Overview
This position offers a unique opportunity to significantly contribute to UNOPS' governance, risk management, and internal controls by leading a critical audit function. It involves shaping strategic initiatives, driving organizational integrity, and enhancing operational effectiveness.
Key Responsibilities
- Develop the risk-based annual Internal Audit Plan, monitor it, and update IAIG’s plan during the year based on a continuous risk assessment.
- Ensure the execution of the annual Internal Audit Plan, including coordination of up to 15 internal audits, up to 15 advisory engagements, and management of up to 60 project audits per year.
- Lead and/or coordinate the planning and execution of audit field missions.
- Ensure proper monitoring of the implementation status via the internal Audit and Oversight Recommendations (AUDITOR) tool.
- Coordinate resources allocation and track engagements completion according to internal KPIs.
- Lead or participate in Director meetings with internal and external stakeholders.
- Review and clear clauses related to project audits with project teams.
- Quality assure audit reports and oversee the audit team to ensure they meet the highest possible standard.
- Ensure the use of standard audit work papers, audit programs, and innovative tools such as data analytics.
- Ensure completeness of working papers prior to the issuance of audit reports.
- Cooperate with the Investigation Section to identify control gaps and propose remedial action.
- Provide advice to other departments in relation to potential exposures to fraud, corruption, and other inappropriate practices.
- Monitor the Quality Assurance and Improvement Plan and ensure timely and regular update.
- Organize and coordinate periodic quality self-assessment.
- Organize and coordinate the mandatory periodic External Quality Assurance exercise.
- Conduct special assignments such as management reviews, and consulting projects.
- Provide support to the Investigations section, and coordinate training workshops.
- Be a catalyst for strategic initiatives, including capacity building within UNOPS to better mitigate fraud and corruption.
- Liaise with sister UN agencies, Clients, Donors, Partners, and Board of Auditors, Joint Inspection Unit and International Financial Institutions.
- Be willing to continuously innovate IAIG’s work plan with better practices and initiatives.
- Liaise and work closely with the IAIG Stakeholders reporting specialist.
- Establish the annual work plan for the Internal Audit Team in collaboration with the Director Internal Audit & Investigations and stakeholders.
- Set objectives, performance measurements, standards and results expected.
- Allocate the annual work plan to internal auditors with fairness and objectivity.
- Monitor implementation of the team’s annual work plan, oversee progress and ensure delivery of results as planned and according to expectation.
- Promote teamwork and collaboration by providing the team with clear direction, objectives and guidance.
- Plan, recruit and develop a flexible workforce with the skills and competencies needed to ensure optimum performance and ensure gender and geographical diversity.
- Foster a positive work environment, respectful of all, and ensure that the highest standards of conduct are observed.
- Provide guidance and mentoring for personnel within the Internal Audit team to promote their professional growth, motivation, and satisfaction of personnel while ensuring appropriate personal development and succession planning.
- Identify training needs and ensure gaps identified are addressed through a proper coaching and training plan
Required Experience
Ten years of professional experience in Auditing, within these 10 years, a minimum of five years managing an audit team. Experience leading, planning, and executing audits. Previous experience within a UN organization, International Financial Institution, or Big 4 audit firms is desirable. Knowledge of Project management tools, MS ProjectTM or similar team management tools, TeammateTM Audit Software, and related CAAT’s are considered an asset. Familiarity with ERP is considered a plus. Experience in leading or supervising data analytics teams is an asset. Experience in artificial intelligence is considered as a plus. Experience in IT and cyber security audit is considered as a plus. Experience in forensic audit is considered as a plus. Experience in using artificial intelligence in audit is an asset.
Qualifications
Advanced University degree (Masters' or equivalent) in Accounting, Auditing or Finance is required. First level degree (Bachelors or equivalent) in combination with additional two years of relevant professional experience may be accepted in lieu of advanced university degree. Professional certification in a related field such as Chartered Accountant (CA), Certified Public Accountant (CPA), Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE) or Certified Internal Auditor (CIA) is highly desired.