Financial assistant

At the World Bank, a member of the World Bank Group (WBG), you’ll join a diverse, global community working across cultures, disciplines, and borders to address the world’s most pressing development challenges. With 1.2 billion young people reaching working age in the decade ahead, the challenge of job creation has never been greater. Through partnerships across 145 countries and more than 182 offices worldwide, we work with governments, private sector, development partners and other stakeholders to invest in people, strengthen markets, and deliver scalable, data-driven solutions that generate more and better jobs and improve lives. For more information, visit https://www.worldbank.org/en/who-we-are/ibrd

The World Bank Group (WBG) Treasury:

WBG Treasury is the Vice Presidency (VPU), reporting to the Managing Director and World Bank Group Chief Financial Officer, performing treasury functions for the World Bank Group and other public and private sector entities. Its activities are organized and grouped into the following divisions: Capital Markets; Asset Management; Client Solutions & Structuring; Treasury Operations; Treasury Partnerships & Advisory; and Treasury Risk, Compliance & Controls. Treasury has been a large and significant participant in the international financial markets for over eighty years and has achieved a global reputation as a prudent and innovative borrower, investor, and risk manager. Treasury is responsible for: (i) managing approximately $300 billion in assets for the World Bank Group and other official sector investors; (ii) leading IBRD's, IDA's and IFC’s triple-A rated financing programs in international and domestic bond and derivative markets; (iii) conducting asset and liability management for IBRD's, IDA’s and IFC's balance sheets; (iv) overseeing the development and outreach related to the financing and hedging products the WBG provides for its developing-country clients; and (v) collaborating with the World Bank member countries to help build their financial markets related capacity through advisory services. Staff in Treasury regularly interact and work with other Departments across the WBG finance, operations, and investment teams.

The Treasury Operations Department (TREOP) provides a full range of operational support for Treasury’s asset management, capital markets and banking businesses. The Department is presently organized in 7 operational units: Asset and Liability Operations (TREAL), Quantitative Solutions and Analytics (TREQA), and Cash and Banking Operations (TREBK), Treasury Quantitative Modelling (TREQM), Treasury ALM & Collateral (TREAC), Treasury Market Data and Valuation (TREMV) and a Financial Technology coordination unit (TREFT).

The Treasury Banking Operations (TREBK) team ensures all World Bank Group payments, receipts, and FX related to corporate cash activity are processed and performs key reconciliation controls and reporting over cash transactions and investment portfolios. The unit consists of four teams responsible for coordinating to execute the work program: (1) cash planning and ensuring all FX conversions are executed to meet liquidity needs and processing payments and receipts for proper accounting; (2) managing bank accounts and relationships with all corporate banking counterparts (BKR): (3) performing controls to ensure the completeness, accuracy and validity of all cash and security positions, investigating and resolving differences with external records, and financial reporting of cash balances and external client reporting of investment holdings (IRA); and (4) managing the WBG’s SWIFT infrastructure, maintaining SSIs and key banking and payment static data, and managing TREBK’s technology projects (SSPM).

Duties and Accountabilities:

The TRE Operations Chennai (TRECH) is an integral part of TRE and is responsible for a variety of duties providing vital support across its operational divisions. It works closely with the Headquarters in Washington D.C and another shared services center in Sofia, Bulgaria. Under the guidance and supervision of a Team Lead and/or Functional Lead, the incumbent will have responsibilities for specific individual tasks/projects as well as for working as an integral part of the team in executing the Treasury Operation’s work program, while maintaining close relationships with the other Treasury departments.

The role is in Investigations, Reconciliation and Accounting (IRA) team which is responsible for performing controls that include the investigation of cash exceptions, reconciliation of cash and security positions, and financial reporting of cash balances and external client reporting of investment holdings. In performing these functions, the team works closely with internal partners and market counterparts as well as external service providers such as technology vendors, banks, and paying agents. As and when required, the team is also expected to facilitate the implementation of new products, markets, and business-related technology solutions.

