Senior Forensic Accountant

Job #: req24372

Organization: World Bank

Sector: Other

Grade: GG

Term Duration: 3 years 0 months

Recruitment Type: International Recruitment

Location: Washington, DC,United States

Required Language(s): English

Preferred Language(s): French or Spanish

Closing Date: 10/18/2023 (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. For more information, visit www.worldbank.org

As part of the World Bank Group (WBG), the Integrity Vice Presidency (INT) shares in the WBG’s overall mission in alleviating poverty and achieving a shared and sustainable prosperity in client countries. INT’s fundamental role within the WBG is to help detect, prevent, and deter fraud and corruption in the use of the WBG’s financial resources, so that those resources are used effectively to benefit the poor people that they are intended to reach. In contributing to the WBG’s overall mission, INT works closely with other stakeholders across the WBG to: 1.Help detect, prevent, and deter fraud and corruption in WBG-supported projects and activities by:

•  professionally investigating allegations of fraud, corruption, collusion, coercion, or obstruction (the WBG-sanctionable practices) in WBG activities;
•  seeking WBG sanctions against firms and individuals that have engaged in any sanctionable practice;
•  using information available to INT to help operational staff design and implement projects in ways that minimize fraud and corruption risks.
•  working with the operational complex and other oversight and control units to help prevent fraud and corruption in operations by distilling lessons learned from investigative findings, developing effective risk identification and management tools, preparing remedial recommendations at the project and broader level, as appropriate, to address risks and issues identified through investigations, and ensuring timely disclosure to the Board of risks identified through ongoing or recently completed investigations that are of relevance to new operations presented to the Board for approval;
•  conducting detailed fiduciary reviews of WBG-supported projects with operations using forensic methodology in order to detect indicators of fraud or corruption and help address them as early as possible for better project outcomes; and
•  working with sanctioned entities through the Integrity Compliance Office in supporting and monitoring their efforts to put in place appropriate integrity compliance programs in order to raise their integrity standards and reduce risks associated with their operations following their release from sanction.

2. Help client countries to fight fraud and corruption by:

•  referring investigative findings to the investigative and enforcement authorities in those countries and working with authorities, as requested, to follow-up and take action;
•  supporting client country counterparts with their preventive and integrity risk mitigation efforts at the project and policy levels;
•  helping build client country capacity in preventive and forensic techniques and
•  collaborating in multilateral efforts to mitigate the risks of fraud and corruption in development activities.
•  promoting integrity principles and the implementation of integrity compliance programs among entities sanctioned by the WBG, and more broadly.

3. Enforce the highest standards of professional integrity and ethical behavior among WBG staff and corporate vendors by:

•  investigating allegations of staff misconduct involving significant fraud and corruption;
•  investigating corporate vendors alleged to have engaged in sanctionable practices; and
•  mining the lessons learned from those investigations to undertake training and outreach programs and also strengthen the WBG’s internal controls environment.

INT’s work contributes directly to achieving the shared prosperity/poverty reduction mission of the WBG. Reducing fraud and corruption in WBG projects helps to ensure that WBG funds are used for their intended purposes: to alleviate poverty and to increase prosperity and stability in our borrowing countries. Working with others in international development institutions, INT’s principal goal is to measurably minimize development assistance funds lost to fraud, corruption and abuse and increase the quality and results of development efforts. Results are reported in an annual report that contains aggregated data, outcomes, and generic descriptions of significant cases. To ensure its independence, INT’s Vice President (VP) reports directly to the World Bank President.

