Role Description

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, and advocates 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 IFAD’s objectives in the long-term and deliver on its development commitments. The Financial Operations Department is composed of the following three divisions: (a) Financial Controller's Division (FCD), (b) Financial Management Services Division (FMD) and (c) Treasury Services Division (TRE).  

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, reporting of borrrowings, debt servicing, donor and statutory reporting to protect IFAD’s credit rating. FCD is a trailblazer of new technologies.

FCD’s Financial Reporting and Corporate Finance function ensures clean audit opinions per IFRS, donor and statutory reporting to protect IFAD’s credit rating. It provides corporate financial and budget services on supplementary funds and 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 the Senior Finance Specialist.

Finance Analysts typically work with a higher level Finance Specialist in monitoring financial performance and preparing and evaluating financial reports; the incumbent may alternatively supervise a homogeneous portion of a financial operation which is predominantly process oriented.

Position specific:

The Finance Analysts are accountable for maintaining data integrity 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 coordinate financial system innovation/data integrity and transparency. 

1. FINANCE BUSINESS PARTNER: The Finance Analyst is a credible, trusted partner to the client offices served and the Department/Division/Unit assigned. The position supports the Fund’s finance strategy and plans as well as models a commitment to financial integrity by acting as a responsive and constructive service provider with a focus on results. The Analyst provides verbal and written advice and guidance to supervisors and staff on finance regulations, rules and procedures, facilitating a mutual understanding of roles and fiduciary accountabilities in support of the integrity in the management of the Fund’s financial resources. The Analyst’s focus is on building their knowledge base of the Fund’s governing structure, mandate, long-term business strategy, organizational dynamics and culture.

2. FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT: Finance Analysts are establishing expertise in the UN’s financial principles, policies, regulations, rules and procedures. The position is assigned a portion of a financial operation, such as Payroll for headquarters staff and processing transactions where concurrent stages of processing are required. Representative activities include: (a) reviewing, approving, reconciling and processing a range of accounting transactions on a regular and recurring basis; (b) reviewing, analysing and projecting programme financial implications in light of additional mandates or other programme changes; (c) analyzing and evaluating financial reports produced on a regular basis, explaining variances and producing reports and correspondence as required; (d) ensuring the timely and correct entry into the General Ledger of all input in accordance with corporate accounting practices, approving and posting all payable, receivable and correction journals; (e) monitoring financial performance, allotments and expenditures to ensure that they remain within authorized parameters and resolving emergent financial issues; (f) managing non-complex loans and grants portfolio(s) including in the review of Project design documents in relation to financial management (e.g. flow of funds, procurement, financial reporting and audit) as well as in relation to the disbursement of funds; and (g) analyzing, recommending and trading individual securities for different fixed income sectors and markets for internal investment portfolios of IFAD and related entities, in accordance with well-established policies and investment guidelines and also analyzing and proposing well-thought through changes to these.

3. AGENT OF CHANGE: The Finance Analyst maintains an awareness of the principles of change management and proactively serves as a role model for transformation and capacity for acceptance of change. The position uses a knowledge of results based management and budgeting, enterprise resource planning (ERP) and other information technology to analyze and promote acceptance of new methods of work and automated work flows. At this level the Analyst manages change through consultations with finance colleagues and outreach to client offices to ensure open and regular communications pertaining to current and planned changes in the Fund’s financial administration.

4. MANAGERIAL FUNCTIONS: Is accountable for integrity, transparency, in the personal use of assigned IFAD resources, including equipment, supplies and, as applicable, staff supervised.

Position specific:

Finance Analysts (Financial Reporting & Corporate Finance) contribute to the delivery of statutory financial statements (IFAD, ILC, etc) per IFRS standards, Donor Reports, other statutory reports including Borrowing, financial ratios, and financial closures. They are accountable for contributing to corporate finance and corporate fiduciary services including Contributions management and accounting (e.g. Replenishments), bank reconciliations as well as the financial accounting and reporting of fixed assets, loans and grants, investments and travel, Budget and financial services for Supplementary Funds and hosted entities, EC Verifications support, reconciliations, and financial services to Implementing Partners. The Finance Analysts are accountable for maintaining data integrity 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 coordinate financial system innovation/data integrity and transparency. Finance Analysts are also accountable for debt servicing activities.

