Vacancy Notice 1717
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 actively encourages applications from women and nationals of member countries that are currently unrepresented among our staff ( please click on this link to access the list of countries ). Candidates from these countries are particularly encouraged to apply.
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: Director, Finance & Corporate Services
Reporting To: Executive Director Resource Management
Location: Lyon
Type of contract: Fixed-term Contract
Duration (in months): 36.00*
Grade: 1
Number of post: 1
Level of Security screening: Enhanced
Deadline for application: 7 May 2026
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.
** Subsequent extension to this post 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 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 months or sooner, after receiving an offer of employment.
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
The Executive Directorate Resource Management (EDRM) is responsible for the strategic and operational management of INTERPOL’s financial, human, and corporate resources to ensure the effective delivery of the Organization’s global mission.
The Directorate of Finance and Corporate Services (FCS) oversees all financial governance, budgeting, accounting, treasury, and control functions, ensuring compliance with International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSAS), financial regulations, and the decisions of INTERPOL’s governing bodies, and manages corporate services in the area of general services, procurement, contract, travel and events, and language services.
The Director, Finance and Corporate Services (D/FCS) is responsible for all financial governance, corporate services, and enabling functions under the EDRM. Reporting directly to the Executive Director, Resource Management, the Director is accountable for the strategic alignment, operational excellence, financial sustainability, and digital transformation of all FCS sub-directorates and units.
The Director’s mandate is to optimize INTERPOL’s funding model by strategically balancing statutory contributions, in-kind support, and external funding, ensuring transparency, accountability, and unwavering alignment with the Organization’s strategic priorities. Simultaneously, the Director leads the comprehensive modernization and digital transformation of FCS, embedding technology, data-driven decision-making, automation, and user-centric service delivery across all corporate functions.
The Director is also responsible for fostering a culture of financial ownership, innovation, and continuous improvement across the Secretariat, empowering non-financial units to operate efficiently within clear financial boundaries while championing sustainability, equity, and digital inclusion.
PRINCIPAL DUTIES AND ACTIVITIES
DUTY 1: Strategic Leadership and Integration of FCS Sub-Directorates and Units
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Provide unified strategic vision, direction, and performance accountability for all FCS sub-directorates and units, ensuring coherence in goals, priorities, and resource allocation across financial, procurement, language, and facilities functions.
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Bring together Assistant Directors and Heads of Units to align on priorities, resolve cross-cutting issues, and monitor KPIs.
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Ensure all units operate under a common strategic framework aligned with INTERPOL’s Strategic Plan, the Financial Strategy, and the Digital Transformation Roadmap.
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Drive cross-functional integration, ensuring digital integration and agile transformation.
DUTY 2: Optimize the Funding Model – Strengthening Financial Sustainability
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Align funding strategy with strategic priorities: Ensure that all funding sources, statutory contributions, external grants and in-kind contributions are strategically aligned to directly enable the implementation of the INTERPOL Strategic Framework.
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Optimize the balance between statutory and external funding:
o Position statutory contributions as the essential, non-negotiable foundation for core business continuity, resilience, and long-term sustainability;
o Maximise the use of statutory contributions through data-driven allocation decisions and enhanced flexibility, allowing it to adapt dynamically to evolving operational needs, emerging priorities, and systemic risks;
o Actively leverage external funding to expand impact and innovate service delivery.
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Lead and monitor an efficient, institutionalized cost-recovery methodology, ensuring continuous improvement.
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Collaborate cross-functionally with other Executive Directorates or Offices, e.g. work closely with the Executive Directorate for Policy and Partnerships to proactively identify, co-design, and secure external funding opportunities that align with the strategic framework, ensuring funding is strategically integrated.
DUTY 3: Lead Digital Transformation Across FCS
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Champion and oversee the Digital Transformation Strategy led by Information, Communication and Technology (ICT) in relation to all FSC requirements, with clear milestones for:
Full migration to an integrated, cloud-based ERP platform, enabling real-time financial reporting, automated reconciliations, and unified data governance;
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Procurement: Implementation of end-to-end e-procurement platform;
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Language Services: Enterprise-wide translation memory and terminology platform (Trados + AI pre-editing), automated metadata tagging, AI-assisted minute-taking, document archive searchability;
Global Facilities: Smart Building Management System (BMS), digital work orders, predictive maintenance, occupancy analytics, digital space booking, energy efficiency dashboards.
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Ensure all initiatives and budgets are auditable under IPSAS and internal control frameworks.
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Embed user-centred design principles in all digital tools — ensuring intuitive interfaces, multilingual support, and accessibility for staff across duty stations.
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The ERP transformation is a cornerstone initiative of FCS’s modernization agenda and will require the Director’s direct, sustained leadership in close collaboration with the Human Resources Management (HRM) Directorate (as co-owner of the ERP) and the ICT team.
DUTY 4: Financial Governance, Budget Oversight, and Resource Optimization
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Oversee the preparation, consolidation, and submission of the Organization Annual Budget and Multi-Year Financial Plan, ensuring alignment with organizational priorities and governance approvals.
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Conduct detailed budget reviews for all sub-directorates at least biennial to eliminate redundancies and reallocate resources to high-impact initiatives.
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Oversee the preparation of the Annual Financial Statements in line with IPSAS and INTERPOL Financial Regulations to ensure fair representation of INTERPOL activities;
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Lead and oversee the entire lifecycle of the Annual External Audit, including pre-audit planning with external auditors to define scope, timelines, and data requirements; ensuring full, timely, and secure access to all financial records, transactional systems, contracts, and performance metrics across sub-directorates. Oversee the coordination of cross-functional teams to respond to inquiries and provide evidence for both financial statement audits and performance audits. Lead cost-benefit analyses of outsourcing decisions, technology investments, and staffing models together with Human Resources, with clear thresholds for internal capacity vs. external procurement. Ensure all financial operations adhere to IPSAS, INTERPOL Financial Regulations, and internal controls, and maintain audit readiness across all units.
