This post is opened in the context of the Junior Professional Officer (JPO) Programme sponsored by the Government of the Republic of Korea and is addressed exclusively to candidates of the Republic of Korea. The JPO will be initially appointed for one year and the period of service can be extended for a maximum of two years.

The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) is an international financial institution and a specialized United Nations agency dedicated to eradicating rural poverty and hunger. It does so by investing in rural people. IFAD finances programmes and projects that increase agricultural productivity and raise rural incomes, and advocates at the local, national and international level for policies that contribute to rural transformation.

The Financial Operations Department (FOD) is a dynamic financial, strategic and responsive business partner and service provider fully supporting IFAD in developing its financial strategy and managing its financial, investments and material resources. FOD ensures that these resources are efficiently, economically and effectively used to achieve IFAD's objectives in the long-term and deliver on its development commitments. FOD is led by an Associate Vice President and is comprised of three (3) divisions: the Treasury Services Division (TRE), the Financial Controller's Division (FCD) and the Procurement and Financial Management Division (PFM). 

The Procurement and Financial Management Division (PFM) ensures a robust fiduciary system across IFAD operations, identifying and mitigating project procurement and project financial management risks through rigorous processes and controls.

Direct supervisor: Senior Financial Management Officer, Financial Management Policies & Procedures, and Quality Assurance Team

The Junior Professional Officer (JPO) works under the direct supervision of the Senior Financial Management Officer, Financial Management Policies & Procedures, and Quality Assurance Team.

The Financial Management Analyst is a professional with the capacity to interpret and apply a broad range of international and IFAD financial policies, rules, and regulations as well as standards and techniques. Activities performed by the Financial Management Analyst at this level include specific and ad hoc projects of enhancing results of the financial management of IFAD projects and programmes in line with the risk-based assurance framework. S/he supports the supervisor for drafting FM inputs to corporate policies, reviewing and updating policies, procedures and guidelines, and conducting analysis of FM policies and procedures as required for bench marking with good practices of other MDBs and IFIs. S/he contributes to the quality assurances processes undertaken by the unit to enhance overall FM processes within the division and to generate learning from the review findings. S/he will contribute to compliance review and monitoring of corporate level policies, procedures, manuals and strategies for related technical areas and engagement with internal and external stakeholders. Activities include corporate level project financial management areas, technical finance and operational areas, including accounting and auditing standards, IT strategy, tools and reporting, internal and client capacity building.

A major part of the work will include continuous review of FM policies and alignment of policies and procedures, capturing best practices and lessons learnt through quality assurance and compliance reviews to update FM policies and procedures. S/he also serves as a focal point for FM Knowledge Management, contributing to the development of knowledge products and well as conducting technical trainings as required. S/he will be part of the IT coordinating team within the unit contributing to implementation enhancements of FM related systems, drafting the business requirements for the enhancements and developments as well as testing the developments once completed by the ICT division.

The Financial Management Analyst role would be based in Rome so to benefit from the experience of the supervisor and networking with other divisions on policies and procedures as well as quality assurance reviews; the role of the Financial Management Analyst is further described below.

The Financial Management Analyst will work under the direct supervision of the Senior Finance Officer and in close collaboration with the regional teams in PFM. He/she will be highly committed to the delivery of objectives and activities assigned, will provide feedback to supervisors, and will keep abreast of the financial management and international finance developments and skills required to respond to the divisional work plans/results as well as the requirements of the supplementary funding.

The JPO consults with his/her supervisor on providing verbal and written advice and guidance to supervisors and staff on finance regulations, rules and procedures, facilitating a mutual understanding of roles and fiduciary accountabilities in support of the integrity in the management of the Fund's financial resources. The JPO's focus is on building his/her knowledge base of the Fund's governing structure, mandate, long-term business strategy, organizational dynamics and culture.

In collaboration with PFM colleagues at HQ and at the regions, and Office of Policy and Research (OPR), Quality assurance group (QAG) as well as liaising with other relevant divisions, the JPO will work as part of the team delivering on all the key areas of the Unit; Quality assurance, FM policies and procedures, Knowledge management and divisional IT coordination. In particular, the JPO will:

1. Financial management policies and procedures:
   • Carry out FM policy reviews in order to update procedures and guidelines. Collect data for review and analysis as part of the process. This may entail review of policies from other similar IFI and provide and analysed situation that will be used as basis for development of any policies and guidelines for any given FM technical areas as required.
   • Draft and finalize the guidance notes and preparation and facilitation of the change management process. This may entail drafting communications announcing the changes and ensuring these have been announced within the relevant mechanisms.
   • Coordinate the development of Links to the revised or new policy guidelines as requested.
   • Ensure the relevant guidelines or guidance note is saved in the FMDB, where these are originated by PFM.
   • Assist in preparation of any presentations related to updates and changes to policies and guidelines as required.
2. Quality Assurance Processes:
   • Conduct quality assurance reviews and analysis as part of the Unit deliverables. This includes quality content as well as compliance to procedures in design of COSOPS, CN and Designs. The Finance Analyst will take time to read the relevant design and implementation guidelines so as to understand FM responsibilities around the project cycle and the expectations of the Unit in terms of Quality assurance deliverables.
   • Analyse and identify areas of learning and capacity building from the reviews as part of the Knowledge management within the division and feed these to corporate guidelines where necessary.
   • Prepare learning products to address the gaps and conduct technical capacity building sessions on the various areas coming up from the reviews.
   • Consolidate all the analysis and reviews performed as well as compiling the quarterly quality assurance report capturing lessons to be shared back to the regional teams.
   • Participate in the quality at implementation process, conducting reviews of a sample of supervision reports, drafting the review report and facilitating the debriefing sessions on the findings.
3. Knowledge Management:
   • Participate and contribute to Internal working groups as assigned representing PFM division.
   • Prepare learning materials including the Power point presentations, Flash briefs, Guidance notes, etc.
   • Coordinate and carry out the reorganization of the FMDB polices and Templates tab to make it much more reader friendly. Ensure its well updated at all times.
   • Coordinate and facilitate any learning sessions as may be required.
4. ICT - FMBB and ARTS:
   • Contribute to systems analysis and automation including system enhancements, databases and reporting to bring about efficiencies for delivery by the regional teams.
   • Support any analysis and reviews of processes as initiated for further system integrations within the division.
   • Develop a mechanism tracking IT tickets capturing all requests for system enhancements from the regional teams.
   • Any other tasks as may be assigned.

