Treasury Analyst (Cash Management) - P2  

Organizational Setting

The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) is an international financial institution and a specialized United Nations agency dedicated to eradicating rural poverty and hunger. It does so by investing in rural people. IFAD finances programmes and projects that increase agricultural productivity and raise rural incomes, and advocates at the local, national and international level for policies that contribute to rural transformation.

The Financial Operations Department (FOD) is a dynamic financial, strategic and responsive business partner and service provider fully supporting IFAD in developing its financial strategy and managing its financial, investments and material resources. FOD ensures that these resources are efficiently, economically and effectively used to achieve IFAD`s objectives in the long-term and deliver on its development commitments. FOD is led by an Associate Vice President and is comprised of three (3) divisions: the Treasury Services Division (TRE), the Financial Controller`s Division (FCD) and the Procurement and Financial Management Division (PFM).

The Treasury Services Division (TRE) protects IFADs financial sustainability and credit rating ensuring a prudent leverage strategy in line with IFAD`s mission, efficient and effective management of IFAD`s liquidity, timely and accurate settlement of all incoming and outgoing payments, and robust financial planning and ALM risk management, while providing innovative and financially responsible solutions to IFAD`s borrowers.

Job Role

Finance Analysts typically work with a higher-level Finance Specialist in monitoring financial performance and preparing and evaluating financial reports; the incumbent may alternatively supervise a homogeneous portion of a financial operation which is predominantly process oriented.

Position specific: The Treasury Analyst (Cash Management) is responsible for the deliverable, accuracy and quality of all daily operations of the CM payment and back-office team. The incumbent also critically contributes to minimizing operational and financial risks that could result in reputational risk for the institution.

1. FINANCE BUSINESS PARTNER: The Analyst is a credible, trusted partner to the client offices served and the Department/Division/Unit assigned. The incumbent supports the Fund's finance strategy and plans as well as models a commitment to financial integrity by acting as a responsive and constructive service provider with a focus on results. The Analyst provides verbal and written advice and guidance to supervisors and staff on finance regulations, rules and procedures, facilitating a mutual understanding of roles and fiduciary accountabilities in support of the integrity in the management of the Fund's financial resources. The Analyst's focus is on building his/her knowledge base of the Fund's governing structure, mandate, long-term business strategy, organizational dynamics and culture.

2. FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT: Analysts are establishing expertise in the UN's financial principles, policies, regulations, rules and procedures. The incumbent is assigned a portion of a financial operation, such as Payroll for headquarters staff and processing transactions where concurrent stages of processing are required. Representative activities include: (a) reviewing, approving, reconciling and processing a range of accounting transactions on a regular and recurring basis; (b) reviewing, analysing and projecting programme financial implications in light of additional mandates or other programme changes; (c) analyzing and evaluating financial reports produced on a regular basis, explaining variances and producing reports and correspondence as required; (d) ensuring the timely and correct entry into the General Ledger of all input in accordance with corporate accounting practices, approving and posting all payable, receivable and correction journals; (e) monitoring financial performance, allotments and expenditures to ensure that they remain within authorized parameters and resolving emergent financial issues; (f) managing non-complex loans and grants portfolio(s) including in the review of Project design documents in relation to financial management (e.g. flow of funds, procurement, financial reporting and audit) as well as in relation to the disbursement of funds; and (g) analyzing, recommending and trading individual securities for different fixed income sectors and markets for internal investment portfolios of IFAD and related entities, in accordance with well-established policies and investment guidelines and also analyzing and proposing well-thought through changes to these.

3. AGENT OF CHANGE: The incumbent maintains an awareness of the principles of change management and proactively serves as a role model for transformation and capacity for acceptance of change. The incumbent uses a knowledge of results-based management and budgeting, enterprise resource planning (ERP) and other information technology to analyze and promote acceptance of new methods of work and automated work flows. At this level the Analyst manages change through consultations with finance colleagues and outreach to client offices to ensure open and regular communications pertaining to current and planned changes in the Fund's financial administration.

4. MANAGERIAL FUNCTIONS: Is accountable for integrity, transparency, in the personal use of assigned IFAD resources, including equipment, supplies and, as applicable, staff supervised.

