The Organisation

Plan International is an independent development and humanitarian organisation that advances children’s rights and equality for girls.

We believe in the power and potential of every child. But this is often suppressed by poverty, violence, exclusion and discrimination. And it’s girls who are most affected.

Working together with children, young people, our supporters and partners, we strive for a just world, tackling the root causes of the challenges facing girls and all vulnerable children.

We support children’s rights from birth until they reach adulthood. And we enable children to prepare for – and respond to – crises and adversity. We drive changes in practice and policy at local, national and global levels using our reach, experience and knowledge.

We have been building powerful partnerships for children for over 85 years, and are now active in more than 80 countries.

ROLE PROFILE

Title Risk Management and Internal Control Manager
Functional Area Global Assurance
Reports to Country Director
Location Yaounde Travel required up to 60% at national level and 5% international level
Effective Date June 2023 Grade D2
ROLE PURPOSE

The purpose of the position is to evaluate and provide reasonable assurance that risk management, control, and governance systems are functioning, and reports risk management issues and internal controls deficiencies identified to the Country Director (CD) with the recommendations for improvement.

DIMENSIONS OF THE ROLE
The internal controller contributes to the improvement of the overall functioning of Plan International Cameroon. The post holder will:
– Directly report to the CD independent from any department or office.
– Have matrix work relation Regional Risk Management and Control Advisor.
– Work closely with all departments and offices to identify potential risks, and tests the control measures.
– Manage a relatively small budget for ones work related travels and accommodation.
– Lead, guide and support the internal control team of Plan International Cameroon

ACCOUNTABILITIES

– Analyzes the success factors and the internal risks and external challenges the organization faces.
– Makes an annual plan of control based on the degree of risks identified by the management, as well as contingency control schedule.
– Performs controls within Plan International Togo and its partners.
– Makes recommendations on the basis of appropriate systems to improve management of resources and better risk management.
– Ensure the management, performance and development of the members of the internal control team of Plan International Cameroon
– Ensures the proper understanding and proper application of the procedures and guidelines by the staff and the partners.
– Promotes learning and prevention.
– Contributes to building the capacities of partners, including communities, to successfully apply their skills and resources to achieve their goals and meet the expectations of all stakeholders.
– Alerts the CD in case of the allegation of the breach of code of conduct and procedure manual and/or specific donor agreement, as well as the misuse of Plan’s property.
– Proceed with a first-hand investigation on the allegation as requested.

PROVIDING ASSURANCE:

Planning, monitoring and quality review of Assurance engagements on key systems, processes, policies and controls carried out at the Country level.
– Develops a Financial Year (FY) workplan for the country/specific area of work, as agreed with the Country Director, that provides assurance on key systems, processes, policies and controls in Plan Ghana
– Prepares and monitors budget to implement the Annual workplan
– Reviews ongoing assurance assignments on the workplan in line with International Standards on internal auditing
– Prepares Reports to relevant stakeholders on assurance engagement assignments undertaken
– Monitors the process of management’s Actions in response to Assurance Reviews.

CHANGE MANAGEMENT, MANAGEMENT SUPPORT AND LEARNING:

Influences change within and across the organization to strengthen risk management, accountability and effectiveness and supports management in improving operations and to provide a platform for learning across Plan.
– Provides practical recommendations on how to improve systems, processes, policies and controls
– Facilitates the sharing of learning, based on best practices or from different units within the organization as well from best standards and practices from the industry
– Provides technical support in network meetings and other organizational trainings focusing on risk management and effectiveness of the control framework
– Provides advice to CMT on systems, processes and policy reviews, in agreement with the Country Director
– Actively participates in Regional and other leadership meetings to provide strategic input on risk management
– Contributes to the induction of New County Management Team members upon request on risk management, effectiveness of the control framework and the role of quality assurance
– Ensure the development of knowledge of the internal control team of Plan International Cameroon

RELATIONSHIP MANAGEMENT

Builds relationships with internal and external stakeholders to facilitate conduct of quality assurance engagements and exchange of knowledge on assurance best practices
– Builds relationships with key internal stakeholders mainly program unit and country management to facilitate the conduct of quality assurance engagements and identify appropriate areas for management support.
– Interact with other quality assurance functions from local and other INGOs, local INGOs and the donor community to exchange knowledge and learn on assurance best practices and developments in risk management.
– Accesses and supports professional networks and communities of practice

DEALING WITH PROBLEMS:

– Working across a large geographical area and multiple countries with languages that require strategic choices to be made on the prioritisation of assurance needs to be addressed
– The role works with management at country, regional, International Headquarters and National Offices level. This places a requirement for the development of excellent working relationships and communication that is greater than in more regular management relationships
– Deciding which assignments to prioritise given the many competing assurance needs of the various stakeholders in the region and the wider organisation
– Finding effective assurance solutions to countries with varying and rapidly changing risk levels
– Advising management at different levels in the organisation on effective risk management and accountability.
– Making effective recommendations to management on how to improve the control framework and manage risks in various contexts and across different functions
– Influencing management to implement recommendations made from assurance review
– Identifies, analyzes and documents all success factors and risks facing Plan and its partners in the country. Updates that analysis as often as needed and reports them to management and provides his/her recommendations for validation or improvement of risk management and overall internal control system.
– Helps in identification of capacity building needs with regards to staff, partners and community understanding and compliance to Internal Controls procedures.
– Provides training and technical support to Plan partners and communities to best practices with regards to Plan finance and administrative policies and procedures.
– Ensures the existence and use of effective internal controls

CHILDREN SAFEGUARDING, PROTECTION AND GENDER EQUALITY
1. Ensures that Plan International’s global policies for Child Protection (CPP) and Gender Equality and Inclusion (GEI) are fully embedded in accordance with the principles and requirements of the policy including relevant Implementation Standards and Guidelines as applicable to their area of responsibility. This includes, but is not limited to, ensuring staff and associates are aware of and understand their responsibilities under these policies and Plan International’s Code of Conduct (CoC), their relevance to their area of work, and that concerns are reported and managed in accordance with the appropriate procedures.

