Chief Financial and Performance Officer (CFPO) & Controller - 26233-FT

World Intellectual Property Organization – WIPO; Genf; Vor Ort; CHF 220.000 - 320.000; Vollzeit

Zusammenfassung

World Intellectual Property Organization – WIPO is seeking a Chief Financial and Performance Officer & Controller to steer financial strategy, risk management, and performance across the organization from Geneva. You will lead strategic planning, RBM, and a major ERP transformation, while engaging with Member States and oversight bodies.

The role requires extensive executive leadership, governance expertise, and a proven ability to drive results across complex international operations and

Qualifikationen

• Advanced university degree in finance, accounting, economics or related area.
• A first-level degree with two years of relevant experience may be accepted in lieu of an advanced degree.

Aufgaben

• Strategic Financial Leadership & Controlling: advise on finance, investment and risk to ensure sustainability.
• Strategic Planning & RBM: drive planning, outcomes and performance review.
• Customer-Centric Transformation: modernize services for fee-paying customers.
• Governance & Oversight: engage with audit committees and oversight bodies.
• Digital & ERP Transformation: co-lead ERP modernization and data analytics integration.
• Strategic Partnerships & Income Diversification: grow diverse revenue streams.
• Leadership & Organizational Development: build a high-performing department.
• Global Representation: represent WIPO in UN frameworks and with Member States.
• Perform other duties as required.

Kenntnisse

Executive Leadership

Change Management

Financial Governance

Risk Management

Stakeholder Engagement

Digital Transformation

Executive Judgment

Integrity

Organizational Development

Ausbildung

Advanced degree in finance/strategy

First-level degree + 2 years relevant experience

Jobbeschreibung

Administration, Finance and Management Sector

Contract Duration - 2 years *

Duty Station: CH-Geneva

Application Deadline: 03-Sep-2026, 11:59:00 PM CET

Purpose Statement

The Chief Financial and Performance Officer (CFPO) & Controller provides strategic executive leadership and financial stewardship for WIPO’s planning, performance, risk management, and financial operations. The incumbent ensures the Organization’s long-term financial sustainability and leads the continued development and structured tracking of its results-based management framework, investment management, customer experience for fee-paying customers and corporate controlling functions. The CFPO & Controller drives customer-centric operations and digital/ERP transformation to strengthen organizational performance, agility, and value creation across WIPO’s fee-for-service business models.

Reporting Lines

The incumbent reports to the Assistant Director General for the Corporate Management and Transformation Sector.

Work Relations

The CFPO & Controller serves as a key facilitator of the dialogue with oversight bodies (External Auditor, Independent Advisory Oversight Committee, Internal Oversight Division), and Member States, and represents WIPO in UN-wide networks. Internally, the incumbent collaborates across all Sectors, including an essential partnership with the Human Resources Management Department, to align organizational resource planning and drive results-based management. The CFPO partners closely with the Global IP Services and the Chief Economist for financial planning and forecasting.

Duties and Responsibilities

The incumbent will perform the following principal duties:

