Financial Management Specialist

Job #: req24414

Organization: World Bank

Sector: Financial Management

Grade: GF

Term Duration: 3 years 0 months

Recruitment Type: Local Recruitment

Location: Bishkek,Kyrgyz Republic

Required Language(s): English, Russian

Preferred Language(s): Kyrgyz

Closing Date: 10/9/2023 (MM/DD/YYYY) at 11:59pm UTC

Description

Do you want to build a career that is truly worthwhile? Working at the World Bank Group provides a unique opportunity for you to help our clients solve their greatest development challenges. The World Bank Group 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. Visit www.worldbank.org.

Background & General Description:

Financial management (FM) aims to provide reasonable assurance that financing provided by the Bank is used for intended purposes with economy and efficiency, and assists developing partner countries build their FM capacity.

Accredited FM specialists are responsible for delivering quality leadership, services, and support in financial management. Annually, FM specialists provide preparation, supervision, and implementation support to Bank-financed operations throughout the world. Diagnostic studies, technical advice, project task management, and information sharing activities are provided in support of developing FM capacity in the WBG partner countries.

VPU Context:

The Europe and Central Asia (ECA) region comprises 30 extremely diverse countries, with a population of nearly 500 million people. Three of our clients are IDA only and another 2 are IDA blend countries. The remaining 25 are IBRD eligible.

The ECA regional strategy is based on three pillars: (i) Sustainable and Inclusive Growth; (ii) Human Capital; and (iii) Resilience. Under the first pillar, the WBG including the Governance GP supports reform programs and investments to improve government efficiency and service delivery, market creation, financial stability and connectivity for growth.

https://www.worldbank.org/en/region/eca

Unit Context:

The Governance Global Practice supports client countries to build capable, efficient, open, inclusive, and accountable institutions. Countries with strong institutions prosper by creating an environment that facilitates private sector growth, reduces poverty, delivers valuable services, and earns the confidence of its citizens. Further information: https://www.worldbank.org/en/topic/governance

The GGP has the following business-lines and cross-cutting areas of focus:

•  Anticorruption, Openness and Transparency
•  Fiduciary Assurance
•  GovTech
•  PFM/PIM
•  Political Economy
•  Public Institutions
•  SOEs/Corporate Governance
•  Subnational/Decentralization
•  Tax Administration

The GGP engagements range from diagnostics, technical assistance, and advisory services; learning, innovation and knowledge management; preparation of financing operations and provision of project implementation support, monitoring and reporting. An important part of its responsibilities is to deliver operational support to other Practices, including through inputs for policy-based operations, hands-on implementation advice, and direct fiduciary due diligence of investment financing.

Duties and accountabilities:

Alongside FMS colleagues in other Central Asian countries, and supported by a Sr. FMS – FM Coordinator – based in Almaty, the FMS will work on all financial management aspects of the World Bank’s financed operations in Kyrgyz Republic (while also potentially providing cross support to other countries) as required by the Practice Manager. This will include: Part I: Fiduciary Assurance Functions

The FMS is expected to take a proactive role in providing advice and support to clients on agile and innovative approaches to strengthen fiduciary assurance over the use of World Bank funds. The FMS will:

•  Assess the adequacy of project financial management arrangements;
•  Provide implementation support and supervising projects financed by loans and grants;
•  Ensure compliance with the Bank’s audit and other FM requirements;
•  Ensure that project operations are carried out in accordance with sound financial management practices;
•  Undertake analytical work on financial management and accountability issues; and
•  Carry out capacity building activities as part of the Governance team.

Part II. Public Sector Institutions

The FMS is expected to undertake an active role, and when applicable contribute to projects/programs initiatives that, amongst others:

•  Support the Kyrgyz Republic in enhancing its PFM performance capacity ranging from FM information systems integration, treasury and accounting reforms, performance budgeting, fiscal transparency, among others, working collaboratively with other Bank units;
•  promote the development of professional accountancy capacity;
•  support the Supreme Audit Institution’s efforts to improve the quality and transparency of fiscal and financial information and strengthen accountability;
•  support the development of institutions responsible for corporate financial reporting institutional framework (including accounting and auditing standards setting, adoption and enforcement); and
•  strengthen the governance of State-owned Enterprises (SOEs).

The selected candidate will work within designated country teams, which includes Task Team Leaders, other technical specialists, and Administrative and Client Service (ACS) staff.

The selected candidate will mainly cover Kyrgyz Republic. As appropriate and needed, s/he will also provide cross support to project and country level activities to other countries in ECA.

The selected candidate will be expected to undertake travel within Kyrgyz Republic and possibly to other countries in ECA. Travel to Washington is also sometimes necessary, such as for team retreats or training.

Selection Criteria

A highly motivated and passionate financial management specialist with strong client orientation, interpersonal and integrative thinking skills, and;

•  A professional accountancy qualification and membership (CPA, CA, ACCA or equivalent membership of an internationally recognized professional accountancy body);
•  A Master’s degree in a relevant field (such as accounting, finance, business administration, economics or public policy). Please note that a professional accountancy qualification is not considered Master’s degree equivalent;
•  At least 5 years of relevant professional experience in public or corporate sector, including analytical work, treasury management, budget execution, internal controls, accounting and fiscal reporting, auditing and accounting education;
•  Strong written and verbal communication skills in English and Russian is required.

World Bank Group Core Competencies

The World Bank Group offers comprehensive benefits, including a retirement plan; medical, life and disability insurance; and paid leave, including parental leave, as well as reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities.

We are proud to be an equal opportunity and inclusive employer with a dedicated and committed workforce, and do not discriminate based on gender, gender identity, religion, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or disability.

Learn more about working at the World Bank and IFC, including our values and inspiring stories.