Accounting Manager

Grade: IS-5
Deadline: 31 December 2024 (11:59 PM KST)
Job Category: International
Salary: USD 145,000 (plus attractive benefits, that include the following allowances (as applicable): Relocation, dependency, housing, education assistance and home country travel.

Introduction
The Green Climate Fund is the world’s largest dedicated multilateral climate fund and invests in impactful, innovative, catalytic programs and projects in developing countries across the globe. By the end of 2023, GCF had a portfolio of 243 projects in 129 countries, committing a total of USD 13.5 billion to date. 

In 2023, an additional USD 12.8 billion was pledged, to support our new strategic and programming cycle from 2024-2027; our ambition is to grow to become at least a USD 50 billion fund by 2030. Rooted in the core objectives of impact and efficiency, access and a focus on the most vulnerable, and mobilizing a much higher scale of public and private sector financial flows for climate action we have an unparalleled scale of resources, which, together with our risk appetite and flexibility allows us to bring together different partners and stakeholders in innovative partnerships for profound impact. 

GCF is seeking a top-tier individual with a demonstrable track record of harnessing experience, energy and networks to tackle complex global climate change challenges. You will be committed to making a positive, measurable difference through a mission-driven role, and thrive in a fast-paced, diverse environment.  

You will be able to quickly scan and analyze complex, competing issues and lead significant sized teams to find solutions in evolving contexts, across multiple geographic locations. 

You will be a nurturer of people: recognizing and growing the talent around you, exemplifying values of transparency, respect and innovation.

You will be committed to learning, knowledge-sharing, convening and communicating with partners to work together to ideate, develop and implement climate action initiatives that make a profound difference to people and planet.

You will join a team of talented, committed individuals representing almost 80 nationalities contributing skills and experience from academic, scientific, private, government and nonprofit backgrounds.  Together, we work with governments, communities and civil society, technical agencies, and the private sector across the world.

Interested in more information? 
Learn about working for GCF: https://www.greenclimate.fund/about/careers 
View current vacancies: https://jobs.greenclimate.fund/

About the Green Climate Fund (GCF)
Set up in 2010 by the 194 countries who are Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), GCF takes its responsibility as the world’s largest dedicated multilateral climate fund to heart.  GCF funds transformative climate projects across the developing world, supporting countries in their responses and actions to tackle climate change while fostering sustainable development within their communities. 

Our country-driven approach ensures that our actions are tailored to the unique circumstances and national aspirations of each nation we support. Besides channeling public and private sector investment through a broad range of financing instruments, GCF builds the capacity of developing countries to take climate action through an extensive Readiness Programme ensuring countries are increasingly well-equipped and financed to manage their climate futures.

Headquartered in the Republic of Korea, GCF operates with a diverse and talented workforce of over 300 people. 

Position Objective

The Accounting Manager is responsible in ensuring the GCF maintains accurate and compliant financial records, policies, and practices. S/he is responsible for overseeing the accounting team’s activities of maintaining accurate and compliant financial records and producing financial statements in accordance with the International Financial Reporting Standard (IFRS) and Green Climate Fund’s relevant accounting policies/framework. S/he will manage internal and external audit requirements to ensure the timely completion of the annual audit. The Accounting Manager will also closely work with other key stakeholders for various financial operations of GCF, such as payroll, credit cards, Daily Subsistence Allowance (DSA), retirement plan, disbursements, bank relations and internal accounting.

The Accounting Manager will be responsible for reviewing all accounting policies and procedures of GCF to make sure they remain fit for purpose and current and for developing new accounting policies and procedures as GCF matures and grows in complexity and ambition. S/he will be supported in these tasks by a team of professionals, and s/he will take on the responsibility of organizing and leading this team to maximum effectiveness, while guiding the individual careers of each member.

The role will regularly work with the GCF Board’s Ethics and Audit Committee. Prior versions of this role were primarily operational, relying heavily on manual processes. The current iteration considers the already-implemented Enterprise Resource Planning system (Oracle Fusion) that allows a significant increase in automation, allowing unprecedented insight and control of GCF’s accounting system. The incumbent will be able to optimize the systems and procedures for maximum transparency and efficiency while improving internal controls. An ideal candidate will use this opportunity to align the accounting function of GCF with its programmatic objectives and promote innovation in GCF’s business model and be able to communicate all of this with clear, succinct, and memorable narratives to all stakeholders. The Accounting Manager will work with the Chief Finance and Risk Officer and their leadership team to keep GCF maturing and evolving over time.

