Director, Finance Division

Department of Program Planning and Finance, Administration, Finance and Management Sector

Contract Duration - 2 years

Duty Station: CH-Geneva

Final date to receive applications: 26-Feb-2026, 11:59:00 PM CET

The incumbent will perform the following principal duties:

• 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.

• 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.

• 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.

• 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.

• 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.

• 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…