The Forensic Services Unit (FSU) is located within INT’s Prevention, Knowledge and Risk Management (PRKM) team and reports to the Manager, PRKM. The FSU is responsible for: I. providing forensic audit and digital forensic expertise in support of INT’s investigations into alleged fraud, corruption, collusion, waste and abuse under Bank Group supported projects or involving Bank Group staff;

II. performing reviews and assessments of Bank-financed operations to identify fraud and corruption that has taken place, quantify losses, identify fraud and corruption risks, and propose measures to mitigate such risks;

III. strengthening forensic accounting capacity in national audit institutions in client countries through capacity-building activities, training, execution of joint audits with national authorities, and staff exchanges;

IV. supporting the work of INT’s PRKM team, with a focus on risk identification and mitigation in Bank Group-financed projects and programs;

V. supporting INT’s Integrity Compliance Office in carrying out reviews of compliance programs of debarred firmed; and

VI. provide training to INT and Bank staff on forensic audits and digital forensics.

VII. providing forensic support to units across the Bank Group, including the Regions, Governance, Controllers, and Group Internal Audit.

INT is seeking to recruit a highly motivated Senior Forensic Accountant and Team Lead, with experience and a proven track record in conducting complex forensic accounting reviews, audits, and investigations involving private and public entities within the international or multilateral development or similar arena. The position is based at Headquarters in Washington D.C. and will require periodic travel.

Duties and Accountabilities

The Senior Forensic Accountant will lead the FSU team, and their specific duties and accountabilities will include, but not be limited to:

1.Lead a team of forensic auditors and digital forensic specialists, including but not limited to supervising and mentoring team members, providing quality assurance over FSU work products, allocating work based on requests from INT’s investigators and other stakeholders, managing FSU’s portfolio of assignments and reporting on FSU’s activities to INT management.

2.Providing forensic accounting expertise in support of INT’s investigations of fraud, corruption, waste or abuse involving Bank Group-funded operations or Bank Group staff in areas in which fraud, waste or abuse is alleged or suspected, including, but not limited to, the auditing of contractors’ or consultants’ records and accounts as they relate to Bank funded projects. Working together with the investigative teams, the Senior Forensic Accountant will be responsible for (i) developing strategy for invoking the Bank’s audit and inspection rights, including the use of digital forensics; (ii) planning and undertaking forensic audits of accounts, funds flow, and contracts under Bank-financed projects or programs; and (iii) guiding and supporting investigations through all stages, including strategic planning, conducting interviews, undertaking investigative missions, carrying out forensic data mining and analysis, procurement and financial reviews, preparation of audit and investigative reports, including all relevant exhibits, and support through the sanctions process.

3.Participate in intake and complaint assessment meetings to identify complaints that may require forensic support, whether investigative or consultative in nature; the latter may involve providing Bank operational colleagues with advice on multiple issues, including control weakness remediation, advice on conducting enhanced supervision or forensic audits of Bank-funded operations, or other analyses as required.

4.Conducting periodic in-depth forensic audit reviews of Bank-supported operations or programs to: (i) identify fraud and corruption that may have taken place and quantify associated losses; (ii) diagnose fraud and corruption vulnerabilities more broadly at the project, sector or country level; and (iii) help design measures to effectively address such vulnerabilities and mitigate risks. The Senior Forensic Accountant will be responsible for leading all stages of this work on behalf of INT, including the identification of the review scope, the development of the review plan and appropriate methodology, assembling and leading the review team (that may include other INT staff, international and local consultants, other Bank Group colleagues and development partners/co-financiers), carrying out work in the field, and preparing a comprehensive report setting out findings and recommendations of the review. Where such reviews are conducted jointly with other authorities or development partners, or otherwise outsourced, developing Terms of Reference for the conduct of these reviews and supporting the conduct thereof.

5.Managing the relationship with forensic audit and digital forensic vendors to whom forensic work is from time-to-time outsourced by INT.

6.Contributing to the formulation of policies, procedures, working practices and objectives for INT and the World Bank in respect of conducting integrity reviews of Bank-funded operations.

7.Developing training programs and materials aimed at building capacity of national audit and investigative agencies and delivering such training and capacity-building activities (through seminars and workshops) in the client countries often in collaboration with the Bank’s operational and governance colleagues and control and oversight units.

