Senior Governance Specialist

Do you want to build a career that is truly worthwhile? Working at the World Bank Group (WBG) provides a unique opportunity for you to help our clients solve their greatest development challenges. The World Bank Group is one of the largest sources of funding and knowledge for developing countries; a unique global partnership of five institutions dedicated to ending extreme poverty, boost prosperity on a livable planet, and promoting sustainable development. 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. 

 ECA Governance Program Context

• The Governance Practice helps client countries build capable, efficient, open, inclusive, and accountable institutions. Countries with strong institutions prosper by creating an environment that facilitates sustainable growth, reduces poverty, delivers valuable services, and earns the confidence of its citizens.

 The ECA Governance Program has the following business-lines: 

• Domestic Resource Mobilization
• Public Financial Management
• Corporate Governance
• Center of Government
• Skills and Staffing
• Integrity Institutions
• Public Services
• Subnational Governance
• Justice
• Fiduciary Assurance

Governance Practice engagements include diagnostics, technical assistance, and advisory services; learning, innovation, and knowledge management; preparation of financing operations and provision of project implementation support, monitoring and reporting. An important part of the Governance Practice’s responsibilities is to deliver operational support to other Practices, including through inputs for policy-based operations, hands-on implementation advice, and direct fiduciary due diligence of investment financing.

Center for Financial and Sustainability Reporting Reform 

 The mission of the Center for Financial and Sustainability Reporting Reform (CFSRR) is to “Build strong institutional frameworks and develop capacity in financial and sustainability reporting to support private and financial sector development, public sector performance and accountability, sustainable growth, and shared prosperity on a livable planet.” CFSRR provides advisory services, undertakes diagnostics and analytical work, manages peer learning networks and delivers training across six business lines:

• Corporate Financial Reporting
• Sustainability Reporting
• Monitoring and Enforcement
• Capacity Building Institutions
• State-Owned Enterprises Governance
• Public Sector Accounting and Audit

CFSRR focuses its support on selected countries in the World Bank’s European and Central Asia region:  Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Kosovo, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, and Ukraine.  CFSRR will gradually expand to include Central Asian countries. 

Duties and Accountabilities

The Senior Governance Specialist will report to the ECA Governance Practice Manager and will be part of the ECA Governance Practice and Center for Financial and Sustainability Reporting Reform teams. The Senior Governance Specialist will: 

• Develop, oversee, and report on CFSRR’s corporate sustainability reporting and governance work program.
• Coordinate development and implementation of the work program with internal and external stakeholders including standard setting bodies.
• Identify and develop opportunities for country engagement, build and sustain key stakeholder relationships, and assist stakeholders establish priorities.
• Lead analytical and advisory work on sustainability reporting issues as task team leader, technical specialist and team member as required.
• Lead, guide and participate in research and knowledge products that translate technical issues and cross-country experience on sustainability reporting into practical applications for ECA clients.
• Coordinate corporate sustainability reporting and governance activities at the regional and country level with Governance Practice and other World Bank practices and IFC teams.
• Provide on-the-job training and mentoring to less experienced staff with a view to building a team familiar with sustainability reporting issues.
• Promote knowledge exchange on corporate sustainability reporting and governance issues across the ECA region and contribute to the global knowledge program.
• Participate in the Governance Practice program at the country level, supporting the preparation and supervision of analytical and advisory  work and operations as needed.
• Contribute to briefing materials, policy and institutional assessments, country program products, and other on-demand outputs.         

Selection Criteria

The successful candidate will have: 

• A Master’s degree or Ph.D. in a relevant field such as finance, business administration, economics, public policy, or environmental policy.
• Professional accountancy qualification and membership (CPA, CA, ACCA or equivalent membership of an internationally recognized professional accountancy body) is preferred.
• At least eight years of relevant professional experience in corporate reporting, accounting policy and institutional development with extensive experience on sustainability reporting in the public or corporate sector.
• In depth knowledge of international and regional sustainability reporting frameworks and standards, EU requirements on sustainability reporting, particularly EU CSRD and ESRS, and the challenges of application of these standards in ECA client countries.
• A good understanding of international financial reporting and auditing standards, their implementation, and issues affecting the accountancy profession and regulatory frameworks, national standard-setting and audit regulation.
• The technical, operational and client engagement skills needed to lead policy dialogue on corporate sustainability reporting and governance at the country level, contribute to analytical work and the design and implementation of projects.
• Strong and integrative thinking skills with the ability to put sustainability reporting in the context of broader corporate governance and sustainable development reforms.
• Track record of intellectual leadership on corporate sustainability reporting reforms.
• Demonstrated ability to lead policy and technical dialogue with high level officials in government and international organizations.
• Strong team management, client orientation, and interpersonal and with demonstrated ability to work with a diverse team.
• Familiarity with World Bank operational and administrative procedures is an advantage.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills in English are required, ability to work in Russian preferred.

Source: https://worldbankgroup.csod.com/ats/careersite/JobDetails.aspx?id=28675&site=1