UNDP Jobs - 63122- Chief, Quality Assurance & Policy Unit (Audit)

Chief, Quality Assurance & Policy Unit (Audit)

Location :

New York, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

Type of Contract :

FTA International

Starting Date :

Application Deadline :

16-Feb-16 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

P-5

Duration of Initial Contract :

Languages Required :

English

Expected Duration of Assignment :

UNDP is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence. UNDP does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.

Background

The Office of Audit and Investigations (OAI) reports to the Administrator and is responsible for internal audit and investigations services to UNDP and its affiliated entities. OAI provides independent, objective assurance on the effectiveness of risk management and the effectiveness and adequacy of internal controls.

OAI has a decentralized organizational structure. Located at Headquarters in New York are the Directorate, Quality Assurance and Policy Unit (QAPU), Operations Unit, Investigations Section, Headquarters Audit Section, Special Assignments Section and UN Women Audit Unit. In addition, OAI has regional Audit Centres (RACs) located in five regions covered by UNDP.

Under the guidance and supervision of the Director-OAI, the Chief of the Quality Assurance and Policy Unit manages the quality assurance function for all of OAI’s audit activities in accordance with the International Standards for the Professional Practice of Internal Auditing. He/she develops working relationships with management and stakeholders in order to improve risk management and internal controls and promote effectiveness and efficiency of operations.

Duties and Responsibilities

General Management

As member of the OAI management team, contributes to new strategic initiatives, and to the continuous improvement of processes and methodologies.

As Chief of the Unit, effectively manages human resources assigned, including; providing support to staff in the achievement of their career goals, ensuring appropriate learning, training and development, and actively participating in planning and assessing staff performance.

General accountabilities include:

Achieving the results and outputs for the Unit, as documented in OAI Annual Work Plan;
Establishing and maintaining effective quality control over the activities and outputs of the Unit, to ensure that they conform to professional standards and UNDP and OAI policies;
Managing within delegated authority, the human, financial and other resources of the Unit.

Client Services:

Quality Assurance and Improvement Programme

Administers and/or monitors quality assurance and process improvement activities;
Conducts formal internal quality assessments on a periodic basis;
Conducts ongoing reviews of the performance of the internal audit activity;
Reviews and edits draft reports prior to the approval of the Director, OAI to ensure compliance with IIA Standards;
Develops and maintains an audit report tracking system;
Contributes to the continuous improvement of the audit management system;
Promotes the use of best practices of the internal audit profession.

Internal Audit Policies and Procedures:

Develops and maintains Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) to ensure consistency in audit approach;
Develops and maintains the Country Offices Audit Guidelines (COAG) and other audit related guidelines;
Develops templates and other tools;
Represents OAI on inter-agency working groups on issues of audit methodologies and audit tools.

Audit Universe and Risk-Based Audit Plans:

Maintains and updates the comprehensive audit universe;
Identifies cross-cutting themes for OAI audits and coordinates reporting of results, on a corporate level;
Develops and updates audit risk assessment models;
Coordinates annual audit risk assessment exercise;
Coordinates the preparation of the annual work plan and the medium-term strategy;
Coordinates follow up and reporting in implementation of audit recommendations.

Audit Follow-up Process:

Maintains the system to monitor disposition of audit results reported to management;
Identifies long-outstanding recommendations requiring corporate action.

Corporate Reports on Internal Audit Activities:

Prepares the annual report on audit and investigations for submission to the Executive Board;
Prepares quarterly progress reports for submission to the Audit Advisory Committee;
Prepares presentation materials on the internal audit function for donors and other stakeholders.

Secretary to the Audit Committee:

In consultation with the Chairperson, prepares agenda of quarterly meeting and ad hoc meetings;
Makes logistical arrangements for AAC meetings;
Coordinates participation of senior managers and others in AAC meetings;
Prepares minutes for approval by the Chairperson;
Follows up on AAC action items;
Assists the Chairperson in preparing the AAC annual report.

Other activities:

Coordinates with the Chiefs of the Regional Audit Centres and other OAI sections in identifying audit issues and recommendations with implications on corporate policies, systems and procedures;
Maintains close working relationships with counterparts in the United Nations system audit services;
Establishes and maintains close working relationships with UNDP managers at Headquarters, including at the senior level;
Provides inputs to workshops and training courses on risk management, internal controls and audit;
Disseminates and shares lessons learnt from OAI audits with other UNDP units;
Implements his/her personal learning and career development plan;
Performs other tasks as assigned by the Director.

Competencies

Core:

Innovation:

Ability to make new and useful ideas work.

Leadership:

Ability to persuade others to follow.

People Management:

Ability to improve performance and satisfaction.

Communication:

Ability to listen, adapt, persuade and transform.

Delivery

Ability to get things done.

Technical/Functional:

Primary:

Learning and People Development:

Provide constructive coaching and feedback;
Acts as long-term mentor for others;
Promotes a learning environment;
Acts on personal learning plan.

Professional:

Demonstrated ability to manage and/or perform the following services, in accordance with relevant professional standards, as applicable:

Comprehensive audits of country offices;
Limited scope audits;
Project audits;
Special audits;
Advisory services.

Technical:

Demonstrated ability to use the following tools:

Microsoft Office suite;
Electronic working paper software;
Enterprise Resource Planning systems.

Required Skills 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 may be accepted in lieu of an advanced degree;
Certified Internal Auditor (CIA) designation is required;
Additional professional certifications (CISA, CFE) are advantage.

Experience:

A minimum of ten years of progressively responsible professional experience, including at the management level, in audit or another directly relevant area, several of which in internal audit;
Working experience in an International Organization is desirable;
Extensive experience in audit quality assurance is required;
Field experience is an advantage.

Language:

Fluency in English;
Proficiency in French or Spanish is desirable;
Knowledge of other United Nations official language is an advantage.