Operational Due Diligence Associate- [open to Malaysia nationals only]

This position is open to Nationals of Malaysia only.

Tiered Approach

In line with the commitment to safeguard capacity and support personnel already in the Organization, a majority of UNDP UNCDF/UNV vacancies are advertised using a tiered application process whereby:

• Tier 0: UNDP/UNCDF/UNV IP staff holding permanent (PA) and fixed-term (FTA) appointments, whose posts will be abolished, or contracts will be terminated or not renewed during 2026.
• Tier 1: Other UNDP/UNCDF/UNV staff holding permanent (PA) and fixed-term (FTA) appointments
• Tier 2: UNDP/UNCDF/UNV staff holding temporary appointments (TA), personnel on regular PSA contracts, and Expert and Specialist UN Volunteers
• Tier 3 or no tier indicated: All other contract types from UNDP/UNCDF/UNV and other agencies, and other external candidates

Please make note of the Tier(s) indicated in the vacancy title, if any, and ensure that you satisfy the eligibility to apply.

Background

The Bureau for Management Services’ Office of Financial Resources Management (BMS/OFRM) supports the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in the implementation of the 2030 agenda and UNDP’s Strategic Plan. It achieves this by developing and making fully operational a dynamic and harmonized integrated resource management framework based on comprehensive analysis that enhances UNDP’s financial and administrative performance, as well as facilitating UN reform and coherence.

The primary role of BMS/ OFRM is to maintain the financial integrity of UNDP through providing functional leadership, supporting the efficient and effective management of its financial resources, promoting financial sustainability and responsible resource allocation. This is accomplished by the development and implementation of sound financial policies and practices, oversight of corporate financial management performance, and flexible scalable support to resource allocation. BMS/OFRM serves as a business partner to Bureaux and Country Offices, providing sound financial management, advisory and analytical services, with a view to continuously improve the financial management performance of business units and support Bureaux in the exercising of their oversight functions.

Within OFRM, the Treasury Division oversees cash, currency and banking risks globally, managing the organization’s liquidity with centralized investment of excess cash balances to meet its liabilities.

The Operational Due Diligence Team contributes to risk management and operational effectiveness across UNDP by providing enhanced vetting recommendations, conducting ongoing corporate monitoring and reporting, providing advisory services to country offices/units/bureaus, maintaining and refining corporate policy, guidance, tools and procedures as required, and supporting senior management with the implementation of policies, specifically the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (“AML/CFT”) Policy and the Vendor Sanctions Policy across UNDP. The Chief of the BMS/Treasury/Operational Due Diligence Division also acts as the Chair of the UNDP Vendor Review Committee (VRC) and oversees the VRC function.

Job Purpose

Under the direct supervision of the Chief of the BMS/Treasury/Operational Due Diligence Team and day-to-day guidance of  the AML/CFT Specialist, the Operational Due Diligence Associate will be responsible for providing administrative, coordination and analytical support to the Division as it works closely with other Treasury Teams (in particular the Treasury Operations team), various units within BMS (e.g., the Office of Legal Services (BMS/OLS), the Office of Procurement (BMS/OP), the Office of Information Technology Management (BMS/ITM), etc.), functional owners in central bureaus (e.g., the Bureau for Policy and Programme Support (BPPS), the Bureau for External Relations and Advocacy (BERA), etc.), the Office of Audit and Investigation (OAI) and AML/CFT focal points in country offices, regional and central bureaus. The Operational Due Diligence Associate will provide support to the Division’s staff, while helping maintain highly confidential records and databases.

UNDP adopts a portfolio approach to accommodate changing business needs and leverage linkages across interventions to achieve its strategic goals. This is a recognition of interconnected nature of development risks & crises that the world is facing and that call for assembling of multidisciplinary teams for an integrated & systemic response. 

Therefore, UNDP personnel are expected to work across issues, units, functions, teams and projects in multidisciplinary teams in order to enhance and enable horizontal collaboration.

Duties and Responsibilities

1) Ensure administrative support for the AML/CFT Policy implementation focusing on achievement of the following results:

• Prepares and facilitates signatures for memos, notes, and other internal documentation, including briefing notes and minutes, including coordinating with other bureaus/offices, as required.
• Ensures accurate data entry, validation, and updates across AML/CFT databases, trackers, and dashboards
• Produces standardized outputs (tables, summaries, reports) to reduce manual processing time; 
• Addresses and resolves day-to-day OFAC and similar sanction queries from the bank and Country Offices for payment transactions.

2) Conduct research and provide corporate reporting and analytics

• Supports collection of vetting data from public and non-public official sources of information
• Assists with monitoring and tracking cases.

