Background:

UN Women, grounded in the vision of equality enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations, works for the elimination of discrimination against women and girls; the empowerment of women; and the achievement of equality between women and men as partners and beneficiaries of development, human rights, humanitarian action and peace and security.

The Internal Audit Service is positioned within the Independent Evaluation and Audit Services of UN Women. As an independent function, the Independent Evaluation Service and the Internal Investigation Function also sit within the Independent Evaluation and Audit Service. The Independent Evaluation and Audit Service reports directly to the Executive Director and presents annually to the UN Women Executive Board.

The Internal Audit Service is responsible for the provision of internal audits and advisory services to UN Women. It provides independent, objective assurance on the effectiveness and efficiency of governance, risk management and internal controls. The Internal Audit Service is a key component of the independent internal oversight system of UN Women which together with the Independent Evaluation Service is under the overall supervision of the Director of Independent Evaluation and Audit Services of UN Women.

Under the guidance and direct supervision of Director, Independent Evaluation and Audit Service, the Chief of Internal Audit Service is responsible for the leadership and performance of risk-based internal audit and advisory services covering UN Women’s country, regional and headquarters offices, as well as of thematic risk areas and business processes. The Chief of the Internal Audit Service together with the Director of the Independent Evaluation and Audit Service interacts with the UN Women Executive Board, Advisory Committee on Oversight and others on internal audit matters, maintains a close working relationship with the United Nations Board of Auditors (external auditors of UN Women).

The Chief of Internal Audit Services supervises and leads four professional internal auditors. The team is supplemented by expert consultants as needed. The Chief of Internal Audit Service is expected to travel to lead and conduct audit and advisory activities.

The Chief of Internal Audit Service delivers around 10 to 15 audit and advisory assignments each year, collaborating with Country Representatives, Regional Directors, Operations Managers, Directors. Chiefs of Business Processes, technical specialists, and personnel at all levels. The Chief of Internal Audit Services regularly engages with outside stakeholders, such as donors, Heads of UN agencies at country and regional level, women engaged in UN Women programming, and representatives of government and civil society. The Chief of Internal Audit Service also participates as an independent (observer) adviser capacity in corporate governance bodies.

Key Functions and Accountabilities:

Lead and manage the formulation, communication and delivery of the Internal Audit Service vision, mission and strategy aligned with the risk appetite and risk profile of UN Women.

• Develop and implement an internal audit risk assessment model and prepare a risk-based multi-year and annual internal audit plan for the Internal Audit Service.
• Oversee and manage the delivery of the risk-based plan of internal audits of UN Women country and regional offices, headquarters business units, corporate thematic functions and business processes.
• Plan, manage, and conduct risk-based internal audits, advisory services, value-for-money audits, and performance audits, ensuring their quality, insight, proper execution, and timely and high-quality reporting.
• Provide technical and quality assurance on audits and advisory services conducted by staff in the Internal Audit Service.
• Collaborate with the Independent Evaluation Service and the internal investigation function on joint activities (e.g. country portfolio evaluations, integrity reviews, awareness raising).
• Establish and maintain an effective quality assurance and improvement programme over all activities and outputs of the Internal Audit Service, to ensure that they conform with professional standards as well as Internal Audit policy, procedure and guidance.
• Prepare the annual report of the Internal Audit Service, including the annual opinion of the Internal Audit Service for presentation to the Executive Board.
• Prepare quarterly reports on Internal Audit Service results, including key issues and recommendations status for the Advisory Committee on Oversight (ACO), the Technical Management Group (TMG), and the Business Review Committee (BRC).
• Prepare summaries of internal audit and advisory results, best practices and lessons for presentation or dissemination to field offices, Headquarters and other key stakeholders.

Manage the Internal Audit Service Team

• Manage a team of auditors, ensuring their performance, professional development, teamwork and positive and supportive working environment. Participate in the implementation of their personal learning and training development plan.
• Manage the financial resources allocated to the office for internal audit services ensuring they are properly used in the short and long term;
• Plan efficient and effective deployment of the internal audit human and financial resources including as necessary recruitment and procurement of additional resources (e.g., individual consultants, suppliers);
• Identify and integrate efficiency gains and cost reductions in all operations;
• Oversee security requirements for the team.

Lead Knowledge management and sharing initiatives.

• Contribute to workshops and training on internal audit, governance, risk management, internal controls, anti-fraud and anti-corruption;
• Disseminate lessons learned from UN Women internal audits;

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

The Chief of Internal Audit Service must exercise independence in the discharge of their responsibilities and will have no direct operational responsibility or authority over any of the activities audited, this includes assessing specific operations for which they had responsibility within at least the previous two years.

