Senior Finance Assistant

Job Description

Description

IFC — a member of the World Bank Group — is the largest global development institution focused on the private sector in emerging markets. We work in more than 100 countries, using our capital, expertise, and influence to create markets and opportunities. Our mission is to leverage the power of the private sector to end extreme poverty and boost shared prosperity on a livable planet. For more information, visit www.ifc.org.

The Vice Presidency for Corporate Support (COSVP) integrates Budget and Business Administration, HR, Communication, Strategy, and Information & Technology functions under one umbrella to enable the execution of IFC’s management and operational needs in the best way. Within COSVP, the Budget and Business Administration department (CBA) plays a pivotal role in allocating IFC scarce resources and aligning them to IFC 3.0 by leveraging budget as a management tool to mainstream the corporate strategy, creating profitability and efficiency metrics, improving the scorecard, and overseeing procurement and facilities administration.

The Finance Unit (CBAAF) for the Sub-Saharan Africa Region (CAF) is responsible for work program planning, budgeting, financial reporting, and resource management for all the offices in the CAF Region. Overall, CBAAF maintains cost efficiency and effective controls over all financial transactions and provides support for effective management of resources.

Within the CBAAF unit, CBA is recruiting a Senior Finance Assistant who will be responsible for country office accounting, internal control, monthly reporting, funds management, and related activities for the Dakar Hub. Based in Dakar, Senegal, the Senior Finance Assistant reports to the Finance Officer responsible for accounting and controls in Africa, based in Dakar.

S/he will work closely with the Heads of the Country Offices, operations teams, as well as the ACS and finance function colleagues from both IFC and IBRD across the Africa (CAF) Region.

Duties & Responsibilities

Country Office accounting, Asset and Funds Management:

• Process timely payments run for locally paid vendors and follow up any queries.
• Review E-payable transactions via the workflow and ensure compliance of the requests, and correctness of the entries.
• Review expenses for accuracy, proper approval, and correct categorization; ensure correction of any errors or discrepancies to maintain financial integrity.
• Process journal entries and payroll adjustments in SAP when needed.
• Ensure the proper booking of accruals and prepayments entries.
• Process staff loans, travel advances, and rental advance requests.
• In collaboration with facilities team, conduct annual physical asset inventory count and update SAP asset records.
• Ensure the compliance of the fixed asset registration and disposal process as per the policies.
• Ensure the correct and timely posting of Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) chargebacks and monitor Country Office rental contracts.
• Ensure bank authorized signatories and certificate of designations update.
• Monitor and ensure replenishment of the local Imprest bank account and petty cash funds.
• Ensure segregation of duty in petty cash management and that petty cash counts are done.

Monitoring & Reporting:

• Prepare and submit Monthly Statement Reports (MSR) in the Country Office Accounting Portal (COAP) while ensuring the accuracy of the Business Area Master and Business Area Contact sections.
• Support the Country Office budget monitoring, analysis, and monthly reporting activities.
• Prepare centralized overheads forecast and balances for emergency preparedness templates.
• Follow up for timely submission of Statement of Expenses (SOE) and ensure timely recovery of staff receivables.
• Monitor admin portal purchase orders transactions and ensure closure of purchase orders as per the WBG guidelines.
• Provide ad-hoc reports at the request of the Management (travel, SAP profiles, unreconciled procurement cards statement etc.).
• Work with the Head of the Country Office and Joint Country Representatives to ensure a strong control environment in the office, providing advice on internal control issues.
• Provide guidance on WBG / IFC policies and procedures; this includes performing knowledge sharing sessions with staff and ensure these as well as best practices are communicated and implemented.
• Onboard new staff members on finance related matters, systems, travel, policies and perform interim support for colleagues when necessary.
• Provide guidance to vendors as well as other staff on tools and systems (vendor kiosk portal, myTravel, admin portal, SAP etc.).
• Liaise with Procurement Specialist when needed and advise on procurement guidelines and vendor selection and registration process.
• Respond to scorecard / quality assurance / internal review for improvement (IRI) / audit queries as needed and implement the action plan.
• Ensure proper filing of all documents as per the record retention policy.
• Liaise with Chennai teams: Imprest / Payroll / Accounts Receivable / Travel audit / Accounts Payable / Financial Assistance as needed.
• Liaise with IBRD and MIGA finance colleagues on various topics (Joint Country Representation support, MOU etc.).
• Liaise with banks in connection with IFC local Imprest account monitoring.
• Follow up of staff termination process with HR team (financial aid balance reimbursement, return of IT equipment, UNLP, cancellation of Procurement Cards etc.).

Selection Criteria

• Bachelor’s degree in accounting, Finance, Business or Economics with at least 3 years of working experience in finance or accounting roles.
• Recognized professional certification on basic level (CPA, CMA, CIMA, ACCA, etc.) is a plus.
• Sound knowledge and understanding of accounting theories, concepts and principles, financial accounting reporting, budgeting, and cost allocations.
• Ability to analyze and synthesize information, interpret data, retrieve information, and clearly and concisely communicate results.
• Good data mining skills with working knowledge of Microsoft Package.
• Experience with data analytics (Power BI) / AI tools will be appreciated.
• Prior experience in ERP applications (SAP) is a significant advantage.
• Ability to understand risk management principles and monitor the effectiveness of internal controls processes.
• Strong communication skills with the ability to prepare, present and discuss findings in written or oral form.
• Diligence and attention to detail.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and team player, with the ability to work in a multi-cultural environment.
• Ability to manage multiple, concurrent tasks with tight deadlines.
• Ability to function effectively in multi-disciplinary teams within a matrix management environment.
• Fluency in English is required. French proficiency is a plus.