Job Description

Please note the appropriate Tier indicated in the vacancy title and ensure that you are holding the applicable contract as defined below:

• Tier 1: UNDP/ UNCDF/ UNV staff holding permanent (PA) and fixed term (FTA) appointments (defined as “internal” candidates)  
• Tier 2: Staff holding UNDP temporary appointments (TA), personnel on regular PSA contracts and Expert and Specialist UNVs with host entity UNDP
• Tier 3: All other contract types from UNDP/UNCDF/UNV and other agencies, and other external candidates

Background

With a total gross domestic product (GDP) of over USD 430 billion, Bangladesh is the second-largest economy in South Asia. Between 2000 and 2019, Bangladesh’s economy registered high GDP growth, averaging around 6% per annum. During this period, there were several notable improvements across different socioeconomic indicators, putting the country on track for a formal graduation from the group of least developed countries (LDCs) in 2026. Bangladesh’s score on the human development index (HDI) increased from 0.49 in 2000 to 0.68, placing it among countries categorized as medium human development. The national poverty rate fell from over 48% in 2000 to less than 19% in 2022. 

Despite the progress, Bangladesh faces several development challenges, and with the current trend, the country is unlikely to meet several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Even before the political crisis in 2024, Bangladesh was grappling with double-digit inflation. According to the latest estimate, GDP is expected to grow by 3.7% in 2025, much slower than the GDP growth in the past. Without an uptick in private investment, the economy cannot diversify, a necessary condition for creating decent jobs. With low social spending and weak capacities, the government is constrained from providing quality services to the people. Bangladesh is also one of the most vulnerable countries to climate change and is prone to natural hazards, including climate-induced disasters. 

As the UN’s development agency, UNDP has been in Bangladesh since 1972, promoting democratic governance, climate adaptation, environmental protection and inclusive growth and, helping the country to achieve equitable and sustainable development. UNDP has been a close partner of Bangladesh in co-designing policy solutions, building national capacities, and promoting innovations to help meet its developmental aspirations.   

Over the past decades, Bangladesh made remarkable human development progress, despite frequent intensive and extensive disasters, impact of climate change and, more recently, the Rohingya refugee crisis. As one of the world's fastest growing economies, the country is an aspirant of LDC graduate and aims to become a developed nation by 2041. However, its development gains have not been distributed in an equitable way resulting in widening inequality despite making good progress women economic empowerment. Its economic reliance on foreign remittances and RMG have increasingly being exposed to 4th Industrial Revolution and more recently COVID-19. While urbanization and industrialization continue to offer an economic dividend, they have a compound negative impact on eco-system health. Besides, climate and disaster remain major fault-line in the economy and society. In addressing the challenges, the country was able to maintain a forward-facing policy environment. As a result, the reduction of poverty and inequality, and becoming a resilient nation remain the GoB's top priority. The country is also known for its accelerated implementation approach of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through nationally driven policies and investments. In support of the country's ambition, UNDP has been a strong partner of the government in co-designing policy solutions, capacity building and promoting innovations. The expectation from UNDP to play an SDG integrator role is growing in the context of the post-UN reform.

The Programme Management and Support Unit (PMSU) provides comprehensive support to the Country Office’s programme across several key areas. This includes strengthening programme agility; consolidating the pipeline in Quantum/Quantum plus and offering technical support for business development; and providing results-based management support through programme monitoring, evaluation frameworks, indicator identification, and evaluation advice. PMSU also leads coordination and quality assurance of UNDP Country Office (CO) results reporting, offers technical risk management support, and contributes to programme quality by supporting corporate planning processes such as Country office Business Plan (COBP) and Intergrated Work Plan (IWP). The unit collaborates closely with programme and project teams to develop integrated development approaches, ensures legal compliance with partner agreements and Memorandum of Understanding (MOUs), and oversees adherence to cost-recovery and resource-management practices. 

Programme Finance provides cost effective and timely partnering services to the CO to maintain the sound financial management of and responsible resource allocation for its development programme and projects. Programme Finance provides support to development project teams to ensure appropriate and adequate budgeting for projects, monitoring of budgets to identify gaps against allocations, and financial reporting to CO management to promote transparency and informed decision making.

