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The Chief is responsible for providing leadership for the assigned unit and the Section as a whole in identifying and prioritizing assurance and advisory activities in assigned areas and in the planning and execution of all engagements in a portfolio of work. The position is also responsible for supervising staff assigned to the unit and portfolio of work, including managing performance and career development, and ensuring quality of outputs. Governed by the International Standards for the Professional Practice of Internal Auditing of the Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA), internal audits accomplish OIAI’s mission by using a systematic, disciplined approach to assessing the adequacy and effectiveness of Organization’s governance, risk management and control processes.
UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. To save their lives. To defend their rights. To help them fulfill their potential.
Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone.
And we never give up.
For every child, a champion
The Office of Internal Audit and Investigations (OIAI) is a key component of UNICEF’s independent internal oversight system. It has two sections: the Internal Audit Section and the Investigations Section. The former helps UNICEF fulfill its mission by providing independent and objective assurance and advisory services designed to add value and improve the adequacy, effectiveness and efficiency of UNICEF’s operations. OIAI reports to the Executive Director and independently to the Executive Board on the results of its work.
The Internal Audit Section functions under the leadership and management of the Deputy Director, Audit who in turn reports to the Director of OIAI. The Internal Audit Section has four units, each led by a Chief reporting to the Deputy Director. The Chiefs, with the Deputy Director, are responsible for setting the strategy and direction of the Audit Section, ensuring it delivers on its risk-based work program and managing all staff. Each Chief, within a matrix management structure, leads and manages a unit with assigned staff and a portfolio of assurance and advisory work. The Chief is responsible for providing leadership for the assigned unit and the Section as a whole in identifying and prioritizing assurance and advisory activities in assigned areas and in the planning and execution of all engagements in a portfolio of work. The position is also responsible for supervising staff assigned to the unit and portfolio of work, including managing performance and career development, and ensuring quality of outputs. Governed by the International Standards for the Professional Practice of Internal Auditing of the Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA), internal audits accomplish OIAI’s mission by using a systematic, disciplined approach to assessing the adequacy and effectiveness of Organization’s governance, risk management and control processes.
How can you make a difference?
The position makes decisions on the objective, scope and methodology for audit. It also makes decisions regarding the quality of evidence and actions to address risks identified by assurance and advisory activities. These decisions are critical in assessing UNICEF governance, risk management and controls and strengthening delivery of results for children.
- Leadership of Unit:
Provide leadership of the unit including oversight of the unit’s overall portfolio of work (audit and advisory engagements). Manage and provide strategic direction to individual staff assigned to the unit and to engagements in the Chief’s portfolio. Ensure audit and advisory engagements are conducted in accordance with applicable standards and other requirements as well as the OIAI Charter and are based on approved engagement plans. Ensure outputs of the unit are of the highest quality and effectively communicate audit and advisory results. This entails using best practices and methodologies including an agile approach and ensuring audits conducted by the unit are risk-based, efficient, and focused on achieving maximum value and impact for UNICEF. This also entails providing strategic and technical guidance and directions to audit teams; making sure engagements are adequately planned and resourced prior to any mission and take full advantage of technology and analytics, supervising engagement teams; providing advisory services as needed by assigned clients and/or in thematic areas; reviewing and approving working papers; preparing and/or overseeing the preparation of high-quality work products such as engagement plans and reports for review and approval by the Director and/or Deputy Director; making sure that the reported implementation of recommendation and/or actions agreed with clients are objectively reviewed and closed based on adequate supporting evidence; establishing, managing and maintaining productive relationships with senior managers across UNICEF, clients and other stakeholders critical to the assurance and advisory work of the unit.