8.Providing, as part of INT’s preventive support to Bank Group operations, forensic accounting and expertise in reviewing specific Bank-financed operations or programs under preparation or implementation to identify integrity risks and advise on measures to mitigate them, including specific measures to strengthen financial management and procurement controls to reduce fraud, waste and abuse and helping design effective fraud detection and prevention systems.

9.Supporting the work of INT’s Integrity Compliance Office by carrying out reviews, validation and verification of information on integrity compliance programs of debarred companies.

10.Providing forensic accounting expertise to the Bank Group’s operations and control units (including Controllers and Group Internal Audit (GIA)). At the request of the Manager, PRKM, representing FSU on various working groups and other initiatives across the Bank Group designed to strengthen the Bank Group’s control systems to better identify and address integrity risks in Bank Group operations.

11.Provide leadership and support to various activities across INT, including in particular (i) providing subject matter expertise in the development, design and/or deployment of INT’s investigative databases, tools, data mining and data analysis activities, to meet the needs of INT, (iii) delivering training and skill enhancement initiatives (e.g., through presentations, seminars and workshops) to transfer global knowledge and experience to INT staff; (iv) contributing through case studies and guidance notes and through informal means to an awareness and adoption of best practices in forensic audit and digital forensics.

12.Building effective working relations with clients and colleagues across INT, the Bank Group and within client countries, both as a team leader and team member; and

13.Build and maintain relationships with peers are other multilateral development Bank and international organizations.

Selection Criteria

•  An advanced university degree in accounting, audit, forensic accounting, business administration/management, finance or another relevant field.
•  Professional certification: Certified Public Accountant (CPA) or equivalent. A Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE) credential or other forensic accounting certification is a plus.
•  A minimum of 8 years of relevant professional investigative/forensic auditing experience in the private and/or public sector as a forensic auditor or accountant, leading forensic audits as part of criminal or civil investigations or stand-alone forensic audits or reviews.
•  Demonstrated and substantive experience leading a team of forensic professionals.
•  Extensive hands-on experience in the investigation of fraud and corruption in the context of development aid and/or project finance, and a broad and current understanding of the modus operandi of corrupt entities (e.g., large and small companies, consultants, NGOs, administrative entities) in the context of private or public sector projects.
•  A strong understanding of anti-fraud statutes and rules and the requirements of proof for fraud and related wrongdoing. The following qualifications are also a strong plus:

-Experience as an expert witness in criminal or civil proceedings.

-Familiarity with integrity compliance standards and experience with compliance review of private entities.

-Familiarity with public procurement laws and processes.

•  Experience in working with various information management software packages used in major organizations (i.e., SAP, etc.) and experience with the use of recognized computer programs and analytical software tools (MS Excel, MSWord, MS PowerPoint etc.), including advanced user and/or programming capability of database applications (e.g., MS Access), data mining tools and investigative IT packages (i.e., i2, ACL) as well as a demonstrated ability to use and research public information sources.
•  Experience in handling or supervising the handling of electronic evidence, electronic data discovery applications, and familiarity with techniques to obtain, analyze and present electronic data.
•  Excellent communication and presentation skills, both verbal and written.
•  Proven ability to clearly and concisely prepare, present, discuss and defend findings and recommendations at senior levels and to produce complex and compelling briefs, memoranda, reports, and papers, often at very short notice.
•  Proven sense of initiative, results orientation, teamwork and leadership qualities, and ability to work in interdisciplinary task teams across organizational boundaries;
•  Excellent interpersonal skills, including a proven ability to deal sensitively in multicultural environments and build effective working relationships with colleagues.
•  Sensitivity to the Bank’s diverse demographics and cross-cultural context and influences, and ability to build effective work relations with clients and colleagues.
•  Established reputation for unimpeachable integrity, sound judgment, fairness and discretion.
•  Substantive experience in working in and with developing countries.
•  Ability to balance pragmatism with rigor is an important personal attribute.
•  Willingness and ability to travel extensively.
•  Fluent written and spoken English a requirement. French or Spanish language ability a very strong plus. Ability to operate in other regional languages an advantage.

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.