Head, Internal Audit - P5

international fund for agricultural development ifad

Organizational Setting

IFAD also advocates at the local, national, and international level for policies that contribute to rural transformation.

AUO is organized in two sections, internal audit and investigation, supported by a front office. The Director AUO is responsible for the overall leadership of AUO and reports functionally to Audit Committee, a sub-committee of IFAD's Executive Board and to the IFAD President.

The overall role of the Office of Audit and Oversight is to support IFAD's governance, leadership and other stakeholders with independent assurance and integrity services promoting accountability and learning, while strengthening IFAD's credibility.

The Audit Section of the Office of Audit and Oversight provides independent and objective assurance and advisory services designed to add value and improve the operations of IFAD. It helps IFAD accomplish its objectives by bringing a systematic, disciplined approach to evaluate and improve the effectiveness of risk management, control and governance processes.

The Investigation Section reviews and investigates possible or alleged prohibited practices, including staff misconduct, fraud and corruption in IFAD activities, and actively promotes ethics, accountability, quality and continuous improvement in IFAD operations.

The Head, Internal Audit leads the Audit Section and reports to the Director, AUO.

Job Role

The Head, Internal Audit leads a team of internal auditors and other specialists to plan and deliver independent objective risk-based assurance and advise appropriate for internal and external context of IFAD's operations. S/he work to offer IFAD insights that help strengthen governance and enhance operational effectiveness, supporting the role of AUO as a strategic trusted partner to IFAD's leadership.

The incumbent is responsible for fostering a culture of improvements and innovations within the audit team while ensuring that internal audit function conforms to appropriate professional standards.

As part of the AUO management team, the Head, Internal Audit designs and implements actions to achieve divisional strategies and objectives.

1. AUDIT POLICY AND STRATEGY: Leads the definition of strategies, approaches and methodologies for the Audit Section of AUO in alignment with overall AUO divisional vision, mission, strategies and objectives. S/he leads the development, in consultation with key stakeholders, of an annual risk-based audit plan responding to key risks and the Fund's strategic priorities and accepted international standards of internal auditing.
2. AUDIT MANAGEMENT: Supervises the delivery and performance of audit work and its outputs ensuring that the work is carried out in accordance with the highest quality standards focusing on key risks within IFAD context with due regard to the set budget and deadlines. The Head, Internal Audit manages major, complex audit assignments as assigned by the Director, AUO. In coordination with the AUO Director, s/he prepares an appropriate assignment allocation for the AUO audit section in alignment with an approved annual audit plan. Assesses capacity needs of the audit section, coaches and supervises team members as necessary and identifies and initiates requests for additional skills or resources as needed. Presents audit outputs and insights to Management and Governing Bodies as and when required. Performs other related duties as assigned by the Director, including collaborating with the AUO Investigation Section in joint engagements as required and performing special studies, field missions or assessments assigned.
3. KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT: Communicates AUO generated experience, insights, foresight and professional viewpoint to Management and Governing Bodies drawing from audit, advisory and risk work as well as learnings from broader professional networks. Proactively promotes good governance practices in IFAD by advising on or supporting institutional initiatives, committees and working groups where such involvement is compatible with and can leverage the work of AUO. Liaises with the other UN organizations and IFIs at operational level and acts as AUO focal point for external and UN-wide issues as may be periodically requested by Director AUO.
4. STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT:The Head, Internal Audit proactively builds collaborative networks and relationships within IFAD maintaining and strengthening trust with AUO stakeholders and supporting coordinated assurance activities within IFAD. S/he engages with UN/IFI oversight entities, in particular the UN/RIAS and RIAS(Representatives of Audit Services) group, and represents AUO and IFAD at meetings and conferences (together with or on behalf of the Director, AUO) ensuring that IFAD contributes to the definition of and adherence to system oversight standards and principles and keeps abreast of professional developments in relation to risk, governance and internal audit.
5. MANAGERIAL FUNCTIONS: The incumbent is accountable for integrity, transparency, and equity in the management of IFAD resources. This includes: a) People Management through recruitment, performance and career management of staff as well as learning management, establishing learning plans and ensuring staff supervised meet their development needs while meeting the needs of IFAD. b) Resource Management by providing strategic and data inputs into the divisional budget preparation exercises and execution, development of long-term and annual work plans, and overseeing accountability of material resources assigned to the Division. c) Knowledge and Content Management by ensuring (1) knowledge content is continuously updated and available, (2) best practices are continuously identified, documented and distributed and (3) appropriate and up-to-date information and learning tools are available to IFAD's managers, supervisors and staff. d) Information Technology Management through leveraging ERP functionality for improved business results, simplification of transaction and reporting processes and improved client service.

