Senior Governance Specialist

Senior Governance Specialist Job #: req34980 Organization: World Bank Sector: Governance Grade: GG Term Duration: 3 years 0 months Recruitment Type: Local Recruitment Location: Vienna,Austria Required Language(s): English Preferred Language(s): Russian Closing Date: 12/1/2025 (MM/DD/YYYY) at 11:59pm UTC

Description

Do you want to build a career that is truly worthwhile? Working at the World Bank Group (WBG) provides a unique opportunity for you to help our clients solve their greatest development challenges. The World Bank Group is one of the largest sources of funding and knowledge for developing countries; a unique global partnership of five institutions dedicated to ending extreme poverty, boost prosperity on a livable planet, and promoting sustainable development. 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. ECA Governance Program Context The Governance Practice helps client countries build capable, efficient, open, inclusive, and accountable institutions. Countries with strong institutions prosper by creating an environment that facilitates sustainable growth, reduces poverty, delivers valuable services, and earns the confidence of its citizens.  The ECA Governance Program has the following business-lines:  • Domestic Resource Mobilization • Public Financial Management • Corporate Governance • Center of Government • Skills and Staffing • Integrity Institutions • Public Services • Subnational Governance• Justice • Fiduciary Assurance
Governance Practice engagements include diagnostics, technical assistance, and advisory services; learning, innovation, and knowledge management; preparation of financing operations and provision of project implementation support, monitoring and reporting. An important part of the Governance Practice’s responsibilities is to deliver operational support to other Practices, including through inputs for policy-based operations, hands-on implementation advice, and direct fiduciary due diligence of investment financing. Center for Financial and Sustainability Reporting Reform  The mission of the Centre for Financial and Sustainability Reporting Reform (CFRR) is to “Build strong institutional frameworks and develop capacity in financial and sustainability reporting to support private and financial sector development, public sector performance and accountability, sustainable growth, and shared prosperity on a livable planet.” CFRR provides advisory services, undertakes diagnostics and analytical work, manages peer learning networks and delivers training across six business lines:
• Corporate Financial Reporting • Sustainability Reporting • Monitoring and Enforcement • Capacity Building Institutions • State-Owned Enterprises Governance• Public Sector Accounting and Audit 
CFRR focuses its support on selected countries in the World Bank’s European and Central Asia region:  Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Kosovo, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, and Ukraine.  CFRR will gradually expand to include Central Asian countries. 
Duties and Accountability The Senior Governance Specialist will report to the ECA Governance Practice Manager and will be part of the ECA Governance Practice and Centre for Financial and Sustainability Reporting Reform teams. The Senior Governance Specialist will: 
• Develop, oversee, and report on CFRR’s corporate and public sector financial and sustainability reporting and governance work program. • Coordinate development and implementation of the work program with internal and external stakeholders including standard setting bodies.• Identify and develop opportunities for country engagement, build and sustain key stakeholder relationships, and assist stakeholders establish priorities. • Lead analytical and advisory work on accounting and auditing professional and continuing education issues in both corporate and public sectors as task team leader, technical specialist and team member as required. • Lead, guide and participate in research and knowledge products that translate technical issues and cross-country experience on professional and continuing education in both corporate and public sectors into practical applications for ECA clients. • Coordinate accounting and auditing professional and continuing education activities at the regional and country level with Governance Practice and other World Bank practices and IFC teams. • Provide on-the-job training and mentoring to less experienced staff with a view to building a team familiar with the applicable international or regional education standards, pronouncements and requirements for professional accountants. • Promote knowledge exchange on professional and continuing education related to corporate and public sector financial and sustainability reporting issues across the ECA region and contribute to the global knowledge program.• Undertake the financial management fiduciary support for World Bank projects as required. • Contribute to briefing materials, policy and institutional assessments, country program products, and other on-demand outputs.              

Selection Criteria

• A Master’s degree or Ph.D. in a relevant field such as finance, business administration, economics, or public policy. • Professional accountancy qualification and membership (CPA, CA, ACCA or equivalent membership of an internationally recognized professional accountancy or audit body) is required. • At least eight years of relevant professional experience in public sector and/or corporate financial sector reporting, auditing, accounting policy and institutional development with extensive experience institutional development and professional education in the public or corporate sector. • In depth knowledge of international and EU financial and sustainability reporting frameworks and standards, international education standards and pronouncements for professional accountants, and the challenges of application of these standards in ECA client countries. • A good understanding of international financial reporting and auditing standards, their implementation, and issues affecting the accountancy profession and regulatory frameworks, national standard-setting and audit regulation. • A good understanding international practice in professional and continuing education in both corporate and public sectors and experience translating international practice into practical applications for ECA clients. • Experience undertaking financial management fiduciary support for World Bank projects and knowledge of World Bank procedures is preferred. • The technical, operational and client engagement skills needed to lead policy dialogue on corporate sustainability reporting and governance at the country level, contribute to analytical work and the design and implementation of projects.• Demonstrated ability to lead policy and technical dialogue with high level officials in government and international organizations. • Strong team management, client orientation, and interpersonal and with demonstrated ability to work with a diverse team. • Familiarity with World Bank operational and administrative procedures is an advantage. • Strong written and verbal communication skills in English and Russian are required. 

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.

World Bank Group Core Competencies

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.