Historique

Under the overall guidance of the Country Director, and the direct supervision of the Chief Finance Officer, the Risk Management Specialist develops and oversees implementation of strategies, plans and activities related to risk management, compliance and audit management. S/he interprets and applies UNDP corporate policies and ensures an effective and state-of the art approaches are in place to ensure that resources entrusted to UNDP Afghanistan are utilized in a transparent and cost-effective manner on the basis of a careful weighing of risks and expected results.

The Risk Management Specialist leads a team of national professional and support staff and plans and coordinates the work and activities of the Risk Management Team. S/he works in close collaboration with the staff in the Office for Financial Management and Oversight, Projects, Programme and Operations Teams, UNDP Regional Office, Regional Audit Centre and HQ staff and relevant UN agency and Government IP staff to ensure development and implementation of relevant systems, tools and mechanisms and sufficient capacities throughout the Country Programme. 

Devoirs et responsabilités

Summary of key functions:

• Ensures the development and implementation of risk management and mitigation plans and activities in the CO;
• Oversees planning and implementation of compliance activities at the CO level and in projects;
• Ensures management of audit activities;
• Facilitates knowledge building and management.

Ensures the development and implementation of risk management plans and activities in the CO, focusing on achievement of the following:

• Plans, manages and coordinates implementation of risk management systems, tools and processes in the CO and at the project level;
• Initiates and conducts business process mapping and ensures the establishment and regular reviews and updates of internal Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs). Develops internal guidance notes, checklists and other tools. Ensures that risk management functions are sufficiently resourced, develops standard processes and formulates standard JDs, participates in selection of project personnel in area of work as necessary;
• Applies UNDP´s corporate policies on risk management and formulates CO/project specific procedures and tools for RM and risk mitigation. Ensures adherence to UNDP policies and procedures and corporate guidance on risk management.
• Manages risk management cycle, assess and proactively identifies critical risks requiring further controls and assurance activities, and advise CO units on minimizing risk exposure;
• Develops RM plan and establish effective & efficient monitoring and reporting systems, and ensure that significant risks are reported to CO Senior Management on periodic basis and if necessary, escalated to HQ/RBAP for advice on risk mitigation, follow-up on appropriate actions;
• Supports projects in formulation of risk management plans. Participates in project appraisal to ensure that the risk management framework is properly applied reflected in project designs;
• Oversees and quality controls updates of UNDP’s corporate RM tools, such as Business Continuity Plan (BCP), the relevant parts of Integrated Work Plan (IWP), and Results Oriented Annual Report (ROAR) from a risk management point of view.
• Ensures that the specific risks identified in the Micro Assessments are incorporated into CO risk management measures and logs, as appropriate;
• Provides input to the development of project-level HACT assurance activities focusing on scheduled and special audits  (as member of HACT WG) plan and oversee its implementation. Ensures that audits are conducted in line with HACT policies and implementation guidelines;
• Leads and coordinates risk reporting. Prepares regular and ad hoc reports, provides briefings and ensures information flows on risk related communication. Documents findings;
• Ensures accurate and timely information in all corporate systems. Provides inputs to BSC and other corporate planning and monitoring mechanisms.
• Participates in UNCT activities in the area of risk management.

Oversees planning and implementation of compliance activities at the CO level and in projects, focusing on the following achievements:

• Identifies potential causes of non-compliance with corporate rules and regulations based on internal and external audits and internal compliance reviews, and makes recommendations for appropriate corrective and preventive actions;
• Advises CO Senior Management regarding suspected misconduct and, as required, conducts and oversees independent, preliminary fact-finding into allegations of wrongdoings with high impact, for possible investigative follow up;
• Conducts regular CO internal compliance reviews, including “independent” (i.e. by RMU) and unannounced spot checks in critical & high-risk functions and processes;
• Support in the development of tools, e.g. SOPs, checklists, and systems for application of internal controls and maintenance of compliance standards;
• Ensure effective implementation of UNDP`s Internal Control Framework (ICF) in the CO including development and implementation of CO-level ICF and affiliated tools including management system (monthly reviews, oversight matrix, delegation of authority, internal workflows, oversight of Atlas user rights (ARGUS), segregation of duties);
• Establish and maintain updated Delegation of Authority (DoA) for non-Atlas activities (signature of contracts and agreements such as LoAs, MoUs, donor agreements, procurement contracts, Project Documents, budget revisions, etc.) and oversee DoA application and further compliance with ICF;
• Provides advice on, clearance and oversight of, non-standard agreements and Memoranda of Understanding, coordination with HQ Legal Office, if necessary;
• Advices on and clears of Letters of Agreement LoA in compliance with programme and operations policies and procedures;
• Supports CO units and projects in external due diligence and verification reviews.

