Head, Governance, Risk and Compliance Section

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

The post is located in the Governance, Risk and Compliance Section (GRC) within the Division of Planning, Budget and Risk Management and Department of Program Planning and Finance. The Department of Program Planning and Finance encompasses the Division of Planning, Budget and Risk Management and the Finance Division. The GRC Section is responsible for risk management, internal controls and the development of the WIPO financial policy and regulatory framework. It also provides the Secretariat of the Program and Budget Committee (PBC).

b.  Purpose Statement

The Head of Governance, Risk and Compliance, is responsible for continuous improvement in the maturity of WIPO's Enterprise Risk Management and Internal Control System. The Head oversees the processes and tools to ensure good governance, active management of risks to achieve Expected Results and adherence to the WIPO regulatory framework. In this context, the Head also interacts with independent assurance and oversight bodies and facilitates the work of the Risk Management Group.

The Head supports the Controller and Assistant Controller in coordinating policy and regulatory development to ensure that the regulatory framework is fit for purpose. This includes overseeing the further development and maintenance of the Internal Policy Portal to ensure a cohesive hierarchical regulatory framework. He/she also supports the first and second line with tools, including data analytics, to ensure compliance.

The Head actively engages with audit and oversight entities, including the Internal Oversight Division, the External Auditors, the WIPO Independent Advisory Oversight Committee (IAOC) and the UN Joint Inspection Unit (JIU), to facilitate the structured follow-up and implementation of audit and oversight recommendations.

The Head facilitates the smooth functioning of the Secretariat of the Program and Budget Committee.

c.  Reporting Lines

The incumbent works under the supervision of the Assistant Controller / Director Planning, Budget and Risk Management.

d.  Work Relations

The incumbent works in close cooperation with multiple entities across the Organization, notably Sector Leads, Directors and senior staff.

2. Duties and Responsibilities

The incumbent will perform the following principal duties:

a.  Ensure risk management and internal controls are fully integrated, embedded and continuously strengthened in the planning, implementation and monitoring, assessment and reporting processes and systems in accordance with business needs; function as Secretary to the Risk Management Group; oversee the further development of the Enterprise Risk Management System (ERM).

b.  Advance the use of data analytics to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the internal control system; undertake periodic reviews of the efficiency and effectiveness of internal controls.

c.  Advocate risk management and internal controls throughout the Organization through awareness raising, training and through the engagement of Sector Leads in the risk dialogue; develop the Director General’s Statement on Internal Control for the annual financial statements and provide supporting evidence of key controls to Sector Leads to underpin their signing of Management Representation Letters.

d.  Promote an anti-fraud culture through raising fraud awareness, development of training, fraud risk assessments and collaboration across the Organization.

e.  Engage with audit and oversight entities (including acting as a focal point for the Joint Inspection Unit) to identify and manage risk and facilitate dialogue through thematic analysis and reporting; ensure that risks are continuously monitored and mitigated.

f.   Oversee the development and implementation of the WIPO accountability framework; ensure the regulatory framework is updated in sync with business needs and effectively translated into the administrative and management systems.

g.  Support the Controller and Assistant Controller / Director Planning, Budget and Risk Management in planning, conducting and managing the Program and Budget Committee.

h.  Represent the Governance, Risk and Compliance Section on internal and external bodies; strengthen cooperation within the UN inter-agency system; develop and share knowledge of emerging and best practices in the risk management and internal controls field.

i.   Effectively and efficiently manage the personnel and non-personnel resources of the Section.

j.   Perform other related duties as required.