- People Management:Â
Establish, discuss, and agree on performance plans with staff in the unit and identify and address skills gaps. Provide objective feedback to staff throughout the performance period. Coach and mentor assigned staff and hold career discussions. Conduct periodic performance appraisal of assigned staff, taking into consideration engagement-specific feedback received by the staff member from other Chiefs, Audit and Engagement Team Leaders and other staff inside and outside OIAI. Provide engagement-specific feedback on the performance of other units’ staff who are assigned to engagements for which the chief is responsible. Identify and address staff’s individual training needs, ensuring staff have opportunity to learn and grow professionally. Lead by example and proactively address staff issues and update the Deputy/Director on people management issues. Contribute to the recruitment of high-caliber staff. Promote an environment of management excellence and foster a respectful work culture, staff well-being, diversity and inclusion. Ensure adequate preparation for rollout and effective management of virtual team/processes and/or accountabilities in line with the organization’s guidelines, policies and procedures.
- Thematic Focus:Â Â Â
Serve as a focal point for the Audit Section for assigned thematic, geographic and/or function areas and/or specific clients. This will include monitoring and keeping abreast of developments and emerging risks relevant to the assigned area, ensuring OIAI’s risk register and work plans are updated accordingly. This also includes building and maintaining relationships with leadership and other key staff in the assigned area of responsibility. This also includes identifying and making the business case for potential assurance or advisory services relevant to the assigned areas of responsibility.
- Leadership of OIAI and the Audit Section:
Participate in and contribute to the management of the Internal Audit Section and as a member of the OIAI leadership team. This includes providing senior level contribution to the Section’s risk-based work planning activities, identifying and responding to emerging risks, and ensuring the preparation and updating of the Section’s Work Plan. This also includes serving as a thought leader, both inside UNICEF and externally, on the evolving role of internal audit within similarly situated organizations, and keeping abreast of innovations, developments and best practices in internal auditing to facilitate continuous learning and improvements in the work of OIAI. This also includes contributing to and leading the Section’s development and implementation of standard operating procedures, as well as the application of the International Standards for the Professional Practice of Internal Auditing and their implication for oversight in the United Nations System. This also includes acting on behalf of the Deputy Director for Audit as required and carrying out other tasks as may be assigned by the Director or Deputy Director for Audit.
To qualify as an advocate for every child, you will have…
- An advanced university degree (Master’s or higher), preferably in Business Administration, Economics, Finance, Auditing, Accounting, or another related field is required. Professional accreditation (e.g. CPA, CA, ACCA, CIA, or CISA) from a recognized professional body is preferred. A first-level university degree (Bachelor’s or equivalent) in the specified fields with 12 years’ experience in auditing, may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
- At least ten (10) years’ experience in auditing (e.g. financial and performance, and/or operational) is required. Extensive experience in a directly related field may also be acceptable.
- At least five (five) years’ experience in managing teams and complex assignments in multi-cultural environment, government and recognized international organizations will be an advantage.
- Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) is considered an asset.
For every Child, you demonstrate…
UNICEF’s core values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, Accountability and Sustainability (CRITAS).
The competencies required for this post are:
• Nurtures, Leads and Manages People (3)
• Demonstrates Self Awareness and Ethical Awareness (3)
• Works Collaboratively with others (3)
• Builds and Maintains Partnerships (3)
• Innovates and Embraces Change (3)
• Thinks and Acts Strategically (3)
• Drives to achieve impactful results (3)
• Manages ambiguity and complexity (3)
During the recruitment process, we test candidates following the competency framework. Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels. Click here to learn more about UNICEF’s values and competencies.
UNICEF is here to serve the world’s most disadvantaged children and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, or any other personal characteristic. We offer a wide range of benefits to our staff, including paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF strongly encourages the use of flexible working arrangements.
UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination. UNICEF is committed to promote the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles. 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.
Remarks:
UNICEF’s active commitment towards diversity and inclusion is critical to deliver the best results for children.
Mobility is a condition of international professional employment with UNICEF and an underlying premise of the international civil service.
UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance.  Issuance of a visa by the host country of the duty station, which will be facilitated by UNICEF, is required for IP positions. Appointments are also subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid). Government employees that are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally required to resign from their government before taking up an assignment with UNICEF. UNICEF reserves the right to withdraw an offer of appointment, without compensation, if a visa or medical clearance is not obtained, or necessary inoculation requirements are not met, within a reasonable period for any reason.
Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.
