Grant Accounting Manager
The World Economic Forum, committed to improving the state of the world, is an international organization for public-private cooperation.
The Forum engages the foremost political, business, cultural and other leaders of society to shape global, regional and industry agendas.
Why we are recruiting
To support continued business growth and increasing operational complexity, the Finance team is strengthening its Grant Accounting capability. This role is critical to ensuring strong team leadership, operational excellence, and robust controls, while maintaining a high level of service across the organization.
Reporting Lines & Interactions
The Grant Accounting Manager reports to the Head of Finance and has full responsibility for leading, developing, and overseeing the Grant Accounting team.
This role requires close collaboration with internal stakeholders across the organization, as well as with Forum’s Grant Funding, Governance and Financial Planning Performance and Partnering teams.
The successful candidate will combine strong people leadership with deep technical expertise, leading the team while remaining sufficiently hands-on to ensure quality, control, and operational continuity.
Main Responsibilities
1. Lead, develop, and manage the Grant Accounting team, setting clear priorities, expectations, and performance standards
2. Ensure the effective and efficient delivery of all Grant Accounting operations, maintaining high levels of accuracy, compliance, and service
3. Oversee month-end, quarter-end, and year-end closing activities, ensuring timelines and quality standards are met
4. Act as the primary point of accountability for Grant Accounting, ensuring adherence to policies, controls, and accounting standards
5. Drive continuous improvement across processes, systems, and team capabilities
6. Lead and contribute to projects impacting Grant Accounting, including process optimization and system enhancements
Detailed Responsibilities
7. Provide day-to-day leadership, coaching, and development to the Grant Accounting team, fostering accountability, engagement, and high performance
8. Maintain appropriate oversight of operations while actively supporting key tasks when required, particularly during peak periods or complex cases
9. Ensure completion, accuracy, and review of balance sheet reconciliations related to the grant activity
10. Ensure compliance with expenses and grantors requirements, taking corrective action where required
11. Ensure consistent and accurate report processing
12. Lead or contribute to cross-functional initiatives with Grant Accounting impact, ensuring alignment and delivery
13. Contribute to the implementation of the grant accounting and reporting processes to enhance agility and responsiveness
14. Promote process excellence, continuous improvement and a robust control culture
15. Lead and prepare for internal and external grant audits and manage communication with auditors
Requirements
16. Degree in Finance, Accounting, or Business Administration
17. Professional accounting qualification (e.g. ACA, ACCA, CIMA or equivalent) or Swiss Brevet Federal in Accounting
18. 7+ years of relevant professional experience in financial project accounting and controlling or financial grant accounting and controlling preferably in a global company with international exposure or in external audit with a Big Four Firm
19. Strong track record of leading teams while remaining operationally credible and hands-on when needed
20. Excellent technical accounting knowledge, including Swiss VAT and cost accounting principles
21. Strong systems and ERP experience, with the ability to drive process improvements
22. Demonstrated track record in promoting process excellence, and implementing continuous improvement practices
23. Strong stakeholder management and influencing skills across functions and seniority levels
24. Excellent communication, collaboration, and interpersonal skills, coupled with active listening abilities and a high degree of emotional intelligence, enabling effective stakeholder engagement
25. Fluent in English (written and spoken); French is an advantage
26. Strong controls mindset and behaviour and attention to detail, along with being proactive, practical, pragmatic, flexible, hands-on, customer-focused, solution-based, and results-oriented
Why join us?
Join an independent and impartial organization with over 55 years of connecting leaders to make sense of global challenges and move the world forward together.