Director, Finance Division

IMPORTANT NOTICE REGARDING APPLICATION DEADLINE: please note that the deadline for applications is indicated in local time as per the time zone of the applicant’s location.

1.     Organizational Context

a.    Organizational Setting

This role is leading the Finance Division which is located in the Department of Program Planning and Finance in the Administration, Finance and Management Sector.  The Division provides services to a diverse universe of global IP stakeholders, including a global network of national IP offices, private sector companies, entrepreneurs, startups and SMEs that seek international protection of their IP and Member States.  WIPO’s key financial strategies include driving growth through enhancing the services and customer experience delivered to fee-paying customers, driving excellence in financial operations and reporting, investing prudently and ensuring a high degree of transparence, accountability and integrity to provide assurance to its governing and oversight bodies.

b.    Purpose Statement

As Director of the Division, the incumbent is responsible for co-creating, with the CFO, a vision for the future of finance, driving technology strategies that will transform the work of the Finance Division, embedding and maturing AI/ data analytics capabilities and data-driven decision making, planning and managing the work and resources of the Division, mentoring and motivating the teams, leading the digital transformation of financial business processes through the ERP initiative in close cooperation with key business process owners across the Organization.  Ensuring customer-centric payment services to WIPO’s fee-paying customers and Member States, strategic engagement with Member States and oversight bodies, managing risks and continuously improving internal controls within financial operations will be at the core of the Director’s responsibilities.

c.     Reporting Lines

The incumbent works under the supervision of the Director of the Department of Program Planning and Finance (Controller) and collaborates very closely with colleagues involved with Planning and Budgeting, Management Reporting, Human Resources Management, Enterprise Risk Management, Governance and Compliance, Procurement, Travel and Buildings.

2.     Duties and Responsibilities

The incumbent will perform the following principal duties:

Vision and Roadmap
 

Co-create (with the CFO) a vision for continuous innovation and transformation:
a.   Provide process change thought leadership and execution, building new capabilities to re-envision processes and operationalizing new ways of working. 
 

b.   Continuously explore and evaluate innovative finance technology solutions, emerging technologies, industry trends, and best practices in finance that can transform finance work. 
 

c.   Ensure finance functional strategy aligns fully with the overall business strategy of the Organization’s transformation goals.
 

d.   Build a roadmap for Finance transformation.

Operating Model Redesign, ERP Transformation and Change Management
 

e.   Redesign the finance operating model based on the opportunities enabled by technology and automation, ensuring alignment with business objectives and best practices.
 

f.    Drive the implementation of the new operating model, managing change and ensuring seamless integration across the finance function.

Lead the digital and ERP transformation of the Finance Division
 

g.   including the redesign of the operating model, adoption of new and emerging technologies such as AI, focusing on the re- engineering of business processes based on a transformation vision and goals and best practice. Champion automation to minimize manual effort, increase the speed and accuracy of the accounting close and all accounting processes and digitalize internal controls.

Drive coordinated change management across finance
 

h.   Ensure smooth adoption of the new finance operating model and create clear paths to align new ways of working to it. 
 

i.    Deliver comprehensive training and support to finance staff to bolster their proficiency in leveraging new technologies and processes.
 

j.    Work closely with key stakeholders in and outside of finance to foster a culture of continuous adherence and improvement of key financial systems and processes. 
 

k.   Take a people-centered approach to build awareness of how individuals and teams respond to change.

Partnerships and Collaboration
 

l.    Proactively build and maintain strong partnerships with the full range of stakeholders, users and governance and oversight entities which would include all business areas (Global IP Systems, Academy, Arbitration and Mediation Center etc.), management functions such as Planning, Budgeting, Procurement and HR, WIPO Coordination Offices, Member States, other UN and international organizations, national IP offices, individual, private and institutional clients, etc. to ensure quality services, sharing of financial knowledge and information and the design of solutions to complex financial services issues and challenges.

Day-to-day Management
 

m.  Direct the Division's portfolio of work and take overall management responsibility for its human and financial resources, determining priorities and allocating resources for the timely and quality delivery of work products in accordance with commitments and the results-based management framework; monitor operational performance levels, identify future skills requirements and proactively manage the talent needs through a plan to address workforce gaps through development initiatives including mobility and recruitment; ensure staff are informed of their duty to report potential fraud/abuse/misconduct. 

n.   Lead the development, review and continuous update of accounting policies, ensuring alignment with current professional accounting standards and compliance with WIPO's Financial Regulations and Rules (FRR), the International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSAS), and the conventions, agreements or treaties relating to the Unions of WIPO; working with inter-agency fora to influence the development and evolution of standards applicable to UN agencies.

o.   Identify and manage financial risks ensuring effective mitigation actions and internal controls; ensure that fraud risks are identified and appropriate action is taken towards fraud prevention and detection. 

p.   Provide substantive technical leadership and advice on all finance/accounting matters for WIPO and UPOV, Funds in Trust (FITs), and retirement funds, leveraging data-driven insights and digital tools to support decision-making and reporting. 

q.   Direct accounting close and ensure timely delivery of quality financial statements and reports leveraging digital tools and data analytics, to Management, the External Auditor, the Internal Auditor and the Independent Advisory and Oversight Committee; respond to audit comments and recommendations and follow up on implementation; manage the formulation and evaluation of regular and ad hoc financial reports used by other divisions and by senior management. 

r.    Oversee treasury and investment management functions and lead strategic engagement with banking partners and negotiation of services provided (cash management, foreign exchange, etc.). 

s.   Direct the preparation and review of financial management reports and documents for presentation at governing bodies of the Organization and senior level meetings, including international and inter-agency meetings; represent the Organization at such events and provide authoritative advice.

t.    Perform other job-related duties as required.