Senior Finance Specialist (Lead Officer Controllership)

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 with a focus on smallholder farmers. IFAD is also the first organization in the United Nations system to receive a public credit rating (AA+), thus  facilitating its access to new sources of funding to invest in increasing rural prosperity and development in the world’s poorest countries. IFAD promotes gender equality and inclusiveness, builds the capacity of local organizations and communities, and strengthens resilience to climate change. It is by advocating for the rural poor people and by financing projects that IFAD is transforming rural areas and performing critical work towards the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. 

The Financial Controller's Division (FCD) “enables and protects” IFAD and is responsible for the integrity, transparency and control of the management of IFAD's resources, safeguarding the Fund from reputational and financial risk.  Furthermore, through the Controllership Unit, FCD promotes a culture of internal control awareness by balancing efficiency of business objectives, setting control measures and providing innovative finance solutions to resolve problems and improve IFAD’s decision-making processes.

The Senior Finance Specialist heads the Controllership Unit to implement the Controllership function at IFAD on all resource streams, working under the direct supervision of the Controller and Director, FCD.

Key summarised Responsibilities*:

• Lead a high performing Unit providing authoritative advice on internal controls to IFAD’s 50+ field offices and Rome, Italy Headquarters

• Owns the COSO based Internal Control Framework (ICF) as an integral element of IFAD’s Enterprise Risk Management (ERM)

• Reports on internal control metrics, through the Controller’s Scorecard, to Senior Management and Governing Bodies

• Prepares the annual work plan for the Unit and monitor activities to achieve results

• Conducts control risk assessments, control testing and reporting as a key 2nd line of defence

• Leverages technology including Teammate+ Controls to map, document, assess, and report on internal controls and obtain certification of controls globally

• Provide training for awareness, leveraging control risk champions and focus on embedding control culture across IFAD

• Represent IFAD at international fora on internal controls

Requirements:  

• Advanced university Degree or its equivalent in Accounting, Business Administration, Finance, Banking and other relevant areas. See IFAD website below for full details.

• Professional qualification in CPA, Chartered Accountant, CIPFA designation or equivalent would be an advantage. 

• At least 8 years of relevant professional experience, including work in international IFIs or financial services industry. See IFAD website below for full details.

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English. See IFAD website below for full details.

For detailed information, visit our website www.ifad.org/job. Please submit your application (vacancy announcement 1977) through the IFAD online system by 19 February 2021.