Accountant

Vacancy Notice 1333

INTERPOL is the world’s largest international police organization, with 196 Member Countries. Created in 1923, it facilitates cross-border police co-operation, and supports and assists all organizations, authorities, and services whose mission is to prevent or combat international crime. 

INTERPOL strives to achieve a diverse and inclusive workforce and welcomes applications from individuals with diverse backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives. To achieve our Diversity goals, we encourage applications from women and nationals of under/unrepresented member countries who are passionate about our mission. INTERPOL’s recruitment process is merit-based hence all hiring decisions are made considering the applicant’s qualifications and the needs of the Organization.

Job Title: Accountant    
Reporting To: Treasury Coordinator
Location: Lyon 
Type of contract: Fixed-term Contract 
Duration (in months): 12.00 - maximum contract duration until 31 December 2026 
Grade: 6   
Number of post:1
Level of Security screening: Basic
Deadline for application: 7 September 2025

Conditions applying for all candidates

Only professional experience for which candidates can provide official proof of employment will be considered. Candidates could be requested to provide copies of such official documents prior to interviews/test.

* This position has a temporary nature and carries, in principle, no expectation of renewal. Any potential subsequent extension will be subject to the terms of the Organization’s Staff Manual, to satisfactory performance and to availability of funds.

Tests/interviews in connection to this selection procedure will take place approximately 2/3 weeks after the deadline for applications. Applicants are kindly requested to plan their availability during this period accordingly, in case they are short-listed.

​Selected candidates will be expected to report for duty approximately two to three months after receiving an offer of employment at the latest.

This selection exercise may be used to generate a reserve list of suitable candidates that may be used to address Organization's similar staffing needs in the future.

SUMMARY OF THE ASSIGNED DUTIES, INCLUDING GOALS AND OBJECTIVES OF THE POST

Within the Executive Directorate Resource Management (EDRM) Finance and Corporate Services (FCS)/Treasury And Supplier Payment unit, and reporting directly to the Treasury Coordinator, the incumbent is in charge of:

1. Maintaining Books of Accounts of the Organization, and recording therein all accounting entries relating to Incomes and Expenditures, Assets and Liabilities;
2. Carrying out operations on the financial assets of the Organization;
3. Providing information and reconciliations on general accounting and financial accounting transactions;
4. Implementing software solutions and information systems;
5. Other duties as required.

PRINCIPAL DUTIES AND ACTIVITIES

DUTY 1/Mission 1

Maintenance of Books of Accounts of the Organization, and recording therein all accounting entries relating to Incomes and Expenditures, Assets and Liabilities, including for the Regional Bureaus, Liaison Offices of the Organization and for INTERPOL Global Complex for Innovation, and for the various Funds of the Organization and for the externally-funded projects executed by it.

Prior to such recording, verify by reasonable means, whether all appropriate internal approvals have been complied with and if the supporting documentation are complete and apparently authentic, and ensure that they are as per prevalent policies, relevant accounting principles, applicable International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSAS) or other International Accounting Standards, and in total compliance with Interpol’s Financial Regulations.

Carry out rectification entries and restatements to the accounts, ensuring compliance with accounting policy and principles, relevant IPSAS and total conformity with Interpol’s Financial Regulations.

Maintain strict accuracy in recording all transactions, observe the principle of providing an audit trail, and adhere to timelines and schedules that maybe issued from time to time.

DUTY 2/Mission 2

Carrying out operations on the financial assets of the Organization, including its cash and bank accounts, that maybe held in various currencies, and maintaining written records of all such operations including posting them into the books of accounts.  

Provide periodic reconciliations of such books with the relevant bank statements, including for those at the Regional Bureaus, Liaison Offices and for INTERPOL Global Complex for Innovation; and also for the various Funds of the Organization and for the externally-funded projects, assets of which may be held in individually distinguished bank accounts.

Carry out treasury operations and responsibility for maintenance of optimal cash and bank balances for the Organization, in various currencies; verify their safe upkeep and their timely replenishment, including transfers of funds between locations and bank accounts.

Ensure timely payments via electronic transfers after suitable accounting and control; carrying out cash disbursements and receipts, requesting bank payment orders and cheques, depositions of funds into Bank accounts, including in different currencies, in a reliable manner after ensuring appropriate internal approvals, complete supporting documentation and verifying the apparent authenticity of each transaction, and preparing reconciliations where recorded balances are at variance from one another.

Prepare, check and monitor cash-flow statements and cash in hand, including for different currencies, in an accurate and timely manner.

DUTY 3/Mission 3

Providing information and reconciliations on general accounting and financial accounting transactions, including provision of details and reconciliations to Management, and to internal and external auditors.

Maintain liaison with officials of banks and financial institutions to obtain day-to-day information on exchange and interest rates, changes in procedures and Regulations, and matters pertaining to maintenance of the Organization’s bank accounts.

Monitor bank charges levied by the various banks of the Organization for transactions conducted through them, and alert the Treasury Coordinator and the hierarchy to specific issues of wrong charges or debits, delayed credits, or generally prolonged or delayed completion of transactions.

DUTY 4/Mission 4

Implementing software solutions and information systems to improve accounting accuracy and productivity and for carrying out procedural and accounting process changes to streamline efficiency and reporting accuracy for the Organization.

Provide technical specifications on accounting and accountancy procedures, and on aspects of financial and treasury management, to officials involved in designing, procuring or implementing software solutions and systems that will ultimately help in improving accounting processes and procedures, enhance recording and reporting accuracy and raising the productivity of the accounting office.

Play an important role in suggesting improvement schemes for accountancy processes and procedures, and also assist actively in implementing changed processes and structures.

Assist generally to ensure smooth running of the accountancy office including carrying out any other tasks falling under the office’s overall responsibility.

DUTY 5/Mission 5

Perform any other duties as required by the hierarchy.

QUALIFICATIONS, COMPETENCIES AND SKILLS

Education and qualification required:

Required: At least 2 years’ University degree in Accounting or in General Finance.

Experience required:

• Prior working experience of at least 3 years in day-to-day general accounting and periodic closing of accounts on an accrual basis, in preparing accounting statements, reconciliations, and in interacting with and providing explanations on transactions to internal and external audit teams;
• Experience of working within a public sector / law enforcement environment would be an advantage.

Languages:

• Professional fluency in English (oral and written) is required;
• An intermediate level of French (oral and written) is required;
• Knowledge of a third official language of the Organization (Spanish or Arabic) would be an asset.

Abilities required/COMPéTENCES TECHNIQUES:

• Personal and professional maturity;
• Good analytical skills;
• Ability to work in a team as well as individually;
• Good communication skills, both in written and oral form;
• Ability to work under pressure and tight deadlines;
• Good computer skills, particularly with the MS Office packaged software, are necessary along with prior experience in handling and implementing the latest Accounting software. A correct knowledge of SAP would be an asset. Internet skills are also necessary, including skills in accessing secure web-sites;
• Some understanding required of IPSAS, or International Accounting Standards (IAS)/International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS), and prior experience in employing the same in maintaining books of accounts is desirable;
• Appreciation of legal aspects and contract law, tax aspects, etc.