Director and Controller, Rome

Job Title : Director and Controller, FCD Rome, Italy

ID : 24137

Location : ROME

Date of issue : 11/05/2024

Close Date : (Midnight, Rome Time) 11/29/2024

Organizational Unit : Financial Controller's Div.

Full/Part Time : Full-Time

Regular/Temporary : Regular

Assignment Duration : 2 Years

Grade : D-1

Organizational Setting

The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) is an international financial institution and a specialized United Nations agency dedicated to eradicating rural poverty and hunger. It does so by investing in rural people. IFAD finances programmes and projects that increase agricultural productivity and raise rural incomes, and advocates at the local, national and international level for policies that contribute to rural transformation.

The Financial Operations Department (FOD) is a dynamic, strategic and responsive business partner responsible to set and implement IFAD's financial strategy and manage its financial and material resources. FOD ensures that IFAD's resources are efficiently, economically and effectively used to achieve the Fund's objectives in the long-term, safeguarding IFAD's financial sustainability, and delivering on its development commitments. FOD is led by the Associate Vice President & Chief Financial Officer and is comprised of three (3) divisions: the Treasury Division (TRE), the Financial Controller's Division (FCD) and the Procurement and Financial Management Division (PFM), and a Development Finance team.

The Financial Controller's Division (FCD) safeguards financial integrity, including the financial statements audit processes and the internal control system assessment, drives innovative, efficient, and technology-driven solutions in financial reporting, loan portfolio management and servicing, disbursements, integrity, and controllership, ensuring IFAD remains robust and financially sound. FCD is led by a Divisional Director and is comprised of four functions: the Financial Reporting and Corporate Finance function, the Disbursements function, the Controllership function, and the Third-Party Integrity Due Diligence function.

The position is located in FOD and the incumbent works under the direct supervision of AVP FOD & CFO.

Job Role

Directors are responsible for managing a Fund division or office and serve on IFAD's senior management team. The main focus of Director positions is strategic leadership, innovation and management. Most typically as a member of a departmental management team, they are responsible for managing and supervising the delivery of a division's programme of work within an allocated budget.

Position specific: In addition, the Director is also the financial Controller of IFAD which has responsibilities to protect IFAD from issues relating to internal controls and related risks, financial and other reporting, business processes, stewardship of resources and advance mitigation in these areas.

Key Functions and Results

1.VISION AND STRATEGY: Directors develop and promote a strategic vision for translating IFAD's corporate and departmental mandates; strategies, goals and objectives into a divisional programme of work and for ensuring evolving divisional programme activities are integrated in the evolution of departmental goals and objectives. They participate in the design of IFAD's and departmental strategic approaches and ensure that corporate strategies are fully integrated in the design of assigned activities. Directors set and communicate clear strategic and operational objectives and are held accountable for the division being seen as a credible and trusted partner in managing for results and as an innovator in its field.

2. POLICY DEVELOPMENT AND ADVICE: Directors provide leadership in the development and interpretation of major policies, regulations and rules, and systems that govern the work of a division and ensure they support divisional goals and objectives within the overall Fund mandates and strategies. Directors also serve as a trusted business/programme advisors with a significant role in authoritative policy advice within the Fund at the senior management level as well as in policy dialogue in their representational activities.

3.PROGRAME MANAGEMENT: Directors provide leadership in a) all phases of the division's medium term planning and management, including operational requirements such as: (i) establishing annual work plans, (ii) ensuring regular programme assessment and (iii) identifying opportunities for innovation and implementation of best practices generated within the Fund as well as in peer organizations, both private and public; b) reviewing and innovating core processes of the division in order to achieve better efficiency and effectiveness, as well as financial sustainability, of operations; c) enhancing synergy among divisional staff and holding staff accountable for results and (d) ensuring the preparation of all divisional publications, reports and governing bodies documents.

