Job: Resource Management Analyst

Location: Vienna, Austria
Deadline: Thursday, 08 August 2013 

Description

Background / General description:

The Europe and Central Asia (ECA) region comprises of 30 extremely diverse countries, with a population of nearly 500 million people. Four of our clients are IDA only and another 5 are IDA blend countries. The remaining 21 are IBRD eligible. Although 10 of our clients have joined the EU and 7 of these have graduated, most continue to remain active recipients of knowledge and/or lending services. Country Partnership Strategies (CPSs) reflect this strong diversity with substantial variation in lending prospects, but strong demand for Bank technical services is present across the board.

For the most part, countries in the ECA region have recovered to the GDP levels prevailing prior to the 2008/09 crisis, yet growth is slower than before the crisis. GDP growth in the region is estimated to have fallen to 3 percent in 2012, from 5.5 percent in 2011, and is projected to rebound only slightly to 3.6 percent in 2013. The crisis left ECA countries with historically high levels of unemployment, which are still worsening, particularly in the Balkans. Furthermore, the ongoing sovereign debt problems in Western Europe are posing challenges to the sustainability of the tepid recovery. The World Bank is helping its ECA clients by implementing a regional strategy that is focused on addressing three critical challenges to growth and development---improving competitiveness, reforming the social sectors to achieve inclusive growth, and making growth more sustainable through climate action. Governance and gender issues cut across these three strategic pillars.

The financial and economic crisis led to a substantial increase in Bank lending and knowledge activities in all ECA countries, including in several EU members states (e.g., Latvia, Romania, and Poland). The crisis helped serve as a powerful reminder of the relevance of the Bank both as an attractive source of funding and a reliable provider of timely and quality advice.

The ECA Region has an annual budget of about $ 200 million, excluding trust funds, and about 900 staff of which more than 50 percent are in country offices. Over 80% of the Region's budget flows through some 30 country programs and the remaining 20% is allocated to regional initiatives and central units. The Region is organized into 7 country units, 5 Sector Units, and 25 country offices. The Resource Management (RM) team (ECACA), under the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO), supports regional, departmental and unit work program and resource planning, implementation, and monitoring for all client units. ECA's RM staff operate within a matrix environment which requires a very strong drive for results combined with collaborative and multi-tasking capabilities.

The World Bank has had a satellite office in Vienna since 2007. The office currently houses the Center for Financial Reporting Reform (CFRR), a unit that has been set up with Bank and donor funds to be a center of knowledge and technical excellence on corporate sector financial reporting issues. In addition, it also houses the Vienna Center for Financial Sector Advisory Services (FinSAC), which is also jointly funded by the Bank and donors, and whose objective is to facilitate delivery of best-practice financial sector advisory services to member countries in the Europe and Central Asia region. Moreover, staff from the Investment Climate unit of the IFC and a staff member from WBI are also located in the office. In total, there are currently 35 staff, but the number is growing as the Western Balkans CMU (ECCU4) is decentralizing, and a number of other sector units in ECA, as well as IFC units are decentralizing some positions there. ECCU4 manages client engagement and a portfolio of lending and non-lending support in six countries - Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, FYR Macedonia, Montenegro, and Serbia - at different stages of economic and social development.

Note: If the selected candidate is a current Bank Group staff member with a Regular or Open-Ended appointment, s/he will retain his/her Regular or Open-Ended appointment. All others will be offered a 2 year term appointment.

  Duties and Accountabilities:

The Resource Management Analyst (RMA) will be part of the RM Team at the Vienna Satellite Office and will work under the guidance of the Resource Management Officer.

The Resource Management Analyst (RMA) will handle diverse and moderately complex issues related to day-to-day accounting, administration, resource management work programs, internal controls including quality assurance reviews, SAP transactions processing, administrative and operational procurement. The candidate's duties will include, but are not limited to:

Financial Management of the Office Expenses:

