Programme Management Office Senior Associate

The Asia Regional Health Cluster (ARHC) was established in 2018 for efficient delivery of Global Fund grants implementation, technical assistance of health initiatives and programmes, and the provision of quality pharmaceuticals and health products in the Asia Region of UNOPS. The ARHC aims to significantly impact the targets of UN Sustainable Development Goal 3 on good health and well-being, by expanding the population benefitting from UNOPS-managed health-related engagements across the Asia Region. 

The ARHC portfolio manages the Principal Recipient (PR) Programme of the Global Fund to fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (Global Fund) in Asia, currently with grants in Cambodia, Lao, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam. UNOPS as a PR, is responsible for delivering the targets set out in the grant agreements in collaboration with selected sub-recipients from the National Programmes, local and international non-governmental organizations (NGOs), academic and private sector institutions and UN agencies.

UNOPS, selected as Principal Recipient (PR), has managed US$816.9 million in Global Fund grants for HIV, Malaria, and TB programme implementation in Myanmar (MMR) from 2011 to 2023, with US$186 million approved for malaria elimination activities in the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) and US$135 million for TB and HIV activities in Myanmar (MMR) for the next three years (2024-2026).

Under the overall supervision of the Programme Director and the direct supervision of the Finance Specialist, the Programme Management Office Senior Associate works in close collaboration with operations, programme and partners to develop and implement databases and automated tools for financial reporting and analysis, budgeting, reporting, and operation.

Within the framework of the delegated authority, the incumbent is assigned all or part of the following duties which are performed according to organizational needs and structure: 

1. Implementation of operational strategies

2. Database, automation, and technical support

3. Budgetary and project costing support

4. Financial reporting and control

5. Facilitation of knowledge building and knowledge sharing

• Implement effective internal controls, proper functioning of a client-oriented financial resources management system, in full compliance with UNOPS rules, regulations, and policies of financial activities, financial recording/reporting system and follow-up on audit recommendations;

• Align processes and procedures for budget and financial reporting in line with UNOPS Financial Rules and Regulations and best practices in Fund Management.

• Create and maintain databases for financial data, such as account information and transaction history.

• Write and execute VBA, Power Query, Macro, and App Scripts to retrieve and analyze financial data.

• Create and maintain automated tools for financial reporting and analysis.

• Create and maintain internal dashboards using Looker Studio.

• Keep up with the new technologies and apply them to the project to improve effectiveness.

• Provide technical support to financial users, such as troubleshooting database problems and helping them use financial reporting tools.

• Assist with the implementation of new financial systems and processes.

• Support in the preparation of budgets in compliance with donor requirements and UNOPS Financial regulations and rules, Organizational Directives (ODs) and Administrative Instructions (AIs).

• Set up the new Projects in the system including creating a new project structure and ensuring that all the approved budgets are uploaded in the system.

• Assign the relevant budget coding for the individual budget line for all budgets to enable recording properly in the system.

• Information gathering for budget preparation.

• Consolidating and processing of budget revisions for Program Budgets.

• Ensure that the relevant budget and reporting annexes for partner agreements are correct.  

• Ensure that all annexes are accurate and in the correct format.

• Assist in providing responses and feedback relating to the donor and fund agent queries for newly submitted or reprogrammed budgets in coordination with Programme team and partner

• Assist with the financial closure of completed projects

• Support preparation of Periodic Financial Reports and ad-hoc reports as required by the donor.

• Review quarterly consolidated partner cash reports.

• Preparation of Cash and Expenditure reconciliation between UNOPS books and donor reports.

• Review quarterly partner cash reports and consolidate all reports.

• Prepare a financial report template and share it with a partner in advance of the financial report submission period.

5.   Knowledge building and knowledge sharing:

• Assist in reviewing internal Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for the Programme Support Unit and conduct regular monitoring to ensure proper implementation of SOPs.

• Assist in organizing, facilitating, and delivering training and learning initiatives for personnel and partners on finance-related topics as requested by the supervisor.

• Synthesize lessons learned and best practices in finance and reporting.

• Communicate with colleagues and clients to identify areas requiring verification, corrections, or additional information, to improve the quality of output and account submissions, and to increase the knowledge base.

• Collect feedback, ideas, and internal knowledge about processes and best practices, and utilize them productively.

Impact of Results 

The effective and successful achievement of results by the Programme Management Office Senior Associate directly impacts the efficient and effective management of financial resources in projects and Programme, demonstrating UNOPS’ effective stewardship of donor and partner funds. These promote the credibility of the organization as an effective service provider in project services and management.

Education

• Completion of secondary school is required. 

• Relevant certification in financial management or accounting, or a  first University Degree preferably in Financial Management, Accounting, Business Administration or equivalent disciplines is desirable but not required. 

Experience

• A minimum of 7 years of relevant work experience within the areas of finance, accounting, business administration or other related fields is required.

• Experience with MS Office 2010 or newer versions is required.

• Experience with Google Workspace Suite is required.

• Advanced knowledge of spreadsheets (Excel/GoogleSheets) is required.

• Experience with Google Looker Studio, Power Query, and/or Macro & VBA is required.

• Knowledge of programming languages, such as SQL, Python, or Java is an asset.

• Experience working with ERP and using financial management electronic systems is an asset.

Language Requirements

• Full proficiency in English and Thai language is essential.

Contract type: ICA
Contract level: LICA7, ICS7
Contract duration: Open-ended, subject to organizational requirements, availability of funds and satisfactory performance

• Please note that UNOPS does not accept unsolicited resumes.

• Applications received after the closing date will not be considered.

• Please note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process, which involves various assessments.

• UNOPS embraces diversity and is committed to equal employment opportunity. Our workforce consists of many diverse nationalities, cultures,  languages, races, gender identities, sexual orientations, and abilities. UNOPS seeks to sustain and strengthen this diversity to ensure equal opportunities as well as an inclusive working environment for its entire workforce. 

• Qualified women and candidates from groups which are underrepresented in the UNOPS workforce are encouraged to apply. These include in particular candidates from racialized and/or indigenous groups, members of minority gender identities and sexual orientations, and people with disabilities.

• We would like to ensure all candidates perform at their best during the assessment process.  If you are shortlisted and require additional assistance to complete any assessment, including reasonable accommodation, please inform our human resources team when you receive an invitation.

Terms and Conditions 

• For staff positions only, UNOPS reserves the right to appoint a candidate at a lower level than the advertised level of the post. 

• For retainer contracts, you must complete a few Mandatory Courses (they take around 4 hours to complete) in your own time, before providing services to UNOPS. For more information on a retainer contract here.

• All UNOPS personnel are responsible for performing their duties in accordance with the UN Charter and UNOPS Policies and Instructions, as well as other relevant accountability frameworks. In addition, all personnel must demonstrate an understanding of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in a manner consistent with UN core values and the UN Common Agenda.

• It is the policy of UNOPS to conduct background checks on all potential personnel. Recruitment in UNOPS is contingent on the results of such checks.