086-2021-GAVI-RFQ – “Manager Internal Audit “

Background and Introduction

Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance (“Gavi”) is a public-private partnership committed to saving children’s lives and protecting people’s health by increasing equitable use of vaccines in lower-income countries. The Vaccine Alliance brings together developing country and donor governments, the World Health Organization, UNICEF, the World Bank, the vaccine industry, technical agencies, civil society, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and other private sector partners. Gavi uses innovative finance mechanisms, including co-financing by recipient countries, to secure sustainable funding and adequate supply of quality vaccines. Since 2000, Gavi has contributed to the immunisation of nearly 822 million children and the prevention of more than 14 million future deaths.

Gavi’s mission is to save children’s lives and protect people’s health by increasing access to immunisation in poor countries. Gavi is a unique organisation that aligns public and private resources in a global effort to create greater access to the benefits of immunisation. It does this with precision and in creative, innovative ways to ensure that donor contributions efficiently save lives and help build self-sufficiency in the world’s poorest communities and regions. For more information, please visit the Gavi website: http://www.gavi.org/about/mission

Audit and Investigations Department

Audit and Investigations (A&I) provides audit support to the management and stakeholders of Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance. It is an independent and objective assurance and consulting activity designed to add value and improve the operations of Gavi. The scope of A&I’s work extends not only to the Secretariat but also to the programmes and activities carried out by Gavi’s grant recipients and partners. A&I assists Gavi in accomplishing its objectives by bringing a systematic and disciplined approach to evaluate and improve the effectiveness of both Gavi’s risk management, control, and governance processes, and eligible countries’ programmes used to manage Gavi’s support. A&I provides assurance across four main areas of activity:

• Internal Audit (IA), the conduct of audit on Gavi’s internal management processes and controls.
• Country Programme Audit, the conduct of audit on programmes operating in the Gavi – eligible countries.
• Investigations and Counter-Fraud, the examination of issues, incidents and cases of misuse which may have led to loss or non-compliance with relevant rules and regulations, both internally and externally; and the undertaking of counter-fraud work.
• Whistle-blower Reporting, the receipt and assessment of information from Gavi staff and third parties relating to possible issues, incidents and misuse which may have led to loss or non-compliance with relevant rules and regulations, both internally and external.

Purpose of the Role:

IA’s scope encompasses the examination and evaluation of the adequacy and effectiveness of the organisation’s governance, risk management processes, systems of internal control, and the quality of performance in carrying out assigned responsibilities to achieve Gavi’s stated goals and objectives. It includes:

• Monitoring and evaluating the effectiveness of Gavi’s risk management systems.
• Reviewing reliability and integrity of financial and operating information, and the means used to identify, measure, classify, and report such information.
• Reviewing the adequacy of the systems established to ensure compliance with policies, plans, procedures, laws, and regulations and establishing whether Gavi is in fact in compliance.
• Auditing internal control processes within the Secretariat including income, non-grant expenditure, internal projects, information and communication, grant application and grant awards, funds disbursement, and risk assessment processes.
• Reviewing the means of safeguarding assets and as appropriate, verifying their existence.
• Reviewing and appraising the economy and efficiency with which resources are employed.
• Reviewing operations or programmes to ascertain whether results are consistent with established objectives and goals and whether the operations or programmes are being carried out as planned.

The role of Manager, Internal Audit is to lead and execute audit assignments (both secretariat and country-facing), either as a sole auditor or working with a colleague.

Key Functions and Deliverables

The key functions and deliverables for this Consultancy assignment is as follows:

• Undertake individual audits determined by the Head, Internal Audit: plan and prepare; execute field work; document results; and prepare draft report.
• Liaise with internal staff and functional management throughout the course of the audit, from preparation to reporting.
• Undertake audit work in a manner consistent with the Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA) International Standards for the Professional Practice of Internal Auditing (STANDARDS).

Main Duties and Responsibilities

The scope of responsibilities of this position includes the following:

• Once an audit is assigned, undertake preliminary planning and risk assessment to determine the scope of the audit, in collaboration with the Head, Internal Audit.
• Liaise with functional management and staff throughout the course of the audit: preparing, conducting, and reporting.
• Review and agree the final audit report with the Head, Internal Audit, and senior functional management.
• Support the Head, Internal Audit in maintaining and developing the IA risk assessment tools, used as the basis for prioritisation, audit planning, and capacity management.
• Conduct specific reviews or tasks as requested.
• Ensure audit work is undertaken consistent with internal requirements and the professional standards of the IIA; and
• Liaise with the Head, Internal Audit on all aspects of the audit work undertaken.

Note: The essential functions listed in this section are not exhaustive of the job responsibilities; other duties may be assigned consistently with the department needs.

Location: Gavi Alliance HQ, Geneva, Switzerland or remote (subject to discussion)

Qualifications and Work Experience Required:

The successful candidate will be required to have the following qualifications and work experience:

Academic Qualifications

• Undergraduate degree in accounting, finance, economics, or related field.
• A professionally recognised accounting or auditing qualification from an internationally recognised institution.

Work Experience

The following work experience is required for the position:

• At least 10 years of professional auditing and accounting experience, with at least 5 years spent in an internal audit capacity.
• Experience within a well-regarded, professional environment.
• Demonstrated capability in undertaking internal audits from planning, field work, to preparation of draft reports is required.
• Experience in internal audit with an international organisation (international development or commercial enterprise) is highly desirable; and
• Demonstrated ability to use Pentana MK (MK Insight), TeamMate or similar audit management system/tool is considered an asset.

Skills/competencies

The following skills/competencies are required for the position:

• Highly analytical and able to work with both low levels of detail and a ‘big picture’ organisation-wide perspective.
• Excellent written communication skills.
• Clear, effective, and persuasive oral communication skills – ability to balance assertiveness with need to build and maintain internal relationships.
• Able to operate independently but applies judgement in knowing when to consult.
• Ability to work flexibly within a complex, dynamic environment.
• Ability to work in a multi-cultural environment with cross-functional and multi-disciplinary teams in a collaborative style.
• High standards of personal conduct and integrity.
• Able to work with, and develop tools and approaches using, Microsoft Office.

Note: short-listed candidates may be asked to complete a timed test to demonstrate their data management, analysis, and communication skills.

Languages:

• Written and spoken fluency in English.
• Knowledge of French or any other UN language (not a requirement).

v. Key Contacts

• Colleagues within Audit and Investigations.
• Functional management and staff across all functions in Gavi.
• Internal audit peers in partner organisations, development agencies, or other internal audit functions; and
• Management and staff of Gavi’s external auditors and other advisers according to context.

6. Duration of Assignment: Six (6) months (with possibility of extension).

7. Selection Process and expected timelines.

• Interested parties should respond by completing Annex 1 and returning their application before midnight on the Closing Date.
• Gavi will shortlist and invite for written tests and/or interviews (1-2 weeks)
• Contract negotiation and signature (1-2 weeks)

Gavi is committed to diversity within its workforce and encourages applications from all qualified candidates.