The incumbent analyses unusual transactions and recommends actions to be taken and/or exceptions to be made in the application of financial regulations, rules and procedures. The incumbent executes effective accounting operations where methodology is established or accounting problems have precedents, is accountable for the correctness of authorizations or computations within a group of accounts and proposes improvements in reporting systems of subsidiary ledgers or other elements of a group of accounts.  The incumbent has access to advice and on-the-job training from specialists in the individual finance occupations in the resolution of on-going non-routine work.

Position specific:

The Finance Analysts are accountable for maintaining data integrity 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 coordinate financial system innovation/data integrity and transparency.

The work relationships of the incumbent involves both written and verbal communications to obtain and provide information regarding decisions on specific cases or to explain why an action has been taken or to obtain information needed to take decisions or support further financial processes. Internal Fund contacts extend to supervisors and staff throughout the Fund to promote understanding of finance regulations, rules and/or procedures pertaining mainly to routine finance matters within her/his area of assignment. This requires skill in building constructive, effective relationships. External contacts are predominantly with banks, institutions or suppliers/vendors, Borrowers and Cooperating institutions, etc. and are for the purpose of exchanging information and making commitments within predetermined parameters.

Position specific: 

Financial Analyst should establish effective relationship with IT services providers, auditors, Borrowers.

Organizational Competencies:

Level 1:

• Building relationships and partnerships - Builds and maintains effective working relationships
• Communicating and negotiating - Communicates effectively; creates understanding between self and others
• Demonstrating leadership - Personal leadership and attitude to change
• Focusing on clients - Focuses on clients
• Learning, sharing knowledge and innovating - Continuously seeks to learn, shares knowledge & innovates
• Managing performance and developing staff -
• Managing time, resources and information - Manages own time, information and resources effectively
• Problem-solving and decision-making - Demonstrates sound problem-solving and decision-making ability
• Strategic thinking and organizational development - Personal influence
• Team working - Contributes effectively to the team

Education:

• Level - Advanced university degree from an accredited institution listed on https://www.whed.net/home.php in a technically relevant area (*)
• Areas - Accounting, Finance, Business Administration or other job related field.

(*) Note:  For internal candidates, this requirement will be assessed in line with the provisions set forth in the IFAD’s Human Resources Implementing Procedures. 

Experience:

• At least two (2) years of professional experience
• Ability to identify risks across significant business processes and support staff in the implementation of internal controls and monitoring practices is an asset.

Certifications:

• Professional qualification such as CPA, Chartered Accountant, CIPFA designation from an internationally recognized Institute of Accountancy, is desirable. 
• Other relevant professional certification (e.g. Certified Information Systems Auditor, Certified Fraud Examiner, Certified Anti-money laundering specialist etc.) is an asset

Languages:

• Required English (4 – Excellent) 
• Desirable: French, Spanish and/or Arabic (3 – Good) 

Skills:

• Procedure adherence: Ability to strictly adhere to established, formal guidelines, including in new situations
• Procedure interpretation: Ability to interpret established, formal guidelines to address and recommend solutions or further actions required
• Disbursements, Payroll and Payments: Know-how in financial checks required for disbursements of loans and grants, payments and payroll transactions to reduce risk of error, fraud and non-compliance with rules, maintenance of clean vendor master files, arrears and debt management of loans
• Financial data integrity and financial systems: know-how in systems interface control, core banking system management, data mining and analytics
• 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
• 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.
• Analytical skills: Outstanding ability to analyse and synthesize qualitative and/or quantitative information from a variety of sources and filter out key insights and recommendations
• 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.)
• 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
• Problem solving: Strong systemic and structured thinking, ability to identify and dissect problems into components and formulate a comprehensive set of creative viable and sustainable solutions and strategies

Applicants should note that 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.

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. Candidates may be required to take a written test and to deliver a presentation as well as participate in interviews.

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.

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.