Key Performance Indicators

The impact of the work of the Head, Internal Audit extends across the Fund and serves to improve the effectiveness of risk management, control, and governance processes; failure to accomplish this goal could result in decreased willingness of donors or governments to contribute or cooperate in IFAD's mission. To this end, the Head, Internal Audit ensures that:

• the annual audit plans and individual engagements address key risks and priorities of IFAD
• the assurance and advisory work is delivered to time, budget and quality with application of appropriate approaches and methodologies developing value-adding improvement recommendations, which are agreed upon with Management to support Funds ability to achieve its objectives effectively and efficiently
• Staff/financial resources the AUO audit section are managed effectively, efficiently and diligently fostering a culture of innovation and continuous improvements
• Proactive engagement with key stakeholders results in overall increased trust positioning AUO in IFAD as a strategic trusted partner

Working Relationships

Representational functions of the Head, Internal Audit are typically focused on serving as a credible voice of IFAD while representing IFAD at major events and include influencing partners as well as critical audiences. S/He liaises with the other UN organizations at operational level and acts as AUO focal point on matters as assigned by the Director AUO, builds collaborative networks with other IFAD offices and UN/IFI oversight entities, in particular the UN/RIAS group, and represents AUO and IFAD at meetings and conferences (together with or on behalf of the Director, AUO), and keeps abreast of professional developments in relation to risk, governance, control, audit, investigation and anti-corruption.

In servicing Governing Bodies, expert groups and other meetings, the Head,Internal Audit provides technical expertise and provides recommendations for policy formulation and official conclusions in a consultative and advisory capacity. Representational activities require extensive interaction at the inter-organizational level and s/he will represent and advocate for the Fund in meetings with counterparts in other organizations and donors and build and maintain important relationships.

S/He authoritatively advises AVPs and Directors about alternative approaches to correcting deficiencies, or improving effectiveness and negotiates acceptable plans for improvement.

Job Profile Requirements

Organizational Competencies:

Level 2:

• Building relationships and partnerships - Builds and maintains strategic partnerships internally and externally
• Communicating and negotiating - Acquires & uses a wide range of communication styles & skills
• Demonstrating leadership - Leads by example; initiates and supports change
• Focusing on clients - Contributes to a client-focused culture
• Learning, sharing knowledge and innovating - Challenges, innovates & contributes to learning culture
• Managing performance and developing staff - Manages wider teams with greater impact on others and on the organization
• Managing time, resources and information - Coordinates wider use of time, information and/or resources
• Problem-solving and decision-making - Solves complex problems and makes decisions that have wider corporate impact
• Strategic thinking and organizational development - Staff in management and/or strategic leadership roles
• Team working - Fosters a cohesive team environment

Education:

• Level - An advanced university degree from an accredited institution in a job related field. Degree must be an accredited institution listed on https://www.whed.net/home.php
• Certifications: A professional qualification in audit (CPA, CFA, CA, CIA, CISA, or equivalent).

Experience:

• At least ten (10) years of progressively responsible professional experience in auditing major programmes in a multi-cultural organization.

