Advisor, Financial Systems

The Department of Financial Resources Management (FRM) oversees the financial transactions of the Organization by establishing its financial regulations and rules, as well as the accounting policies and procedures; processes the disbursements of funds; prepares the financial statements of the Organization including the reporting of regular funds and extra-budgetary funds; monitors the inflow of funding and utilization of these resources; is responsible for investments and banking, financial analysis, the monitoring of the field offices’ financial administration, payroll, pension, taxes, Staff Health Insurance, and the processes and systems involved with FRM’s area of responsibility.

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES

Under the general supervision of the Director of Administration (AM) and the direct supervision of the Director, Financial Resources Management (FRM), the incumbent is responsible for, but not necessarily limited to, the following assigned duties:

Strategic Leadership:

• Lead the strategic planning and implementation of technology solutions for modernizing PAHO’s financial operations, aligning with organizational IT strategies and financial principles;
• Provide technical expertise, leadership, and technical advice to Workday Financials business processes, reports, and integrations;
• Leverage business knowledge and technical expertise to recommend process improvements and digital solutions;
• Promote digital transformation initiatives, focusing on automating processes and eliminating manual workflows to enhance efficiency across financial areas;
• Oversee and coordinate the work of cross-functional teams to implement digital transformation projects for the Organization’sFinancial Areas. This includes PAHO stakeholders and external partners and vendors;
• Set clear objectives for team members, evaluate performance, and encourage development, particularly in areas related to digital transformation and process automation; manage cross-functional teams to ensure seamless integration of new technologies;

Operational Oversight and Process Integration:

• Oversee the operational aspects of integrations with Workday including Staff Health Insurance (SHI), Treasury, WHO Awards, and other relevant areas;
• Lead the identification and resolution of system issues, actively guiding enhancements in financial systems and the Project Management Information System (PMIS);
• Oversee the operations of various financial systems, focusing on integrating digital solutions and process improvements to streamline operations;
• Conduct assessments to identify opportunities for process improvement, particularly through automation and system upgrades, to increase operational efficiency in FRM;
• Standardize financial data management practices across different offices, ensuring efficient, automated, and consistent data flow and analytics;
• Focus on improving and streamlining these processes through effective integration strategies. Ensure that these integrations are not only efficient but also align with the overall financial and administrative objectives of the Organization;

Additional Responsibilities

• Respond to audit inquiries and implement changes in SOPs and information systems, with a focus on enhancing automated controls and reducing manual interventions;
• Develop and conduct training programs, emphasizing the use of modern IT tools and automated systems for financial data management and analysis;
• Provide advisory support for financial system process enhancements, focusing on automation and integration in corporate system initiatives and special projects;
• Perform other related duties, as assigned.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education:

• Essential: A bachelor’s degree in information systems, accounting, finance, computer science, engineering, business administration or any other discipline related to the functions of the post and a master’s degree in business administration, finance, accounting, or financial information systems management from a recognized university.
• Desirable: Professional certification such as Certified Public Accountant, Chartered Accountant or Project Management would be an asset.

In the event that your candidature is retained for an interview, you will be required to provide, in advance, a scanned copy of the degree(s)/diploma(s)/certificate(s) required for this position.  PAHO, only considers official degrees obtained from an institution accredited/recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED), a list updated by the International Association of Universities (IAU) / United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).

Experience:

• Essential: Nine years of combined national and international professional experience in business or financial management, including at least seven years’ direct managerial responsibility for the successful development, implementation, and evaluation of large complex automated financial systems.

Languages:

• Very good knowledge of English or Spanish with a working knowledge of the other language. Knowledge of French and/or Portuguese would be an asset.

Source: https://careers.who.int/careersection/ex/jobdetail.ftl?job=2405265