Project Associate (Finance and Admin)- Roster Recruitment

Better Than Cash
Better Than Cash

Accounting & Finance

Dhaka, Bangladesh

Posted on Jun 30, 2026
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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

With a total gross domestic product (GDP) of over USD 450 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). Bangladesh has been grappling with high inflation. GDP growth is slowing down, and according to the latest estimates, GDP grew by 3.5% in 2025. 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. Moreover, Bangladesh is one of the most vulnerable countries to climate change and 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. This entails high-quality policy and technical advice, implementation support, helping Bangladesh to mobilize development financing, and promoting knowledge sharing.
The programme portfolio of UNDP Bangladesh is organized in two Programme Clusters: a) Democratic Governance; and b) Resilient and Inclusive Growth (RIG). The Programme Clusters support the achievement of strategic objectives articulated in UNDP’s Country Programme Document (CPD) and the UN’s Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF).

Duties and Responsibilities

This Terms of Reference is for Roster Recruitment purposes. Selected candidates will be placed in a talent pool and may be deployed to any UNDP Bangladesh project or programme that requires a Finance & Admin Associate at the NPSA-6 level. UNDP Bangladesh implements a broad and diverse portfolio of development programmes spanning democratic governance, rule of law and human rights; poverty reduction and social protection; climate change, environment and disaster risk management; sustainable energy and green economy; gender equality and women's empowerment; health; and crisis response and recovery.

UNDP works in close partnership with the Government of Bangladesh (GoB), civil society organizations, the private sector, UN agencies and bilateral/multilateral development partners. Projects in this roster may be implemented under various modalities including National Implementation Modality (NIM), Direct Implementation Modality (DIM) and other partnership arrangements, with varying scales of budgets, team sizes and operational complexity.

The Finance & Admin Associate at NPSA-6 level will provide operational, financial and administrative support to ensure the smooth, compliant and efficient management of project resources in accordance with UNDP's financial rules and regulations, donor requirements and GoB guidelines.

The incumbent will be responsible for the following key functions:
• Support in financial management and reporting.
• Support in administrative, logistics and asset management.
• Support for quality assurance and compliance.
• Knowledge building and sharing.

3.1 Support in financial management and reporting
• Assist in setting up and maintaining financial control systems; process financial transactions in line with Government of Bangladesh (GoB) and UNDP/organizational policies and procedures.
• Effectively manage and monitor donor funds in alignment with the Annual Work Plan (AWP) and in full compliance with donor agreements.
• Monitor expenditures against the approved AWP; maintain shadow budgets and ensure timely project financial delivery.
• Prepare monthly, quarterly and annual financial reports as per organizational and donor requirements.
• Prepare quarterly Fund Authorization and Certification of Expenditures (FACE) forms, including cashbook and bank reconciliation; ensure timely liquidation of advances.
• Review and process all payment requests, including travel claims and suppliers' invoices, ensuring compliance with UNDP financial rules.
• Support the preparation and revision of the AWP and multi-year budgets in coordination with the Project Manager.
• Ensure timely processing of ERP/Quantum system transactions, including budget uploads, General Ledger Journal Entries (GLJE) and ongoing budget monitoring.
• Prepare vouchers and financial transactions in alignment with UNDP rules and regulations, ensuring accuracy and compliance.
• Support the audit process, including responding to audit observations and implementing recommendations.
• Regularly monitor the financial dashboard to identify and address any pending issues in a timely manner.
• Ensure financial closure of the project/programme in line with donor and government requirements.

3.2 Support in administrative, logistics and asset management
• Provide day-to-day administrative and logistical support to ensure the smooth operation of project activities.
• Coordinate logistics for events such as workshops, seminars, conferences and field missions.
• Ensure proper record-keeping and a systematic filing system for administrative, logistics, vehicle and equipment-related documents.
• Monitor the security and maintenance of project equipment, vehicles and assets; support asset transfer and disposal formalities as required.
• Ensure compliance with UNDP travel and vehicle usage policies; maintain accurate vehicle logs and related documentation.
• Assist in HR-related activities such as recruitment support, contract management, staff evaluations and maintaining personnel records.
• Assist with the procurement process; follow up on deliveries and troubleshoot delays in goods/services acquisition.
• Support the Project Manager in drafting Letters of Agreement (LoAs), MoUs, contracts and other administrative documents, ensuring alignment with UNDP and GoB guidelines.
• Maintain all registers and records, including asset/inventory logs, document registers and others as required.
• Support the closure of project activities, including submission of final reports and completion of asset disposal and other administrative tasks.

