Programme Management Senior Associate (Finance), Colombo, Sri Lanka

## Programme Management Senior Associate (Finance), Colombo, Sri Lanka - Organization:UNOPS - United Nations Office for Project Services - Office:UNOPS Sri Lanka Position Title:Programme Management Senior Associate (Finance) Duty Station(s):Colombo Seniority Level:Associate Contract Type:ICA - LICA - Support - Regular Contract Level:LICA 7 Posting Start Date:17-Aug-2026 Posting End Date:31-Aug-2026 Empower finance operations with compliance, strategic budgeting, and robust financial controls. This is a key opportunity to contribute to sustainable development initiatives in South Asia by ensuring robust financial management and effective project delivery. The role offers significant exposure to UNOPS project management methodologies, financial regulations, and cross-functional collaboration, providing excellent professional growth in a dynamic international environment. It further offers direct exposure to donor-funded infrastructure delivery, grant administration and financial and procurement compliance requirements. 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. About the Country/Multi-Country Office The South Asia Multi-Country Office (SAMCO) supports UNOPS operations across six countries: Bangladesh, India, the Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. SAMCO delivers a broad range of services and technical expertise in climate change, water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH), infrastructure, procurement, human resource management, and fund management. Each country office is staffed with local technical experts and maintains strong partnerships with national governments, ensuring context-specific solutions and effective project implementation. The position operates within the South Asia Multi-Country Office (SAMCO) in Colombo, Sri Lanka, providing essential financial and project management support. This role is critical for ensuring the efficient and compliant execution of project activities, financial oversight, and accurate reporting in line with UNOPS rules and regulations. It involves integrating various administrative and financial processes to support project implementation and delivery across diverse sectors. The position supports a biodiversity protection and waste management project implemented in the Central and Uva Provinces, in partnership with a co-implementing agency and national and sub-national counterparts. The portfolio combines construction works, procurement of goods and services, and grant disbursement. The incumbent provides combined project management and financial support across the portfolio. This includes supporting work plan preparation and revision, tracking milestones, risks and deliverables, coordinating procurement and contracting processes, servicing meetings and missions, and maintaining project records and correspondence; and, on the financial side, budget monitoring against approved workplans, verification of contractor, supplier and grantee payment claims, maintenance of financial records and audit files, and preparation of financial and progress reporting inputs. The role requires accuracy under field-based operating conditions and close coordination with project, finance, procurement and counterpart teams. The Programme Management Senior Associate (Finance) manages and integrates several related processes within the finance and project support service area. S/he applies professional principles to ensure the integrity, quality, and timeliness of financial transactions, project monitoring, and administrative support, contributing to the effective delivery of UNOPS operations. S/he participates in day-to-day finance operations, ensures compliance with UNOPS and donor/partner financial rules and regulations, and assists with strengthening internal controls, budgeting, treasury, accounting and reporting. Functions / Key Results Expected III. Functions / Key Results Expected: 1. Finance Operations and Internal Control III. Functions / Key Results Expected: Support day-to-day finance operations and compliance with UNOPS and donor financial rules.Ensure compliance with UNOPS rules, policies, audit recommendations, and support an effective internal control framework.Contribute to drafting and updating Finance Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and propose cost-saving and efficiency measures.Apply donor eligibility, verification and reporting rules alongside UNOPS Financial Rules and Regulations.Promote a client-focused financial services culture across the project and support units. III. Functions / Key Results Expected: 2. Budgetary and Monitoring Control III. Functions / Key Results Expected: Support budget setup, control and monitoring from agreement to closure.Set up accounts from project agreements and maintain budget structures aligned to agreed outputs and milestones.Compile data for budget estimates and revisions, and approve budgets (as delegated)Monitor allotments, commitments and expenditures; analyse variances and agree corrective actions.Maintain budget controls within approved limits and support project closure.Track works, goods, grants and technical assistance separately against output-level ceilings. III. Functions / Key Results Expected: 3. Treasury, Accounting and Financial Reporting III. Functions / Key Results Expected: Maintain treasury, accounting and reporting processes in line with UNOPS Financial Rules and Regulations and donor requirements.TreasuryMonitor cash positions, prepare cash-flow forecasts and initiate transfers.Review and clear payment requests, verifying funding availability, coding and supporting documents; process payroll, travel and vendor disbursements.Manage petty cash and operational advances, maintain cashbooks and perform account reconciliations.AccountingMaintain ledgers and accounting records; ensure accurate ERP posting and period-end close.Review vouchers, goods receipt/invoice receipt (GR/IR) entries and accruals; resolve unposted items, match exceptions and coding errors.Prepare bank reconciliations, segregated from payment operations, and respond to audit queries.Financial Reporting and ControlPrepare expenditure schedules, interim financial reports (IFRs), donor statements and management reports.Reconcile balance-sheet accounts, investigate discrepancies and post general ledger (GL) adjustments.Coordinate with region and headquarters on data quality, audit readiness and reporting deadlines. III. Functions / Key Results Expected: 4. Project Monitoring and Reporting III. Functions / Key Results Expected: Support the supervisor in managing project implementation and financial performance to ensure compliance with UNOPS rules, regulations, and reporting standards. Prepare and maintain financial disbursement reports and progress updates in coordination with Finance and relevant units. Maintain comprehensive project documentation, including financial records, audit files, and Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) entries (oneUNOPS), ensuring accuracy and completeness. Track project budgets, cash flow, and expendi