4. MANAGEMENT OF RESOURCES: Directors are accountable for integrity, transparency, and equity in the management of IFAD resources (human, financial and material). This includes: People Management through workforce planning, recruitment, performance management, learning and career management of P and GS staff: a) Identifies best qualified candidates for vacancies, with appropriate regard for gender balance and geographic distribution; b) Motivates, coaches and supports staff of the division, wherever they are located, to create cohesive teams that work effectively to achieve common divisional goals and objectives; c) Manages staff performance and development through regular performance feedback, mentoring and career planning.

Divisional Budget Management by leading divisional strategic and data inputs into the departmental budget preparation exercises and by ensuring accountability and fiduciary integrity in the Division's budget execution; (i) Material Resources Management through accountability for the material resources assigned to the Division. (ii) Knowledge and Content Management to achieve innovative outcomes and cost effective processes as well as to promote the generation, validation and dissemination of knowledge by ensuring (a) knowledge content is continuously updated and available, (b) best practices are continuously identified, documented and distributed and (c) appropriate and up-to-date information and tools are available as appropriate. (iii) Information Technology Management through leveraging ERP functionality for improved business results, reporting processes and client services.

5. REPRESENTATION: Directors serve as designated representatives of the Fund. They catalyse effective partnerships with a broad range of institutions including borrowers, bilateral and multilateral development agencies, UN agencies, funds and programmes, international financial institutions (IFls), non-governmental organizations and academic institutions for the purpose of programme co-operation, knowledge sharing, policy dialogue and/or resource mobilization. Directors represents the Fund in official United Nations committees and networks, and in IFls, multilateral and bilateral meetings, symposia, fora and Global conferences upon request of the President, and builds organizational networks with peers in major private, public and international institutions.

6. STRATEGIC FCD LEADERSHIP: The Director and Controller leads, plans and oversees the FCD division. The main specialized services provided by FCD are the following: a) Ensures IFAD's clean external audit opinion and delivery of IFAD's corporate financial and donor reporting per IFRS global professional standards, including a positive assessment of the internal control framework over financial reporting applying the principles of the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO) b) Disclose relevant information about IFAD's sustainability-related risks and opportunities (ESG reporting) that is useful to users of general-purpose financial reports in making decisions relating to providing resources to the entity. c) Assuring effective corporate financial services, including on trust and supplementary funds and hosted entities and capacity building programmes. . d) Acts as functional Secretariat to the IFAD Audit Committee. e) Trusted partner with IFAD's field offices and projects, providing approval of disbursements of IFAD's loans and grants programme while ensuring risk mitigation, optimal business efficiency, and effective management of IFADs loan portfolio. f) Perform recurring analysis including historical trends of financial statement figures, financial ratios, preparation of dashboards and the management discussion and analysis (MD&A) report. g) Ensures every IFAD staff member receives payroll monthly and is responsible for all streams of payments globally. Ensures rapid advances are made to UN Partners in 65 locations, with robust technology solutions for transaction validation and cash settlement. h) Protects IFAD ensuring optimal controls and workflows, monitoring all IFAD Offices through field support visits and analytics. i) Deploys fraud detection implementing software and tools, anti-fraud procedures, and capacity building to build a global culture of strong internal controls. j) Custodian of the IFAD Accountability Framework and Delegation of Authority Frameworks, providing technology tools and procedures to increase delegation and impact in the field while ensuring accountability and training. FCD supports business process re-engineering opportunities in business processes in all IFAD Offices. k) Reduces the risk that IFAD conducts activities with counterparties on a sanctions list or involved in money laundering or terrorism financing (AML/CFT). Ensures compliance with IFAD's Anti-money laundering and Counter Terrorism Financing Policy, administers Know-your-Customer (KYC), AML/CFT questionnaires, and uses industry-leading software databases to proactively screen parties. Leads IFAD's data privacy and data protection function to ensuring the highest personal data protection standards.