Position specific:

5.: TREASURY MANAGEMENT: The Treasury Analyst (Cash Management) tasks include but are not limited to:

a. PAYMENTS: Manage the team's daily payment operations, ensuring that all transactions (payments, disbursements, transfer of funds etc.) are being processed timely, at quality standards and with minimal rejections. Ensure that best international practices are followed and that IFAD abides to international payment regulations. Provide solutions in case of issues with the processing of transactions, with due respect and knowledge of internal procedures and international payment regulations. Support decentralized financial operations, including advice on payments in local currency, local bank account and efficient channelling of funds. Provide guidance to more junior or to support staff wherever appropriate. Support in the formation and implementation of a coordinated yearly work plan for the Cash Management team.

b. LIQUIDITY MANAGEMENT: Accountable for daily short term liquidity management, including adherence to policy's liquidity requirements; determine liquidity requirements for daily payment/disbursements based on short term cash flow data. Support efficient liquidity management by monitoring of forward bank balances, maintaining and verifying accuracy of committed bank balances in the Treasury Operational Database to ensure that no overdrafts are incurred. Report on liquidity positions and escalate issues in case of operational risk. Responsible for operations carried out in accordance with IFAD Financial regulations, external and internal audit guidelines, international payments standards and the regulations and sanction programmes of national and international monetary authorities. Participate in projects related to short term cash flow projections.

c. RELATIONSHIPS: Responsible for daily relationship with contacts at the banks (back-offices) and SWIFT. Support the Senior Treasury Officer in the selection of IFAD Banks, setting up requirements and participating in technical and operational assessment. Monitoring the service and performance of operational bank in terms of payment, accounting and IT services provided to IFAD and liaise with banks to optimize services rendered to IFAD and its staff. Ensure resolution of issues and respond to enquiries related to bank services. Monitor all foreign exchange transactions, bank charges and interest payments on all operational accounts. Liaise internally and build network with IFAD divisions to enhance services to Treasury clients. Provide support to Treasury Officers across all functional teams and ensure that timely responses are provided to internal and external parties. Interact with any external institutions, which may intervene in cash management and back office activities, ensuring timely resolution of settlement problems. Report and escalate on potential financial/operational risk. Liaison with internal and external audit.

d. ACCOUNTING AND RECONCILIATION: Support operational activities of the Cash Management team and ensure correct and prompt execution of TRE accounting and reconciliation within IFAD Internal Control Framework. Liaise with the Office of the Controller on all accounting related issues. Ensure timely and correct entry into the General Ledger of all Treasury input in accordance with corporate accounting practice. Approve and post all Treasury payable, receivable and correction journals. Monitor the reconciliation activities of the team and ensure timely and accurate month and year-end Treasury accounting closing. Focal point in internal and external audit exercises.

e. POST-TRADING: When required, ensure that all internally managed investment transactions, including but not limited to: bond securities, time deposits, forward and swap transactions are correctly booked, confirmed with relevant parties, and settled according to best operational practices. Ensure confirmations are produced, authorised and issued to customers in a timely manner. Monitor the team post trading operations and ensure that issues with transactions are promptly resolved and escalated if necessary. Support the continuous improvement of all processes and procedures and that these are kept up to date at regular intervals.

f. SYSTEMS: Usage of Treasury Cash Management systems, including PeopleSoft and SWIFT. Ensure smooth onboarding of new systems, including support in design of system requirements and executing adequate testing, implementation and post go-live troubleshooting. Supporting the team on implementation and enhancement of systems. Liaising with ICT and relevant IFAD divisions on system-related projects. Provide analysis on risks, impacts and opportunities. Management of SWIFT Alliance interface, including system upgrade, testing of disaster recovery, testing and reporting on system upgrade and on regulatory-driven changes.

g. ANALYSIS AND DOCUMENTS:

• Accountable for completion of official documents requiring IFAD banking details and bank certification; interaction with external institutions as required

• Making recommendation to the Senior Treasury Officer on management of resources (financial, staff, software) and propose initiatives for additional efficiency or minimization of risk.

• Analyse trends in financial data to assess relevance for existing models and recommend changes to underlying assumptions to promote alignment with IFAD current and future operating developments.

• Contribute to the implementation of financial policies through liquidity management and management of back office activities.

h. BUSINESS CONTINUITY: Support testing of the current TRE CM Business Continuity Plan, both for the payments and for post-trading activities at operational level. Provide feedback on design of technical solutions, design and support testing and implementation of business continuity agreed solution.

i. OTHER:

• Contribute to in-house knowledge of IFAD payment/disbursement and Treasury accounting flow. Build and share knowledge on settlement best practices; propose improvements and developments of the functionalities of TRE systems through designing, testing and implementing new system features.

• Representing the CM team leader at internal and external meetings as required.

Key Performance Indicators

Financial Analysts analyse unusual transactions and recommends actions to be taken and/or exceptions to be made in the application of financial regulations, rules and procedures. Finance Analyst positions have access to advice and on-the-job training from specialists in the individual finance occupations in the resolution of on-going non-routine work.

Position specific: Treasury Analyst (Cash Management) in charge of investment management operations implement investment transactions with an impact on the Fund's investment income, through the quality of trade recommendations and trade execution, and on the financial and operational risks through adherence to internal controls and procedures.

Working Relationships

The work relationships of Finance Analysts involves both written and verbal communications to obtain and provide information regarding decisions on specific cases or to explain why an action has been taken or to obtain information needed to take decisions or support further financial processes. Internal Fund contacts extend to supervisors and staff throughout the Fund to promote understanding of finance regulations, rules and/or procedures pertaining mainly to routine finance matters within his/her area of assignment. This requires skill in building constructive, effective relationships. External contacts are predominantly with banks, institutions or suppliers/vendors, Borrowers and Cooperating institutions, etc. and are for the purpose of exchanging information and making commitments within predetermined parameters.

Position specific: The Treasury Analyst (Cash Management) will liaise with internal and external stakeholders including MSD Travel, TRE IM unit, TRE FPM unit, TRE FUN unit, Divisional budget holders, IFAD Beneficiaries (including divisional focal points for loan/grant disbursements). The incumbent will be responsible on a daily basis of service relationship with IFAD operational banks for various aspects of TRE/CM operations. In addition, the incumbent will liaise with CM team towards internal and external auditors.

Job Profile Requirements

Organizational Competencies - Level 1

• Strategic thinking and organizational development: Personal influence
• Demonstrating Leadership : Personal leadership and attitude to change
• Learning, sharing knowledge and innovating: Continuously seeks to learn, shares knowledge and innovates
• Focusing on clients: Focuses on clients
• Problem solving and decision making: Demonstrates sound problem solving and decision making ability
• Managing time, resources and information: Manages own time, information and resources effectively
• Team Work: Contributes effectively to the team
• Communicating and negotiating: Communicates effectively: creates understanding between self and others
• Building relationships and partnerships: Builds and maintains effective working relationships
• Managing performance and developing staff:
• Manages staff and teams effectively

Education:

• Level - Advanced university degree from an accredited institution in a technically relevant area. The advanced university degree may be substituted by a first university degree and at least four (4) additional years of relevant professional experience over and above the minimum number of years of experience

• Areas : Finance, Accounting, Payments or other job-related field.

• Degree must be an accredited institution listed on https://www.whed.net/home.php.

Certifications: Professional qualifications from accredited entities (for example ICMA) or from IFIs/Central Bank programmes are an asset.

Work experience:

• At least two (2) years of progressively relevant professional experience in a similar position, preferably in the United Nations or an international financial institution, or another multi-cultural organization or a national organization providing support on a global scope.

• Position-specific experience: Two years¿ experience in international payments and/or post trading back-office operations. In-depth knowledge of payment and accounting software systems (e.g. Peoplesoft, SWIFT), particularly in liquidity management, payment execution, investment settlement solutions and workflow performance. Ability to manage cash management and back-office team efficiently and effectively.

Languages:

• Required English (4 - Excellent)
• Desirable: French, Spanish and/or Arabic (3 - Good)
• Position-specific requirement: Knowledge of Italian would be an asset

Skills:

Job role specific

• Capital market instruments, Knowledge of capital markets instruments (fixed income, currency, derivatives, money market, loans), risk and performance metrics and quantitative tools of fixed income valuation (cash flow, present value, interest rate risk, duration, etc.);

• Financial process management, Know-how in the management of financial processes such as reporting, treasury, investment processes and securities trading, cash management processes, etc.;

• Financial data integrity and financial systems, know-how in systems interface control, core banking system management, data mining and analytics;

• Disbursements, Payroll and Payments, Know-how in financial checks required for disbursements of loans and grants, payments and payroll transactions to reduce risk of error, fraud and non-compliance with rules, maintenance of clean vendor master files, arrears and debt management of loans;

• Liquidity management, Know-how in liquidity planning, liquidity investment, investment portfolio management and reporting;

• Interpersonal skills, Ability to deal patiently and tactfully with others (e.g. dealer counterparties, external asset managers, financial service providers, visitors, callers, colleagues), including senior individuals (e.g. high-level meeting participants);

• Problem solving, Strong systemic and structured thinking, ability to identify and dissect problems into components and formulate a comprehensive set of creative viable and sustainable solutions and strategies

• Financial reporting & accounting, Know-how in financial reporting, statutory and other reporting as well as advanced application of IFRS standards, derivatives, loan credit risk, financial regulations, policies, rules and procedures applicable to IFAD and IFIs;

Position specific

• Analytical skills, Outstanding ability to analyse and synthesize qualitative and/or quantitative information from a variety of sources and filter out key insights and recommendations;

• Procedure adherence & interpretation, Ability to strictly adhere to established, formal guidelines, including in new situations and to interpret established, formal guidelines to address and recommend solutions or further actions required

• Risk & compliance, Know-how in asset liability management, risk reporting, capital adequacy, quality assurance and compliance (e.g. Anti-money laundering (AML), Know your customer (KYC) processes), etc.

• ICT & digital fluency, High level of digital literacy and ability to quickly get familiar with new digital tools (e.g. electronic settlement platforms, electronic payment platforms, accounting systems, liquidity management platforms)

• Risk management (e.g. reputational), Know-how in identifying and assessing of potential legal, reputational, ethical risks and liabilities in relation to the Fund's activities; contributing strongly to the division in a second line of defence function; demonstrating ability to manage these risks by advising senior management on contingency and mitigation strategies

• Payment process management, Know-how in the management of investment settlement processes such as reporting, treasury, investment processes and securities trading, cash management processes, etc;

• Financial reporting & accounting, Know-how in financial reporting, statutory and other reporting as well as application of IFRS standards, financial regulations relatives to payments/settlement, relevant policies, rules and procedures.

• Financial data integrity and financial systems, know-how in systems interface control, core banking system management, data mining and analytics;

• Time management, Adherence to deadlines under time constraints and pressure (e.g. to deliver governing body documents on time); ability to coordinate and manage complex workflows and in-house and external teams;

Other Information

Applicants should note that IFAD staff members are international civil servants subject to the authority of the President of IFAD. In accordance with IFAD's Human Resources Policy, the President can decide to assign them to any of the activities of the Fund. All International Professional staff members are required to be geographically mobile and positions in the professional category are subject to changes in location at any time in line with strategic priorities and reform initiatives in IFAD.

IFAD is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate based on ethnic, social, or political background, colour, nationality, religion, age, gender, disability, marital status, family size, or sexual orientation. This is in line with our Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Strategyand our Policy to prevent and respond to sexual harassment, sexual exploitation and abuse. Persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply. For more information, please refer to the UN disability-inclusive language guidelines.

Please be aware of fraudulent job offers. IFAD does not charge any fees at any stage of the recruitment process. Official communication from IFAD will always come from e-mails ending in @ifad.org.

In accordance with IFAD's provisions, all new staff members will normally be placed at the first step in the grade level for which they have been selected. For information on IFAD's remuneration package, please visit IFAD's compensation and benefits page on our website. Applicants are invited to use the ICSC compensation calculator to estimate the salary and benefit entitlements.

Candidates may be required to take a written test and to deliver a presentation as well as participate in interviews.

In the interest of making most cost-effective use of funds and resources, we are only able to respond to applicants who are short-listed for interview. Candidates who do not receive any feedback within three months should consider their application unsuccessful.

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