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the overall guidance and supervision of the Head of Programme Management and Support Unit (PMSU), the Programme Finance Associate provides leadership in execution of programme finance services ensuring effective and transparent utilization of financial resources and integrity of financial services. The Programme Finance Associate promotes a client-oriented approach consistent with UNDP rules and regulations.

The Programme Finance Associate works in close collaboration with the Programme, Operations, and project teams in the Country Office (CO) and staff in UNDP HQ, Regional Hub and GSSC for information delivery and to resolve complex programme and/or financial management-related issues.

UNDP adopts a portfolio approach to accommodate changing business needs and leverage linkages across interventions to achieve its strategic goals. Therefore, UNDP personnel are expected to work across units, functions, teams, and projects in multidisciplinary teams in order to enhance and enable horizontal collaboration.

Under the direct supervision of Head of PMSU, the Programme Finance Associate, will perform the above-mentioned responsibilities in coordination with relevant Country Office teams and the Clusters.

The Programme Finance Associate will carry out the following key responsibilities:

Ensure administration and implementation of programme, operational and financial management strategies; and adapt processes and procedures.

• Ensure full compliance with UNDP Programme and Operations Policies and Procedures (POPP) of financial activities and financial recording/reporting system. 
• Support CO Programme Finance business processes mapping and elaboration of the content of internal standard operating procedures in programme finance in consultation with office management.
• Provide researched information for the audit of projects. Implement and follow-up on audit recommendations.
• Implement financing and trust fund agreements.

Provide support to CO programme management and ensure optimal cost recovery. 

• Develop and follow up on Programme Portfolio Pipeline and Project Tree in ERP. Enter data of new grants into ERP in the form of Annual Work Plans (AWPs) and monitor AWPs status.
• Oversee ERP matching, implement effective internal controls, and ensure proper functioning of a client-oriented financial resource management system. Implement control mechanism for development projects by monitoring budget preparation and modifications and budgetary status versus ASL. Follow up with HQ on ASL for development projects.
• Verify accuracy of Combined Delivery Reports and follow-up on their signing by National Counterparts. Regularly monitor the CO delivery.
• Provide information and reports on the situation in CO programme, identify operational and financial problems, and propose solutions.
• Prepare reports and provide advice to project personnel  on UNDP administrative and programme reporting, particularly on budgetary issues. Verify and reconcile various expenditures reports from the CO, HQ and Executing Agencies. Periodically monitor dashboards and exceptions; and identify remedial actions in coordination with the supervisor. 
• Prepare timely cost-recovery bills in ERP for the services provided, implement the revenue tracking system, and follow up on cost recovery.

Provide support to implementation of the resource mobilization strategy.   

• Support elaboration of conditions of contributions within the CO resource mobilization efforts. 
• Monitor financing contributions, prepare AR pending items, and maintain contributions/receivables documentation.
• Provide advice to Programme and Project personnel on different donor reporting requirements; prepare donor reports and monitor financial reports to be submitted to donors. 
• Review financing agreements and obtain clearances from HQ if necessary. 
• Track and report on mobilized resources by performing the following tasks: 
• Enter agreement information into Contracts Module and attach copy of the signed agreement in ERP.
• Submit information based on financing agreements to GSSU including amendments. 

Facilitate knowledge building and knowledge sharing in the Country Office.

• Provide guidance to the executing agencies on routine implementation of projects and tracking use of financial resources.
• Organize and conduct training for the operations, programme, and projects staff on financial management and RBM.
• Assist in providing regular training and technical guidance and/or advice on audit and compliance matters, including implementation of Internal Control Framework (ICF).
• Synthesize lessons learned and best practices in programme and project finance.
• Provide sound contributions to knowledge networks and communities of practice. 

The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization. 

Competencies

Core Competencies

• Achieve Results: LEVEL 1: Plans and monitors own work, pays attention to details, delivers quality work by deadline
• Think Innovatively: LEVEL 1: Open to creative ideas/known risks, is pragmatic problem solver, makes improvements 
• Learn Continuously: LEVEL 1: Open minded and curious, shares knowledge, learns from mistakes, asks for feedback
• Adapt with Agility: LEVEL 1: Adapts to change, constructively handles ambiguity/uncertainty, is flexible 
• Act with Determination:  LEVEL 1: Shows drive and motivation, able to deliver calmly in face of adversity, confident
• Engage and Partner: LEVEL 1: Demonstrates compassion/understanding towards others, forms positive relationships
• Enable Diversity and Inclusion:  LEVEL 1: Appreciate/respect differences, aware of unconscious bias, confront discrimination 