KEY RELATIONSHIPS
Direct working relationship
Working contact Level
– Country Director and the CMT High
– Program Team
– Field based staff
– Financial staff
– Administration staff
– Grant staff
– HR staff
– CBO and other partners
– Suppliers Medium
TECHNICAL EXPERTISE, SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE

Knowledge and Experience
Essential
– Mastery of audit procedures and internal control mechanisms
– Analytical skills
– Communication skills in appropriate to the audience
– Proficient in computer skills and use of relevant software and other applications, e.g. Word processing, spreadsheet, database, Internet
– Perfect spoken and written English
– Functional written and spoken French
– Have at least Bac+4 years degree in Audit.
– Have at least 07 years of experience, including experience in auditing NGOs
– Have at least Bac+4 years degree in Audit, finance, Accounting, or equivalent and any professional qualification in auditing/accounting will be an advantage.
– Have good report writing skills in both English and French
– Be available and able to work under pressure
– Be able to make very frequent field trips
– Integrity
– Extensive practical experience of at least five years in risk-based auditing;

Desirable
– Knowledge of programme and project implementation is an added advantage;
– At least 3 years’ experience in similar position with a recognized institution preferably an international NGO.

Skills:
• Ability to train and mentor staff, partners and communities
• Good analytical and synthesis skills
• Ability to study and quickly understand new operating environment and organizational systems.
• Good communication skills (written and oral)
• Good listening and negotiating skills
• Independence and objectivity, you should be able to work with minimum supervision
• Organized, methodical and meticulous

Behaviour:
• Promoting high performance
• Open to feedback and willing to try new approaches and processes
• Excellent Team spirit.
• Promotes innovation, learning and transparency
• Communicates effectively and enthusiastically as appropriate to the audience
• Gains, develops and retains credibility
• Behaves consistently in their approach to work and decision making

PLAN INTERNATIONAL’S VALUES IN PRACTICE
We are open and accountable
1. Promotes a culture of openness and transparency, including with sponsors and donors.
2. Holds self and others accountable to achieve the highest standards of integrity.
3. Consistent and fair in the treatment of people.
4. Open about mistakes and keen to learn from them.
5. Accountable for ensuring we are a safe organisation for all children, girls & young people
We strive for lasting impact
1. Articulates a clear purpose for staff and sets high expectations.
2. Creates a climate of continuous improvement, open to challenge and new ideas.
3. Focuses resources to drive change and maximise long-term impact, responsive to changed priorities or crises.
4. Evidence-based and evaluates effectiveness.
We work well together
1. Seeks constructive outcomes, listens to others, willing to compromise when appropriate.
2. Builds constructive relationships across Plan International to support our shared goals.
3. Develops trusting and ‘win-win’ relationships with funders, partners and communities.
4. Engages and works well with others outside the organization to build a better world for girls and all children.

We are inclusive and empowering

5. Seeks constructive outcomes, listens to others, willing to compromise when appropriate.
6. Builds constructive relationships across Plan International to support our shared goals.
7. Develops trusting and ‘win-win’ relationships with funders, partners and communities.
8. Engages and works well with others outside the organization to build a better world for girls and all children.
PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT

The position is based in the Country Office at Yaoundé. The post holder will travel frequently (up to 60%) at national level (Cameroon) and 5% international level

LEVEL OF CONTACT WITH CHILDREN

Low contact: No contact or very low frequency of interaction

Location: Yaounde

Closing Date: 30 April 23

Equality, diversity and inclusion is at the very heart of everything that Plan International stands for.

We want Plan International to reflect the diversity of the communities we work with, offering equal opportunities to everyone regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex or sexual orientation.

Plan International is based on a culture of inclusivity and we strive to create a workplace environment that ensures every team, in every office, in every country, is rich in diverse people, thoughts, and ideas.

We foster an organisational culture that embraces our commitment to racial justice, gender equality, girls’ rights and inclusion.

Plan International believes that in a world where children face so many threats of harm, it is our duty to ensure that we, as an organisation, do everything we can to keep children safe. This means that we have particular responsibilities to children that we come into contact with and we must not contribute in any way to harming or placing children at risk.

A range of pre-employment checks will be undertaken in conformity with Plan International’s Safeguarding Children and Young People policy. Plan International also participates in the Inter Agency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme. In line with this scheme we will request information from applicants previous employers about any findings of sexual exploitation, sexual abuse and/or sexual harassment during employment, or incidents under investigation when the applicant left employment. By submitting an application, the job applicant confirms their understanding of these recruitment procedures.

Please note that Plan International will never send unsolicited emails requesting payment from candidates.