Batch Vacancy (3 positions) – Internal Audit Specialists – P3, Office of Internal Audit & Investigations (OIAI), UNICEF

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, results

This is a batch vacancy for these three positions:
Post #117134 and #12001 based in New York
Post # 17918 based in Budapest

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.    

We have an exciting opportunity for three Internal Audit Specialists at the P3 level to join a dynamic and multicultural team in New York and Budapest. Under the direct supervision of the Chief of Audits in the respective locations, the Internal Audit Specialist’s work is crucial to strengthening UNICEF’s governance, risk management and control processes, and hence to the economic, efficient and effective delivery of results for children.

How can you make a difference?

You will conduct and/or occasionally lead audits and advisory engagements in accordance with the International Standards for the Professional Practice of Internal Auditing and OIAI policies and procedures, as part of the approved OIAI work plan. This role requires extended travel to UNICEF locations often in difficult duty stations.

Summary of key functions/accountabilities

Participate in risk assessment, planning, execution and reporting of assurance and advisory engagements and, for each assigned segment of an engagement:

• Develop and perform appropriate procedures/steps to determine whether governance, risk management and internal control processes are adequate and effective to ensure reliability and integrity of financial and operational information, effectiveness and efficiency of operations, economic use of resources, and compliance with mandates, regulations, policies, and procedures.
• Prepare detailed working papers, adequately demonstrate achievement of the engagement objective(s) and support the conclusion(s) derived.  
• Develop engagement observations and inputs to engagement reports that include acknowledgement of good practices observed if any – the specific objective(s) of the procedures/steps performed and criterion/criteria used to evaluate the governance risk management and internal control process – evidence reviewed – what was found – conclusion(s) derived – analyses and clear description of root causes – the impacts/consequences of what was found – and recommendations.

As a team leader or the only staff on an assurance and advisory engagement, exercise appropriate team leadership responsibilities and:

• Conduct risk assessment and prepare the engagement plan and programme.
• Perform appropriate procedures/steps to assess whether governance, risk management and internal control processes are adequate and effective.
• Develop engagement observations that include acknowledgement of good practices observed if any – the specific objective(s) of the procedures/steps performed and criterion/criteria used to evaluate the governance risk management and internal control process – evidence reviewed – what was found – conclusion(s) derived – analyses and clear description of root causes – the impacts/consequences of what was found – and recommendations.
• Prepare draft reports incorporating inputs from team members, responses from clients and feedback from peers.
• When assigned as a team leader, communicate timely and effectively with the Chief of Audit on the team’s performance, the status of the engagement, the issues impacting them, and the steps taken.
• Assist in monitoring the implementation of agreed actions and in the review and assessment of the adequacy of corrective actions taken by the clients.
• Carry out other tasks as may be assigned by OIAI management, including contributing to OIAI’s risk-based work planning activities, development of professional internal audit policies, procedures, and change initiatives.

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…

• An advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in business administration, finance, economics, accounting, risk management, information technology, or another related field is required. (A first-level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.)
• A Certification as a Certified Internal Auditor (CIA) is required. Certification as a Certified Public Accountant (CPA), Chartered Accountant (CA), Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA), or equivalent may be accepted in lieu of CIA.
• At least five years of progressively responsible relevant professional experience in internal and/or external auditing in either government, non-profit organizations, and/or the private sector (with at least three years at international level) is required.
• Experience of working in developing countries and international development is highly desirable.

• Demonstrated ability to use Microsoft office suite including Excel and Power of BI, Electronic working paper software such as AutoAudit and TeamMate, Computer assisted audit techniques such as ACL and IDEA, Enterprise Resource Planning systems is considered as an advantage.
• Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another UN language (French, Arabic, Chinese, Russian or Spanish) is considered an asset.

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF’s values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, and Accountability (CRITA) and core competencies in Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results.

The UNICEF competencies required for this post are…

• Demonstrates Self Awareness and Ethical Awareness (2)
• Works Collaboratively with others (2)
• Builds and Maintains Partnerships (2)
• Innovates and Embraces Change (2)
• Thinks and Acts Strategically (2)
• Drives to achieve impactful results (2)
• Manages ambiguity and complexity (2)

Functional Competencies: 

• Persuading and influencing
• Applying technical expertise 
• Entrepreneurial Thinking 

To view our competency framework, please visit here.

Click here to learn more about UNICEF’s values and competencies.

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization.

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 also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles. All selected candidates will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles 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.

Remarks:

Mobility is a condition of international professional employment with UNICEF and an underlying premise of the international civil service.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.