Chief, General Accounts Branch P5

DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS

WFP celebrates and embraces diversity. It is committed to the principle of equal employment opportunity for all its employees and encourages qualified candidates to apply irrespective of race, colour, national origin, ethnic or social background, genetic information, gender, gender identity and/or expression, sexual orientation, religion or belief, HIV status or disability.

ABOUT WFP

The World Food Programme is the world's largest humanitarian organization saving lives in emergencies and using food assistance to build a pathway to peace, stability and prosperity, for people recovering from conflict, disasters and the impact of climate change.

At WFP, people are at the heart of everything we do and the vision of the future WFP workforce is one of diverse, committed, skilled, and high performing teams, selected on merit, operating in a healthy and inclusive work environment, living WFP's values (Integrity, Collaboration, Commitment, Humanity, and Inclusion) and working with partners to save and change the lives of those WFP serves.

To learn more about WFP, visit our website:  and follow us on social media to keep up with our latest news: YouTube, LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, TikTok.

WHY JOIN WFP? 

• WFP is a 2020 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate.

• WFP offers a highly inclusive, diverse, and multicultural working environment.

• WFP invests in the personal & professional development of its employees through a range of training, accreditation, coaching, mentorship, and other programs as well as through internal mobility opportunities.

• A career path in WFP provides an exciting opportunity to work across the various country, regional and global offices around the world, and with passionate colleagues who work tirelessly to ensure that effective humanitarian assistance reaches millions of people across the globe.

• We offer an attractive compensation package (please refer to the Terms and Conditions section of this vacancy announcement).

ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT

The position is based in WFP Headquarters, Rome and reports to the Director, Financial Reporting Service (CFOR) of Chief Financial Officer Division.

THE ROLE

This position plays a pivotal role in safeguarding the integrity and credibility of WFP's financial management and reporting framework. It supervises the team directly responsible for the preparation of WFP's statutory Financial Statements in full compliance with International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSAS) and for producing corporate quarterly management financial reports. It is responsible for developing and overseeing the implementation of WFP's accounting policies and procedures, ensuring they are robust, up-to-date, and consistently applied across WFP's operations. The Chief, General Accounts Branch acts as a prime technical liaison with WFP's External Auditors in connection with the financial audit of WFP's Financial Statements.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES (not all-inclusive, within delegated authority):

• Lead the end-to-end preparation of WFP's annual audited financial statements, ensuring full compliance with IPSAS. Ensure the accuracy, completeness and integrity of all disclosures and supporting documentation.

• Establish, maintain, and continuously enhance WFP's corporate accounting policies and procedures, ensuring compliance with IPSAS and WFP's Financial Regulations.

• Provide authoritative guidance to country offices, regional bureau and HQ units on complex accounting and reporting matters.

• Lead the assessment, design and implementation of new accounting standards, ensuring smooth integration into WFP's reporting processes and systems.

• Oversee corporate-level consolidation processes, including joint operations, joint ventures, and intercompany transactions.

• Design, implement and monitor internal controls over statutory accounting and reporting, ensuring robust audit trail and risk mitigation mechanisms.

• Address audit recommendations resulting from the audit of financial statements and ensure timely resolution of identified control gaps.

• Serve as technical liaison with the External Auditor financial audit teams during the audit of the financial statements.

• Represent WFP alongside the Director of Financial Reporting Service (CFOR) in front of the oversight bodies (such as ACABQ, IOAC, FAO Finance Committee).

• Oversee resolution of accounting and reporting issues in WFP's ERP and related financial systems.

• Champion process optimization and automation to enhance efficiency and data reliability.

• Lead and develop the General Accounts Branch team, fostering a culture of technical excellence, accountability and continuous improvement.

• Build organizational capacity by sharing knowledge, training and mentoring staff in IPSAS and corporate financial reporting.

• Maintain relationships and collaborate cross-functionally to align branch activities with wider programmes and activities and ensure a coherent approach that enables efficient delivery.

• Promote the WFP mandate, mission and objectives.

• Take responsibility for an equitable and inclusive workplace which incorporates all dimensions of the WFP diversity and inclusion framework.

