Senior Finance Clerk

Treasury Section, Department of Program Planning and Finance

Contract Duration: 1 year

Duty Station: CH-Geneva

Application Deadline: 04-Mar-2024

Organizational Context

a. Organizational Setting

The post is located in the Treasury Section of the Finance Division of the Department of Program Planning and Finance. 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 incumbent performs a variety of complex financial support functions related to the treasury activities of the Organization and provides support in the control and maintenance of accounts for financial, statistical and reconciliation purposes. This includes processing complex transactions (initiation and managing approvals processes) related to treasury and payment activities. The incumbent utilizes and provides guidance in the use of WIPO financial rules and contributes to an efficient, transparent and controlled financial process.

c. Reporting Lines

The incumbent works under the supervision of the Treasurer.

d. Work Relations

The incumbent interacts 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, International Patent Offices and financial institutions to obtain/provide information, to resolve problems or to clarify issues.

Duties and Responsibilities

The incumbent will perform the following principal duties:

a. Maintains WIPOs daily cash position and short-term cash forecast. Perform forecast variance analysis, reconcile cash forecast and follow up on missing/incomplete/inaccurate forecast information. Make recommendations on improving accuracy of short-term cash forecasting process.

b. Monitor WIPO’s daily liquidity position and ensure compliance to the Organization’s policies, procedures, and governance. Ensures sufficient cash liquidity across all bank accounts for WIPO including External Offices. Maintain Daily Treasury Dashboard for real-time reporting of positions to senior management.

c. Prepare WIPO’s pay-cycle process and collaborate with colleagues within the Finance Division to ensure payments are completed on a timely basis based on a defined payment schedule.

d. Identify and resolve problems in payment processing; work closely with IT staff on system requirements and assist others with questions that involve search for and abstracting payment data or background information to provide explanations.

e. Analyze, calculate, verify, enter, and process payments related to foreign exchange contracts and investment activities. Perform treasury confirmations with banking counterparties and ensure cash settlements reconciliation against treasury related payments. Verify, analyze and process associated account postings.

f. Perform monthly WIPO Fee Transfer Service (FTS) including initiating payments for settlements with International Patent Offices. Recommend currency transactions to buy/sell and hedge related to FTS.

g. Ensure proper maintenance of accounting records for treasury related transactions; collate and compile financial and statistical information to reflect financial and/or transaction activities.

h. Examine queries and provide explanations/resolutions to problems in a timely manner, forwarding disputed, complex or unusual cases to the supervisor; draft correspondence to clarify discrepancies, obtain explanations and provide information on the financial and/or staff rules and regulations.

i. Ensure maintenance of bank account connectivity to internal ERP system and external providers. Support the management of bank accounts, including opening/closing procedures, bank letters, bank compliance documentation and signature cards.

j. Update and suggest enhancements to financial systems and databases related to Treasury Section. Participate as needed in testing/upgrading of systems. Perform other related duties as required including backing up other staff members of the Section.

Requirements

Education (Essential)

Completion of secondary education supplemented by training or post-secondary education in accounting and/or finance.

Education (Desirable)

First-level university degree in accounting/finance.

Experience (Essential)

At least five years of accounting or finance-related work experience including payments processing.

Experience of working with an ERP system.

Experience (Desirable)

Related experience within the United Nations common system or another international organization.

Language (Essential)

Excellent knowledge of written and spoken English.

Language (Desirable)

Knowledge of French.

Job Related Competencies (Essential)

• Good knowledge of accounting and financial principles, procedures and systems.
• Competent user of Microsoft Office applications including Word, Excel, Outlook and PowerPoint and the internet, and the ability to work with databases and adapt quickly to new software.
• Ability to understand, interpret, work within and communicate applicable accounting and financial rules, regulations and procedures.
• Ability to manage financial transactions using computer-based systems and to use independent judgment to search and correct information.
• Ability to prioritize work assignments, organize own schedule, perform work independently as well as work effectively in a team and meet deadlines.
• Accuracy and attention to detail.
• Ability to tactfully deal with clients and respond to queries both orally and in writing in a clear and concise manner.
• Good communication and interpersonal skills and ability to maintain effective partnerships and working relations in a multi-cultural environment with sensitivity and respect for diversity.

Job Related Competencies (Desirable)

Proficiency in operating and developing a Treasury Management System (TMS), with experience in Coupa.

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.

For more information including on the salaries and benefits please check the WIPO Careers website.