Accounting Assistant

IMPORTANT NOTICE REGARDING APPLICATION DEADLINE: Please note that the deadline for applications is indicated in local time as per the time zone of the applicant’s location.

This post is a limited-term fixed-term post.

1. Organizational Context

a. Organizational Setting

The post is located in the Income Section of the Finance Division of the Department of Program Planning and Finance.

The Finance Division is responsible for the management of WIPO’s financial accounting and reporting, treasury management and compliance with financial policies and procedures. Included within these responsibilities are the management of the Organization’s cash position, production of statutory financial reports and other financial information, and coordination with oversight and financial control activities.

b. Purpose Statement

The incumbent acts as lead worker, is responsible for a specialized accounting support operation and is required to perform a variety of complex financial support functions related to the income activities of the Organization and provide support in the control and maintenance of accounts for financial, statistical and reconciliation purposes. This includes processing specialized transactions (initiation and approvals processes) related to revenue activities. The incumbent utilizes and participates in the development of WIPO financial systems, and contributes to an efficient, transparent and controlled financial process.

c. Reporting Lines

The incumbent works under the supervision of the Finance & Accounts Officer (to be recruited), Income 1: Trademarks, Designs and Appellations of Origin unit.

d. Work Relations

The incumbent interacts with a wide range of colleagues within the work unit, with clients within the Organization and with external parties, such as other UN organizations, Member States, customers and financial institutions to obtain/provide information to resolve problems or clarify issues.

2. Duties and Responsibilities

The incumbent will perform the following principal duties:

a. Act as lead worker checking and approving validity of accounting documents, providing briefings, guidance and assessment regarding applicable procedures and methods, interpreting and explaining rules and regulations. Participate in the establishment and update of internal control procedures as well as analyzing results and risks of new or modified financial systems.

b. Analyze, evaluate, process and monitor financial data and correspondence ensuring completeness of information and conformity with financial regulations and rules as well as with anti-fraud policies and procedures; follow-up on missing/ incomplete/ inaccurate information. Perform periodic reconciliations.

c. Calculate, analyze, enter and verify payments, including for complex scenarios as well as any reimbursements due; verify, evaluate and process associated account postings. Facilitate matching of accounting documents and related records including customers, credit advices, invoices and voucher records.

d. Anticipate, identify and resolve problems in data entry or accounting operations; work closely with IT staff on system requirements, and assist others with questions that involve search for and abstracting data or background information to provide explanations.

e. Ensure proper maintenance and control of accounting records; collate, compile and analyze financial and statistical information to reflect financial and/or transaction activities.

f. Examine client queries and provide explanations/resolutions to problems in a timely manner as well as suggestions to minimize problem occurrence, forwarding disputed, complex or unusual cases to the supervisor; draft correspondence to clarify discrepancies, obtain explanations and provide information on the financial rules and regulations.

g. Make proposals aimed at enhancing working methods and operational procedures and assist in their establishment/update. Update and provide assessment to the development of financial systems and databases, their associated clients and monies received/paid through various means of payment; participate in testing/upgrading of systems and training of other staff.

h. Perform other related duties as required including backing up other staff members of the Section.

3. Requirements

Education (Essential)

Completion of secondary education supplemented by training or post-secondary education in accounting and/or finance.

Education (Desirable)

First-level university degree in accounting/finance.

Experience (Essential)

At least eight years of accounting or finance-related work experience.

Experience working with an ERP system.

Experience (Desirable)

Related experience within the United Nations common system or another international organization.

Language (Essential)

Excellent written and spoken knowledge of English.

Language (Desirable)

Knowledge of another official UN language.

Job Related Competencies (Essential)

Good knowledge of accounting and financial principles, procedures and systems.

Ability to understand, interpret, work within and explain applicable accounting and financial rules, regulations and procedures.

Ability to manage and evaluate financial transactions using computer-based systems and to use independent judgment to search and correct information.

Ability to prioritize work assignments, organize own schedule, perform work independently as well as work effectively in a team, meet deadlines and provide technical guidance to subordinate staff.

Accuracy and attention to detail.

Competent user of Microsoft Office applications, and the ability to work with and adapt quickly to new software.

Ability to tactfully deal with clients and respond to complex queries both orally and in writing in a clear and concise manner and draft correspondence and responses requiring subject-matter expertise.

Excellent communication and interpersonal skills and ability to maintain effective partnerships and working relations in a multi-cultural environment with sensitivity and respect for diversity.

4. Organizational Competencies

1. Communicating effectively.

2. Showing team spirit.

3. Demonstrating integrity.

4. Valuing diversity.

5. Producing results.

6. Showing service orientation.

7. Seeing the big picture.

8. Seeking change and innovation.

9. Developing yourself and others.

5. Information

Mobility: WIPO staff members are international civil servants subject to the authority of the Director General and may be assigned to any activities of the Organization. Accordingly, the selected candidate may be required to move from time to time to new functions.

Annual salary (Net of tax): 86,924 CHF

Please refer to WIPO’s Staff Regulation and Rules for detailed information concerning salaries, benefits and allowances.

Additional Information

* Initial fixed-term appointment of one year, renewable subject to satisfactory performance and other applicable conditions. The selected candidate's appointment will be subject to an overall term of five years in this position, with normally no possibility of renewal beyond that term. S/he may, however, apply and be considered for other positions at WIPO.

This is not applicable to WIPO staff members on fixed-term, continuing or permanent appointments, who were recruited following a competition under Staff Regulation 4.10 (“Appointment Boards”).

Dependency allowances

7,939 CHF per year for dependent spouse; 6,398 CHF per year for each dependent child.

Language allowance

Arabic, Chinese, English, French, German, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, Russian and Spanish: 4,788 CHF per year for two of these languages, and 3,192 CHF per year for one of them. The allowance is not payable for the mother tongue or the main working language of the staff member. The grant of this allowance is subject to examination.

General Service posts are generally subject to local recruitment. Staff in the General Service category is recruited in the host country or within reasonable commuting distance of the Headquarters.

This vacancy announcement may be used to fill other posts at the same grade with similar functions in accordance with Staff Rule 4.9.5.

Applications from qualified women as well as from qualified nationals of unrepresented Member States of WIPO and underrepresented geographical regions are encouraged. Please click on the following links for the list of unrepresented Member States and the list of underrepresented regions and the WIPO Member States in these regions.

The Organization reserves the right to make an appointment at a grade lower than that advertised.

By completing an application, candidates understand that any willful misrepresentation made on this web site, or on any other documents submitted to WIPO during the application, may result in disqualification from the recruitment process, or termination of employment with WIPO at a later date, if that employment resulted from such willful misrepresentations.

In the event that your candidature is shortlisted, you will be required to provide, in advance, a scanned copy of your identification and the degree(s)/diploma(s)/certificate(s) required for this position. WIPO recognizes higher educational qualifications obtained from institutions accredited/recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED), a list maintained by the International Association of Universities (IAU) / United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The list can be accessed here: Some higher educational qualifications may not be listed in WHED, and will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.

Additional testing/interviewing may be used as a form of screening. Initial appointment is subject to satisfactory professional references.

Additional background checks may be required.