Education:

• Advanced University Degree from an accredited institution in accounting, finance, business administration or other job-related fields.
• Degree must be an accredited institution listed on https://www.whed.net/home.php

Experience:

• A minimum of 2 years of progressively responsible experience in accounting, financial management or analytics/reviews.
• Experience in the United Nations or an international financial institution, or another multi-cultural organization or institution or a national organization providing support on a global scope would be an asset.
• Good IT knowledge is a plus.

Languages:

• Fluency in Korean and English
• Certificate of English proficiency test: Applicants should score a minimum of: (i) TOEFL iBT 100 or (ii) TEPS 430 or (iii) IELTS 7 (iv) TOEIC 900
  • TOEFL `Home Edition- score is accepted while `MyBest Scores- are not accepted
  • IELTS General Training and Academic test are both accepted
  • Test scores are valid for 2 years after the test date
• Working knowledge of another official language (Arabic, French or Spanish) is desirable

Organizational

• Strategic thinking and organizational development: Personal influence
• Demonstrating Leadership: Personal leadership and attitude to change
• Learning, sharing knowledge and innovating: Continuously seeks to learn, shares knowledge and innovates.
• Focusing on clients: Focuses on clients.
• Problem solving and decision making: Demonstrates sound problem solving and decision-making ability.
• Managing time, resources and information: Manages own time, information and resources effectively.
• Team Work: Contributes effectively to the team
• Communicating and negotiating: Communicates effectively: creates understanding between self and others.
• Building relationships and partnerships: Builds and maintains effective working relationships

Technical

• Knowledge of principles and concepts of financial management including accounting, financial instruments, and industry practices and international accounting standards.
• Demonstrated ability to identify issues, formulate opinions, and make conclusions as well as recommendations.

Training components and learning elements    

Training components:

• On the job training in financial instruments, public debt management, financing conditions, public financial management.
• Participation in in-house training courses, such as financial instruments, Project financial management.
• Mentoring and coaching by the Senior Financial Management Officer.

Learning elements:

• Strengthened ability to coordinate and manage various work streams across different thematic areas dealt with in a large, decentralized team.
• Strengthen technical competencies to support IFAD operations in PFM.

The incumbent will gain exposure and experience in:

• IFAD's corporate services across departments and units.
• The exposure to all levels of staff and management in IFAD will assist the JPO in developing strong and practical inter-personal and management skills.
• The organizational role of the JPO will ensure that they gain comprehensive understanding of the working of a UN agency and International Financial Institution.

Note: This post is opened in the context of the Junior Professional Officer (JPO) Programme sponsored by the Government of the Republic of Korea and is addressed exclusively to candidates of the Republic of Korea.

General requirements for the JPO Programme of the Republic of Korea (ROK):

• Korean citizenship
• Fluency in Korean and English language
• Completed advanced university degree (master's degree or equivalent)
• Not older than 32 years of age as of 31st December, 2025 (born after 1st January, 1993). The maximum age limit for those who served in the military will be extended accordingly:
  • One year will be extended for those who served for less than one year;
  • Two years will be extended for those who served for more than one year and less than two years;
  • Three years will be extended for those who served for two years or more.
• Male applicants shall have completed the Korean military service or be exempted from it. Those who will be discharged from military service in the year of the application may also apply.

How to apply

• Applicants should submit their application electronically directly to IFAD.
• All documents should be in English.
• Candidates for this position apply online via the Online Application System Portal Link provided on https://job.ifad.org/.
  • Please also make sure to review the guideline on how to register and apply.
• Applications must be received no later than Friday, 1st August 2025 (23:59 KST). Applications received after this date will not be considered. Applicants will receive a confirmation of receipt. Only short-listed candidates will be contacted thereafter.

Documents to be submitted for the application (only complete applications will be considered):

• The completed IFAD Personal History Form with a motivation letter in English (to be completed in the IFAD recruitment interface).
• A scanned copy of applicant's Resident Register in English, issued by the Korean Government
• A copy of university degree (Bachelor's/Master's degree) certificate in English
• A copy of English language proficiency. Please note that test scores are valid for 2 years after the test date. Applicants should score a minimum of:
  • TOEFL iBT 100 or
  • TEPS 430 or
  • IELTS 7 or
  • TOEIC 900
  • TOEFL "Home Edition" score is accepted while "MyBest Scores" are not accepted.
  • IELTS General Training and Academic test are both accepted.
• Only for male applicants who have completed the national military service: A certificate of Korean Military Service in English. The maximum age limit for those who served in the military will be extended in accordance with the Support for Discharged Soldiers Act and the Military Service Law.
• Only for low-income applicants: A scanned copy of a certificate of National Basic Livelihood Security Recipients issued in Korean and its unofficial translation in English.
• Only for applications with disability: A scanned copy of a certificate of person with disability issued in Korean and English.

Applicants can apply for a maximum of two JPO positions sponsored by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Korea during the year of application.

For general information on the JPO Programme of the Republic of Korea, please visit the website of the International Organizations Recruitment Center, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Korea at https://unrecruit.mofa.go.kr.