3.3 Support quality assurance and compliance.

• Verify implementing partner activities and fund utilization as per approved FACE forms; monitor disbursement and adjustments to ensure compliance with financial and programmatic targets.
• Support spot checks, audits and financial reviews of implementing partners, contributing to transparent financial oversight and risk management.
• Assist in the preparation of monthly, quarterly and annual progress and financial reports, consolidating validated data from implementing partners.
• Contribute to the development and update of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to enhance operational efficiency and strengthen internal controls.
• Coordinate logistical and administrative support for project activities, including workshops, training sessions, field missions and event management.
• Maintain organized documentation and filing systems for all financial and administrative records, ensuring readiness for audits and evaluations.
• Ensure compliance with UNDP's anti-fraud and anti-corruption policies in all financial operations.
• Apply strong financial data-integrity controls and support value-for-money in operations; uphold UNDP’s safeguarding standards, including protection from sexual exploitation and abuse (PSEA), within the area of responsibility.

3.4 Support knowledge building and sharing

• Participate in trainings for project and operations staff on financial and administrative procedures.
• Provide on-the-job training and support for project staff in the areas of finance and administration.
• Contribute to the documentation and sharing of best practices and lessons learned to strengthen project operational performance.
• Support the development and maintenance of knowledge products related to administrative and financial processes.

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

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4. Institutional Arrangement
The Finance & Admin Associate (NPSA-6) will work under the direct supervision of the Project Manager or Finance Specialist, as designated. S/he will liaise with UNDP Operations (Finance, HR, Procurement, General Services) and with the National Project Director's office/government counterparts as required. The Finance & Admin Associate will work under the direct leadership of the Project Manager or the designated supervisor

Competencies

a) 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


b) Cross-Functional & Technical Competencies:

Finance Accounting (General) Knowledge of accounting concepts, principles, frameworks, standards, regulations, policies and trends, and ability to apply these to strategic and/or practical situations
Finance Audit (General) Understands how regulations and professional standards in internal and external audit underpin audit work in the public services. Understands the key stages of audit work, including planning,
documentation, testing and reporting.
Ability to examine and verify accounts and records. Understands wider mechanisms
for assurance and scrutiny. Understands the law and best practice relating to anti-
bribery and corruption controls and
the fraud risks faced by public
bodies.
Finance Budget Management Ability to support budgetary aspects of work planning, drawing and management of team budgets
Administration & Operations Events Management Ability to manage events, including
Venue identification, accommodation,
logistics, catering, transportation,
and cash disbursements, etc.
Procurement Contract Management Knowledge of contract management concepts, principles and methods, and ability to apply
this to strategic and/or practical
situations
Business Management Risk Management Identify and organize action around reducing,
mitigating and proactively managing risks
Business Management Resource Management Allocate and use resources in a strategic or tactical
way in line with business needs and priorities and
principles of accountability and integrity

Required Skills and Experience

Min. Education Requirements:

• Secondary Education with specialized certification in accounting and/or Finance is required. Or
• A university degree (bachelor’s degree) in Finance, Accounting or relevant related field will be given due consideration, but it is not a requirement.
• Part-qualified accountants from an internationally accredited institute of accountancy will have a distinct advantage.
• 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, no UNDP Accountancy and Finance Test (AFT) is 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.

Min. Years of Relevant Work Experience:

• Minimum of 6 years (with Secondary education) or 3 years (with a bachelor’s degree) of relevant experience in administration and financial management in development projects, government or international organizations.

Required Skills:

• Hands-on experience processing financial transactions, reconciliations and reporting and procurement is required.
• Experience in preparing routine financial reports, with demonstrable accuracy and attention to detail is required.
• Proficiency in MS Office (especially Excel) and in a web-based financial-management or ERP system is required.
• Experience providing administrative and logistics support (events, travel, asset and record-keeping) is required.
• Demonstrated experience in managing a steady transaction workload reliably and to deadline is required.


Desired Skills (in addition to competencies) :

• Demonstrated experience and sound knowledge of donor or public‑sector financial rules and reporting requirements, and experience applying fund‑ or grant‑management procedures.
• Experience in the development sector with an NGO, UN agency, donor‑funded project or government programme including liaising with government counterparts and project stakeholders on operational and financial matters.
• Experience supporting audits, spot checks or financial reviews, including tracking and closing out findings.
• Experience in budget preparation, expenditure monitoring and basic forecasting or variance analysis, beyond routine transaction processing.
• Experience supporting both programme finance and day‑to‑day operations as part of a project delivery team.

Required Language(s) : Fluency in English and Bengali (Bangla) is required, both written and verbal.

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.

UNDP is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, ethnicity and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and people living with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence.

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.

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.

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