Senior Accounting Assistant

Employer
World Bank Group
Location
India
Posted
Nov 19, 2024
Closes
Dec 09, 2024
Ref
4944215716
Certification
Other
Work Mode
Hybrid
Hours
Full Time
Organization Type
Academia, Corporate
Senior Accounting Assistant
Job #: req30427 Organization: World Bank Sector: Finance & Accounting Grade: GD Term Duration: 4 years 0 months Recruitment Type: Local Recruitment Location: Chennai,India Required Language(s): English Preferred Language(s): Closing Date: 11/28/2024 (MM/DD/YYYY) at 11:59pm UTC

Description

Do you want to build a career that is truly worthwhile? Working at the World Bank provides a unique opportunity for you to join us to help our clients solve their greatest development challenges. The World Bank (WB) is one of the largest sources of funding and knowledge for developing countries; a unique global partnership of five institutions (IBRD, IDA, IFC, MIGA, and ICSID) dedicated to ending extreme poverty, increasing shared prosperity, and promoting sustainable development on a livable planet. With 189 member countries and more than 120 offices worldwide, we work with public and private sector partners, investing in groundbreaking projects and using data, research, and technology to develop solutions to the most urgent global challenges. For more information, visit www.worldbank.org.
The WB Finance & Accounting (WFA) Vice Presidency is responsible for all aspects of the financial reporting and internal control framework for IBRD and IDA, and the extensive Trust Fund/Partnership portfolio of the WB entities. It supports an appropriate fiduciary control framework and administering disbursements for Bank lending and leads the client service function for the WB’s corporate expenses.

Organizationally, WFA is comprised of three departments: (1) Corporate Accounting and Reporting, (2) Trust Funds and Loans, and (3) Financial Controls. In WFA, our mandate supports both internal and external clients while we focus on delivery, optimization, impact, and people & culture.
Within WFA Financial Controls Department, WFA Accounts Receivable (AR), Payroll and Tax division (WFAPT in HQ and WFAPA in Chennai), is responsible for ensuring that (i) accounts receivable are recorded, monitored, and collected in a timely and efficient manner, (ii) salary and benefit payments to the WBG staff are processed in a timely and efficient manner, and (iii) tax allowances to the WBG staff and retirees are processed in a timely and efficient manner. It also provides strategic leadership and guidance to business units across the WBG on developing and maintaining an effective system of internal controls over AR, payroll, and tax.
WFAPA is currently seeking, a Senior Accounting Assistant for its payroll team in Chennai; that is responsible for processing of salary and benefit payments to the World bank Group staff on a fortnightly basis. This includes ensuring proper controls over the entire process and adhering to the Bank’s policies and procedures.
How your contributions will help us achieve our goals
The Senior Accounting Assistant will undertake multiple areas of responsibilities which includes performing all tasks included in the payroll schedule in a timely manner to ensure the accuracy of Payroll payments. He/She will assist the team to complete defined tasks within the prescribed time frame and procedures. He/She will coordinate with a wide range of stakeholders, such as, HR, Country Office staff, Treasury, Information and Technology Solutions Group (ITS), and Legal based on process requirements.
The Senior Accounting Assistant will report to the Accounting Officer.
What you will do:
• Verify worklist transactions to ensure accuracy and completeness.• Review Retro Earnings/Deduction Reports for accuracy and perform any necessary adjustments.• Create Retro Earnings/Deduction to generate retro earnings and deductions not included in the original report.• Perform peer review of worklist and retro transactions.• Make changes to staff paychecks based on review and prepare supporting documentation for secondary reviewer validation.• Review exceptions listed on the Reports Optimization dashboard and take appropriate action to correct paychecks, if necessary. • Review manual reports to ensure payment validity.• Communicate necessary information to staff and managers, such as memos to Managers regarding overtime payments exceeding Payrolls’ Control Threshold and overpayment letters notifying staff of the establishment of an account receivable.• Resolve issues with HR, such as duplicate payments, overdue payments, and pending actions.• Resolve issues with systems that affect closing/payment, such as incomplete feeds from SRS and insufficient/incomplete data on the retro-reports.• Handle staff queries through emails received on service desk within the agreed turn-around time.• Update desk procedures for each business function as necessary.• Prepare off cycle payments.• Process salary advances to staff requesting payment in an alternate currency or for those in assignment or telecommuting arrangements as approved by HR/Legal.• Generate and provide staff earnings certificate, upon request.• Continuously monitor all GL accounts and prepare periodic reconciliations relating to Payroll; follow up with clients and other units on aged and critical items.• Provide inputs to Management Reporting and Analysis. • Extract data from the source system (SAP/BI) to develop the data analytics/trends needed to support the unit’s ad-hoc reporting needs; and prepare reports, as needed.• Implement relevant accounting policies and ICFR requirements of the team. • Provide inputs and actively participate in initiatives to improve process quality and process related controls.• Identify and participate in the design of business requirements, user acceptance testing (UAT) and implementation of any new systems, applications, tools, and reports for the team, to enhance efficiency, effectiveness, and standardization.
Selection Criteria

What you will bring:
Education:
• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in a relevant discipline (Finance or Accounting)• Professional accounting qualification (CA, CPA, ACCA) is required.
Experience:
• Minimum 3 years of work experience in the functional area.• Preferable: Background in payroll function in the financial service industry and familiarity with banking transactions; Multinational organization experience would be advantageous.• Proficiency in SAP and Microsoft Office tools.• Experience in PeopleSoft systems will be an added advantage.
Knowledge and Skills:
• Deliver Results for clients - Exhibit a personality that enables the incumbent to be client-focused, flexible and an excellent team player. Ability to manage time and prioritize/execute own tasks.• Staff rules and procedures - Good knowledge of rules, policies and procedures that relate to area of work.• Communication - Strong verbal and written communication skills, including the ability to write clear, concise, and complete procedures.• Analytical thinking - Good analytical skills with ability to collate and interpret data, assess issues, develop sound conclusions, formulate remedial measures with attention to detail and accuracy. • Make Smart Decisions - Excellent judgment, ability to carry out a multidimensional, multi-functional work program.• Collaboration - Ability to effectively work with various levels of staff within the department and across the institution.• Project Management - Ability to manage time and prioritize/execute own tasks.• Lead and Innovate - Proven track record of problem-solving skills in an automated accounting environment.• Digital dexterity -o Working knowledge of WBG core functional systems and processes o Good knowledge of data and analytical tools like MS-Excel, PowerBI, Tableau o Good knowledge of reporting tools such as MS PowerPoint, MS Word.o Basic understanding of process improvement techniques and tools (Lean, Six sigma) o Basic understanding of automated solutions like RPA, AI/ML etc.
Abilities:
• Strong communication skills, including the ability to explain and express views/opinions clearly and confidently.• Ability to deal sensitively in a multi-cultural environment and build effective working relations with clients and colleagues.• Demonstrated ability to analyze business process requirements and translate them into design specifications for process changes and automated solutions.

World Bank Group Core Competencies

The World Bank Group offers comprehensive benefits, including a retirement plan; medical, life and disability insurance; and paid leave, including parental leave, as well as reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities.

We are proud to be an equal opportunity and inclusive employer with a dedicated and committed workforce, and do not discriminate based on gender, gender identity, religion, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or disability.

Learn more about working at the World Bank and IFC , including our values and inspiring stories.