Key Performance Indicators

Within IFAD's overall Strategic Framework and Medium Term Plan, Directors establish IFAD's priorities for and provide leadership to division level programme and operational management activities and are accountable for a results-based approach to meeting assigned goals and objectives. Leadership activities include the optimum utilization of human, financial, technology and material resources for the achievement of greater efficiency and effectiveness. The incumbents' impact extends beyond the successful achievement of divisional goals and objectives to include larger departmental goals and objectives in strategic planning collaboration. The expected results directly and/or indirectly benefit the ultimate stakeholders, the rural poor in developing countries.

The key performance indicators for Directors include leadership in viable strategic planning, authoritative and relevant policy development and advice, sustainable programme decisions and integrity and accountability in the planning and management of the Fund's human, financial and material resources assigned to the division.

Position specific: As IFAD Controller, indicators relating to effectiveness and robust functioning of internal controls and related risks, financial and other reporting, robust financial analysis of IFAD's financial statements, business processes, stewardship of resources.

Working Relationships

Within IFAD, Directors provide authoritative advice to senior management on the division's or office's vision, strategic planning, policy, and divisional programme and operational management. They are accountable for collaboration and coordination within the Fund to ensure appropriate consultation, cross-functional synergy and coordination of programme planning and activities. Externally Directors develop strategic partnerships and collaborative relationships with counterparts spanning a broad range of institutions including borrowers, bilateral and multilateral development agencies, UN agencies, funds and programmes, IFls, non-governmental organizations and academic institutions for the purpose of programme co-operation, knowledge sharing, policy dialogue and/or resource mobilization. They are also accountable for the provision of authoritative advice during Executive Board sessions, the annual Governing Council and related subordinate bodies including the audit and evaluation committees.

Directors represent the Fund in official United Nations committees and networks, and in international financial institution, multilateral and bilateral meetings, symposia, fora and conferences upon request of the President, and build organizational networks with peers in major private, public and international financial institutions.

Position specific: As IFAD Controller, represent IFAD in this capacity with internal and external stakeholders.

Job Profile Requirements

Organizational Competencies

• Strategic thinking and organizational development: Strategic leadership - Demonstrating Leadership: Leads by example; initiates and supports change - Learning, sharing knowledge and innovating: Challenges, innovates and contributes to a learning culture - Focusing on clients: Contributes to a client-focused culture - Problem solving and decision making: Solves complex problems and makes decisions that have wider corporate impact - Managing time, resources and information: Coordinates wider use of time, information and/or resources - Team Work: Fosters a cohesive team environment - Communicating and negotiating: Acquires and uses a wide range of communication styles and skills - Building relationships and partnerships: Builds and maintains strategic partnerships internally and externally - Managing performance and developing staff: Manages staff and teams effectively

Education: Level - Advanced university degree from an accredited institution in a technically relevant area. Areas - Accounting, Finance, Business Administration or other job related field

Degree must be an accredited institution listed on https://www.whed.net/home.php .

Certifications: Chartered Accountant (CA), CPA or equivalent from an internationally recognized institute of accountancy is required.

Work experience:

edW6EsK PHMNB
• At least twelve (12) years of progressively responsible professional experience in technically related area of operations; - Five (5) years experience in a multi-lateral or national organization providing support on a global scope; - Position-specific experience: Demonstrated experience and ability at leading and managing multicultural teams is required. - Demonstrated experience in international financial reporting standards (IFRS and/or USGAAP), including ESG reporting. Proficiency in main enterprise resource management and related ERP systems and applications relevant to the field of specialization. - Strong network among other multilateral development financial institutions is preferred.

Languages:

