Finance Specialist – Grant Accounting

The World Economic Forum, committed to improving the state of the world, is the international organization for public-private cooperation.

The Forum engages the foremost political, business and other leaders of society to shape global, regional and industry agendas.

Why we are recruiting

As a Finance Specialist for Grant Accounting, you will be part of the Finance team, responsible for e the governance, accounting, administration, reporting and overall tracking of the grants that the Forum receives each year to run various projects. 

Reporting Lines and Interactions

The Finance Specialist role will be part of the Finance Team and will report to the Accounting Manager responsible for grant accounting. The position will interact daily with the Forum’s Grant Funding and Governance team, different teams operationally running and administering grants and the Financial Planning, Performance and Partnering team. Building and maintaining robust working relationships with external and internal auditors will also be part of the role’s responsibilities.  

Main responsibilities

Grant Management

• Responsible for the financial management and accounting of grants throughout the whole grant lifecycle

• Responsible for all daily accounting entries, month end, quarter end, year-end closing, accruals, account reconciliations and various analysis

• Ensure compliance with grant terms and conditions in collaboration with the Grant Funding and Governance team, operational and project teams and the Financial Planning, Partnering and Performance team

Financial Reporting

• Responsible for the preparation and submission of financial reports to grantors as required.

• Ensure accurate and timely reporting in line with grant requirements

• Ensure complete and accurate supporting documentation

• Manage communications with grantors as required

Audit and Compliance

• Lead and prepare for internal and external grant audits

• Manage communication with internal and external auditors

• Ensure complete and accurate supporting documentation

• Ensure compliance and maintain subject matter expertise on grant regulations and guidelines

Innovation and Continuous Improvement

• Contribute to the redesign of the grant accounting and reporting processes to enhance agility, responsiveness and alignment with dynamic business needs, while ensuring robust financial controls

• Promote process excellence, continuous improvement and a robust control culture

• Encourage the use of financial technologies and innovative solutions, where appropriate, to enhance efficiency and effectiveness

Relationship Building:

• Develop robust working relationships with Forum’s Grant Funding and Governance team, different teams operationally running and administering grants and the Financial Planning, Performance and Partnering team, enhancing collaboration and partnership

• Develop role as ‘go-to’, trusted advisor, value-add, customer focused enabler and informed challenger

Team Contribution:

• Contribute and collaborate with other members of the Finance team to enhance positive team culture and behaviours, including respect, trust, integrity, diversity, openness and constructive conversations

• Contribute and enhance customer focused, service provider, change and continuous improvement mindset and behaviours

The successful candidate will be assessed on

• Exceptional accounting skills and knowledge

• Ability to work efficiently with a large quantity of data and be able to translate and communicate that data meaningfully

• Ability to compile numbers reliably and present them in a complete, accurate and confident manner 

• Capacity to build strong relationships and collaborate with all relevant stakeholders

• Adaptability and ability to interface with various levels across the organization and show high emotional intelligence

• Flexibility, maturity and the interpersonal and cross-cultural collaboration skills needed to work in a demanding and international environment

• Capability to assess and challenge requests from third parties

Requirements and Experience

• Higher education with Masters degree in finance or accounting

• Professional accounting qualification (e.g. ACA, ACCA, CIMA or equivalent)

• 3+ years of relevant professional experience in financial project accounting and controlling or financial grant accounting and controlling preferably in a global company with international exposure or in external audit with a Big Four Firm

• Demonstrated experience with grant management procedures and donor relations

• Outstanding strategic thinking and practical problem-solving abilities, complemented by exceptional technical accounting, analytical and organisational skills

• Ability to manage multiple priorities and stakeholders in a dynamic environment

• Strong controls mindset and behavior and attention to detail, along with being proactive, practical, pragmatic, flexible, hands-on, customer-focused, solution-based, and results-oriented

• High level proficiency in Microsoft Office tools, knowledge of Salesforce a plus

• Demonstrated track record in promoting process excellence, and implementing continuous improvement practices

• Excellent communication, collaboration, and interpersonal skills, coupled with active listening abilities and a high degree of emotional intelligence, enabling effective stakeholder engagement

• Proficient presentation skills, capable of articulating complex issues clearly and concisely

• Fluent in English and excellent oral/written communication skills

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Why work at the Forum:

The Forum believes that progress happens by bringing together people from all walks of life who have the drive and the influence to improve the state of the world by building awareness and cooperation, shaping mindsets and agendas, and driving collective action. Join us and become a driver for positive change!