Programme Finance Associate

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 the 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. 

In this context, the Programme Management and Partnership Support Unit is entrusted with the following elements of support to the CO’s programme:

Programme Agility 

• Pipeline Atlas consolidation & technical support for CO business development
• Results-based Management support to programmes M&E 
• Defining M&E framework, identifying indicators, advising evaluations, etc. 
• Coordination and quality assurance of CO results reporting 
• Technical risk management support

Programme Quality 

• Support to corporate planning – COBP, IWP, etc. 
• Collaboration with Programme and project teams on developing integrated development approaches 
• Legal Compliance with partner agreements / MOUs 
• Compliance with cost recovery and resource management practices.

Programme Partnership

• Explore innovative partnership opportunities.
• Widen the resource mobilization base and financing avenues.
• Support strategic communication and donor intelligence. 
• Align areas of cooperation based on strategic goals of UNDP, country needs and donors’ priorities. 

Programme Finance provides cost effective and timely partnering services to the UNDP Country Office (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.   

Under the overall guidance and supervision of the Head of Programme Management and Partnership Support Unit (PMPSU), 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.

• 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 staff 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 Staff 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. 

Ensure facilitation of knowledge building and knowledge sharing and provide guidance to stakeholders on financial matters. 

• 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.

Supervisory/Managerial Responsibilities: Supervise support staff on Programme Finance Team.

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.
• 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.

Business Development           

• Knowledge Facilitation: Ability to animate individuals and communities of contributors to participate and share, particularly externally.

Finance              

• Accounting (General): Knowledge of accounting concepts, principles, regulations, policies 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.