Her / His primary responsibilities will include, but are not limited to, some combination of the following activities to support any of the business lines in Treasury Operation’s operational division:

• Cash Investigations:
• Perform timely and efficient processing and resolution of cash payment or receipt investigations cases that arise out of reconciliation breaks, or emails and SWIFT (MT and MX) messages from clients, counterparties, business units and correspondent banks.
• Liaise with various teams across the Bank and with external banking partners to address payment issues, effect action and resolve cases.
• Identify trends and patterns, prepare commentaries on results / findings, and recommend solutions in a pro-active manner with regard to cash payment and receipt investigation.
• Cash Reconciliation and Reporting:
• Perform daily reconciliation of cash transactions (in several currencies) thus ensuring transactions related to corporate cash processed by cash management team are settled correctly, and any exceptions are investigated and resolved.
• Investigate reconciliation differences, perform analysis, posting necessary adjustments for resolution of any differences, preparing commentaries on results / findings, and recommending solutions in a proactive manner.
• Investigate and report cash overdrafts and long balances in relation to external cash balances.
• Cash Accounting:
• Assist in the month-end book close process for cash including preparation of reports and necessary adjustments needed to ensure accuracy of data and balances that are sent to general ledger (SAP).
• Assist in the prompt delivery of daily, monthly, quarterly, and year-end deliverables and other ad- hoc reporting requirements for Treasury's worldwide clients.
• Prepare daily system-to-system reconciliations and controls reviews, investigate breaks and communicate findings promptly to ensure proper follow-up and timely resolutions of any identified differences and exceptions.
• General
• Support the team in developing, testing, and maintaining automation solutions to improve efficiency, accuracy, and data quality.
• Perform basic data analysis and help identify trends, exceptions, and opportunities for process improvement.
• Perform other ad hoc tasks and assignments as required.

As determined by management, depending on business needs:

• The work program is subject to change at any time and the candidate may be reassigned to another team.
• The candidate is expected to work Singapore / London shift and at times will be required to provide extended support to overlap with Washington DC.
• Candidate will be required to observe US Holiday calendar and might be required to work on designated holidays to meet reporting deadlines as per business needs.
• The position requires candidate to work from office in Chennai and comply with WBG's office presence guidelines for staff (currently in office presence 4 days per week).

Selection Criteria

Attention: "Preference will be given to local talent, that is, applicants that are authorized to work in the duty station for any employer. Internal applicants may apply per existing guidelines."

1. Bachelor’s degree in commerce, Accounting, Finance, Business Administration or Computer applications with 1-2 years of relevant professional experience. Candidates with post-graduate degrees in similar disciplines will have an advantage.
2. Knowledge of the payments processing space, including SWIFT payments, ACH clearing, and cross-border payments. A strong understanding of the common issues encountered in payments processing, and future trends (particularly ISO 20022), and technology shaping the payments industry.
3. Knowledge of cash reconciliation and accounting processes, and the ability to effectively investigate differences stemming from cash processing and/or bank account issues with systems that support such activities like Quantum, Intellimatch, TLM, Pega or other proprietary Banking Systems.
4. Strong quantitative, analytical, and problem-solving skills. Demonstrated interest in learning new technology, automation, process improvement, and the use of technology to improve operational efficiency and maximum productivity.
5. Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to interact tactfully with clients and/or business associates across all levels, while exercising sound judgement in handling confidential information.
6. High level of initiative, willingness to learn, self-confidence, and a self-starter. Ability to apply a practical matured approach to problem solving with minimum supervision.
7. Demonstrated ability to handle a variety of concurrent activities with excellent organization and time management skills, mature judgment, strong attention to detail and ability to work under pressure.
8. Diplomacy and strong interpersonal skills with strong commitment to work in a respectful team-oriented and multi-cultural work environment.
9. Highest ethical standards.

Note: This internal requisition is open to WBG and IMF staff only (including short-term and extended term consultants/temporaries). External candidates are requested not to apply. In case an external candidate applies, their application will not be considered.

As the World Bank Group continues to evolve, we value candidates who:

• Demonstrate the ability to collaborate effectively across teams, disciplines, cultures, and institutional boundaries.
• Responsibly leverage digital and AI-enabled tools to enhance productivity, learning, and decision-making.
• Bring experience working in fragile, conflict-affected, and violent (FCV) contexts and are encouraged to highlight relevant experience in their application materials, where applicable.

WBG Culture Attributes:

1. Sense of urgency: Anticipate and quickly respond to the needs of internal and external stakeholders.
2. Thoughtful risk-taking: Challenge the status quo and push boundaries to achieve greater impact.
3. Empowerment and accountability: Empower yourself and others to act and hold each other accountable for results.

The World Bank Group offers comprehensive benefits, including a retirement plan; medical, life and disability insurance; and paid leave, including parental leave, as well as reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities.

We are proud to be an equal opportunity and inclusive employer with a dedicated and committed workforce, and do not discriminate based on gender, gender identity, religion, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or disability.

Learn more about working at the World Bank and IFC including our values and inspiring stories.