3) Provide support for the overall administration and office management of BMS/Treasury/Operational Due Diligence Division

• Prepares requests for setting up and onboarding new personnel.
• Initiates requests for vendor profile creation. 
• Generates timely e-requisitions and receipts for any procurement activities; 
• Focal point and/or alternate for official travel and office operations tasks; and 
• Supports the annual work planning (Integrated Work Plan) process for the division. 

4) Work jointly with the Treasury Operations Teams on AML/CFT related queries from UNDP banks

• Coordinate closely with the Treasury Operations Team for review, exchanges of information in relation to OFAC and global economic sanctions payment transactions.
• Proactively identify and implement operational measures as a first line of defense to eliminate exposure to operational, legal, financial, and reputational risk for UNDP.
• Explore ideas and recommend automation by use of existing tools, AI, Robotic Process Automation (RPA) to identify proactively the risk and reduce the work-efficiency bottlenecks.
  Analyze trends and exceptions from sanctions alerts, payments, and account discrepancies, and recommend actionable changes required on procedures, system, and practices.
  Track and summarize key issues, including blocked transactions, payment recalls, returned/rejected payments, and unresolved account discrepancies, for management and audit purposes.

5) Ensure knowledge sharing and facilitates knowledge building focusing on the following results:

• Provides support to the development of the BMS/Treasury/Operational Due Diligence Division workplan.
• Helps organize knowledge events on operational due diligence.
• 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: None 

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  

Cross-Functional & Technical competencies:

Business Management  Communication    

• Ability to communicate in a clear, concise and unambiguous manner both through written and verbal communication; to tailor messages and choose communication methods depending on the audience. Ability to manage communications internally and externally, through media, social media and other appropriate channels

Business Development  Knowledge Generation    

• Ability to research information and to turn it into useful knowledge, relevant for context, or responsive to a stated need. Ability to apply existing concepts to new situations, and to develop new concepts to generate workable solutions and new approaches. Knowledge of relevant concepts, conceptual models, and theories that can be useful in addressing new situations.

Business Management  Risk Management     

• Identify and organize action around reducing, mitigating and proactively managing risks

Finance  Budget Management    

• Ability to support budgetary aspects of work planning process, drawing and management of team budgets

Partnership Management  Relationship Management    

• Ability to engage with a wide range of public and private partners, build, sustain and/or strengthen working relations, trust and mutual understanding 

Data  Data Analysis     

• Ability to extract, analyse and visualize data (including Real-Time Data) to form meaningful insights and aid effective decision making.

Administration & Operations  Documents and records management    

• Overall document (hard or electronic) management; registry and retention policy including storing and archiving.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

• Completion of Secondary Education is required with specialized certification in Data Management, Business Operations, Accounting, Information Systems, or Office Automation, Accounting and/or Finance, Compliance or Paralegal Services. Or 
•  A university degree (bachelor’s degree) in Information Systems, Data Analytics, Finance, Accounting, Business Administration or Law will be given due consideration, but it is not a requirement.
• Certificates related to AML/CFT (ACAMS, ICA certification, etc.) or other financial crimes (ACFE, CCEP, etc.) would be an advantage.

Experience:

• Minimum six (6) years (with Secondary Education) or three (3) years (with bachelor’s degree) in Data Management, Information Systems, Business Operations, Office Automation, Finance, Accounting, Business Administration or Law including two (2) years of AML/CFT screening experience.
• Experience supporting data-driven operational processes, including maintenance and automation of trackers, databases, templates, and routine reports is required. 
• Demonstrated experience using Excel and document-based tools to streamline workflows and reduce manual tasks is required. 
• At least 2 years of working with UN common system entities or similar organizations preferred.
• Proficiency in MS Office, spreadsheets, and database packages is required. 
• Experience with ERP financial systems (e.g., Oracle) is required.
• Demonstrated interest in the areas of risk management, AML/CFT and/or dealing with financial crimes at the international level is desirable.
• Proven experience in strong attention to detail and ability to manage structured data, repetitive processes, and accuracy-sensitive tasks is required. . 
• Experience working in legal and/or compliance settings is desirable. 
• Demonstrated experience in AI, digital transformation, and process automation and ability to explore and apply new technologies is desired. 
• Experience as a collaborative team player with flexibility to work across global time zones is desired. 

Languages:

• Fluency in English is required 
• Fluency in another UN language is an advantage. 

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. 

Probation

For all new UNDP fixed term appointments (FTA), including for staff members being transferred or seconded to UNDP under the Inter-Organization Agreement concerning Transfer, Secondment or Loan of Staff, on an appointment of more than one year, continuation of the appointment beyond the initial 12 months is contingent upon the successful completion of a probationary period.

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.

Use of AI by candidates

 

Applicants are invited to read UNDP’s guidance for candidates on using AI responsibly in UNDP recruitment and selection

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.