• Accountability: Under the supervision of the RM Officer and the general direction of the CAO and the Manager (Vienna Satellite Office), is responsible for the accounting function and effective financial management of the office expenses. May provide day to day guidance and supervision to the transaction specialists and administrative staff in the Office.
• Business Planning and Indicators: Assists in budget planning and expense monitoring for CFRR work program and TFs; assists in planning of expenses for day to day running of the Office; contributes to the development of indicators for the Vienna Satellite Office; and may provide assistance in the ECCU4 work program planning and compact preparation.
• Cost Analysis and Effectiveness: Measures cost effectiveness and proposes solutions to the identified issues.
• Monitoring: Independently monitors and reviews budgets, external funding (e.g. Trust Funds), chargeback, expenses, performance indicators etc.; identifying/resolving issues, and discussing them with the RM officer and managers of respective units; prepares invoices for RAS (reimbursable advisory services) in accordance with billing protocol and in consultation with the units task team leaders; ensures that unit has optimum cash balance to include funds management and cash flow projections; and reviews open-item reports, prepares monthly accounting reports, responds to scorecard findings, etc.
  Financial Control and Fiduciary Responsibilities:
• Support internal controls framework of the financial transactions and business operations, including review of effectiveness of the internal control systems and monitoring in this Office.
• Within the SAP framework establishes and coordinates specification for and implements new or enhanced office specific reporting systems to meet management and Institutional requirements.
• Works with RM Officer to ensure a strong control environment in the office and provides advice on control issues.
• Ensures that audit, quality assurance review and COSO recommendations are implemented.
• Follow up to ensure Office LOR is completed on time and quality assurance and compliance requests are responded.
  Reporting, Communications and Liaison:
• Proactively establishes and maintains interface with the internal and external clients; participates in team meetings; and ensures effective back-up arrangement and timely submissions of tasks/outputs.
• Provides information and first level analysis to RM Officers with respect to the management of resources (e.g., budget, expenses, unit costs/performance measures, staffing, space, etc.).
• Provides support to managers and staff in choosing, accessing and interpreting management reports available in SAP and other information systems.
• Administers RM policies and procedures, including providing guidance, interpretation and recommending action.
• Maintains consistency in the application of accounting rules and procedures, including safeguarding the cash and checks.
• Prepares various analyses, highlighting trends, issues, contributions to various reports.
• Ensures compliance with specific institutional and regional guidelines. 
  General Administration:
• Ensures smooth operation of office facilities on a daily basis.
• Ensures that Bank's assets and inventories are appropriately recorded and safeguarded.
• May act as Security Champion or EMT member of this satellite office; keeps the Crisis Action Plan and Business Continuity Plan up-to-date; implements recommendations of the security assessment report and responds promptly to security issues.
• Handles the local procurement of supplies, goods and services; and maintains close coordination with GSD for administrative procurement issues .
• Helps in development of administrative policies and practices (in consultation with other units) for the efficient and effective operation of the office.
• Helps in development of cost-sharing arrangements and ensures that they are properly followed up and recorded. 
  Human Resource Management:
• May support day-to-day human resource activities e.g. recruitment of STC/STT, local hire and benefits administration.
• Provide back-up support to the RMO in recruitment/selection processes; and the advisory role for staff benefits or related issues.
• Work in close coordination with the RMO on the staff relocation issues; oversee the liaison with the local ministries/authorities for residential visas, work permits, official permits (VAT exemption), etc.; and update the Relocation guide when needed.
• Communicates staff rules and procedures to all staff when required. 
  Other Duties and Responsibilities:
• Liaise with other RM staff within the Region to discuss/resolve budget issues, (e.g., budget transfers, cross support), as well as sharing of knowledge and best practice.
• Acts as back-up for the satellite office RMO and other RM staff in ECCU4, as and when needed. 
  Work implies frequent interaction with the following:
• Internal: Staff within the office and other RM staff in the VPU and Bank-wide.
• External: Consultants and Vendors

  Selection Criteria:

Specific skills and competences that are required to fulfill the duties and responsibilities of the RM Analyst position, Level GE include:

• Integrity and Independence - Conducts transactions with honesty, integrity and transparency and allowing for oversight; prepares accurate reports, ensuring that pertinent facts are fairly presented; and shares information freely.
• Statutory and other Stakeholder Reporting - Understands the components of financial statements, and how specific transactions will affect these components. Can produce pro-forma financial statements and reports; familiar with the disclosure requirements and accompanying notes, and management and auditor's reports.
• Internal controls and corporate procedures - Aware of guidelines for processing transactions and the relevant internal control components. Can analyze data and business processes to determine the viability of controls and procedures, and identify any issues or areas of risk.
• Planning and Budgeting - Can produce standard reports and budgets, and analyze budget information; understands the entity's funding structure and sources.
• Performance Evaluation and Reporting - Able to determine the information needs of users and present information that supports management decision making.
• Client Orientation - Takes personal responsibility and accountability for timely response to client queries, requests or needs, working to remove obstacles that may impede execution or overall success.
• Drive for Results - Takes personal ownership and accountability to meet deadlines and achieve agreed-upon results, and has the personal organization to do so.
• Teamwork (Collaboration) and Inclusion - Collaborates with other team members and contributes productively to the team's work and output, demonstrating respect for different points of view.
• Knowledge, Learning and Communication - Actively seeks knowledge needed to complete assignments and shares knowledge with others, communicating and presenting information in a clear and organized manner.
• Business Judgment and Analytical Decision Making - Analyzes facts and data to support sound, logical decisions regarding own and others' work. 
  Other Selection Criteria:
• Minimum Education: BA (a relevant BA degree, e.g., Finance, Accounting, Business, Economics) OR completion of the RM Board-sponsored Supplementary Education Criteria Program (SEC).
• Minimum Years of Relevant Experience: 3 years' experience in a relevant field e.g., Administration, Accounting or Finance
• Relevant knowledge of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) and understanding of COSO philosophy. Knowledge of Bank's accounting system and/or experience in accounting systems with comparable level of complexity and high degree of integration.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Windows applications, namely Excel, Word and Power Point. Demonstrated ability to learn new technology quickly and effectively use it for maximum productivity.

More Info and Application