Financial Crimes Investigation Specialist

undp - Erbil, Iraq | 2024-09-24 19:45:27

Background

 
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UNDP does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.
 

The UNDP Iraq Country Office, with generous funding from INL, implements a new project with the following name: ‘Strengthening national capacities to trace, seize and recover assets in Iraq’ (The Asset Recovery Project) which complements prior INL projects including “A Unified Approach to Countering Illicit Finance: Expanding the Impact of Iraq’s Financial Intelligence Unit”.

 

The asset recovery project started in 15 September 2023 and runs until 15 September 2025. Supported by the US and other donors, over the past 5 years UNDP and UNODC have carried out capacity building projects to support Iraqi authorities to develop law enforcement and judicial capacity to trace illicit financial proceeds and investigate corruption and money laundering crimes. UNDP is currently carrying out linked INL-funded projects, that support building financial investigation capacities for Iraq. Building on the results of these projects, UNODC and UNDP seek to undertake a number of activities to strengthen the Iraq’s capacity to trace, seize, confiscate and manage illicitly acquired assets, and to respond to the Prime Minister’s request to the UN to support Iraq’s efforts in countering and preventing corruption and financial crimes. In relation to asset recovery the Prime Minister’s Office requested the UN to provide support in the following areas: specialized training on tracing, freezing and seizing assets and their management; improving communication channels with foreign asset recovery institutions; and specialized advise on the legal and regulatory framework.

 

The implementation of the interventions in Iraq based on this project proposal will be coordinated with the 

Commission of Integrity in Baghdad, the Anti-Money Laundering (AML)and Counter Terrorism Financing (CTF) Office, and the Supreme Judicial Council (SJC) and will benefit institutions involved in existing UNDP projects.

This will include investigation, prosecution, and judiciary authorities in Baghdad and the KRI mandated with

tracing, seizing, and recovering criminal proceeds associated with corruption and money laundering.

 

Under the overall lead of the SJC the project will continue the work started under the ongoing INL projects on strengthening financial investigation capacities and develop a practical handbook/ manual on asset recovery, which builds on the financial investigations handbook developed by the financial investigation project. The handbook will be compiled by an Iraqi led and owned expert working group of institutions working on asset recovery. International experts will facilitate the working group rather than serving as authors with practice orientation ensured through a piloting phase. 

 

Over a 12 month period, the UNDP will make serious endeavors to reach the following aims:

  • Develop practical tools for asset tracking and asset recovery building on the financial investigations handbook developed by the financial investigation project. 
  • Pilot and apply the handbook in interactive workshops on asset recovery with support of experts from the region.
  • Work with the COI and the Supreme Judicial Council (SJC) in piloting and regulating the legal and operational requirement for developing Joint Investigation Teams (JITs)
  • Provide guidance to the Commission of Integrity and Anti Money Laundering and Counter Terrorism Financing Office of Iraq  on handling international matters with regards to asset recovery cases.

 

UNDP, therefore, has identified the requirement to hire a Financial Crimes Investigation Specialist to become part of a team of qualified anti-money laundering and countering of financing of terrorism experts under the supervision of the Anti-Money Laundering Project Team Leader based in Baghdad and the overall guidance and oversight of the UNDP SSR/RoL Project Manager in the implementation of the above project activities in close collaboration with the SJC. Due to the unique characteristics of this assignment, it is vital that the applicant must have in-depth knowledge or previous experience in investigations of illicit finance activities in Iraq or similar context.


 
Duties and Responsibilities

The assignment will be office-based, and the post incumbent will be based in Erbil/Iraq with travel within Iraq to assist the project in providing support to partners, co-ordinate the handbook working group and to conduct training. 

The Financial Crimes Investigation Specialist, in collaboration with the project staff/experts is expected to deliver the following tasks:

  • Contribute to the development and delivery of technical assistance, mentoring and training as required by the SJC and its national partner agencies in areas of illicit financial flows, AML/CFT law enforcement, prosecutions, financial investigations, criminal asset forfeiture, 
  • Facilitate UNDP in delivery of AML and Asset Recovery workshops as required.
  • Mentor the AML/CFT office and COI in relation to handling international asset recovery matters.
  • Lead UNDP engagement with the SJC, COI and AML/CFT Office in the Financial Investigation Handbook working group to provide expert advice and support authoring and launch of the handbook.
  • The incumbent performs other related tasks/duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary and as described in the Project Document and advised by Anti-Money Laundering Project Team Leader or the SSR/RoL Programme Manager.
  • The role is part of a wider support to Iraq and the Financial Crimes Investigation Specialist may be asked to assist in other linked projects as required by the AML Team Leader.

 

Institutional Arrangement

Under the overall guidance of the Programme Manager, Security Sector Reform/Rule of Law and direct supervision of the Team Leader of the AML/CFT, the Financial Crimes Investigation Specialist is expected to achieve the afore-mentioned deliverables during the contract period. 

The Financial Crimes Investigation Specialist will work together with other staff/experts of the AML/CFT project headed by a Team Leader of the AML/CFT Project and be required to engage closely with the UNDP SSR/RoL team under the overall guidance of the SSR Programme Manager. The assignment will be conducted under the auspices of UNDP’s `Support to Security and Justice Sector Governance` programme of work.

