Due Diligence Specialist

Purpose and Scope of Role

Reporting to and under the overall guidance of the Head of Due Diligence, the Due Diligence Specialist will have the following duties:

Policy Development Support

• Support the Head of Due Diligence in developing and maintaining integrity due diligence policy framework, including: financial crime (Anti-Money Laundering (AML), Counter-Terrorist Financing (CTF), and related  policies.

• Work with colleagues in the due diligence unit to maintain and promote all aspects of the integrity due diligence policy framework, technical standards and its implementing  guidance (including AML/CFT, financial crime, reputational, environmental, human rights, ethical and financial)

• Working in partnership with the relevant business units, support the development of a integrity risk matrix and corresponding mitigants that will be used by business units to assess and manage engagement risks identified via the due diligence process.

Administer and operationalize the UNOPS Due Diligence Policy

• Conduct integrity due diligence reviews (e.g. AML/CFT, financial crime, reputational, sustainability, ethical), research and screenings of prospective and existing funding sources, partners, clients and other relevant entities in accordance with the UNOPS’ integrity due diligence framework. Assess integrity risks on the basis of the research and the screening outcomes, and in relation to the wider business context and business risk.

• Provide support, advice and escalation for due diligence conducted regionally or within business units or other functional partners. 

• Draft and consolidate due diligence reports with a special focus on financial crime risks for UNOPS. 

• Co-administer all aspects of the UNOPS integrity due diligence case management system, including receiving and tracking due diligence requests, assessing the need for referral to internal or external reviewers, filing and maintaining detailed due diligence records in a due diligence register, and establishing and maintaining a retrievable database of reviewed entities, including risk-based monitoring of risks.

• Assist in the establishment and management of long-term agreements or other contractual instruments with specialised due diligence providers for enhanced due diligence. for enhanced due diligence reviews. 

• Provide support and assistance, as may be required to the relevant oversight committees. 

• Administer corporate intelligence service providers and tools to facilitate AML/CTF, sanctions and financial crime due diligence research.

Provide Due Diligence Advisory Services

• Advise internal and external stakeholders on the interpretation and application of the UNOPS’ integrity due diligence framework (and in particular AML/CTF) and related documentation and procedures, and respond to escalations or give guidance on other queries related to the UNOPS due diligence process.

• ​​Develop and maintain the training plan and support with the development of training materials and awareness-raising campaigns to promote knowledge of and compliance with the integrity due diligence policy framework and implementing procedures within UNOPS.

Knowledge Management and Innovation

• Contribute to and maintain knowledge management systems and guidelines to ensure that UNOPS integrity due diligence framework and implementing procedures and resources are widely accessible to all UNOPS stakeholders.

• Keep the Intranet related due diligence guidance up to date and develop its content further.

• Support with the use of AI to advance the integrity due diligence review process.

• Collaborate with stakeholders to enhance UNOPS-wide systems relevant to include due diligence specific content, including due diligence risk ratings and flags.

• A Master's degree in law, international relations, business administration, finance and accounting or other relevant fields is required with specialization in Financial Crime or Compliance.
• A Bachelor's degree combined with two (2) additional years of relevant experience may be accepted in lieu of a Master’s degree.
• Professional qualifications, among the following: Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialist (CAMS); Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE); Certified Compliance & Ethics Professional (CCEP); or other relevant and equivalent certifications related to due diligence, anti-money laundering,  economic sanctions as well as fraud and corruption are required.

• At least seven (7) years (with a first level university degree) or at least five (5) years (with an advanced university degree) of professional experience in risk-based due diligence, or anti-money-laundering, anti-fraud and anti-corruption, and risk management and mitigation, and compliance, or implementation of due diligence frameworks, or other related fields is required.
• Experience in supporting the development of anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism policies and internal standard operating procedures for International Financial Institutions (IFIs),  in the financial services industry and alike is required.
• Knowledge of OSINT research techniques as well as commonly used due diligence related tools and databases including sanction screening systems is required.
• Technical writing skills paired with exceptional level of attention to detail is required.
• Experience in developing policies and internal standard operating procedures is highly desirable. 
• Experience in investigative and auditing activities is an asset.
• Ability to perform under pressure, balance multiple work priorities and adapt in a fast-paced and changing environment is required.
• Established reputation for integrity, fairness and discretion.
• Work experience in the UN system, IFI or MDB is an asset. 

• Fluency in English, (writing, reading and speaking), is required;
• Intermediate level of another UN language (preferably French, Chinese, Russian and/or Arabic) is desirable.