The Asia Pacific Regional Office, based in Bangkok, Thailand, provides strategic leadership and oversight for UNOPS operations across 17 countries, ensuring high performance, operational excellence, and alignment with organizational goals. Operations currently span Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Myanmar, Nepal, Papua New Guinea, Pakistan, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Vietnam, and the Pacific Islands. Across these countries, we work closely with key stakeholders to strengthen partnerships and maximize impact through five main operating units: Afghanistan (AFCO), Myanmar (MMCO), South Asia Multi-Country Office (SAMCO), East Asia and Pacific Multi-Country Office (EAPMCO), and the Asia Regional Health Cluster (ARHC). Through these entities, we provide agile, client-focused service delivery across diverse sectors - including infrastructure, health, procurement, and project management - supporting the implementation of sustainable development solutions across the region.

The Asia Regional Health Cluster (ARHC) was established in 2018 to efficiently deliver grants and manage funds, and to provide quality pharmaceuticals and medical equipment. The ARHC aims to significantly impact the targets of the UN Sustainable Development Goal on good health and well-being by expanding the population benefiting 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 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 and local non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and United Nations agencies.

The Asia Regional Health Cluster (ARHC) is a dedicated UNOPS unit focused on delivering health programmes and procurement across the Asia Pacific region. Headquartered in Bangkok, Thailand, ARHC operates through a network of personnel in UNOPS country offices, leveraging local support services. ARHC's mission is to improve health outcomes and contribute to SDG 3 by providing tailored solutions and advisory services. Its expertise encompasses programme and fund management, pharmaceuticals and health sector procurement, and technical expertise in the health sector. Since 2011, ARHC has managed over US$1.68 billion in Global Fund grants for HIV, TB, and malaria programmes in the Greater Mekong Subregion, supporting national programmes, NGOs, and multilateral organizations. ARHC also extends its capabilities and services to UNOPS multi-country and country offices in the region, promoting regional collaboration and impact in the health sector.

Serving as the Global Fund Principal Recipient (PR) since 2011, UNOPS manages grants for Myanmar’s HIV, TB, and Malaria programs through its Asia Regional Health Cluster (ARHC) with full transparency and accountability. UNOPS has also been selected as the PR for the upcoming 2027–2029 HIV, TB, and RAI5E grants. Under the overall supervision of the Programme Director and the direct supervision of the Head Of Programme Management Office, this position will support one or more grants and is an integral part of the Programme Support Unit.

This position is open for UNOPS Internal Candidates and Myanmar Nationals Only.

The Finance Specialist plans, manages and oversees project and office financial operations, ensuring integrity, transparency and compliance with UNOPS Financial Rules and Regulations (FRRs), IPSAS standards, and donor/ partner requirements. The role provides guidance on budgeting, cash management, cost recovery, financial reporting, and internal controls, while strengthening the financial management capacity of project and field teams.

1. Budget Planning and Management

• Lead budget formulation, monitoring and revisions in line with UNOPS FRRs and project agreements, ensuring allocations support strategic objectives and operational efficiency.

• Ensure sound financial planning and control, including preparation of detailed budget variance analyses and expenditure forecasts.

• Implement internal control frameworks that ensure accurate processing of payment requests, timely receipt of goods/ services, and complete financial documentation in the enterprise resource planning (ERP) system.

• Review and authorize budget revisions, ensuring they are supported by proper documentation and management approval.

• Advise management on cost-efficiency measures, resource optimization, and corrective actions to address budgetary gaps and risks.

• Drive continuous improvement in budget management tools, templates and reporting mechanisms.

2. Implementation of Project Financial Management

• Oversee the full cycle of project financial management, ensuring accurate accounting, effective control, and timely recording of contributions and expenditures.

• Lead the financial process mapping and development of internal standard operating procedures (SOPs), ensuring consistency and compliance across all project transactions.

• Advise project management on financial strategy, resource allocation, and risk mitigation, ensuring effective use of funds and alignment with project objectives.

• Conduct financial forecasting and scenario analysis, providing data-driven recommendations to meet project needs.

• Identify, assess and mitigate financial and operational risks, proposing corrective actions where necessary.

• Monitor financial exception reports for unusual transactions, investigate anomalies, and report findings to management.

• Ensure full compliance of project financial activities with UNOPS policies, audit standards, and IPSAS.

• Support audits and ensure the timely implementation of audit recommendations.

3. Cash Management and Treasury

• Oversee cash management operations to ensure liquidity and accuracy in fund allocation.

• Review daily, weekly and monthly cash positions to maintain sufficient balances for disbursements and manage the zero-balance and imprest accounts.

• Prepare cash flow forecasts for operational and project needs and ensure alignment with budget projections.

