Job Description

Senior Accounting Assistant Job #: req34419
Organization: World Bank
Sector: Finance & Accounting
Grade: GD
Term Duration: 3 years 0 months
Recruitment Type: Local Recruitment
Location: Chennai,India
Required Language(s): English
Preferred Language(s):
Closing Date: 10/7/2025 (MM/DD/YYYY) at 11:59pm UTC
Description
Do you want to build a career that is truly worthwhile? Working at the World Bank provides a unique opportunity for you to join us to help our clients solve their greatest development challenges. The World Bank (WB) is one of the largest sources of funding and knowledge for developing countries; a unique global partnership of five institutions (IBRD, IDA, IFC, MIGA, and ICSID) dedicated to ending extreme poverty, increasing shared prosperity, and promoting sustainable development on a livable planet. With 189 member countries and more than 120 offices worldwide, we work with public and private sector partners, investing in groundbreaking projects and using data, research, and technology to develop solutions to the most urgent global challenges. For more information, visit www.worldbank.org.
The WB Finance & Accounting (WFA) Vice Presidency is responsible for all aspects of the financial reporting and internal control framework for IBRD and IDA, and the extensive Trust Fund/Partnership portfolio of the WB entities. It supports an appropriate fiduciary control framework and administering disbursements for Bank lending and leads the client service function for the WB's corporate expenses.
Organizationally, WFA is comprised of three departments: (1) Corporate Accounting and Reporting, (2) Trust Funds and Loans, and (3) Financial Controls. In WFA, our mandate supports both internal and external clients while we focus on delivery, optimization, impact, and people & culture.
WFA's WFAPA- Accounts Receivable, Payroll and Tax division (WFAPT in HQ and WFAPA in Chennai), part of the Financial Controls Department, is responsible for ensuring that (i) accounts receivable are recorded, monitored, and collected in a timely and efficient manner, (ii) salary and benefit payments to the WBG staff are processed in a timely and efficient manner, and (iii) tax allowances to the WBG staff and retirees are processed in a timely and efficient manner. It also provides strategic leadership and guidance to business units across the WBG on developing and maintaining an effective system of internal controls over AR, payroll, and tax.
The WFAPA is currently seeking a Senior Accounting Assistant for its Accounts Receivable team in Chennai. The Accounts Receivable Portfolio consists of External Receivables (ERS) such as Reimbursable Advisory Services (RAS), Externally Financed Output (EFO) etc., Internal Receivables, and Staff Receivables (SRS). The team is also responsible for monitoring and managing accounting activities of the Admin Revenue area.
How your contributions will help us achieve our goals
The Senior Accounting Assistant will partake in multiple areas of responsibilities which include managing Accounts Receivable Portfolio and Trial Balance Reporting to enable the smooth flow of processes in close coordination with the HQ team. The Senior Accounting Assistant will assist the team to complete the defined tasks within the prescribed time frame and procedures. The Senior Accounting Assistant will also coordinate with HR/ BPS/Treasury/Country Offices/Information and Technology Solutions Group (ITS) based on the process requirements.
The Senior Accounting Assistant will report to the Accounting Officer.
What you will do:

• Manage staff receivables and loans disbursed to all World Bank group staff members at Headquarters and Country Offices.

• Provide technical guidance to accounting issues that relate to the PeopleSoft Staff Receivables System (PS-SRS), staff loan disbursements and prepayments transactions.

• Assist and coordinate with ITS in researching, analyzing, and resolving accounting issues in various applications such as PS-SRS and SAP.

• Generate, collate, compile, and submit reports related to staff loan and receivable accounts as may be required / requested from time to time.

• Ensure timely release of transactions to the Payroll system and execute SRS accounting every fortnight; Review the key SRS and Payroll reports and take appropriate action before payroll close; Work closely with Payroll, HR, and Country Office staff to resolve collection issues.

• Timely submission of the write-off request to HQ.

• Ensure the correctness of accounting for External and Inter-Company Receivables and follow up with clients for collection.