Purpose 

• Manages the monthly, quarterly and year-end processes to ensure accurate and timely book and records keeping, compliant with the IFRS and the relevant GCF accounting policies/framework.
• Ensures accurate system information that feeds planning, forecasting, and budgeting; works closely with the Finance Planning and Analysis Manager to support senior management in data-driven decision-making.
• Generates unique insights into organizational efficiency and effectiveness from existing information, identifies gaps in information and designs and implements methods that capture critical information.
• Supports other areas of the finance team in matters related to the Board’s Budget Committee, including the Budget Committee’s meeting regardingschedule, work plan, documents and minutes.
• Monitor and report on technical accounting issues and developments, including researching and reviewing the impact of new accounting guidance.
• Develop and implement policies and procedures to ensure ongoing compliance with applicable accounting standards. Prepare technical accounting memos, white papers, and related materials to support the organization’s reporting position.
• Continuously update GCF’s accounting practices to the most current appropriate guidelines and incorporate them into GCF’s financial systems architecture
• Responsible for current accounting financial policies and procedures while originating new ones as needed and takes ownership of key elements of GCF’s Finance Manual.
• Provides accounting support and guidance across the organization as it relates to new matters such as changes in the readiness and accreditation, regionalization and other future GCF initiatives.

Engagement

• Manages the annual financial audit process; leads the process to select the auditor for GCF on behalf of GCF Board’s Ethics and Audit Committee, and interfaces with the Ethics and Audit Committee on all aspects of the financial audit, including the reporting of the audit findings and closure of required action items.
• Where appropriate, engages with the Secretariat’s executive leadership team and Heads of Independent Units to ensure proper bookkeeping procedures are being followed and to assist in any initiatives which have accounting aspects or implications.
• Uses data and insights to convince executive leadership and other stakeholders to take strategic actions.
• Builds a network between all offices within the Secretariat and the Independent Units to ensure consistency in financial reporting.
• Collaborates with other team members in preparing managerial reports, financial statements, treasury strategies, and financial management system implementation.
• Develops appropriate knowledge products to enlighten stakeholders and update internal policies and procedures, frameworks, guides, and manuals in accounting.

Delivery

• Ensures smooth financial operations, such as payroll review, Daily Subsistence Allowance (DSA) process, credit card reconciliation, travel and living expense review, payment process review, etc.
• Manages and coordinates the timely collection of all information for financial reporting and prepares financial reports within set timeframes.
• Leads the Secretariat’s engagement in the Ethics and Audit Committee deliberations regarding financial reporting matters, including the annual financial audit, selection of the external auditor, management of the external auditor, and evaluation of the external auditor while following up on all action items.
• Aligns all tasks executed by the accounting team with the policies and procedures of the Fund and the expectations of executive leadership.
• Continues to evolve frameworks and processes in the ERP (Oracle Fusion) to synthesize learnings, identify best practices and continuously improve financial reporting.
• Creates compelling financial narratives. Implements any recommendations from either the internal or external auditor as appropriate.

Requirements (Education, experience, technical competencies required of the job)

• Master’s degree in Business Administration, Commerce, Finance, Accounting, or similar
• Fully qualified Accountant (e.g. CA, ACCA, CPA, CIMA)
• In depth knowledge of International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) and International Accounting Standards (IAS)
• Certified Management Accountant (CMA) (alternative certifications such as Certified Corporate Financial Planning and Analysis Professional (FPAC) or Certified Financial Modelling and Valuation Analyst (FMVA) may be considered in lieu of CMA certification) will be an advantage
• Audit experience will be an advantage
• Fluency in English

Experience

• At least 11 years’ experience in accounting work in an International/Multilateral Organization engaging with top tier auditors
• At least 4 years’ experience in a management role
• Advanced knowledge of Oracle, Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Outlook, Power Automate, and business intelligence tools such as Power BI and Tableau
• Experience in data analytics and programming skills in Python etc. will be an added advantage

Competencies

• Demonstrates competencies for communication, teamwork, planning and organizing, accountability, client orientation, and technological awareness, including through the following:
• Monitors and adjusts plans and actions as necessary; Uses time efficiently.
• Identifies priority activities and assignments; adjusts priorities as required.
• Allocates appropriate amount of time and resources for completing work.
• Allocates team resources for maximum effectiveness.
• Develops team members and can attain from them their highest performance.
• Ability to work independently in a dynamic and fast paced environment.
• Foresees risks and allows for contingencies when planning.
• Works collaboratively with colleagues to achieve organizational goals.
• Solicits input by genuinely valuing others’ ideas and expertise; is willing to learn from others.
• Delivers outputs for which one has responsibility within prescribed time, cost and quality standards.
• Considers all those to whom services are provided to be “clients” and seeks to see things from clients’ point of view.
• Actively seeks to apply technology to appropriate tasks.
• Shows willingness to learn new and emerging technology in financial accounting.
• Demonstrates flexibility, fungibility, creativity, and problem solving talents to tackle emerging challenges of a growing, maturing, and evolving GCF

The closing date for application is 31 December 2024. Applications submitted after the deadline may not be considered.

*The person assessed by the Selection Panel as most suitable for the position will be proposed for appointment. Selection among short-listed candidates will also take into account performance at interview, appropriate testing, and references. 

Applications from women and nationals of developing countries are strongly encouraged to apply.