• Initiate and approve bank transfers and foreign exchange transactions in the ERP system in compliance with authorization levels.

• Monitor operational advances, recoveries and petty cash accounts, ensuring timely reconciliation and closure.

• Conduct periodic treasury analyses and forecasting of income and expenditure trends to inform financial planning and risk management.

4. Commitments and Payments

• Ensure accuracy, validity and compliance of financial transactions, commitments and payments against budget allocations and contractual terms.

• Review and approve payment requests, verifying the completeness of supporting documentation and proper use of account codes.

• Ensure that transactions are properly recorded, reconciled and reported in the ERP system.

• Maintain control of accounts receivable and payable, ensuring timely recording and follow-up with clients, partners and donors.

• Support the establishment and implementation of an effective expenditure control framework, ensuring that vouchers are matched, verified, and cleared in accordance with financial rules.

• Manage financial data quality through ongoing review, reconciliation, and corrective action for unposted or exception items.

• Supervise timely accounts closure, including accruals, provisions and adjusting journal entries.

• Coordinate with HQ and Regional Office on complex payment or compliance issues and resolve financial data discrepancies.

5. Financial Reporting

• Prepare, review and analyze monthly, quarterly and annual financial reports for management and donors, ensuring accuracy and adherence to reporting timelines.

• Support the preparation of client financial statements, interim financial reports (IFRs), and delivery reports in line with contractual and audit requirements.

• Develop and maintain financial dashboards and reporting tools for portfolio oversight and performance analysis.

• Contribute to the annual financial closure process, ensuring all accounts are reconciled and adjustments made in compliance with UNOPS standards.

• Provide financial input and analysis for strategic reports, audits and evaluations.

• Lead or support the implementation of audit recommendations and contribute to internal and external financial reviews.

6. Advisory and Cost Recovery

• Provide expert guidance to field and project finance teams to ensure consistency and compliance.

• Review project agreements, budgets, and classifications to ensure proper cost attribution and cost recovery (LSS, GSS, ME).

• Conduct financial reviews of project expenditures to identify potential cost recovery opportunities and prevent losses.

• Provide advisory support on operational advances, petty cash, and fund management modalities, ensuring efficiency and risk control.

• Strengthen financial closure processes, ensuring all commitments, receivables and payables are reconciled and accurately reported

7. Knowledge Building and Sharing

• Support the organization, facilitation and delivery of training and learning sessions on finance topics.

• Participate in knowledge-sharing initiatives and Communities of Practice (CoPs), contributing insights and lessons learned.

• Conduct research on finance-related topics and contribute to the drafting of reports, summaries and briefing notes

Required

• Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) in Finance, Accounting, Business Administration or other disciplines with 7 years of relevant experience OR

• Master’s degree (or equivalent) in any of the above disciplines with 5 years of relevant experience is required.

Desired

• Professional certification (e.g. CPA, ACCA, CA, CIMA) is desired.

• Knowledge of IPSAS or other international accounting standards is desired.

Required

• Minimum 5 Years of relevant experience in project financial management, budgeting, cash management and financial reporting, or related areas.

• Demonstrable proficiency in the use of collaboration and productivity tools (e.g. MS Office, G-Suite, etc) and web-based management systems.

Desired

• Experience of working in multicultural environments or UN system organizations in a developing country is desired.

• Experience in development or humanitarian contexts is desired.

• Experience with financial systems or ERP software is desired.

• UNOPS does not accept unsolicited resumes.
• UNOPS will at no stage of the recruitment process request candidates to make payments of any kind.
• Applications to vacancies must be received before midnight Copenhagen time (CET) on the closing date of the announcement. Applications received after the closing date will not be considered.
• Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and invited to proceed to the next stage of the selection process, which may include various assessments.
• UNOPS embraces diversity and is committed to equal employment opportunity. Our workforce consists of a wide range of nationalities, cultures, languages, races, gender identities, sexual orientations, and abilities. We strive to sustain and strengthen this diversity, fostering an inclusive working environment where all personnel are treated with respect and have equal access to opportunities.
• UNOPS evaluates all applications based on the skills, qualifications and experience outlined in the vacancy announcement. We are committed to a fair and transparent selection process and welcome diverse perspectives, including those of women, indigenous and racialized communities, individuals of diverse gender identities and sexual orientations, and persons with disabilities.
• We are committed to enabling all candidates to perform at their best during the assessment process. If you are shortlisted and require support or reasonable accommodation to complete any assessment, please inform our human resources team upon receiving your invitation.
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• 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. Refreshers or new mandatory courses may be required during your contract. Please note that you will not receive any compensation for taking courses and refreshers. For more information on a retainer contract here.
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