 

Competencies   
 
Core    
  1.  
 Achieve Results: LEVEL 3: Set and align challenging, achievable objectives for multiple projects, have lasting impact 
  1.  
 Think Innovatively: LEVEL 3: Proactively mitigate potential risks, develop new ideas to solve complex problems 
  1.  
 Learn Continuously: LEVEL 3: Create and act on opportunities to expand horizons, diversify experiences
  1.  
 Adapt with Agility: LEVEL 3: Proactively initiate and champion change, manage multiple competing demands 
  1.  
 Act with Determination:  LEVEL 3: Think beyond immediate task/barriers and take action to achieve greater results
  1.  
 Engage and Partner: LEVEL 3: Political savvy, navigate complex landscape, champion inter-agency collaboration
  1.  
 Enable Diversity and Inclusion: LEVEL 3: Appreciate benefits of diverse workforce and champion inclusivity
     

  
Cross-Functional & Technical Competencies :
 
Thematic Area Name Definition
Business Direction & Strategy System Thinking Ability to use objective problem analysis and judgment to understand how interrelated elements coexist within an overall process or system, and to consider how altering one element can impact on other parts of the system.
Business Direction & Strategy Strategic Thinking

Ability to develop effective strategies and prioritized plans in line with UNDP’s objectives, based on the systemic analysis of challenges, potential risks and opportunities; linking the vision to reality on the ground, and creating tangible solutions.

Ability to leverage learning from a variety of sources to anticipate and respond to future trends; to demonstrate foresight in order to model what future developments and possible ways forward look like for UNDP
Business Direction & Strategy Effective decision making Ability to take decisions in a timely and efficient manner in line with one’s authority, area of expertise and resources.
Business Management Communication

Ability to communicate in a clear, concise and unambiguous manner both through written and verbal communication; to tailor messages and choose communication methods depending on the audience.

Ability to manage communications internally and externally, through media, social media and other appropriate channels
Business Management Result-based Management Ability to manage programme and projects with a focus at improved performance and demonstrable results
Business Management Working with Evidence and Data  Ability to inspect, cleanse, transform and model data with the goal of discovering useful information, informing conclusions and supporting decision-making.
Partnership Management Strategic Engagement Ability to capture and sustain attention, interest and agreement of high-level, influential policy and decision makers and secure their buy-in of high-level vision and objectives
 
 
 
Required Skills and Experience:

 

Minimum Academic Qualifications/

Education
  • Advanced university degree (master’s degree or equivalent) in the fields of Accountancy, Finance, Law, Criminology, or other subjects related to financial analysis, auditing, or investigations or related field, is required. Or
  • A first-level university degree (bachelor`s degree) in the areas stated above, in combination with an additional 2 years of qualifying experience will be given due consideration in lieu of the advanced university degree.
Minimum Years of relevant Work Experience 
  • Minimum 7 years (with master`s degree) or 9 years (with bachelor`s degree) of experience in anti-money laundering and counter financing of terrorism in a Financial Intelligence Unit, Central Bank (or other supervisory authority), Law Enforcement Agency, Judiciary, the private sector or international organization is required. 
  • Professional experience in subjects related to criminal investigations, financial investigations, asset recovery, anti-corruption, policing, international sanctions regimes and related investigations, criminology, justice and security, or other related and relevant subject areas at national and/or international level is required. 
Required Skills and Competencies
  • Experience in contributing to and coordinating a working group designing and delivering towards a national financial investigation handbook.
  • Proven records of understanding and knowledge of the problem of illicit financial flows from crime and terrorism.
  • Ability and experience in developing of professional training materials and  delivery of expert-level training courses.
Desired additional skills and competencies
  • Previous experience in capacity building, analysis and conducting workshops.
  • Previous experience in related fields (e.g. justice, financial analysis and investigations) in the MENA region, and particularly in Iraq is considered.
  • Knowledge of AML/CFT and proceeds of crime/asset forfeiture legislation of Iraq, as well as the relevant international instruments and mandates of the UN and UNODC, and FATF.
  • Knowledge of AML/CFT legislation, Asset recovery processes and implementation within Iraq.
Required Language(s) 
  • Fluency in English and Arabic languages is required.   
  • Working knowledge of another UN language is desired. 
 
 
 
Disclaimer

 

 
Under US immigration law, acceptance of a staff position with UNDP, an international organization, may have significant implications for US Permanent Residents. UNDP advises applicants for all professional level posts that they must relinquish their US Permanent Resident status and accept a G-4 visa, or have submitted a valid application for US citizenship prior to commencement of employment. 

 
UNDP is not in a position to provide advice or assistance on applying for US citizenship and therefore applicants are advised to seek the advice of competent immigration lawyers regarding any applications.

 
Applicant information about UNDP rosters

 
Note: 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.

 
Non-discrimination

 
UNDP has a zero-tolerance policy towards sexual exploitation and misconduct, sexual harassment, and abuse of authority. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles.  

 
UNDP is an equal opportunity and inclusive employer that does not discriminate based on race, sex, gender identity, religion, nationality, ethnic origin, sexual orientation, disability, pregnancy, age, language, social origin or other status. 

 
Scam warning

 
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