3. Ensures management of audit activities, focusing on the following achievements:

• Develops risk-based audit plans in consultation with CO Senior Management and OAI-Regional Audit Centre, if required.
• Supports and provides technical guidance to projects and CO units in preparation for annual DIM & NIM Audits and external reviews.
• Oversees management of NIM audits. Takes lead in procuring audit services and coordination/facilitation of external (UNBoA) and internal/DIM & CO functional audits for programme and operations areas. Oversees organisation of pre-audit meetings for audit preparations; Entrance and Exit meetings with portfolio managers of CO units, projects, OAI auditors and audit firms. Oversees the work of external audit firms (NIM Audits) to ensure further quality of the audit services. Performs quality assurance of audit reports, including management responses, and submit final reports to OAI.
• Plans and manages HACT Special Audits (either on internal controls or financial audit), including the lead in procuring special audit services, perform quality assurance of audit reports in compliance with the Terms of Reference – ToR for HACT audits, follow-up implementation of recommendations;
• Provides technical guidance to projects and CO units in the development of Action Plans for follow up on implementation of audit recommendations and reporting;
• Monitors implementation of audit recommendations, ensures follow-up on outstanding issues and update the OAI’s database and CARDS system regularly;
• Oversees preparation of Monthly Audit Updates and dissemination to all managers in CO and projects to update on status and alert on pending items;
• Liaises with OAI and the Regional Audit Centre (RAC) on audit and oversight matters, seeks guidance and technical advice. 

Facilitates knowledge building and management focusing on achievement of the following results:

• Provides regular training and technical guidance/advice on audit and compliance matters, including implementation of Internal Control Framework (ICF);
• Provides training and technical guidance/advice on UNDP’s corporate policies and procedures on risk management, and their application in programme/project implementation and operations;
• Identifies and synthetizes lessons learnt and best practices in the area of work;
• Actively promotes a knowledge sharing and learning culture within the CO;
• Systematically builds capacities of national staff and trains CO staff in all areas of responsibility.

Compétences

Core competencies:

• Promotes ethics and integrity and creates organisational precedents;
• Builds support and political acumen;
• Builds staff competence and creates an environment of creativity and innovation;
• Builds and promotes effective teams;
• Creates and promotes environment for open communications;
• Leverages conflict in the interest of UNDP and sets standards;
• Shares knowledge across the organisation and builds a culture of knowledge sharing and learning.

Functional competencies:

Promoting organisational learning and knowledge sharing

Developing tools and mechanisms:

• Makes case for innovative ideas documenting successes and building them into the design of new approaches;
• Identifies new approaches and strategies that promote the use of tools and mechanisms;
• Develops and/or participates in the development of tools and mechanisms, including identifying new approaches to promote individual and organisational learning and knowledge sharing and informal mechanisms.

Job knowledge/technical expertise

In-depth knowledge of the subject matter:

• Understands more advanced aspects of primary area of specialization as well as the fundamental concepts of related disciplines.
• Serves as internal consultant in the area of expertise and shares knowledge with staff;
• Continues to seek new and improved methods and systems for accomplishing the work of the unit;
• Keeps abreast of the new developments in the area of professional discipline and job knowledge and seeks to development him/herself professionally;
• Demonstrates comprehensive knowledge of information technology and applies it;
• Demonstrates comprehensive understanding and knowledge of the current guidelines and project management tools and utilizes these regularly in work assignments.

Promoting accountability and results-based management

Development and application of organisational standards:

• Ensures compliance with the organisational standards for accountability and results-based management;
• Promotes culture of accountability in the Organisation;
• Develops, disseminates and promotes the use of sound methodologies and tools to assist organisational units in carrying out results-based monitoring and evaluation;
• Analyses audit, evaluation and policy application review results and extracts key elements and prepares proposals to address areas of weakness in the Organisation´s performance.

Qualifications et expériences requises

Education:

• Master´s degree in public or business administration, law, international law or related field.

Experience:

• A minimum of 7 years professional work experience in strategic management and programme management within an international organisation or internatiolly operating private sector organisations;
• Proven experience in implementation, monitoring and oversight of development programmes and projects in UNDP context is required;
• Proven experience in risk management and risk mitigation, compliance and implementation of internal control systems is required.
• Proven advanced investigative skills and experience in conducting and managing audits is required;
• Experience at the country level, preferably in a post-conflict environment is a strong asset;
• Solid experience as user of web-based information management systems;
• Experience in training and mentoring is a strong asset.  

Language:

• Fluent in English.