Description

Do you want to build a career that is truly worthwhile? Working at the World Bank provides a unique opportunity for you to help our clients solve their greatest development challenges. The World Bank is one of the largest sources of funding and knowledge for developing countries; a unique global partnership of five institutions dedicated to ending extreme poverty, increasing shared prosperity, and promoting sustainable development. With 189 member countries and more than 120 offices worldwide, we work with public and private sector partners, investing in groundbreaking projects and using data, research, and technology to develop solutions to the most urgent global challenges. For more information, visit www.worldbank.org.

VPU Context: 

The South Asia Region (Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka) is at a crucial stage of development. Rapid economic growth, driven by urbanization and demographic dividend, has brought down poverty rates, but severe forms of exclusion and disparities based on ethnicity, caste, and gender remain. Rapid growth has also come with congestion and pollution in cities. South Asia is more than other regions affected by changes in temperature and extreme weather event. Additional challenges are that South Asia is underperforming in exports, has large informal sectors and low female labor force participation rates. All these challenges must be addressed to secure rapid growth in coming decades. Private sector led growth, focused on investments in infrastructure, energy, logistics and cities are essential to generate the jobs needed to employ South Asia’s sizeable youth population. At the same time, the region needs to continue building human capital so that South Asia’s population is well equipped for the jobs of the future.

The World Bank in South Asia: https://www.worldbank.org/en/region/sar

Unit Context: 

The Governance GP helps developing countries build capable, efficient, open, inclusive and accountable institutions that can support economic growth, reduce poverty, deliver needed services and earn the confidence of citizens. Our work program comprises six core Business Lines: 1. Public Financial Management (PFM), 2. Domestic Revenue Mobilization (DRM)/Tax Administration, 3. State-owned Enterprises and Corporate Governance, 4. Public Institutions Reform, 5. Decentralization and Sub-national Governance, and 6. Financial Management (FM) Fiduciary Assurance for Bank-financed Operations; as well as three Cross-Cutting Themes: GovTech, Anti-Corruption and Political Economy. For more information:https://www.worldbank.org/en/topic/governance

The position reports to the Practice Manager of ESAG1, based in Washington, DC.

Duties and accountabilities: 

Extended Term Consultant (ETC) will be responsible for the following key duties:

• Oversee the FM fiduciary work program, ensuring the quality, relevance, and timeliness of inputs; manage work planning and staff allocation; and represent FM views in key meetings.

• Assess the adequacy of financial management systems for World Bank-financed projects, provide implementation support, supervise project financial management, and offer advice to borrowers and Bank Task Teams.

• Lead efforts in defining practices for development policy lending, sector programs, and governance, and develop strategies for harmonizing FM approaches with other development partners.

• Contribute to the use of country systems in Bank-assisted operations and support the development of public financial management, accounting, auditing standards, and institutional infrastructure.

• Provide technical input into policy and strategic work, support capacity building, governance, PFM work programs, and offer mentoring and coaching to other FM team members.

Selection Criteria

• Minimum of a master’s degree in a relevant field (e.g., accounting, business, finance, or economics) along with a professional accountancy qualification (such as CA, ACCA, CPA, or an equivalent certification from an internationally recognized accounting institute) and at least 5 years of post-qualification experience in financial management.

• Prior experience with World Bank or other development partner operations is highly desirable.

• Demonstrated expertise in budget formulation and execution, including comprehensive knowledge of budget processes, classifications, treasury, cash management, and the impact of budgets on Bank financing and project implementation.

• Proficient in Financial Management Information Systems (FMIS), with strong knowledge of internal controls, internal audit, and risk management frameworks, as well as the ability to implement these effectively to prevent and detect fraud.

• Extensive knowledge of IFRS, IPSAS, or equivalent national standards, international auditing standards (IFAC, INTOSAI), and a thorough understanding of financial reporting principles. Experience in leading FM reforms and providing mentoring on the Bank’s FM risk model is essential. Additionally, strong skills in sector dialogue and policy advice to help clients adapt best practices to meet their needs are required.

• Proficiency in English, both written and spoken, is essential. Strong communication skills, including the ability to convey complex financial information clearly and concisely, are required.

• Excellent interpersonal skills with a proven ability to work effectively in a multicultural and multidisciplinary environment. Ability to build and maintain strong relationships with clients, colleagues, and stakeholders, and to work collaboratively within a team.

World Bank Group Core Competencies

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