Languages:

• English (4 - Excellent)
• Desirable: French, Spanish, or Arabic (3 - Good)

Skills:

• Audit: Advanced know-how in audit planning and management strategies to conduct internal audits. Ability to scan the environment and identify environmental, geopolitical and organizational constraints and develop policies and initiatives to overcome them.
• Topical expertise - Audit expertise: Full professional and updated familiarity with audit standards and practices, including concepts as commonly applied in the UN and IFI environments. Familiarity with measures for preventing fraud and corruption and experience of collaborating with investigators.
• Leadership: Group thought leader, sought out by others and providing mentorship and effective guidance to others. Ability to build trust, inside and outside the organization, by acting as a role model for IFAD's core values and competencies, and to provide a clear sense of direction, mentorship and effective guidance to the team, strategizing IFAD's goals, giving the vision, empowering the team and ensuring a positive environment for all.
• Performance management: Know-how in managing performance so that staff supervised deliver on the agreed objectives and meet their development needs while meeting the needs of IFAD. Proficient in establishing clear performance goals (operational and behavioural) and learning plans as well as in evaluating the performance of staff against the set goals.
• Change management: Role modelling, anticipation of key risks and conflicts and formulation of contingency plans/solutions, action-oriented. Able to influence colleagues and partners.
• Risk management (e.g. reputational): Identification and assessment of potential liabilities and risks in IFAD's activities, particularly vis-à-vis third parties; ability to handle risks via contingency and mitigation strategies.
• Finance & Impact Investments: Expertise in international development finance, derivatives, debt capital markets, impact investing, blended finance, general treasury issues (e.g. correspondent banking and custody accounts), including regulatory developments - Basel Principles, EMIR, Dodd Frank and the AIFMD.
• Integrity and ethics: Strong emphasis on acting with honesty, not tolerating unethical behaviour, demonstrating fairness, impartiality and sensitivity in exercising authority and interacting with peers and stakeholders. High sense of moral purpose and ethical conduct.
• Confidentiality and discretion: Establishes self and division as trusted advisor to internal stakeholders by maintaining high level of discretion and confidentiality in assignments; demonstrates sound judgement when dealing with sensitive and/or confidential matters; drives good governance and is a "Culture Carrier" demonstrating IFAD's institutional conscience through their work.
• Basic ICT & digital fluency: Expertise relevant to the specific role (e.g. in-depth, computer information systems, including micro-computer operating systems software, hardware and applications software and other office technology equipment), end-user computing configuration management.
• Client orientation: Strong critical thinking combined with communication skills to liaise between the business and technologies to understand business problems and needs, document requirements and identify solutions.
• Programme/Project development and management: Know-how in programme/project development, implementation, and management.
• Written communication: Ability to use written communication as a main tool in profession, including for speech writing; clear, succinct and convincing written communication; highly professional, balanced and diplomatic language.
• Time management: Adherence to deadlines under time constraints and pressure (e.g. to deliver governing body documents on time); ability to coordinate and manage complex workflows and in-house and external teams.
• IFAD governance & mandate: In-depth knowledge of IFAD's governance structure, mandate, strategic priorities and technical work

Other Information

IFAD staff members are international civil servants subject to the authority of the President of IFAD. In accordance with IFAD's Human Resources Policy, the President can decide to assign them to any of the activities of the Fund. All International Professional staff members are required to be geographically mobile and positions in the professional category are subject to changes in location at any time in line with strategic priorities and reform initiatives in IFAD.

IFAD is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of ethnic, social or political background, colour, nationality, religion, age, gender, disability, marital status, family size or sexual orientation in line with its Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Strategy and the Policy to prevent and respond to sexual harassment, sexual exploitation and abuse.

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Representatives or alternate representatives of Member States on the IFAD Executive Board, Governors or alternate governors to the IFAD Governing Council and other Member States Permanent Representatives and their Alternates to IFAD (collectively IFAD Member States Representatives) who apply for or take up any type of employment with IFAD may do so only after a twelve-month period has elapsed after the effective date of cessation of their IFAD Member States Representatives responsibilities as established in the notification of termination of functions communicated through the official channels.

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Percentuale di occupazione: Full-time

Tipo di occupazione: