Comptroller and Director of Finance

The Comptroller and Director of Finance provides strategic advice on financial management to senior WHO leadership, oversees financial accounting, reporting, treasury, pensions, and payroll services, and ensures adherence to international accounting standards and financial policies. The role includes managing financial reforms, investment strategies, and liaising with Member States and external auditors.

Responsibilities

• Oversees plans, and manages the financial accounting, reporting, income and treasury management for the Organization, including provision of certified statutory financial reporting to Member States, ensuring that latest innovative tools and approaches are in place and adhering to international standards of accounting.
• Leads the provision of pension and staff health insurance services for the Organization and hosted entities, setting strong internal controls and ensuring that the processes are efficient, timely and accurate.
• Analyses and forecasts the availability of financing for the Organization using modern analytical tools and provides timely transparent and user-friendly reporting of the same to senior management and other stakeholders.
• Ensures adequate monitoring of expenditures of the Organization, and works in close consultation with all relevant stakeholders to ensure that the financial system is efficient, updated and integrated to the organization's Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system.
• Ensures appropriate and sustainable management of WHO's liquidity within approved investment risk parameters, and safeguards the adequacy of WHO cashflow to meet operational requirements.
• Coordinates, implements and manages the Organization's investment strategies for financial reserves (to include "AS", "TPA", Special Purpose Funds, other Fiduciary funds, to help to ensure long term financial stability in accordance with the General Programme of Work (GPW).
• Regularly reviews, updates and maintains overall financial policy and procedure framework through the network of HQ and regional office financial managers to enhance the stewardship of assets, minimize risk and foster a strong culture of internal controls.
• Oversees the financial functions and deliverables of the Global Services Center (GSC), including payroll, account payables and account receivables, ensuring that transactions are processed accurately, expeditiously, and in accordance with the financial rules and regulations.
• Provides strategic recommendations and advice on financial policy issues to ADG/BOS and other senior managers on strategic financial policy issues and performs risk management duties related to finance.
• As Comptroller, Chairs the Financial Management Council, briefing senior management on key performance indicators and actions required to improve in areas of deficiency.
• Advises regional offices, and hosted entities, on strategic financial management issues, to include advice on appropriate staff structures, and consultation in key staff selections and objective setting.
• Establishes and develops relations with representatives of Member States, other UN Organizations, and other partners and stakeholders on financial matters.
• Represents the Organization externally on financial policy and management issues.
• Coordinates with the External Auditor to ensure statutory external audits can be performed based on agreed upon accounting standards, and issues raised by the External Auditor are resolved on a timely basis.
• Plans, directs, and evaluates the work of the department, within the delegated budget.
• Performs all other related duties as assigned.

Requirements

• Advanced university degree in financial management, business administration or a closely related field; or a first level degree in financial management, business administration or a closely related field AND with a professional certification such as CA or CPA.
• Professional certification such as CA or CPA highly desirable.
• Professional studies in management approaches and innovative thinking in relevant areas and in IT developments.
• A minimum of 15 years of relevant and progressive experience, of which no less than 10 years at a senior decision-making level in financial management within a large multi-national or international organization.
• Significant senior level experience in managing and leading financial reform, financial planning, risk management, change management, internal controls and financial systems in a large-scale operation at the regional and international level.
• Demonstrated experience of change management and demonstrated success in introducing change into a financial management programme area, implementation of a global financial management system (such as Oracle, SAP or equivalent).
• Indepth experience of WHO or another agency of the UN system is desirable.
• Extensive knowledge of financial governance, management, treasury and financial policy development.
• Demonstrated in depth knowledge of and expertise in managing financial and investment policies.
• Strong knowledge of international accounting standards and familiarity with internal and external auditing practices.
• Demonstrated managerial skills in negotiation and advocacy, evidence of sound judgement, integrity, tact and discretion in dealing with others.
• Strong knowledge of the accounting, budgeting and financial policies and regulations which govern management within WHO and the UN system is desirable.
• Ability to manage large amounts of detail with great care and accuracy.
• Demonstrated ability to inspire others through exemplary leadership, mentorship, enthusiasm and passion for work.
• Demonstrated ability to lead, motivate and supervise multi-disciplinary and multi-cultural staff of various backgrounds and develop a team approach to issues.
• Ability to interact positively with staff at all organizational levels, officials of Member States and other UN Agencies.
• Expert knowledge of English.
• Intermediate knowledge of French is desirable.

Skills

• Finance Management
• Business Administration
• Professional Certification CA
• Professional Certification CPA
• Financial Planning
• Risk Management
• Change Management
• Internal Controls
• Financial Systems
• Global Financial Management System Implementation
• Oracle
• SAP
• Financial Governance Frameworks
• Treasury Management
• Financial Policies Development
• Investment Policy Management
• International Accounting Standards
• Internal Audits
• External auditing
• Negotiation
• Advocacy
• Budgeting
• Payroll Management
• Pensions Management
• Financial Reporting
• Leadership
• Mentorship
• Team Supervision

Languages

English, French