OAI reports to the Administrator and is responsible for internal audit and investigations services to UNDP and its affiliated entities. OAI provides independent, objective assurance on the effectiveness of risk management and the effectiveness and adequacy of internal controls, as well as advisory services. OAI conducts its audit work in accordance with the Institute of Internal Auditor’s Global Internal Audit Standards.

OAI has a decentralized organizational structure. The Headquarters Audit Section (HAS), Directorate and other headquarter units are based in New York, and there are five Regional Audit Centres (RAC) located in: Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia), Pretoria (South Africa), Dakar (Senegal), Panama City (Panama) and Istanbul (Turkiye). HAS is responsible for developing and delivering on a large, highly visible, and politically sensitive portfolio of assurance and advisory work that addresses risk across the enterprise.

Under the guidance and supervision of the Deputy Director (Audit), OAI, the Chief, Headquarters Audit Section (HAS) manages UNDP Headquarters internal audit function supported by Audit Specialists and Associates.

Position Purpose

Under the overall supervision of the Deputy Director (Audit), the primary role of the Chief is to manage and supervise the work of HAS, as outlined in ‘Organizational Context’ above.

The primary role of the Audit Chief is to lead a team of audit professionals in the development and delivery of a portfolio of high-profile internal audits that address risks across the enterprise. Specific responsibilities include risk-based audits of UNDP business units, UNDP corporate functions, Affiliated United Nations Organizations (such as United Nations Volunteers), as well as other audits developed and assigned in the annual work planning process. In addition to assurance activities, the portfolio also includes advisory services which can range in scope and size and can be added to the work program on a regular or ad hoc basis.

UNDP is a global organization with devolved corporate service centres in hubs across the world. As such some travel will be required in this role, potentially including to Country Offices and/or challenging development contexts.

As member of the OAI management team, the incumbent is responsible for leading and contributing to efforts that ensure the proper functioning of a modern risk-based audit organization and working in partnership with fellow chiefs as well as senior management of OAI. The incumbent also is expected to proactively contribute to or take the lead in new strategic initiatives, and in the continuous improvement of audit processes and methodologies.

The Audit Chief must effectively lead and manage a diverse team of professionals, including providing support to staff in the achievement of their career goals, ensuring appropriate learning, training, and development, and actively participating in planning and assessing staff performance. The incumbent will also continuously work to build and maintain an organizational unit with high levels of trust, engagement, and quality products.

While maintaining levels of independence as required under IIA standards, to be successful the Chief of the Section must also develop strong working relationships with management and stakeholders at various levels of the organization, and to participate in efforts that contribute to the profession of international internal auditing.

UNDP adopts a portfolio approach to accommodate changing business needs and leverage linkages across interventions to achieve its strategic goals. Therefore, UNDP personnel are expected to work across units, functions, teams, and projects in multidisciplinary teams to enhance and enable horizontal collaboration.

Key Duties and Responsibilities

Leads management functions

• As a member of the OAI management team, proactively leads and contributes to efforts that ensure the efficient and effective functioning of a modern, risk-based audit organization.
• As a member of the OAI management team, proactively leads and contributes to new strategic initiatives, and to the continuous improvement of processes and methodologies.
• Efficiently and effectively manage the human resources assigned, including providing support to staff in the achievement of their career goals, ensuring appropriate learning, training and development, and actively participating in planning and assessing staff performance.

General accountabilities include

• Achieving the results and outputs for the Section, as documented in the formal OAI Annual Work Plan and detailed OAI organizational plans.
• Establishing and maintaining effective quality control over the activities and outputs of the Section, to ensure that they conform to professional practices and standards of OAI, the Institute of the Internal Audit and UNDP in general.
• Managing within delegated authority, the human, financial and other resources of the Section.

Leads People and Team Management 

• As a people manager, creates a working environment marked by engagement, trust, empowerment, social cohesion, and the highest levels of performance.
• Identifies and develops the talents of individuals and teams to meet their potential, ensuring that the business needs of the organization are met while promoting the development goals of the individuals and teams.
• Actively engages in the performance management of direct reports and helps to ensure positive trends in employee engagement and satisfaction across OAI.
• Establishes a regular rhythm of business for the team that fosters team cohesion, collaboration, and the efficient and effectively delivery of the risk-based audit and advisory portfolio.
• Identifies and addresses obstacles to change, effectively managing the people side of change.
• Actively participates in the development and implementation of change, proactively working to address issues early, and support management in its efforts.
• Be familiar with organizational dynamics; and adapt leadership styles at the appropriate time to meet needs and deliver positive results.

Provides strategic leadership for effective management of services to clients

• Manages a portfolio of highly visible and impactful risk-based internal audit services (assurance and advisory) , ensuring proper planning, high quality execution of the audits and advisory services as well as effective and timely reporting of results to management and others.
• Oversees and guides audit teams in conducting audits under the mandate of OAI and providing advisory services.
• Manages and supervises the services provided by audit firms (or audit consultants) that may be hired to undertake audits or advisory services either with or on behalf of OAI.
• While maintaining a high degree of independence in accordance with Global Internal Audit Standards, builds and maintains effective client relationships in order to identify business risks and facilitate the impact and acceptance of OAI audits and advisory services.
• Communicates audit results, best practices, and lessons learned to auditees and other key stakeholders.
• Provides advisory services on a broad range of issues related to audit, risk management and internal controls.
• Ensures data is accurately uploaded into the Comprehensive Audit and Recommendation Database System (CARDS), monitors the implementation of audit recommendations, and validates follow up information provided by management.
• Develop and maintain positive networks within OAI, UNDP, and with the larger international internal audit community.
• Advises and guides UNDP offices about accountability, risks and internal controls.

