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Oxford HR Consultants Ltd The Old Music Hall, 106-108 Cowley Road, Oxford OX4 1JE UK

Tel: +44 (0) 1865 403 298 | Web: www.oxfordhr.co.uk | Reg. Company No. 6456325

The International Fund for Agricultural Development

Director and Controller -

Accounting and Controller’s Division

Candidate Pack

25th

May 2015

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Do You Want to Make a Difference and Help Improve the Lives of the World’s Poorest Farmers?

This is an amazing opportunity to make a meaningful contribution to IFAD’s work: achieving development that is inclusive, sustainable and people-centered. IFAD is seeking an energetic, international, senior management professional to become the Director and Controller, based in Rome, Italy.

You will lead a dedicated team of managers and professionals within the Accounting and Controller’s Division and will play a pivotal role in ensuring that IFAD delivers against their overarching goal of rural transformation, with special focus on smallholder agriculture in rural areas in the Post-2015 Development Agenda.

This is a life changing prospect, affording the successful candidate the chance to work at the centre of a global hub in a challenging progressive and highly regarded international development institution.

To learn more, please read its Strategic Framework 2015-2025 at www.ifad.org/en/who/sf/tags/1658538.

About IFAD

The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) is an international financial institution and a specialised 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, advocating at the local, national and international level for policies that contribute to rural transformation. IFAD's headquarters are in Rome, Italy, but the Fund has offices in 40 countries and finances programmes and projects in more than 90 countries.

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Director and Controller

based in Rome, Italy

ORGANISATIONAL CONTEXT

IFAD’s Financial Operations Department (FOD) is a dynamic, strategic and responsive service provider, fully supporting IFAD in 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. The department is a strategic financial business partner to IFAD departments and divisions. FOD is composed of the following divisions: Accounting and Controller's Division, Financial Management Services Division, and Treasury Services Division.

Within FOD, the Accounting and Controller’s Division is responsible for integrity and transparency of the accounting, reporting and control functions in the management of IFAD’s resources, trust funds, supplementary funds, funds of hosted entities and funds raised through innovative financing related activities. The division provides leadership and interpretation on all major issues related to the formulation and implementation of accounting policies and procedures, such as adoption of new International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS). It ensures maintenance of a robust internal control framework over financial reporting (ICFR). The division maintains strategic partnerships with other International Financial Institutions (IFIs), relevant United Nations organisations and external entities, such as IFAD’s external auditors.

The main focus of the Director and Controller is strategic leadership, innovation and management. The accountabilities/key results include:

Vision and Strategy

Policy Development and Advice

Programme Management

Management of Resources

Representation

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Job Description

JOB TITLE

Director and Controller

LOCATION: Rome, Italy

SALARY: UN Salary D-1 Grade (See UN ICSC website for details http://icsc.un.org/resources/pdfs/sal/sabeng14.pdf?d=524201610:44:38AM ) – Standard UN Benefits

JOB PURPOSE: Under the overall guidance and supervision of the Associate Vice-President, Chief Financial Officer and Chief Controller, the Director and Controller will lead, manage and motivate a team of managers/senior specialists who are also supervisors, specialists and assistants, being also responsible for managing and supervising the delivery of the division/unit’s programme of work within the allocated budget.

REPORTING LINES:

Associate Vice-President, Chief Financial Officer and Chief Controller

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KEY RESULTS EXPECTED/ MAJOR FUNCTIONAL ACTIVITIES

Vision and Strategy:

o The Director and Controller will be responsible for developing and promoting a vision and strategy for IFAD’s approach to corporate controlling activities and corporate accounting policies, in particular in relation to IFRS (International Financial Reporting Standards) translating IFAD’s corporate business and financial strategies, goals and objectives into a divisional programme of work that will support the achievement of IFAD’s strategic goals under the Strategic Framework 2015-2025. The incumbent will ensure that evolving divisional programme activities are integrated in the evolution of departmental goals and objectives.

o The incumbent will participate in the design of IFAD's and the Financial Operations Department’s strategic approaches and ensure that corporate financial strategies are fully integrated in the design of assigned activities.

o The Director and Controller will contribute to setting and communicating clear strategic and operational objectives, while remaining accountable for the division being seen as a credible and trusted partner in managing for results and as an innovator in the field of managerial and financial accounting and control.

o The Director and Controller will be required to contribute to the innovation and delivery of state-of-the-art financial management reporting, reflecting IFAD as a fully-fledged international financial institution.

Policy Development and Advice:

o The Director and Controller will provide leadership in the development and interpretation of global trends and major accounting policies, regulations and rules, and systems that govern the work of IFAD, including all entities reported under IFAD’s consolidated financial statement and entities reported off balance sheet.

o The incumbent will also be responsible for the development of the Internal Control Framework for Financial Reporting ensuring that IFAD”s Internal Control Framework will be in line with international standards and best practices as they are applied across multinational development banks and other IFIs.

o The incumbent will ensure that divisional goals and objectives reflect the overall directions of the Fund’s mandate and strategies.

o The Director and Controller will serve as a trusted financial advisor with a significant role in authoritative policy advice on accounting and control within the Fund at the senior management level as well as in policy dialogue in his/her representational activities.