• Other as required

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

Education: Advanced University degree in Finance, Business Administration, Accounting, or related fields, or First University degree in the same subject(s) with two additional years of related work experience.

Professional certification from an international recognized professional accountancy body such as Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA), Institute of Certified Public Accounts (ICPA) or equivalent.

Experience: at least eleven years of relevant progressively responsible experience in financial accounting and reporting with a proven record of IPSAS-based or IFRS-based consolidated financial statements preparation.

Language: Fluency (level C) in English language. Intermediate knowledge (level B) of a second official UN language: Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian, Spanish, and/or Portuguese (a WFP working language).

MORE ABOUT YOU

• Knowledge of IPSAS/IFRS standards and ability to interpret and apply these complex standards, including recent updates to them.

• Proven experience in IPSAS and/or IFRS-based financial statements preparation.

• Consolidation expertise, including skills in group reporting, intercompany transactions, accounting for joint operations and/or joint ventures.

• Ability to develop, document and apply significant accounting estimates and judgements.

• Understanding of internal controls over financial reporting. 

• Proficiency in implementing new standards and managing change.

• Familiarity with audit requirements and ability to liaise effectively with external auditors. 

• Expertise in ERP and financial reporting tools (e.g. SAP, Oracle).

• Ability to analyse financial data for errors, inconsistencies or unusual trends.

• Ability to communicate complex accounting issues clearly to non-technical stakeholders.

• Strong presentation and report-writing skills for financial statement notes and disclosures.

• Ability to build, train and motivate technical accounting team. 

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

• This is an International Professional position and is open to all nationalities.
• Mobility is and continues to be a core contractual requirement in WFP. This position is however classified as "non-rotational" which means the incumbent shall not be subject to the regular reassignment process unless the position is reclassified as rotational.
• The selected candidate will be employed on a fixed-term contract with a probationary period of one year.
• This position is open to both internal and external candidates.
• WFP offers an attractive compensation and benefits package in line with ICSC standards ) including basic salary, post adjustment, relocation entitlement, visa, travel and shipment allowances, 30 days' annual leave, home leave, an education grant for dependent children, a pension plan, and medical insurance.
• The selected candidate will be required to relocate to Rome, Italy to take up this assignment.

WFP LEADERSHIP FRAMEWORK

WFP Leadership Framework guides to the common standards of behavior that guide HOW we work together to accomplish our mission.

Click here to access WFP Leadership Framework

REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION

WFP is committed to supporting individuals with disabilities by providing reasonable accommodations throughout the recruitment process. If you require a reasonable accommodation, please contact: 

NO FEE DISCLAIMER

The United Nations does not charge any application, processing, training, interviewing, testing or other fee in connection with the application or recruitment process. Should you receive a solicitation for the payment of a fee, please disregard it. Furthermore, please note that emblems, logos, names and addresses are easily copied and reproduced. Therefore, you are advised to apply particular care when submitting personal information on the web.

REMINDERS BEFORE YOU SUBMIT YOUR APPLICATION

• We strongly recommend that your profile is accurate, complete, and includes your employment records, academic qualifications, language skills and UN Grade (if applicable).

• Once your profile is completed, please apply, and submit your application.

• Please make sure you upload your professional CV in the English language

• Kindly note the only documents you will need to submit at this time are your CV and Cover Letter

• Additional documents such as passport, recommendation letters, academic certificates, etc. may potentially be requested at a future time

• Please contact us at in case you face any challenges with submitting your application

• Only shortlisted candidates will be notified

All employment decisions are made on the basis of organizational needs, job requirements, merit, and individual qualifications. WFP is committed to providing an inclusive work environment free of sexual exploitation and abuse, all forms of discrimination, any kind of harassment, sexual harassment, and abuse of authority. Therefore, all selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference and background checks.

No appointment under any kind of contract will be offered to members of the UN Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions (ACABQ), International Civil Service Commission (ICSC), FAO Finance Committee, WFP External Auditor, WFP Audit Committee, Joint Inspection Unit (JIU) and other similar bodies within the United Nations system with oversight responsibilities over WFP, both during their service and within three years of ceasing that service.