• Review open items in suspense accounts and aging schedules for both staff and external receivables and ensure that amounts due to the Bank are collected promptly. Analyze monthly external revenues and respond to queries.

• Prepare & Review monthly Trial Balance for Accounts Receivable and ensure timely submission.

• Prepare & Review monthly Admin Trial Balance for Accounts Receivable team and ensure timely submission.

• Prepare & review the various reports associated with the monthly Trial Balance reporting.

• Identify and provide inputs to process improvement initiatives.

• Prepare invoices for IMF Paris rent, and IFC Payroll before sending it to the clients.

• Record the various revenue postings and ensure those are as per the contract agreements and established policies and procedures.

• Monitor and record the revenue accruals in SAP on a periodical basis.

• Prepare accrual and deferral requests during the year-end and coordinating with WFACR and various units for posting the entries.

• Create process documentation and update desktop procedures in Accounts Receivable team.

• Respond to tier-2 client inquiries effectively and resolve problems or provide alternative solutions.

• Collaborate with colleagues, clients, and counterparts to resolve day to day accounting and reporting issues.

• Record transactions in SAP that are below the specified threshold.

• Provide inputs for the quarterly KPI and Ops Risk Report.

• Assist in handling special projects as and when required.

• Perform high-end data analytics where required.

• Provide monthly MIS reports to the Accounting Officer.

• Handle additional tasks as and when assigned.

Selection Criteria
"Note: "Only applicants who are nationals, legal residents, or otherwise have legal presence in the duty station independent of any employer, and who are authorized to work in the duty station, will be considered."
What you will bring:
Education:

• Bachelor's or master's degree in a relevant discipline (Finance or Accounting).

• Professional accounting qualification (Ex. CA, CPA, ACCA) not mandatory but is a plus.

Experience:

• Minimum 1 year of relevant work experience in the functional area.

• Preferable: Background in financial service industry and familiarity with banking transactions, Multinational organization experience would be advantageous.

• Proficiency in SAP and Microsoft Office tools.

• Experience in PeopleSoft systems will be an added advantage.

Knowledge and Skills:

• Deliver Results for clients - Exhibit a personality that enables the incumbent to be client-focused, flexible and an excellent team player. Ability to manage time and prioritize/execute own tasks.

• Staff rules and procedures - Good knowledge of rules, policies and procedures that relate to area of work.

• Communication - Strong verbal and written communication skills, including the ability to write clear, concise and complete procedures.

• Analytical thinking - Good analytical skills with ability to collate and interpret data, assess issues, develop sound conclusions, formulate remedial measures with attention to detail and accuracy.

• Make Smart Decisions - Excellent judgment, ability to carry out a multidimensional, multi-functional work program.

• Collaboration - Ability to effectively work with various levels of staff within the department and across the institution

• Project Management - Ability to manage time and prioritize/execute own tasks.

• Lead and Innovate - Proven track record of problem-solving skills in an automated accounting environment.

• Digital dexterity -

o Working knowledge of WBG core functional systems and processes
o Good knowledge of data and analytical tools like MS-Excel, PowerBI, Tableau
o Good knowledge of reporting tools such as MS PowerPoint, MS Word.
o Basic understanding of process improvement techniques and tools (Lean, Six sigma)
o Basic understanding of automated solutions like RPA, AI/ML etc.
Abilities:

• Strong communication skills, including the ability to explain and express views/opinions clearly and confidently.

• Ability to deal sensitively in a multi-cultural environment and build effective working relations with clients and colleagues.

• Demonstrated ability to analyze business process requirements and translate them into design specifications for process changes and automated solutions.

WBG Culture Attributes:
1. Sense of Urgency - Anticipating and quickly reacting to the needs of internal and external stakeholders. 2. Thoughtful Risk Taking - Taking informed and thoughtful risks and making courageous decisions to push boundaries for greater impact.3. Empowerment and Accountability - Engaging with others in an empowered and accountable manner for impactful results.
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 and , including our values and inspiring stories.

Skills Required