Supervisory/Managerial Responsibilities: The Chief of Internal Audit Service leads a team of four auditors (2 P4 staff, 2 P3 staff) and expert consultants as needed.

Competencies :

Core Values:

• Integrity;
• Professionalism;
• Respect for Diversity.

Core Competencies:

• Awareness and Sensitivity Regarding Gender Issues;
• Accountability;
• Creative Problem Solving;
• Effective Communication;
• Inclusive Collaboration;
• Stakeholder Engagement;
• Leading by Example.

Please visit this link for more information on UN Women’s Values and Competencies Framework:

Functional Competencies:

• Ability to develop, lead, manage and report on multiple ongoing risk-based internal audits, performance audits and value-for-money audits, and advisory services of UN Women country and regional offices, Headquarters business units, corporate functions and risk themes, and to synthesize key findings and conclusions into an annual opinion on governance, risk management and control.
• Ability to provide technical input and quality assurance to internal audit and advisory activities conducted by others.
• Due professional care by considering the: extent of work needed to achieve the audit plan; relative complexity, materiality, or significance of matters in risk management, control, and governance processes, probability of significant performance issues, irregularities, or non-compliance; and cost of control in relation to potential benefits.
• Strong understanding of methodologies for assessing governance, risk management and control, value for money, and performance including the ability to analyze financial and non-financial data to make evidence-based recommendations for cost savings, efficiency gains and improved outcomes.
• Proficiency in developing audit criteria, key performance indicators, and benchmarks to assess program performance.
• Professional competence and knowledge of auditing standards and practices, risk assessment, and applicable rules and procedures.
• Ability to lead, motivate and manage a high performing team effectively;
• Ability to lead development of clear strategies;
• Ability to manage projects effectively;
• Ability to develop creative solutions;

Education and Certification:

• Master’s degree or equivalent in Management, Business Administration, Public Administration, Audit, Finance or related field;
• A first-level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
• Professional audit certification such as Certified Internal Auditor (CIA), Chartered Accountant (CA), Chartered/Certified Public Accountant (CPA), Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA) or equivalent professional audit certification is required;
• Additional professional certifications (e.g. CFE, CRME) are an advantage.

Experience:

• At least 10 years of progressively responsible recent experience conducting and directly leading the full process of risk-based internal audit, value-for-money audit and/or performance audit activities is required.
• Experience leading and coaching staff in international settings is required.
• Experience providing managerial technical and quality assurance to internal audit, value-for-money audit and/or performance audit and advisory conducted by others and to managing several audit and advisory assignments at once is required.
• Experience in development of internal audit, value-for-money audit and/or performance audit vision, strategy, planning and professional practices is required.
• Experience in preparing reports to management and governing bodies is required.
• Experience in the usage of computers and office software packages (MS Word, Excel, etc.) and spreadsheet and database packages, experience in handling of web-based management systems, Electronic working paper software, Computer assisted audit techniques, Enterprise Resource Planning systems are required.
• Proven experience an international organization such as UN, International NGO or public service (e.g. national audit office) is desirable;
• Experience reporting to governance bodies is desirable.
• Experience in developing and collaborating on joint audit activities with other oversight providers such as evaluation and investigation is desirable;
• Experience managing programmes, operations or risk management activities in public or international sector is desirable.
• Experience in data analytics for audit and reporting purposes is desirable.

Languages: 

• Fluency in English is required.
• Knowledge of another official UN language is desirable (French, Arabic, Chinese, Russian or Spanish).

Statements :

In July 2010, the United Nations General Assembly created UN Women, the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women. The creation of UN Women came about as part of the UN reform agenda, bringing together resources and mandates for greater impact. It merges and builds on the important work of four previously distinct parts of the UN system (DAW, OSAGI, INSTRAW and UNIFEM), which focused exclusively on gender equality and women’s empowerment.

Diversity and inclusion:

At UN Women, we are committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment of mutual respect. UN Women recruits, employs, trains, compensates, and promotes regardless of race, religion, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, ability, national origin, or any other basis covered by appropriate law. All employment is decided on the basis of qualifications, competence, integrity and organizational need.

If you need any reasonable accommodation to support your participation in the recruitment and selection process, please include this information in your application.

UN Women has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UN Women, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination. All selected candidates will be expected to adhere to UN Women’s policies and procedures and the standards of conduct expected of UN Women personnel and will therefore undergo rigorous reference and background checks. (Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check.)