Cross-Functional & Technical competencies: 

Business Management                                       

• Customer Satisfaction/Client Management - Ability to respond timely and appropriately with a sense of urgency, provide consistent solutions, and deliver timely and quality results and/or solutions to fulfil and understand the real customers' needs. Provide inputs to the development of customer service strategy. Look for ways to add value beyond clients' immediate requests. Ability to anticipate client's upcoming needs and concerns 

Business Development          

• Knowledge Facilitation - Ability to animate individuals and groups, internally and externally, and to design and facilitate activities, to share and exchange knowledge, information and ideas. Knowledge of tools and approaches to stimulate active participation, contribution, and exchange. 

Business Management           

• Working with Evidence and Data - Ability to inspect, cleanse, transform and model data with the goal of discovering useful information, informing conclusions and supporting decision-making 

Finance                           

• Accounting (General) - Knowledge of accounting concepts, principles, frameworks, standards, regulations, policies and trends, and ability to apply this to strategic and/or practical situations
• Budget Management - Ability to support budgetary aspects of work planning process, drawing and management of team budgets
• Audit Risk Management - Ability to address audit issues raised in the course of an audit and propose solutions in order to ensure a true and fair audit opinion is achieved.
• Banking and Cash Management - Ability to collect, handle, and manage cash, which involves assessing market liquidity, cash flow, and investments

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

• Secondary Education is required with specialized certification in accounting and/or finance. Or 
• Bachelor's degree in finance or  accounting is desired. 
• Fully Qualified Accountant, from an internationally accredited institute of accountancy or Full Completion of the UNDP Finance Training and Certification Programme (FTCP). No UNDP Accountancy and Finance Test (AFT) required. 
• Candidates with no professional accountancy qualifications, but with degrees that major in accountancy and/or finance must complete UNDP Finance Training and Certification Programme (FTCP), if recruited. However, UNDP Accountancy and Finance Test (AFT) is not required.
• Candidates with no professional accountancy qualifications but with relevant experience must successfully undertake UNDP Accountancy and Finance Test (AFT) before shortlisting, and must complete the UNDP Finance Training and Certification Programme (FTCP), if recruited.

Experience:

• Minimum of 7 years (with secondary education ) or 4 years (with bachelor’s degree) of progressively responsible Finance and Accounting experience at the national or international level is required.
• Experience in the use of computers and office software packages (MS Word, Excel, etc.) and advanced knowledge of spreadsheets and web-based management systems such as ERP financials and database packages.

Required skills

• Documented experience with UNDP programmes or similar international development initiatives.
• Proven skills in resource and budget management, including financial reporting.
• Knowledge of IPSAS and/or IFRS 
• Experience supporting the administration and implementation of development programmes or projects.

Desired additional skills 

• Knowledge and Experience of UN/UNDP Programme and Project Management rules, regulations and procedures is desirable.
• Experience providing financial guidance to stakeholders is desirable.
• Knowledge and Experience of Programme Finance support is desirable.
• Experience in developing and implementing resource mobilization strategies is an asset.
• Experience working with UN or other international organizations is an advantage.

Required Languages

• Fluency in written and spoken English and Bangla is required 

Equal opportunity

As an equal opportunity employer, UNDP values diversity as an expression of the multiplicity of nations and cultures where we operate and, as such, we encourage qualified applicants from all backgrounds to apply for roles in the organization. Our employment decisions are based on merit and suitability for the role, without discrimination. 

UNDP is also committed to creating an inclusive workplace where all personnel are empowered to contribute to our mission, are valued, can thrive, and benefit from career opportunities that are open to all.

Sexual harassment, exploitation, and abuse of authority

UNDP does not tolerate harassment, sexual harassment, exploitation, discrimination and abuse of authority. All selected candidates, therefore, undergo relevant checks and are expected to adhere to the respective standards and principles. 

Right to select multiple candidates

UNDP reserves the right to select one or more candidates from this vacancy announcement.  We may also retain applications and consider candidates applying to this post for other similar positions with UNDP at the same grade level and with similar job description, experience and educational requirements.

Scam alert

UNDP does not charge a fee at any stage of its recruitment process. For further information, please see www.undp.org/scam-alert.