• Required English (4 - Excellent) - Desirable: French, Spanish, or Arabic (3 - Good) - Position-specific requirement: Skills: Job role specific - Leadership: Group thought leader, sought out by others and providing mentorship and effective guidance to others; Ability to build trust, inside and outside the organization by acting as a role model for IFAD's core values and competencies, and to provide a clear sense of direction, mentorship and effective guidance to the team, strategizing the IFAD's goals, giving the vision, empowering the team and ensuring a positive environment for all; - Political acumen, Ability to conduct sound political analysis and understand complex environments, providing options and advice; - Change management, Role modelling, anticipation of key risks and conflicts and formulation of contingency plans/solutions, action-oriented; - Planning, Know-how in the planning of human, financial and material management of IFAD resources; - Advocacy, Ability to leverage IFAD knowledge and/or communication materials to maintain and promote constructive dialogue around IFAD's vision and strategic priorities to external actors; - Policy dialogue, Know-how in the representation of IFAD as a trusted and strategic partner; effective consultations with IFAD counterparts - line ministries and governmental bodies at all administrative levels, donors, civil society; - Evidence-based policy, Know-how in the formulation of concrete and actionable policy recommendations based on hard evidence (going beyond simple data interpretation); - Strategy implementation, Ability to lead and manage the development and implementation of medium to longer-term strategies for IFAD / for respective divisions 4; - Corporate approach, Ability to bring in corporate vision and priorities into one's area of work (e.g. budgeting going beyond simple budgetary considerations, taking into account strategic priorities); - Confidentiality and Discretion, Establishes self and division as trusted advisor to internal stakeholders by maintaining high level of discretion and confidentiality in assignments; demonstrates sound judgement when dealing with sensitive and/or confidential matters; drives good governance and is a "Culture Carrier" demonstrating IFAD institutional conscience through; - Specialized communication skills, Ability to negotiate on behalf of IFAD and drive for creative and pragmatic solutions in complex negotiations with key partners, both public and private sector; - Risk management (e.g. reputational), Identification and assessment of potential liabilities and risks in IFAD's activities, particularly vis-à-vis third parties; ability to handle risks via contingency and mitigation strategies; (e.g. reputational); - Resources Management, Know-how in the management of human, financial and material management of IFAD resources; - Programme/Project development, management, Know-how in Programme/Project development, implementation, management.

Position specific

• Financial reporting & accounting: Know-how in financial reporting, statutory and other reporting as well as advanced application of IFRS and USGAAP standards, derivatives, loan credit risk, financial regulations, policies, rules and procedures applicable to IFAD and IFIs - Know-how in financial checks required for disbursements of loans and grants, payments and payroll transactions to reduce risk of error, fraud and non-compliance with rules, maintenance of clean vendor master files, arrears and debt management of loans - Controllership: Know-how in internal control design, setup, mapping and monitoring including policies and tools development - Know-how in 3rd party integrity due diligence, KYC, AML, CFT, PEPs, Anti-fraud/corruption and compliance standards, practices and application of industry standard tools and monitoring including professional judgment - Digital Finance, FinTech and related: Know-how in digitized delivery and use of financial services, including fintech applications, robotic process automation, blockchain and digital finance applications to design, setup, implement and report

Other Information

IFAD staff members are international civil servants subject to the authority of the President of IFAD. In accordance with IFAD's Human Resources Policy, the President can decide to assign them to any of the activities of the Fund. All International Professional staff members are required to be geographically mobile and positions in the professional category are subject to changes in location at any time in line with strategic priorities and reform initiatives in IFAD.

Candidates may be required to take a written test and to deliver a presentation as well as participate in interviews.

IFAD is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of ethnic, social or political background, colour, nationality, religion, age, gender, disability, marital status, family size or sexual orientation in line with its Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Strategy and the Policy to prevent and respond to sexual harassment, sexual exploitation and abuse ; https://www.ifad.org/documents/38711624/42415556/SEA_e_web.pdf/85275c4d-8e3f-4df0-9ed8-cebaacfab128?t=1611326846000

Please be aware of fraudulent job offers. IFAD does not charge any fees at any stage of the recruitment process. Official communication from IFAD will always come from e-mails ending in @ifad.org.

In accordance with IFAD's provisions, all new staff members will normally be placed at the first step in the grade level for which they have been selected. For information on IFAD's remuneration package, please visit IFAD's compensation and benefits page on our website. Applicants are invited to use the ICSC compensation calculator to estimate the salary and benefit entitlements.

In the interest of making most cost-effective use of funds and resources, we are only able to respond to applicants who are short-listed for interview. Candidates who do not receive any feedback within three months should consider their application unsuccessful.