The Position:

The post of Internal Auditor is located in the Internal Audit Branch, which is part of the Office of Audit and Investigation Services (OAIS). You will report directly to the Unit Chief of Internal Audit Branch, Unit 3, Office of Audit and Investigation Services (OAIS).

Unit 3 covers business units and offices at UNFPA Headquarters, Representation and Liaison Offices, Business processes and Corporate functions, and Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Processes.

How you can make a difference:

UNFPA is the lead UN agency for delivering a world where every pregnancy is wanted, every childbirth is safe and every young person’s potential is fulfilled. UNFPA’s strategic plan (2022-2025), reaffirms the relevance of the current strategic direction of UNFPA and focuses on three transformative results: to end preventable maternal deaths; end unmet need for family planning; and end gender-based violence and harmful practices. These results capture our strategic commitments on accelerating progress towards realizing the ICPD and SDGs in the Decade of Action leading up to 2030. Our strategic plan calls upon UN Member States, organizations and individuals to “build forward better”, while addressing the negative impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic on women’s and girls’ access to sexual and reproductive health and reproductive rights, recover lost gains and realize our goals.

In a world where fundamental human rights are at risk, we need principled and ethical staff, who embody these international norms and standards, and who will defend them courageously and with full conviction.

UNFPA is seeking candidates that transform, inspire and deliver high impact and sustained results; we need staff who are transparent, exceptional in how they manage the resources entrusted to them and who commit to deliver excellence in programme results.

Job Purpose:

OAIS is an operationally independent office of UNFPA and reports to the Organization’s Executive Director. It is responsible for supporting the achievement of UNFPA’s objectives by contributing to the improvement of the Organization’s operations, risk management, and results through its internal audit, investigation, and advisory services. OAIS solely performs, manages, or authorizes others to carry out these services.

To fulfill this mandate, the Internal Audit Branch provides independent and objective assurance and advisory services with the objective of increasing accountability, enhancing risk management, governance, and control processes, and improving the effectiveness and efficiency of UNFPA’s operational and programmatic performance. UNFPA performs its internal audit work in accordance with the International Professional Practices Framework (IPPF) issued by the Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA).

The Internal Auditor will conduct internal audits and may be required to perform other governance duties in the Office of the Director, OAIS, as needed.

You would be responsible for:

Under the overall guidance of the Director, OAIS, and the direct supervision of the Chief(s), Unit 3 of the Internal Audit Branch, and operating with a high level of autonomy, the incumbent:

A. Carries out internal audits of UNFPA organizational units and/or business processes

• Perform quality internal audits (e.g., compliance, process, performance, financial, thematic, and integrated audits), either as a team member in complex audits or as a team member for simple to medium-complexity audits, assuming responsibility and accountability for achieving audit objectives in accordance with IIA Standards and OAIS guidelines. This will involve:
  • Preparing risk-based audit plans and programmes;
  • Conducting audit field work;
  • Preparing and, where appropriate as team member or assigned as team leader, reviewing audit work papers;
  • Developing and documenting audit findings and the related recommendations to improve governance, risk management, and controls processes and systems;
  • Communicating, orally and in writing, audit results to business unit management;
  • Preparing and conducting audit entry and exit conferences, as team member or assigned as team leader;
  • Timely preparing quality draft audit reports, incorporating input from other team members; and
  • Finalizing audit reports when assigned as team leader, incorporating auditees’ answers and OAIS management feedback.
• Undertake audit missions to UNFPA business units, including those located in areas with hazardous working conditions.
• Communicate, timely and effectively, with OAIS Management to keep them apprised of the status of engagements, any issues affecting them, and any steps taken to address such issues.

Expected result: Timely, efficient, and effective conduct of assignments given, including issuance of high-quality audit products.

B. Conducts other Internal Audit engagements

• Monitor the status of audit recommendations, assess the adequacy and timeliness of actions taken by UNFPA Management to implement them, provide advice or clarification and, when necessary, escalate issues, as appropriate, to the Chiefs or the Director, as appropriate.
• Undertake other assignments, as determined by OAIS senior management, including but not limited to special audits, risk assessments, peer quality reviews of engagements undertaken by other internal audit teams, review of UNFPA policies and procedures, or of new business initiatives to ensure that governance, risk management, and control requirements are taken into consideration, advisory services, training workshops, and support to investigation activities.
• Provide any other relevant tasks requested by the Director, OAIS

Expected result: Continuously improved the delivery of quality interna audit services.

