Director, Office of Audit and Investigation Services, New York, D-2

JOIN A NEW GENERATION OF LEADERSHIP

UNFPA, the United Nations sexual and reproductive health agency, works in partnership with governments, the UN system, communities, NGOs, foundations and the private sector to raise awareness and mobilize the support and resources needed to achieve its mission to deliver a world where every pregnancy is wanted, every childbirth is safe and every young person’s potential is fulfilled in development and humanitarian settings. UNFPA is a field-based and-focused organization, operating in 155 countries and territories, and employs 4,500 personnel globally. UNFPA mobilizes more than $1 billion a year to support programmes that protect the health and rights of women and girls.

The inter-related areas of UNFPA work are sexual and reproductive health and reproductive rights, gender equality and women’s empowerment, adolescent and youth empowerment, and population data for development. The organization’s work is guided by the 1994 International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) and its Programme of Action and subsequent reviews, the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action of the Fourth World Conference on Women, and the2030 Agenda for Sustainable  Development.  UNFPA strategic plan focuses on three transformative results: to end preventable maternal deaths; end unmet need for family planning and end gender-based violence and harmful practices, all based on a foundation of high-quality population data, which is critical to help end the invisibility of those left furthest behind.

We are hiring

To lead our internal audit and investigations function in an independent, objective and ethical manner, UNFPA is seeking an individual for the Director, Office of Audit and Investigation Services who, through ensuring organization-wide fiduciary oversight services will impact and improve the effectiveness and efficiency of UNFPA’s operations, and in turn make a positive difference in the lives of billions of people. 

• Do you have the experience, expertise and passion to lead our Audit and Investigations team in a dynamic, international, rights-based organization?
• Can you work with stakeholders and clients at all levels to provide strategic vision and assurance on governance, risk management and control frameworks?
• Are you a catalyst for change, action and innovation?

If your answer is ‘yes’, UNFPA invites you to apply for the position of:

Director, Office of Audit and Investigation Services (OAIS)  at the D-2 level

To find out more about this position visit https://www.sri-executive.com/offer/?id=9082.

How to Apply
If you wish to be considered for this position, please forward a copy of your CV and motivation letter  in Microsoft Word format to UNFPA-OAIS@sri-executive.com on or before 2 August 2021. All information will be held in strictest confidence, as we pride ourselves on our professional and confidential approach. We will revert back, once we have reviewed your application.

The Position: 

The Director, Office of Audit and Investigation Services (OAIS), reports to the Executive Director of UNFPA. S/he leads the internal audit and the investigation functions at UNFPA in an independent, objective and ethical manner,  and serves as the Chief Audit and Investigation Executive of UNFPA. The Director directs OAIS, which is operationally independent from management. OAIS is comprised of around 30 staff members, further to a cadre of up to 15 consultants.
 

Job Purpose:

In accordance with the Charter of the Office of Audit and Investigation Services (available at 1… ),the roles, responsibilities and accountabilities of the Director include the following:

• Provide strategic vision and leadership in establishing and meeting the objectives and priorities of the internal audit and investigation functions assigned to OAIS;
• Provide assurance to the UNFPA Executive Board, the Executive Director, and the Oversight Advisory Committee on the governance, risk management and control framework of UNFPA, by directing assurance and advisory services and reporting on the integrity, efficiency and effectiveness of UNFPA;
• Report to the UNFPA Executive Board through the OAIS annual report, and to the Executive Director and the Oversight Advisory Committee on: (a) on the status of organizational independence of OAIS activities; (b) on the performance of OAIS against the approved workplan; (c) on significant and systemic findings from internal audit and investigation, making recommendations to the appropriate stakeholders to improve the management of the organization; (d) on the status of implementation of recommendations by management through periodic summaries, including any significant recommendations that are not implemented;
• Direct the development and submission of a risk-based annual audit plan for review by the Oversight Advisory Committee and approval by the Executive Director; oversee the implementation thereof, and timely report to the Executive Director and the Oversight Advisory Committee on its status, including any modifications, scope restrictions, or limitations;
• Direct the conduct or supervision of all investigative activities within UNFPA, in respect of all relevant UNFPA policies and procedures. Interface as required with the UNFPA Legal Advisor, and external stakeholders as appropriate;
• Ensure the quality of internal audit and investigation deliverables; the application of professional standards in internal audit and in investigation, including the maintenance of quality and improvement programmes; the allocation and the efficient and effective use of financial and human resources; the implementation and improvement of tools and processes;
• Keep the Executive Board, the Executive Director, the Oversight Advisory Committee, and management abreast of emerging trends and practices affecting internal and investigation activities;
• Coordinate, as appropriate, with internal and external oversight entities of UNFPA to provide maximum oversight coverage. Represent, collaborate, and share best practices as appropriate, with other United Nations oversight services, United Nations inter-agency bodies, and other organizations or entities as appropriate;
• Collaborate, as appropriate, with external auditing bodies (such as UNFPA Board of Auditors) and with the Joint Inspection Unit (JIU);
• Manage the OAIS human and financial resources available to the Office effectively and efficiently, maintaining a cadre of professionally qualified personnel.

Education: 

• Advanced university degree in business or public administration, accounting, finance, law or other relevant field.;
• The incumbent must hold a professional certification from an internationally recognized auditing or accountancy body;
• Holding a professional certification in fraud examination or being admitted to the bar is desirable but not required.

Knowledge, Experience and mandate-related competencies: 

• Proven track record (at least 15 years) of progressively responsible experience for a combination of auditing, investigation, risk management, internal controls, and governance structures and mechanisms, with at least 10 years of experience at senior management and policy-making level, leading a large complement of multi-disciplinary personnel in a multi-cultural environment;
• Advanced knowledge of international auditing and accounting standards, governance, risk management and internal control practices, techniques and principles, including evolving best practices including in information technology. Advanced knowledge and application of the International Professional Practice Framework for internal auditing;
• Advanced knowledge of investigative processes and their application, ideally in an administrative context, including involving best practices and jurisprudence. Advance knowledge and application of the Uniform Guidelines for Investigations;
• Demonstrated professional competence and success in advising on and implementing change management and strategic improvements in organizational governance and oversight;
• Excellent judgement with proven ability to deal with complex interrelated issues and strong analytical and problem-solving skills to develop solutions that address root causes of issues;
• Demonstrated high level of diligence, maturity, responsibility, integrity and ethics, objectivity, impartiality and fairness;
• Demonstrated ability to handle sensitive items in a confidential manner, as well as to establish productive contacts with multiple internal and external stakeholders;
• Excellent oral and written communication skills;
• Relevant experience from either multilateral organizations, including in the United Nations system, and/or from the private sector.

Languages: 

• Excellent knowledge of written and spoken English;
• Knowledge of other UN official languages, preferably French and/or Spanish, highly desirable.

Note: The position of Director, OAIS has a term limit of five years, renewable once.