Management of other activities and knowledge sharing 

• Serves as a trusted colleague and support to other members of the OAI management team.
• Contributes to the ongoing maturation and development of OAI’s risk-based audit planning, audit methodology and products.
• Contributes to the ongoing development of professional practices within OAI, seeking out ways to leverage, adapt, and apply promising practices in areas such as: analytics, Artificial Intelligence (AI), reporting, and publications.
• Participates in the implementation of their personal learning and training development plan.
• Leads and/or participates in special projects, supports and cooperates with other OAI and UNDP units, in order to facilitate matrix management, build organizational synergy, and productivity.
• Provides timely and accurate input for OAI corporate reporting to the Administrator, Audit Advisory Committee, Oversight Group and Executive Board, and others.
• Serve in an acting capacity for direct supervisor.
• Lead the process of knowledge capture of national and international know-how in relevant thematic areas and document project lessons, experiences, and best practices that may be useful in design and implementation of similar projects for organizational and external sharing and learning. Produce materials with lessons learned and best practices and other knowledge-based tools.
• Performs other tasks as requested by the OAI Director or Deputy Director.

The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization

Supervisory/Managerial Responsibilities: Supervises the HAS team.

Competencies

Core:

Achieve Results:

• Set and align challenging, achievable objectives for multiple projects, have lasting impact.

Think Innovatively:

• Proactively mitigate potential risks, develop new ideas to solve complex problems.

Learn Continuously:

• Create and act on opportunities to expand horizons, diversify experiences.

Adapt with Agility:

• Proactively initiate and champion change, manage multiple competing demands.

Act with Determination:             

• Think beyond immediate task/barriers and take action to achieve greater results.

Engage and Partner:

• Political savvy, navigate complex landscape, champion inter-agency collaboration.

Enable Diversity and Inclusion:

• Appreciate benefits of diverse workforce and champion inclusivity.

People Management:

UNDP People Management Competencies can be found on the dedicated site.

Cross-Functional & Technical:

Audit & Investigation: Audit

• Internal auditing standards, practices, and techniques.
• Knowledge of key notions and concepts, practices, and methodologies of internal auditing (IPPF and Other IIA Standards, COSO). Undertake audit assignments in accordance with international professional standards in respect of operational audits, financial audits, performance audits, project audits and provision of advisory services.

Audit & Investigation: Investigation – Collection and analysis of evidence 

• Ability to extract and analyze all relevant types of evidence and be able to draw reasonable inferences and conclusions.

Audit & Investigation: Audit – Fraud awareness and investigation techniques         

• Basic knowledge to understand the foundations of fraud, how to detect red flags and conduct initial fact findings.

Digital: Tech literacy       

• Ability to apply new digital tools or adapting their original use to create new insights, fresh perspectives or develop solutions. Understand the potential as well as the limitations of certain technological developments; being able to identify how technology can add value when it’s used as a “means to an end”.

Business Direction & Strategy: System Thinking 

• Ability to use objective problem analysis and judgement 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 Management: Portfolio Management   

• Ability to select, prioritise and control the organization’s programmes and projects in line with its strategic objectives and capacity.
• Ability to balance the implementation of change initiatives with regular activities for optimal return on investment. Knowledge and understanding of key principles of project, programme, and portfolio management.

Business Direction & Strategy: Negotiation and influence

• Reach a common understanding/agreement, persuade others, resolve points of difference through a dialogue, negotiate mutually acceptable solutions and create ‘win-win’ situations.

Required Skills and Experience

Education

• Advanced university degree (master’s degree or equivalent) in Mathematics, Business or Business Administration, Criminology, Data Analytics, History, Law, Economics, Policy Studies, International Studies, Computer Science, Statistics, Physics, Economics, or a related discipline is required. Or
• A first level degree in the areas stated above, in combination with an additional two years of qualifying experience OR certification as a Chartered Accountant or Certified Public Accountant will be given due consideration in lieu of an advanced degree.
• Certified Internal Auditor (CIA) designation is highly desirable.
• Additional professional certifications (CISA, CFE) are an advantage.

 Experience

• A minimum of 10 years (with master’s degree) or 12 years (with bachelor’s degree) of progressively responsible audit or other directly relevant professional experience. Other relevant professional experiences may be any one or combination of the following: monitoring and evaluation, policy analysis, financial analysis, qualitative and quantitative analysis, investigations, oversight, or economic analysis.
• At least seven (7) years of experience as team leader or manager is desired.
• At least four (4) years of experience overseeing or directly delivering public-facing reports is desired.
• At least four (4) years of experience developing and delivering oral presentations to executive-level audiences is desired.
• At least two (2) years of experience leading or organizational change, process improvements, or other efforts to improve operational performance is desired.
• Working experience in an International Organization is desirable.

Language

• Fluency in English is required.
• Knowledge of additional United Nations official languages is desirable.