C. Support OAIS management and activities

• Support knowledge management and sharing within OAIS (in particular) and UNFPA in general, with particular focus on those areas relevant to the OAIS mandate, including governance, risk management, and control guidance and good practices, innovative internal audit practices, approaches, tools, etc.
• Support the implementation of the recommendations of the internal and external internal audit quality assessments.
• Support preparation of OAIS annual audit risk assessments and internal audit plans.

Expected result: Continuously improve the delivery of professional audit services.

D. Carry out any other duties as may be required by the Director, OAIS

Qualifications and Experience:

Education:

• Advanced university degree in Business or Public Administration, Accounting, Finance, or other related fields.
• Certified Internal Auditor (CIA) or National Audit Certification (e.g., ACCA, CPA, CA, etc.) is desired.

Knowledge and Experience:

• At least five (5) years of external or internal audit and/or other directly relevant experience such as governance, risk management and control services – preferably gained at the international level.
• Experience in modern auditing practices and services i.e., gained in internal audit departments of public or private sector organizations or professional auditing, accounting, or consulting services firms.
• Proven ability to conduct internal audit engagements covering the planning, fieldwork, and reporting phases, in accordance with IPPF.
• Audit experience in the following areas would be desirable: Business processes, functional and thematic reviews, ICT processes, programme and operational assessment, performance and/or value for money audits.
• Experience in effective use of modern audit management tools and techniques such as electronic working papers, Computer Assisted Audit Techniques (CAATs), word processors, spreadsheets, and presentation software. Experience working with TeamMate or similar audit management software an asset.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills and proven ability to express oneself well.
• Knowledge of ERP systems is desirable.

Languages:

Fluency in English, with proven ability to express well verbally and in writing, is required. Knowledge of other official UN languages, preferably French, Arabic, and/or Spanish, is desirable.

Required Competencies:

Values:

• Exemplifying integrity,
• Demonstrating commitment to UNFPA and the UN system,
• Embracing cultural diversity,
• Embracing change

Core Competencies:

• Achieving results,
• Being accountable,
• Developing and applying professional expertise/business acumen,
• Thinking analytically and strategically,
• Working in teams/managing ourselves and our relationships,
• Communicating for impact

Functional Competencies:

• Excellent knowledge of auditing principles and their application,
• Ability to undertake audit activities and deliver on expected results,
• Excellent interviewing skills,
• Excellent research, analytical, and problem-solving skills,
• Ability to apply good judgment in the context of assignments given,
• Ability to plan work and manage conflicting priorities for self and others,
• Excellent communication skills, both oral and in writing, and ability to draft and edit clear and concise reports in English,
• Ability to handle sensitive relationships with tact, integrity, and discretion.

Compensation and Benefits:

This position offers an attractive remuneration package including a competitive net salary plus health insurance and other benefits as applicable.

UNFPA provides a work environment that reflects the values of gender equality, diversity, integrity and healthy work-life balance. We are committed to ensuring gender parity in the organization and therefore encourage women to apply. Individuals from the LGBTQIA+ community, minority ethnic groups, indigenous populations, persons with disabilities, and other underrepresented groups are highly encouraged to apply. UNFPA promotes equal opportunities in terms of appointment, training, compensation and selection for all regardless of personal characteristics and dimensions of diversity. Diversity, Equity and Inclusion is at the heart of UNFPA’s workforce – click here to learn more.

Disclaimer:

Selection and appointment may be subject to background and reference checks, medical clearance, visa issuance and other administrative requirements.

UNFPA does not charge any application, processing, training, interviewing, testing or other fee in connection with the application or recruitment process and does not concern itself with information on applicants’ bank accounts.

Applicants for positions in the international Professional and higher categories, who hold permanent resident status in a country other than their country of nationality, may be required to renounce such status upon their appointment.