• a. Strategic Financial Leadership & Controlling: Serve as the Financial Controller and as the principal advisor to the Director General, Assistant Director General for the Corporate Management and Transformation Sector, and senior management on financial sustainability, organizational performance, strategic investments, resource allocation, strategic cost management and enterprise risks. Enable WIPO’s long-term growth strategy, advocate for prudent financial management, ensure cost efficiencies, and drive the growth and sustainability of the Organization's financial assets. Ensure that the Financial Regulations and Rules are fit for purpose and aligned to business needs. Serve as the executive owner of WIPO's second line under the Three Lines model, providing integrated oversight of risk management, internal controls, compliance and management assurance.
• b. Strategic Planning & Results-Based Management (RBM): Facilitate the medium-term and biennial planning processes, driving organizational effectiveness and performance through Results-Based Management, a sharper focus on outcomes, continuous review of business models, and effective risk management.
• c. Customer-Centric Business Transformation: Transform the department into a consistently customer-centric operation focused on value creation for the internal and the external customer. Collaborate closely with global IP services to drive and implement strategies that modernize and enhance service delivery for WIPO’s fee-paying external customers.
• d. Member State Dialogue & Governance, Risk and Oversight: Function as the Secretary to the Program and Budget Committee (PBC), facilitating critical dialogue with Member States on all finance and management matters. Lead strategic engagement with audit and oversight bodies (External Auditors and IAOC) to provide assurance on internal controls and risk management. Engage with the Internal Oversight Division and other second line functions to strengthen anti-fraud awareness and governance.
• e. Digital & ERP Transformation: Serve as co-executive owner of WIPO's ERP transformation together with the HR director, ensuring the program remains business-owned and value-driven, and delivered in close collaboration with the CIO, and other partners within the project board and governance structures, driving coherent planning and deployment of new functionalities. Ensure the ERP provides a modern digital backbone and trusted data foundation for the Organization. Champion the integration of Artificial Intelligence and advanced analytics, both through the ERP's embedded capabilities and through complementary solutions that leverage its data to strengthen cross-cutting planning, budgeting, and financial management processes.
• f. Strategic Partnerships & Income Diversification: Build and enhance strategic alliances across WIPO and with external stakeholders promoting synergies that drive organizational change. In partnership with service owners, support strategies to safeguard, improve and diversify WIPO's income.
• g. Leadership & Organizational Development: Lead and empower a high-performing and diverse Department. Set clear directions and delegate with trust, developing and mentoring staff to grow their capabilities and reach their potential. Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration and innovation across the Organization, strengthening financial literacy, performance management and risk awareness. Develop organizational capabilities through talent management, succession planning and learning, while promoting an inclusive and ethical workplace that supports transformation and service excellence.
• h. Global Representation & UN Inter-Agency Coordination: Represent WIPO in high-level international meetings and negotiations regarding strategic planning and financial management. Promote WIPO’s policies and actively develop and share best practices within the UN common system.
• i. Perform other job-related duties as required.

Requirements

Advanced university degree in strategic planning, finance, accounting, business administration, economics, or related area. A first-level degree with two years of relevant experience in addition to the essential experience requested below may be accepted in lieu of an advanced university degree.

Experience (Essential)

• At least 15 years of progressively responsible executive leadership experience including leading and developing large, diverse teams, and integrating some or all of the following subjects: finance, budget, enterprise performance, governance, risk management, strategic planning.
• Significant experience in large, complex international, such as multinational corporations, international or public-sector institutions, or other similarly sophisticated environments.
• Extensive experience in financial planning and management, budgeting, performance management, organizational transformation, and digital modernization.
• Demonstrated experience establishing and maturing enterprise risk management, internal control, and assurance frameworks.
• Leadership in driving organizational change, including in areas such as ERP modernizations, process redesign, Data Analytics, or AI integration, to maximize business agility.
• Track record of embedding result frameworks (such as OKRs, KPIs or Balanced scorecards) that successfully align long-term strategy with operational budgets, resource allocation and concrete performance metrics.
• Proven experience engaging with governing bodies, audit committees, and oversight bodies.
• Excellent oral and written English.

Job Related Competencies (Essential)

• Executive Leadership & Change Management: Proven ability to drive organizational change, champion customer-centric service models, and foster a collaborative, results-based / outcomes-driven performance culture across cross-functional teams.
• Financial, Risk & Governance Expertise: Extensive expertise in corporate finance, executive oversight of some or all of the following areas: asset and investment strategies, enterprise performance and risk management, governance frameworks, internal controls, management assurance, and financial reporting under recognized public-sector or international accounting standards (e.g., IPSAS, IFRS).
• Stakeholder Engagement & Influence: Exceptional ability to build partnerships, communicate persuasively, negotiate effectively, and influence outcomes across a diverse range of stakeholders, including senior leadership, oversight bodies, Member States/ Shareholders, and external partners.
• Digital Transformation: Forward-looking understanding of how emerging technologies (such as AI and advanced analytics) can be leveraged to optimize financial planning and budget execution.
• Executive Judgment & Integrity: Exceptional analytical and strategic problem-solving skills, grounded in unquestionable integrity and sound executive judgment in high-stakes decision-making.
• Leadership & Organizational Development: Proven ability to lead at a senior level by building, empowering, and trusting high-performing teams, delegating effectively, and coaching and developing talent. Fosters collaboration, accountability, and organizational capability through a collaborative leadership style that develops people and promotes a respectful, inclusive, ethical, and performance-oriented culture.