The World Bank is one of the largest and most influential development institutions in the world, bringing together expertise, funding, and knowledge to address complex challenges in emerging and developing countries. With 189 member countries and over 120 offices globally, the organization operates as a partnership between five institutions: the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD), International Development Association (IDA), International Finance Corporation (IFC), Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA), and International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID).
Together, these entities focus on reducing extreme poverty, advancing shared prosperity, and promoting sustainable development in a rapidly changing global environment. The World Bank supports governments and private sector partners by providing funding, building knowledge capacity, and leveraging technology to solve urgent global challenges.
Within this ecosystem, the Finance & Accounting Vice Presidency (WFA) plays a pivotal role. This unit manages the World Bank’s financial reporting, fiduciary control frameworks, and disbursement services, ensuring accountability and transparency in how funds are allocated and used. The WFA has three major departments: Corporate Accounting and Reporting, Trust Funds and Loans, and Financial Controls. Collectively, they oversee internal and external financial operations while ensuring the highest standards of governance and service delivery.
As part of this structure, the WFACS – Client Services unit – focuses on providing direct client-facing services in disbursement, portfolio management, and fiduciary support. This team acts as the front line in liaising with governments, partners, and other stakeholders during the project cycle. To strengthen its Nairobi-based team, the World Bank is currently recruiting a Finance Analyst who will play a key role in supporting projects and ensuring smooth financial processes.
The Role: Finance Analyst
The Finance Analyst position is embedded within WFACS, under the Trust Funds and Loan Operations Department. This role is central to disbursement-related activities during project implementation and requires close collaboration with Finance Officers, Regional Team Leaders, operational staff, and external borrowers. The Finance Analyst is expected to handle a range of financial management responsibilities, from transaction processing to system support, while maintaining compliance with operational policies and ensuring efficient client service delivery.
The Finance Analyst reports directly to the Regional Team Lead and contributes to the organization’s overall goal of effective, transparent, and impactful financial operations.
Detailed Job Description
The Finance Analyst’s responsibilities cover multiple facets of financial and operational management, ensuring smooth disbursement, accurate reporting, and effective stakeholder engagement.
1. Disbursement Transactions Processing
The Finance Analyst serves as a country focal point for disbursement-related aspects, working in collaboration with the Finance Officer assigned to the country. Key responsibilities include:
- Processing disbursement transactions and releasing funds where appropriate.
- Engaging directly with clients to promptly resolve exceptions, errors, or delays in transaction processing.
- Ensuring adherence to the World Bank’s operational guidelines and disbursement policies.
This function requires both technical precision and strong client engagement to maintain trust and ensure efficiency in resource flows.
2. Project Restructuring and Trust Fund Preparation
The Finance Analyst will contribute to the preparation of low-risk Trust Funds and review project restructuring packages. This includes:
- Supporting Finance Officers in managing project preparation processes.
- Ensuring that restructuring packages meet compliance requirements.
- Coordinating with internal teams to align financial processes with project restructuring timelines.
This responsibility ensures that financial processes adapt effectively to changes in project scope or structure.
3. Portfolio Management
An essential part of the Finance Analyst’s role involves monitoring and managing financial portfolios, with responsibilities such as:
- Reviewing inactive Project Designated Accounts and coordinating with clients to document or refund balances for proper loan closure.
- Conducting system updates to maintain accurate and up-to-date records.
- Engaging in activities aimed at ensuring financial discipline across the project portfolio.
The Finance Analyst ensures orderly closure of accounts and compliance with operational requirements.
4. Training and Capacity Building
Capacity development of clients is a crucial function of this role. The Finance Analyst will:
- Identify capacity gaps based on portfolio management reviews and transaction audits.
- Deliver training programs to borrower teams on how to use the Bank’s online systems and tools.
- Provide guidance to clients on analyzing disbursement data using data platforms and visualization tools.
This capacity-building role strengthens the financial management competencies of borrower institutions and enhances long-term sustainability.
5. System and Related Tasks
The Finance Analyst will contribute to ongoing system improvement initiatives by:
- Supporting the design and development of financial systems and tools.
- Conducting system testing and validation of enhancements and upgrades.
- Preparing disbursement and analytical reports.
- Maintaining interactive dashboards and data visualizations using Power BI and other platforms.
Through this role, the Finance Analyst serves as a link between operational needs and technological solutions.
6. Data Stewardship and Visualization
In the current digital environment, data stewardship is a core expectation. The Finance Analyst will:
- Work with platforms such as Dremio, Power BI, and advanced Excel for reporting and analysis.
- Collaborate with cross-functional teams to define data requirements and improve reporting processes.
- Conduct user acceptance testing for ongoing loan system modernization projects.
- Translate technical requirements into business language for non-technical stakeholders.
This ensures that financial decision-making is guided by reliable data insights and innovative reporting methods.
Selection Criteria
The Finance Analyst position requires a strong mix of academic qualifications, technical expertise, and practical experience.
- Professional accounting qualifications such as CA, CPA, ACCA, or their equivalents are preferred.
- A bachelor’s degree in finance, accounting, or a related discipline is required. A master’s degree in business administration, finance, or accounting is an added advantage.
- Additional certifications in areas such as systems auditing (CISA) will be considered an asset.
- At least three years of relevant work experience, ideally within a financial institution, accounting firm, or related environment.
- Prior experience with financial systems, artificial intelligence, and blockchain technologies is advantageous.
- Previous work with the “Big Four” or equivalent firms would be highly valued.
Language skills are critical. Candidates should demonstrate fluency in English and Portuguese, both written and spoken, with the ability to conduct professional meetings in these languages.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
The role requires a combination of technical knowledge, analytical capabilities, and interpersonal competencies. Key areas include:
- In-depth knowledge of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP), internal controls, and financial management practices.
- Familiarity with World Bank operational policies and procedures, particularly in relation to disbursements and portfolio management.
- Strong judgment and ability to interpret policies in a variety of contexts.
- Willingness to travel and take on short-term assignments as needed.
- Advanced quantitative skills and attention to numerical detail.
- Ability to manage complex assignments and deliver results under tight deadlines.
- Strong client focus, with interpersonal and diplomatic skills for managing stakeholder relationships.
- Capacity to work in multicultural environments and across time zones, including US Eastern Standard Time when required.
- Strong communication skills, both oral and written, to effectively explain technical concepts and present information.
- Comfort in leveraging innovative technologies such as AI and blockchain for financial operations.
World Bank Culture and Competencies
The World Bank emphasizes several core attributes and cultural values:
- Sense of urgency in addressing client needs.
- Thoughtful risk-taking to innovate and create impact.
- Empowerment and accountability in daily work.
- Collaborative teamwork and inclusivity across regions and departments.
These values underpin the organization’s operations and guide its approach to solving global development challenges.
Equal Opportunity
The World Bank is committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion. Recruitment is based strictly on merit, and the organization does not discriminate based on gender, religion, ethnicity, race, disability, or sexual orientation. Reasonable accommodations are provided for individuals with disabilities.
Application Process
Applications for this position are open until September 15, 2025, at 11:59 pm UTC. Candidates are encouraged to review the job requirements carefully and ensure that their application reflects relevant experience and qualifications.
