPCS) on professional excellence on the part of all financial professionals
employed by the institution, and supports building the capacity of Bank borrowers to
enable them to introduce and maintain sound accounting and financial management systems and procedures relating to public funds.
CTRLD has approximately 120 staff, with about one third currently based in Washington,
DC and the others located in six main regional centers around the world (Brasilia,
Beijing, Zagreb, Chennai, Manila, and Johannesburg).
The Loan Department (CTRLD), which is currently being realigned so as to be more
client focused, is primarily responsible for the formulation and administration of
the Bank's financial policies and procedures relating to disbursement of funds from
IBRD loans, IDA credits, the Project Preparation Facility (PPF), Institutional
Development Fund (IDF) Grants, Recipient-Executed Trust Funds and other financial
products of the Bank.
As part of this realignment, CTRLD is opening a Regional Center in Nairobi, Kenya.
The Nairobi Regional Center will follow the staffing model of others teams –with a
solid team of finance assistants, analysts, and a Team Leader who are currently
being recruited.
The Team Leader (TL) is responsible for the day-to-day efficient and effective
provision of disbursement services within the Nairobi Regional Center.
In fulfilling this role, the Team Lead will provide technical leadership in terms
of ensuring that all the current disbursement functions carried out by the Nairobi
Regional Center are carried out according to established policies and procedures.
S/he will supervise all regional center staff, and ensure that their work is carried
out in compliance with CTRLD policies and procedures.
S/he will report to the Division Manager and will work closely to facilitate the
efficient administration and disbursement management of the country portfolios
handled by the Regional Center.
The Team Leader will also work closely with Finance Officers in Washington DC to
ensure seamless collaboration as projects advance from the preparation stage to
negotiations/Board approval and implementation.
The Team Leader upholds CTRLD service standards for quality and responsiveness,
appropriately balancing its fiduciary and client service roles. The Team Leader
will contribute to departmental and institutional initiatives.
Note: If the selected candidate is a current Bank Group staff member with a
Regular or Open-Ended appointment, s/he will retain his/her Regular or Open-Ended
appointment. All others will be offered a 3 year renewable term appointment.
Duties and Accountabilities
Staff Supervision and management of day-to-day business:
* Develop and implement regional center's strategy for cost effective and efficient
operations, according to department's direction;
* Lead and manage the day-to-day business processes of the Regional Center, including,
inter alia, records management, transaction processing and portfolio administration
workflows, in accordance with CTRLD policies, procedures, quality and efficiency
performance standards established for the unit;
* Establish individual work assignments and workload allocations for staff working
at the Regional Center in consultation with the Division Manager;
* In consultation with the Division Manager, support the staff recruitment process
and seek to create a professional environment that promotes team work and collaboration. Mentor staff and ensure that they have the skills and capacity to deliver the work program. In delivering on these responsibilities, the Team Leader will work closely with the Human Resources and CTRLD Division Managers;
* Manage staff performance and provide performance and developmental feedback;
* Promote the smooth operation of CTRLD’s global team through the maintenance of
appropriate business continuity arrangements.
Technical Leadership:
* Provide technical support to regional center staff, in close consultation with
assigned Finance Officers on technical inquiries;
* Escalate issues to the CTRLD leadership team as necessary for a timely resolution;
* Promote staff use of sound professional judgment in the performance of their duties;
* Contribute to established risk management, control and performance measurement
activities, and ensure timely follow-up on identified action items;
* Promote and improve efficiency and effectiveness of core business processes, and
smooth introduction of business process changes;
* Share unit's knowledge and keep other Regional Center Team Leads and Washington
based Finance Officers informed of best practices and complex case resolution.
Portfolio Management:
* Play a key role in ensuring the quality of portfolio management through
implementation of standard procedures and monitoring.
Client Support/ Capacity Building:
* Act as CTRLD representative to regional center's clients;
* Provide training and other client support services as required, including
participation in missions;
* Build internal awareness and greater understanding of disbursement management
processes and procedures and the role of CTRLD
* Respond to ad hoc requests from clients regarding disbursement management
operations.
Selection Criteria
* Minimum Education: Masters degree (Postgraduate degree in Finance, Accounting
or Business) and/or bachelor's degree with professional certification (CPA, ACCA,
CFA or equivalent) and a minimum of 10 years of direct relevant experience in leading
teams, portfolio management, project implementation, and/or contract management.
* Proven track record of leading and managing diverse teams, including virtual teams
* Knowledge of internal controls and procedures
* Knowledge of the World Bank operational policies, including understanding of Bank
policies and practices related to disbursement and contract management, would be an
advantage.
* Good understanding of information systems and the application of new technology.
* Ability to exercise sound professional judgment within the framework of CTRLD
policies and procedures, taking into account project considerations.
* Ability to communicate effectively, orally and in writing, in English including
in situations requiring diplomacy and negotiation with Borrower representatives.
Language skills in French and Portuguese will be a plus.
* Demonstrated capacity to function as a team member of a multi-disciplinary team,
to search for common ground and, where appropriate, to recommend decisive action.
* Demonstrated track record of following up on action items and achieving results
and acknowledging the contributions of others.
* Experience working in multi-cultural environments and ability to build effective
working relations with clients, development partners and Bank staff at all levels.
* Ability to deal with rapidly shifting priorities, work demands and manage complex
projects and multiple tasks against ambiguous deadlines.
* Understanding of cross-cutting issues (e.g. procurement, project management,
governance, public sector management) at project/sector/country level within the
Africa context
* Commitment to continued professional education and willingness to learn new skills.
* Willingness to seek help from and offer help to others, and to deliver CTRLD’s
work program within its service standards.
* Ability to coach, mentor and develop the capabilities of junior staff.
* Willingness to travel on short-term assignments.
The World Bank Group is committed to achieving diversity in terms of gender,
nationality, culture and educational background. Individuals with disabilities
are equally encouraged to apply.
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