Finance and Accounts 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.

This post is a limited-term fixed-term post.

1. Organizational Context

a. Organizational Setting

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

The Finance Division is responsible for the management of WIPO’s financial accounting and reporting, treasury management and compliance with financial policies and procedures. Included within these responsibilities are the management of the Organization’s cash position, production of statutory financial reports and other financial information, and coordination with oversight and financial control activities.

b. Purpose Statement

The Finance and Accounts Officer supervises the work of the unit’s staff and is responsible for managing a complete operation of the Organization’s financial system, performing a range of professional accounting functions to achieve accurate and timely accounting information, and establishing financial controls and improvements in the computerized accounting process. Additionally, the incumbent is responsible for managing, processing and coordinating integrated accounts payable or receivable and control functions for a major operating component of the Finance Division. The incumbent ensures the accurate and timely processing of transactions associated with Trademark (Madrid), Designs (Hague) and Appellations of Origin (Lisbon) fees, along with other relevant distributions.

c. Reporting Lines

The incumbent works under the supervision of the Head of the Income Section, Finance Division.

d. Work Relations

The incumbent will liaise with a wide range of colleagues within the work unit, with clients within the Organization and with external parties, such as other UN organizations, Member States, customers and financial institutions to resolve issues and follow up on finance-related matters.

2. Duties and Responsibilities

The incumbent will perform the following principal duties:

1. Oversee, advise and assist Accounting Assistants, Finance Clerks and other staff working in the unit by establishing priorities and provide guidance in resolving complex issues; monitor and provide regular feedback on performance; develop and arrange training opportunities; conduct performance evaluation meetings and ensure timely completion of performance evaluation processes and inform the supervisor of recommendations/issues identified.
2. Control a variety of complex financial documents and accounts, ensuring accuracy and compliance with applicable financial rules, regulations as well as anti-fraud policies and procedures. Verify and control invoices, vouchers and payment orders and approve payments; supervise the control of obligations on a regular basis for assigned sectors of activity.
3. Monitor and coordinate within the Unit any change of financial processes; check and correct financial data for proper accounting distributions. Supervise the reconciliation of transactions, bank statements, financial data, etc.
4. Anticipate and identify critical issues; resolve problem cases; carry out analysis of potential implications, risk for the Organization, and recommend approaches to the supervisor for unprecedented and unusual cases. Review the operational efficiency of the assigned organizational/account area in managerial and/or accounting aspects of the operation.
5. Analyze and coordinate Organization-wide financial information for the preparation of management reports; prepare financial data to be included in the Annual Financial Report and Financial Statements and other Organization issuances.
6. Respond to correspondence on a range of complex finance-related matters. Determine content and ensure the compilation of financial data to close monthly accounts and to prepare monthly and annual financial reports.
7. Improve the efficiency and effectiveness of service delivery methods, procedures, and workflow in the unit, and ensure adequacy of resources to meet the delivery deadlines.
8. Provide substantive input for the revision of financial policies, participate in internal meetings, projects and working groups for the rationalization, harmonization and implementation of internal work processes and systems; suggest improvements to and participate actively in the review and development of computer systems; develop guidelines and user manuals.
9. Perform other related duties as required, including backing up other staff members of the Section.

3. Requirements

Education (Essential)

First-level university degree in Economics, Finance, Public or Business Administration or related field.

Education (Desirable)

Project Management qualification or certification (e.g. PMP, PRINCE2, Agile).

Experience (Essential)

At least six years of accounting or finance-related work experience including experience in reconciling accounting figures and financial records.

At least two years of experience supervising or leading a team.

Experience (Desirable)

Experience within the United Nations common system or another international organization.

Participation in significant I.T transformation projects.

Experience with modern ERP systems.

Language (Essential)

Excellent written and spoken knowledge of English.

Language (Desirable)

Knowledge of other official UN languages.

Job Related Competencies (Essential)

Strong knowledge of accounting and financial principles, procedures and systems and the ability to interpret, work within and understand applicable accounting and financial rules, regulations and procedures.

Excellent time management and attention to detail.

Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

Ability to train, guide motivate and manage diverse and multicultural team.

Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills.

Strong client relationship management and customer service skills.

Team player with the ability to work with multiple parties.

Competent user of Microsoft Office applications and collaboration tools, with the ability to adapt to new software.

Job Related Competencies (Desirable)

Understanding of the activities of the Organization.

Demonstrated experience in planning and managing different financial resources.

4. Organizational Competencies

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.

5. Information

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. Please note that this estimate is for information only. The post adjustment multiplier (cost of living allowance) is variable and subject to change (increase or decrease) without notice. The figures quoted below are based on the March 2025 rate of 73.6%

P3

Annual salary

$64,121

Post adjustment

$47,193

Total Salary

$111,314

Currency USD

Salaries and allowances are paid in Swiss francs at the official rate of exchange of the United Nations.

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

Additional Information

* Initial fixed-term appointment of two years, renewable subject to satisfactory performance and other applicable conditions. The selected candidate’s appointment will be subject to an overall term of five years in this position, with normally no possibility of renewal beyond that term. S/he may, however, apply and be considered for other positions at WIPO.

This is not applicable to WIPO staff members on fixed-term, continuing or permanent appointments, who were recruited following a competition under Staff Regulation 4.10 (“Appointment Boards”).

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 your identification and the degree(s)/diploma(s)/certificate(s) required for this position. WIPO recognizes higher educational qualifications obtained from institutions accredited/recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED), a list maintained by the International Association of Universities (IAU) / United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The list can be accessed here: http://www.whed.net/. Some higher educational qualifications may not be listed in WHED, and will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.

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.