Chief, Internal Audit Branch 2, Office of Audit and Investigation Services (OAIS), New York, P-5 (One Post + Roster)

The Position:

The post of Chief, Internal Audit Branch 2, is located in the Internal Audit Branch 2, which is part of the Office of Audit and Investigation Services (OAIS).

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 reports to the Executive Director of UNFPA and is responsible for supporting the achievement of UNFPA’s objectives by contributing to the improvement of the Organization’s operations, governance, risk management, internal controls, and results through its internal audit, investigation, and advisory services.

To fulfill its mandate, the Internal Audit Branch supports the Director, OAIS in providing independent and objective assurance and advisory services with the objectives 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 conformance with the International Professional Practices Framework (IPPF) for Internal Audit issued by the Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA).

The Chiefs of the two Internal Audit Branches (1 & 2) are each responsible for delivering internal audit services to Country Offices in three Regional Offices (Branch 1 for AP, ESA, & EECA and Branch 2 for WCA, LAC, & AS). They are supported by a pool of nine Internal Auditors, a Data Management Analyst whose services are shared with the Investigation Branch of OAIS, and an Audit Associate. The Chiefs of the Internal Audit Branches work alongside other members of the OAIS management team and collaborate with the Investigation function, as necessary, under the overall direction of the Director, OAIS. The Chiefs are to deliver expected results; each one accountable for internal audit results assigned to them under the internal audit work plan. The Branch Chiefs liaise with the Quality Assurance and Improvement Program (QAIP) function, located at the Directorate of OAIS.

In addition to the responsibilities for delivering internal audit services to their respective regions, the Chiefs also provide advisory services and participate in various committee meetings in the Organization, it being the third mandate of OAIS. They participate in planning and other related UNFPA internal activities such as reporting to the Oversight Advisory Committee, and the Executive Director; collaborating with the UN Board of Auditors and other offices, as the case may be, and the Audit Monitoring Committee. They also assist the Director, OAIS, in external activities relating to UNFPA such as the RIAS and UN RIAS, the harmonization work of funds and programmes, the Joint Inspection Unit, and other activities involving donor relations.

Qualifications and Experience  

Education: 

• Advanced university degree in Accounting, Business or Public Administration, Finance (a first level degree in any of the above fields, in combination with a recognized professional auditing certification and relevant experience may be accepted in lieu of an advanced degree).
• A recognized professional auditing certification such as Certified Internal Auditor (CIA) or National Audit Certification (Certified Public Accountant, Chartered Accountant, or other nationally recognized equivalent) is a requirement.
• Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE) and/or Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA) desirable.

Knowledge and Experience: 

• At least 10 years of extensive professional audit experience, including in internal audit, with broad experience in dealing with efficiency, effectiveness, and value-for-money, as well as in assessing results of audits and rendering audit opinion on governance, risk management and controls (GRC); at least 3 years of experience in an international organization.
• Proven experience in leading audit teams and having extensive supervisory responsibility, ideally leading or co-leading an internal audit function.
• Proven expertise with internal auditing practices and standards, designing and implementing audit strategies, risk-based audit plans and procedures to assess GRC, and reporting thereon.
• Proven ability to multi-task and prioritize with due attention to deadlines and respond effectively to stress, situations of ambiguity, difficult situations, as well as manage conflicts, negotiate, and resolve disagreements.
• Proven ability and willingness to be deployed in high-risk work situations.
• Proven ability to build and share knowledge.
• Experience in the following areas would be considered an advantage:   
  • GRC audit opinion.
  • Business process reviews and assessments; control assessments.
  • Information technology systems audit and controls.
  • Performance and/or value for money audits.
  • Functional management processes e.g., accounting, general administration, procurement, etc.
  • Managerial level experience in a professional services firm.
• Audit experience gained in programme countries, the multilateral sector (e.g., UN system) or in the development aid and humanitarian sectors would also be desirable.
• Knowledge of tools used in the audit context would be considered an advantage:  
  • Electronic audit management tools such as TeamMate.
  • Enterprise Resource Planning systems e.g., PeopleSoft, Oracle, etc.
• Must be a member in good standing of their professional bodies, having fulfilled the bodies’ continuing education and professional development requirements

Languages: 

Fluency in English required, with proven ability to express well verbally and in writing. Good working knowledge of other UN official languages (French, Arabic, Chinese, Spanish or Russian) would be an advantage.