Accounting Analyst

Accounting Analyst Job #: req34758 Organization: World Bank Sector: Finance & Accounting Grade: GE Term Duration: 3 years 0 months Recruitment Type: Local Recruitment Location: Chennai,India Required Language(s): English Preferred Language(s): Closing Date: 11/17/2025 (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.
Within WFA Financial Controls Department, WFA Accounts Receivable (AR), Payroll and Tax division (WFAPT in HQ and WFAPA in Chennai), 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.
WFAPA is currently seeking, an Accounting Analyst for its payroll team in Chennai; that is responsible for processing of salary and benefit payments to the World bank Group staff on a fortnightly basis. This includes ensuring proper controls over the entire process and adhering to the Bank’s policies and procedures.
How your contributions will help us achieve our goals:
The Accounting Analyst will undertake multiple areas of responsibilities which includes performing all tasks included in the payroll schedule in a timely manner to ensure the accuracy of Payroll payments. He/She will assist the team to complete defined tasks within the prescribed time frame and procedures. He/She will coordinate with a wide range of stakeholders, such as, HR, Country Office staff, Treasury, Information and Technology Solutions Group (ITS), and Legal based on process requirements. 
The Accounting Analyst will report to the Accounting Officer.
What you will do:
•   Coordinate with ITS and Staff receivable system (SRS) at various stages of payroll cycle to ensure programs have run; coordinate with co-workers on completion of work before moving to the next stage of the process.•   Perform a secondary review of exception reports and review exception items reported in the dashboard. Advise necessary corrections to the assistants and ensure changes are made in the paycheck before finalizing payroll.•   Review paychecks of all terminated staff who have a paycheck in the current pay cycle; ensure benefits are calculated appropriately and that there are no outstanding payments due from them.•   Handle queries from staff through emails received on the service desk within the agreed turn-around time.•   Finalize and release off-cycle payments and salary advances.•   Continuously monitor all GL accounts and prepare periodic reconciliations relating to Payroll; follow up with clients and other units on aged and critical items.•   Prepare monthly Trial Balance; analyze and explain variances, and aged items.•   Provide inputs to Management Reporting and Analysis.•   Prepare and monitor KPIs metrics monthly – with benchmark data; explain significant variances.•   Prepare the unit’s operational reports.•   Prepare reports from the source system (SAP/BI) to develop the data analytics/trends needed to support the unit’s reporting needs.•   Implement and monitor relevant accounting policies and ICFR requirements of the Team.•   Prepare and post general ledger accounting entries.•   Lead or participate in the team’s system projects affecting reporting function, including preparation of business requirements, and liaising with other units and ITS.•   Participate in the user acceptance testing (UAT) and implementation of any new systems, applications, tools, and reports for the team, to enhance efficiency, effectiveness, and standardization.•   Identify problems and areas of possible improvements; develop constructive recommendations for improvements in internal controls over the activities reviewed.•   Mentor junior staff and provide input to senior-level staff to help optimize processing standards and improve productivity; identify process improvements and provide inputs to support management initiatives to improve process quality & process-related controls.•   Troubleshoot and resolve system issues that affect payroll processing and financial reporting.•   Answer queries and provide information/analysis requested by external auditors and internal auditors.•   Update desk procedures for each business function.•   Collaborate with colleagues, clients, and counterparts to resolve day-to-day accounting and reporting issues; provide guidance and solutions for accounting transactions, and internal control issues.•   Participate in team’s client engagement and outreach activities; and perform business advisory functions.•   Provide insightful data analytics using appropriate tools in delivering the work program.

Selection Criteria

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) – is a must.
Experience:
•   Minimum 3 years of work experience in the functional area.•   Preferable: Background in payroll function in the 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 – Proven track record of timely and high-quality service delivery, handling escalations, and advisory support.•   Staff rules and procedures – Sound knowledge of rules, policies and procedures that relate to area of work.•   Communication – Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including the ability to present ideas in a clear and concise manner. Good presentation skills.•   Analytical thinking – Excellent 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, and the ability to thrive in a multidimensional, multi-functional work environment.•   Collaboration - Ability to effectively work with various levels of staff within the department and across the institution; maintain continuous, open, and consistent communication with all stake holders.•   Project Management – Ability to lead and manage small automation projects/initiatives.•   Lead and Innovate – Demonstrated ability to identify areas of improvement and enhancements to policies, processes, procedures, and systems.•   Digital dexterity -o  Sound knowledge of WBG core functional systems and processes o  Sound knowledge of data and analytical tools like MS-Excel, PowerBI, Tableau o  Sound knowledge of reporting tools such as MS PowerPoint, MS Word.o  Good understanding of process improvement techniques and tools (Lean, Six sigma) o  Good 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.