Head of Finance and Administration

The Bank for International Settlements is looking for a Head of Finance and Administration to join the Representative Office for the Americas in Mexico City. 

Our Representative Offices in Mexico and Hong Kong serve as centres for BIS activities in their respective regions, strengthening relations and promoting cooperation between the BIS and regional central banks and supervisory authorities. To that end, the two offices foster the exchange of information and data, facilitate the organisation of meetings and seminars, contribute to the Bank's financial and economic research on the Americas and Asia and the Pacific and provide the full suite of BIS´s banking services for regional central banks. 

Please note that we offer relocation support for the successful candidate and their immediate family members. 

Please note that this role is offered as a 3-year fixed-term contract.

Purpose of the role: 

The purpose of this role is to develop and oversee the general secretariat function of the Americas Office, ensuring smooth operations across finance, human resources, IT, procurement, building management, security, and logistics. The role involves managing the administrative team, external contractors and service providers, and coordinating with internal and external legal advisers. Additionally, it provides key support to the Chief Representative in their senior management responsibilities. 

By joining our team, you will: 

• Take on a varied and autonomous role dedicated to achieving operational excellence and contributing to the success of our growing regional office. 

• Expand your expertise in regional operations while fostering a global perspective through close collaboration with our international offices. 

• Take on a leadership role, working directly with senior management to oversee operations, guide strategic decisions, and ensure the seamless functioning of the office. 

• Build meaningful relationships with central banks across the region, contributing to impactful collaboration. 

Principal accountabilities: 

• Finance and Procurement: Oversee budgeting, financial controls, and procurement activities, ensuring adherence to policies and value for money. 

• Human Resources and IT: Collaborate with HR to implement policies and ensure consistent application. Manage local IT and telephony services for seamless operations. 

• Operations and Administration: Manage building, security, logistics, and external services, ensuring safety, compliance, and business continuity. Coordinate audits, operational risk management, and legal matters. 

• Leadership and Oversight: Supervise administrative staff and contractors, oversee event management, and maintain relationships with key stakeholders, including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. 

• Reports: This position manages a team of administrative staff, external service providers, and IT support contractors while serving as the administrative line manager for back-office and banking IT employees. 

Qualifications, skills, and experience: 

• Relevant university degree in a finance-related field, business management, economics, or equivalent professional experience. 

• Demonstrated ability to operate at a senior level combined with strong management skills. 

• Proven experience in overseeing office operations and ensuring seamless service delivery. 

• Solid knowledge of information technology, particularly local networks and telephony, with experience in supplier management. 

• Versatility to draw on multiple disciplines and perform diverse functions at a senior level. 

• Strong adaptability and interpersonal skills, with experience in multicultural environments considered an advantage. 

• Ability to work effectively under pressure and deliver results efficiently. 

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in both English and Spanish. 

• Flexibility regarding work type and working hours. 

Who we are: 

Internationalism is at the core of our identity and the best representation of this is our workforce. With employees from over 66 countries and offices in nine locations, the BIS is a global organisation with a truly international workforce. By joining us, you will work in a unique, highly rewarding, and international work environment. We are committed to equal opportunities at the BIS and aim to build a workforce that reflects our global membership. We strive to attract the best talent and foster an inclusive environment. We welcome applications from all qualified candidates, including those with a breadth of professional experience. You can discover more about our inclusive working environment here. 

What the BIS offers: 

We want your time at BIS to be a rewarding and career-enriching experience. We offer an agile and flexible working environment with hybrid working opportunities including home office and working from abroad days. To support our international applicants, we offer relocation support that extends to your dependent family members. In addition, we offer a competitive compensation and benefits package, including support for working families including childcare and education allowances (where applicable). Finally, we offer a genuinely unique international working environment, which will give you exposure to the global financial system and the opportunity to collaborate with passionate experts from all over the world.