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Implement a Corporate Services Cost Transparency Initiative: Publish annual service cost reports accessible to all departments, promoting accountability and informed decision-making.
DUTY 5: Lead the Secretariat and Strategic Coordination of the Advisory Group on Financial Matters (AGFM)
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Serve as the primary officer responsible for the organization, preparation, and effective functioning of the Advisory Group on Financial Matters (AGFM), acting as its de facto Secretariat Lead under the authority of the Executive Director, Resource Management.
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Plan, coordinate, and execute the annual AGFM meeting cycle, including:
Preparing the agenda in consultation with the Executive Director for Resource Management and the AGFM Chair;
Drafting necessary documents and presentations for the AGFM, the Executive Committee and the General Assembly;Ensuring all documentation is accurate, transparent, and aligned with IPSAS, INTERPOL’s Financial Regulations, and strategic priorities;
Oversee logistical arrangements (virtual and in-person), interpretation, and secure document distribution in accordance with INTERPOL’s confidentiality protocols.
- Act as the principal liaison between the AGFM and INTEPROL leadership, ensuring that AGFM recommendations are systematically analysed, prioritized, and integrated into the FCS work plan and budget cycle.
DUTY 6: Team Leadership, Performance Management, and Organizational Culture
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Lead, mentor, and develop the FCS leadership team (Assistant Directors and Heads), setting annual objectives directly tied to strategic goals, digital adoption, cost efficiency, and stakeholder satisfaction.
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Implement a cross-functional performance dashboard for FCS, tracking timely, client-oriented, cost-effective, digitalized and compliant outcomes.
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Promote a culture of innovation, inclusion, and continuous learning, including:
o Cross-unit shadowing and skill-sharing programs;
o Recognition of excellence in efficiency, digital adoption, and service innovation;
o Champion diversity, equity, and multilingualism as core values — ensuring all systems, processes, and communications reflect INTERPOL’s global identity.
DUTY 7: Stakeholder Engagement and External Representation
- Serve as the primary representative of FCS in all governing bodies, including
o Strategic Management Board;
o AGFM;
o Executive Committee;
o General Assembly.
- Represent INTERPOL at international forums on:
o Public sector financial innovation;
o Digital transformation in international organizations;
o Sustainable facility management (ISO 41001);
o AI in multilingual services.
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Build strategic partnerships with peer international to benchmark practices, share digital tools, and co-develop procurement frameworks.
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Act as the chief advocate for corporate services within the General Secretariat — translating complex financial and operational constraints into clear, actionable guidance for program units.
DUTY 8: Financial Governance, Budget Oversight, and Resource Optimization
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Ensure all FCS operations comply with legal, financial, security, and ethical standards – in particular IPSAS;
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Chair the Organization’s Business Continuity Steering Committee, and oversee the development and testing of FCS Business Continuity and Disaster Recovery Plans, ensuring critical services can be maintained during disruptions;
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Collaborate with the Chief Information Security Officer, Office of Internal Oversight, and Security Directorate to embed risk controls into digital systems and procurement processes;
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Lead post-incident reviews for major service failures and implement systemic improvements.
DUTY 9: Other duties
- Perform any other duties as assigned by the hierarchy.
QUALIFICATIONS, COMPETENCIES AND SKILLS
EDUCATION AND QUALIFICATION REQUIRED:
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Advanced university degree (Masters or equivalent) in Finance, Public Administration, Business Administration, International Relations, or a related field.
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Professional certification in accounting (e.g., CPA, CFA, ACCA, PMP, CFM).
EXPERIENCE REQUIRED:
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Minimum of 10 years of progressive leadership experience in financial management and corporate services within an international organization, multilateral agency, or large public or private sector entity.
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Experience in a senior management role overseeing multiple complex functions (finance, procurement, facilities, language services).
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Experience in the following areas will be a strong asset:
o Leading digital transformation of corporate services;
o Optimizing funding models across various sources;
o Managing multi-site, multicultural teams across global operations;
o Implementing ERP, e-procurement, and digital workplace systems;
o Directing large-scale budgeting, audit, and compliance processes under IPSAS/ International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS);
o Driving organizational change and stakeholder buy-in in complex environments.
LANGUAGES:
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Fluency in English is required.
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Working knowledge of another official INTERPOL language (French, Arabic or Spanish) is an asset.
ABILITIES REQUIRED:
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Strategic Leadership: Ability to set long-term vision, align diverse teams, and drive institutional change
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Financial Acumen: Deep understanding of public sector finance, budgeting, treasury, and audit.
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Digital Transformation Expertise: Experience leading tech-enabled service modernization.
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Change Management: Proven ability to lead organizational transformation, manage resistance, and build adoption.
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Stakeholder Engagement: Exceptional diplomacy, negotiation, and communication skills at senior levels.
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Cross-Cultural Intelligence: Sensitivity to diverse cultural, legal, and operational contexts across INTERPOL’s global footprint.
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Analytical Rigor: Ability to synthesize complex data into clear, actionable insights for decision-makers.
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Integrity and Discretion: Uncompromising commitment to ethics, confidentiality, and institutional neutrality.
Special aptitudes
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Personal and professional maturity in high-pressure, multicultural environments.
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Ability to maintain objectivity and apply logical, inductive reasoning.
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High level of initiative, creativity, and curiosity.
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Strong multicultural sensitivity and diplomatic acumen.
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Excellent listening and negotiation skills.
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Willingness to travel and work beyond normal office hours as required.