The Position:
The Quality Assurance Audit Specialist position is in the Quality Assurance, Policy, and Reporting (QAPR) Unit of the Office of Audit and Investigation Services (OAIS) in New York.
You will report directly to the Chief, QAPR.
How you can make a difference:
UNFPA is the lead UN agency for delivering a world where every pregnancy is wanted, every childbirth is safe and every young person's potential is fulfilled. UNFPA’s strategic plan (2022-2025), reaffirms the relevance of the current strategic direction of UNFPA and focuses on three transformative results: to end preventable maternal deaths; end unmet need for family planning; and end gender-based violence and harmful practices. These results capture our strategic commitments on accelerating progress towards realizing the ICPD and SDGs in the Decade of Action leading up to 2030. Our strategic plan calls upon UN Member States, organizations and individuals to “build forward better”, while addressing the negative impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic on women’s and girls’ access to sexual and reproductive health and reproductive rights, recover lost gains and realize our goals.
In a world where fundamental human rights are at risk, we need principled and ethical staff, who embody these international norms and standards, and who will defend them courageously and with full conviction.
UNFPA is seeking candidates that transform, inspire and deliver high impact and sustained results; we need staff who are transparent, exceptional in how they manage the resources entrusted to them and who commit to deliver excellence in programme results.
Job Purpose:
OAIS is an operationally independent office of UNFPA and reports to the Organization’s Executive Director. It is responsible for supporting the achievement of UNFPA’s objectives by contributing to the improvement of the Organization’s operations, risk management, and results through its internal audit, investigation, and advisory services. OAIS solely performs, manages, or authorizes others to carry out these services.
The Quality Assurance Audit Specialist supports the Chief, QAPR, and Director, OAIS, to fulfill the OAIS mandate of providing independent and objective assurance on UNFPA governance, risk management, and control systems. The Quality Assurance Audit Specialist supports the provision of internal audit, investigation, and advisory services to UNFPA, with the objectives of increasing accountability, instituting effective oversight, and improving the effectiveness and efficiency of UNFPA’s operational and programmatic performance.
You would be responsible for:
A. Quality Assurance and Improvement Programme
- Performs QA reviews of draft audit reports from the Internal Audit Branch units prior to their clearance by the Director, OAIS, for release to audit client(s) for comment.
- Performs QA reviews of final audit reports from the Internal Audit Branch units, prior to their approval by the Director, OAIS, for issuance to the Executive Director and subsequent posting on the UNFPA public website.
- Ascertains whether internal audit reports contain information deemed particularly sensitive that would require redaction prior to public disclosure.
- Prepares, in consultation with the Internal Audit Branch unit concerned, OAIS' contribution to UNFPA’s response to any queries on published audit reports received from Member States, donors or other stakeholders.
- Contributes to developing and improving OAIS policies and procedures, including audit guides/programmes and risk assessment models.
- Conducts regular QA reviews on compliance with IIA Standards and OAIS standard operating procedures; and identifies potential for improvements in OAIS processes and methodologies.
- Contributes to the OAIS internal audit strategy and annual work plan.
B. Any Other Duties
- Carrying out any other duties as may be directed by the Chief, QAPR, and the Director, OAIS.
- Implements their personal learning and training plan.
Qualifications and Experience:
Education:
- Advanced university degree in Business Administration, Public Administration, Finance, Statistics, Law, or related field. A first level degree in combination with a certification as Chartered Accountant or Certified Public Accountant and additional relevant experience may be accepted in lieu of an advanced degree.
- Certified Internal Auditor (CIA) designation is desired.
- Additional professional certifications (e.g., CISA, CFE, CPA, ACCA, or other national equivalents) are an advantage.
Knowledge and Experience:
- A minimum of 7 years of professional experience in audit or another directly relevant area (such as accounting or finance), several of which in internal audit.
- Experience in reviewing draft audit reports is required.
- Experience in conducting internal or external quality assurance work is required.
- Experience in an international environment is desirable.
Languages:
Fluency in English is required; knowledge of other official UN languages, preferably French and/or Spanish, is desirable.
Required Competencies:
Values:
- Exemplifying integrity,
- Demonstrating commitment to UNFPA and the UN system,
- Embracing cultural diversity,
- Embracing change
Core Competencies:
- Achieving results,
- Being accountable,
- Developing and applying professional expertise/business acumen,
- Thinking analytically and strategically,
- Working in teams/managing ourselves and our relationships,
- Communicating for impact
Functional Competencies:
- Demonstrated ability to perform and/or manage the following services, in accordance with professional standards:
- Quality assurance services
- Operational audits
- Performance audits
- Advisory services
- Demonstrated ability to use the following tools:
- Microsoft Office suite
- Electronic working paper software
- Computer assisted audit techniques
- Enterprise Resource Planning systems
- Excellent research, analytical and problem-solving skills,
- Excellent communication skills, both oral and in writing, and ability to draft and edit clear and concise reports and other deliverables in English,
- Ability to apply good judgment in the context of assignments given,
- Ability to plan work and manage information, workflows, and conflicting priorities for self and others,
- Ability to handle sensitive relationships and information with tact, integrity, and discretion,
- Ability to focus on details while keeping an eye on overall priorities.
Compensation and Benefits:
This position offers an attractive remuneration package including a competitive net salary plus health insurance and other benefits as applicable.
UNFPA Work Environment:
UNFPA provides a work environment that reflects the values of gender equality, diversity, integrity and healthy work-life balance. We are committed to ensuring gender parity in the organization and therefore encourage women to apply. Individuals from the LGBTQIA+ community, minority ethnic groups, indigenous populations, persons with disabilities, and other underrepresented groups are highly encouraged to apply. UNFPA promotes equal opportunities in terms of appointment, training, compensation and selection for all regardless of personal characteristics and dimensions of diversity. Diversity, Equity and Inclusion is at the heart of UNFPA's workforce - click here to learn more.
Disclaimer:
Selection and appointment may be subject to background and reference checks, medical clearance, visa issuance and other administrative requirements.
UNFPA does not charge any application, processing, training, interviewing, testing or other fee in connection with the application or recruitment process and does not concern itself with information on applicants' bank accounts.
Applicants for positions in the international Professional and higher categories, who hold permanent resident status in a country other than their country of nationality, may be required to renounce such status upon their appointment.
We are no longer accepting applications for this position.