Programme Management:

o The Director and Controller provides leadership in (a) all phases of the division’s medium-term planning and management, including operational requirements such as (i) day-to-day management of the accounting and control function, overseeing the first-line management responsibility for IFAD critical systems and accounting and control processes, and the segregation of duties and responsibilities among IFAD authorised signatories for payments, (ii) establishing annual work plans, (iii)

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ensuring regular programme assessment and (iv) identifying opportunities for innovation and implementation of best accounting, control and financial management reporting practices generated within the Fund as well as in peer organisations, both private and public; this will include: (a) reviewing and innovating core processes of the division and IFAD financial accounting operations as a whole in order to achieve better efficiency and effectiveness, as well as financial sustainability, of operations; (b) enhancing synergy among divisional staff and holding staff accountable for results, including in support of IFAD’s evolving decentralisation strategy, and (c) ensuring the preparation of all IFAD publications, reports and governing bodies documents related to IFAD consolidated, and IFAD-only financial statements, financial statements related to independently reported investment vehicles such as the Global Environmental Fund; (v) overseeing payments of expenses and salaries and providing advice on financial transactions including those relating to co-financing and supplementary funds.

Management of Resources: The Director and Controller will be accountable for integrity, transparency, and management of IFAD resources (human, financial and material). This includes:

o International best practice accounting and control over IFAD financial resources with a balance sheet equity position of approximately USD 7 billion, an annual financial operation of above USD 1 billion.

o People Management through workforce planning, recruitment, performance management, learning and career management of P and GS staff:

Identifies best qualified candidates for vacancies, with appropriate regard for gender balance and geographic distribution;

Motivates, coaches and supports staff of the division, wherever they are located, to create cohesive teams that work effectively to achieve common divisional goals and objectives;

Manages staff performance and development through regular performance feedback, mentoring and career planning.

o Divisional Budget Management by leading divisional strategic and data inputs into the departmental budget preparation exercises and by ensuring accountability and fiduciary integrity in the Division’s budget execution.

o Material Resources Management through accountability for the material resources assigned to the Division.

o Knowledge and Content Management to achieve innovative outcomes and cost effective processes as well as to promote the generation, validation and dissemination of knowledge by ensuring (a) knowledge content is continuously updated and available, (b) best accounting and control practices are continuously identified, documented and distributed and (c) appropriate and up-to-date information and tools are available as appropriate.

o Information Technology Management of IFAD critical financial IT systems, partly through leveraging ERP functionality for improved business results, reporting

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processes and client services, partly in managing the evolution of a higher level of integration within the IFAD ERP environment and across IFAD financial IT systems.

IMPACT OF KEY RESULTS/ KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS

Within IFAD’s overall Strategic Framework and Medium Term Plan, the Director and Controller will establish IFAD’s priorities for and provide leadership to the Accounting and Control Division level programme and operational management activities and will be accountable for a results-based approach to meeting assigned goals and objectives. Leadership activities include the optimum utilisation of human, financial, technology and material resources for the achievement of greater efficiency and effectiveness. The incumbent’s impact extends beyond the successful achievement of divisional goals and objectives to include larger departmental goals and objectives in strategic planning collaboration. The expected results directly and/or indirectly benefit the ultimate stakeholders, the rural poor in developing countries.

The key performance indicators include leadership in viable strategic planning, authoritative and relevant financial policy development and financial advice, sustainable decisions and integrity and accountability primarily in the planning and management of the Fund’s financial and material resources; and the Director and Controller will play a key role in the design, development and implementation of financial strategies to support IFAD’s decentralisation.

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REPRESENTATION/ WORK RELATIONSHIPS Within IFAD, the Director and Controller will provide authoritative advice to senior management on the division’s vision, strategic planning, policy, divisional programme and operational management. S/he will be accountable for collaboration and coordination within the Fund to ensure appropriate consultation, cross-functional synergy and coordination of accounting, controlling and financial management reporting planning and activities.

Externally, the Director and Controller will help maintain and develop strategic partnerships and collaborative relationships with counterparts spanning a broad range of institutions including borrowers, bilateral and multilateral development agencies, UN agencies, funds and programmes, IFIs, non-governmental organisations and academic institutions for the purpose of programme co-operation, knowledge sharing, policy dialogue and/or resource mobilisation. The Director and Controller will be accountable for the provision of authoritative advice on accounting and controlling matters during Executive Board sessions, the annual Governing Council and related subordinate bodies including the audit and evaluation committees.

The Director and Controller will represent the Fund in official United Nations committees and networks, such as the UN Budget and Finance Network operating under the UN CEB and HLMC, and in international financial institutions such as the MDB/IFI Controllers Network, multilateral and bilateral meetings, symposia, fora and conferences upon request of the President, and build organisational networks with peers in major private, public and international financial institutions, such as external rating agencies.

COMPETENCIES:

Organisational

o Strategic thinking and organisational development: strategic leadership o Demonstrating leadership: leads by example; initiates and supports change o Learning, sharing knowledge and innovating: challenges, innovates and contributes

to a learning culture o Focusing on clients: contributes to a client-focused culture o Problem solving and decision making: solves complex problems and makes

decisions that have wider corporate impact o Managing time, resources and information: coordinates wider use of time,

information and/or resources o Team work: fosters a cohesive team environment o Communicating and negotiating: acquires and uses a wide range of communication

styles and skills o Building relationships and partnerships: builds and maintains strategic partnerships

internally and externally o Managing performance and developing staff: manages wider teams with greater

impact on others and on the organisation.

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Technical/ Functional

o Certified Public Accountant (CPA) or Certified Management Accountant o Experience in designing and presenting high level financial management reports o Acquired exposure to management boards, audit committees and external auditing

functions at engagement manager and partner level o Strong focus on processes optimisation o Recognised management skills in a multicultural setting, combined with ability to

achieve results through motivating people and influencing partners o Results-oriented decision-making ability with an aptitude to address operational

challenges and for developing practical solutions o Innovator with risk management ability and a proven track record as a successful

agent of change o Rigorous analytical and conceptual thinking o High sense of integrity, trust and confidence o Champion of IFAD’s values: respect for the individual, integrity, professionalism and

focus on results o Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English, including the ability to

set out a coherent analysis in presentations o Strong diplomatic and communication skills and the ability to develop effective

working relationships with clients and counterparts at the appropriate levels o Ability to represent IFAD in international fora.

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Person Specification

Essential Experience

At least 12 years of progressively responsible professional experience in international financial management and accounting policies preferably acquired in both the public and private sector or in another international financial institution

Progressively responsible supervisory / team leader experience is required

Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English; working knowledge of another official language (Arabic, French, or Spanish) is desirable

Qualifications/ Education

Advanced university degree or equivalent from an accredited institution in Finance, Accounting or Business Administration

Certified Public Accountant (CPA) or Certified Management Accountant.

How to Apply

All correspondence, at this stage, should be via Oxford HR. To apply for this post, please complete our online application form and submit the following information – preferably in MS Word:

An up-to-date curriculum vitae (of no more than 3-4 sides of A4)

A detailed statement (of no more than 2-sides of A4) explaining why you are interested in this post and how your skills and experience make you suitable. (Please look at “Advice for Candidates” on the Oxford HR website for hints on how to write a successful statement).

The Oxford HR Online Form, which provides us with the key information we will need to take your application through to interview. Please note: also enclosed with this form is Oxford HR’s Equal Opportunities Form. You are under no obligation to complete this. Any information you do provide will only be used in accordance with the Data Protection Act 1998, and will remain confidential. It will not be used as part of the selection process.

N.B. The documents should be saved in MS Word in the following format: Your First Name-Your Last Name-Document Name-Date (yymm) e.g:

Pat-Jones-CV-1502

Pat-Jones-Statement-1502

The above information should be submitted via Oxford HR’s online application form. Any queries should be sent to Toby Weaver or Maria Grigore of Oxford HR Consultants by email to: ifad-accounting@oxfordhr.co.uk. Applications are welcome until the deadline of midnight GMT+1 on 20th of June 2016.

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All applications must also be registered using the IFAD Applicant Portal at https://www.ifad.org/who/job/overview and using IFAD’s online Personal History Form (PHF).

Next Steps

Oxford HR, together with IFAD, will then agree upon a Long-list of candidates. These candidates will be invited to participate in a preliminary interview with Oxford HR and IFAD in the week commencing 4th July 2016. A Shortlist of candidates will then be selected and invited to final interviews with IFAD currently scheduled during the period 27th to 29th July 2016 in Rome.

Equality Statement

Equality and diversity is at the core of IFAD values. Staff are expected to work collectively and individually to promote a constructive and sensitive approach to others from a variety of backgrounds, where the work of others is valued and respected.

About Oxford HR Oxford HR operates globally - mainly within the international development and related sectors. We carry out retained executive search mandates at board and senior management levels. We also offer human resource and organisational development consultancy.

Oxford HR has many years of experience in recruitment as well as an extensive network of international development, corporate, public sector and academic contacts from across the world. We carry out comprehensive and international searches designed to meet the specific needs of our clients.

Oxford HR’s team members have significant personal experience of working in international development, as well as corporate and governmental sectors. We are in a unique position to find and assess talented individuals from a variety of backgrounds.