Overview
The Investment Specialist is responsible for the tactical execution and implementation of UNDP’s investment and foreign exchange operations, including treasury services. The role supports the efficient deployment of approved strategies and ensures accurate and timely execution of transactions.
Key Responsibilities
- Design and execution of UNDP’s Country Office (CO) Foreign Exchange Operations, including formulation and execution of the FX Optimization program.
- Prepare, execute, and settle foreign exchange transactions (spot, forwards, swaps, and other approved instruments).
- Coordinate with country offices for timely and accurate delivery of local currency funding.
- Monitor emerging-market FX conditions and recommend execution approaches.
- Analyze FX execution outcomes through post-trade review.
- Support the analysis of FX hedging opportunities.
- Provide analytical support to enhance visibility into FX exposures, execution outcomes, and cost drivers.
- Develop and maintain analyses of FX exposures and cash-flow requirements.
- Contribute to the preparation of regular investment and FX reporting.
- Responsible for the design and implementation of FX-related analytics, dashboards, and reporting processes.
- Support the effective management of relationships with financial institutions, market counterparties, and service providers.
- Liaise with FX counterparties and banking partners to assess market conditions.
- Monitor the financial condition, credit standing, and performance of FX counterparties.
- Support onboarding, documentation, and ongoing maintenance of counterparty relationships.
- Engage with market participants to remain informed of market developments.
- Contribute to a strong risk and control culture by ensuring FX activities are executed in compliance with UNDP policies.
- Execute FX operations in accordance with approved investment guidelines.
- Identify, assess, and escalate financial and operational risks related to FX execution.
- Support the remediation of audit findings, risk events, and control deficiencies.
- Contribute to the development and maintenance of risk-monitoring tools, controls documentation, and operational backup procedures.
- Utilize treasury and market systems to support execution, monitoring, and reporting.
- Guide and Support the effective functioning of the Investment Unit through operational coverage, process enhancement, and knowledge-sharing initiatives.
- Provide operational backup and cross-coverage for other Investment Specialist(s) and act as backup for the Investment Associate.
- Support the administration of UNDP’s investment portfolios and reserves.
- Contribute to the development, maintenance, and periodic review of standard operating procedures, process documentation, and training materials.
- Identify opportunities to improve operational efficiency, data usage, and workflow effectiveness.
- Participate in cross-training, knowledge networks, and communities of practice.
Required Experience
- A minimum of seven (7) years (with master’s degree) or nine (9) years (with bachelor’s degree) of progressively responsible professional experience in treasury, finance, investments or a related field is required.
- At least four (4) years’ of experience in corporate treasury operations, FX operations or cash and liquidity management in a multi-currency context within a large, complex organization is required.
- Demonstrated experience in foreign exchange and financial risk management, including exposure to foreign exchange risk, market, liquidity, credit is required.
- Experience working with financial systems and analytical tools (e.g., ERP platforms, Treasury Management Systems, custodial platforms, investment or market data systems) is required.
- Experience in monitoring and overseeing externally managed investment portfolios and/or managing internally managed funds is desirable.
- Experience in developing financial or risk reports, dashboards, or analytical outputs to support management decision-making is desirable.
- Experience working in an international organization, multilateral institution, or public-sector environment is an advantage.
- Demonstrated experience in AI, digital transformation, and process automation.
Qualifications
- Advanced university degree (master’s degree or equivalent) in Finance, Business Administration, International Economics, or a directly related field is required.
- A first-level university degree (bachelor’s degree) in the areas stated above, in combination with an additional two years of qualifying experience will be given due consideration in lieu of the advanced university degree.
- Professional certification in finance or investment (e.g., CFA, ACT, CTP, CPA or equivalent) is required.
