The Position:

The Internal Controls Specialist is located in the Quality Management Unit (QMU) in the UNFPA Division for Management Services (DMS) and reports directly to the Chief of QMU.

How you can make a difference:

UNFPA is the lead United Nations agency for delivering a world where every pregnancy is intended, every childbirth is safe, and every young person's potential is fulfilled. The UNFPA Strategic Plan for 2026-2029 articulates the organization’s response to a complex global environment, providing a roadmap for resilience and renewal. It is designed to accelerate the implementation of the Programme of Action of the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) and the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030. This mandate is pursued through a focus on four interconnected outcomes: ending the unmet need for family planning; ending preventable maternal deaths; ending gender-based violence and harmful practices; and adapting to demographic change through evidence and rights-based policies. 

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 who transform, inspire, and deliver high-impact and sustained results and ensure effective external relations, communications, and partnership-building and resource mobilization in a rapidly changing development and funding landscape. We need staff who are transparent, exceptional in how they manage the resources entrusted to them, and who commit to delivering excellence in programme results.

Job Purpose:

QMU leads UNFPA in strategic operational areas such as implementing partner (IP) assurance and risk management; fraud risk management and the Internal Control Framework (ICF). The unit contributes to the implementation of Enterprise Risk Management (ERM) and Risk Appetite. 

QMU provides strategic guidance by developing risk-based and value-adding policies, processes and systems; technical support to all offices by building capacity through adaptive learning and differentiated support; and management oversight at the global level by monitoring performance to ensure compliance and accountability. 

The Internal Controls Specialist is responsible for assessing, developing, implementing, and monitoring UNFPA’s internal control policies, procedures and systems to ensure effective risk mitigation, including fraud risks, enhance operational efficiency and agility, and strengthen compliance with regulatory frameworks. The incumbent collaborates with colleagues across UNFPA HQ, ROs and COs to identify control weaknesses, recommend improvements, and support a culture of accountability and integrity. The Internal Controls Specialist actively engages with other UN agencies to promote UN coherence, and with external parties as necessary.

You would be responsible for:

1. Developing and maintaining processes, procedures and systems

• Keep updated, fit for purpose policies, guidance and tools for the Internal Control Framework, system access and segregation of duties controls, Anti-Fraud, and other related policies.
• Monitor and assess the usability and effectiveness of policies and systems and oversee timely improvements. 
• Guide policy owners on the design of effective, risk-based and necessary internal controls in policies and ensure solid risk control matrices that document first and second line controls in response to clearly identified, relevant risks. 
• Ensure controls are properly integrated into ERP and other systems.
• Contribute to the development and implementation of transaction monitoring tools (e.g. GRC risk cloud). 

2. Leading centralised controls testing, improvements and attestation

• Test and monitor key controls and processes to assess their effectiveness and identify gaps and redundancies.
• Prepare clear reports on control testing results, deficiencies, redundancies and recommendations for improvements to relevant process owners, management and committees.
• Develop and maintain a corporate controls register ensuring it is up-to-date and accurately reflects the control environment. Coordinate integration of control registers with the broader ERM processes to create a coherent organisational risk control matrix. 
• Lead the preparation of statements of internal control by drafting risk control matrices for key business processes, guiding and coordinating process owners. Take responsibility for updating statement text and questionnaires as this work evolves. 

3. Leading centralised fraud risk assessment

• Regularly assess fraud risks at all levels, including as part of ERM processes or project level risk assessments. 
• Work closely with relevant business units at global, regional and country levels to ensure identified fraud risks are adequately mitigated by effective controls. 
• Prepare and present clear reports on fraud risk mitigation to relevant stakeholders, senior management and committees. 

4. Providing technical support and capacity building at the global level

• Support process owners in streamlining processes, optimising controls, and exploiting opportunities for enhanced process and control efficiency.
• Support process owners in the development of corrective action plans for control optimisation and identified fraud risks.
• Develop and deliver training to all staff on internal control and fraud risk requirements, policies, and best practices. 
• Support offices in minimising and managing any segregation of duties conflicts in user roles and process exceptions requested based on valid justification and sufficient mitigating controls to balance business requirements and underlying risks, especially in small offices.  

5. Overseeing and monitoring global performance and compliance with internal control and fraud risk management policies and processes by all staff and offices

• Serve as a primary focal point on internal controls for internal and external audits, facilitating requests and coordinating responses.
• Coordinate and support actions to comply with related audit findings and actions to achieve timely compliance.
• Review IP fraud investigation reports and guide the implementation of mitigating and preventive controls. 

Qualifications and Experience:

Education:  

Advanced university degree in public or business administration, risk management, finance or accounting, or related field.  A Bachelor's degree with suitable professional accreditation e.g. CPA, ACA would be considered equivalent. Professional certifications (e.g., CIA, CRMA, CFE) desirable.

Knowledge and Experience: 

• At least 7 years progressively responsible experience in internal controls, risk management, financial management, internal audit, including at least 5 years at international level and in the management of complex organisation(s). 
• Proven experience with internal control frameworks (e.g. COSO), design, documentation, testing and assessment of risk-based controls. 
• Advanced knowledge of ERP systems (e.g. Oracle), data analytics tools and segregation of duties. 
• Advanced knowledge of UN regulatory frameworks, operational realities and risks.  
• Solid understanding and commitment to the UN and the UNFPA mandate.
• Ability to analyse complex processes, identify risks and assess control effectiveness. 
• Ability to write user-friendly policies and guidance, and impactful presentations.
• Ability to conceptualise, plan, implement and drive multiple initiatives and work independently.
• Ability to lead collaboratively and convincingly across teams and functions. 
• Excellent written and oral communication skills and ability to explain and present complex technical issues to non-technical audiences.
• Demonstrated ability to work in a multicultural environment and establish harmonious and effective relationships both within and outside the organization.

Languages: 

Fluency in English is required; knowledge of other official UN languages 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:

• Ensuring operational effectiveness and accountability for results,
• Strengthening the programming capacity of Country Offices,
• Managing the organisation`s financial resources
• Managing data
• Managing information and work flow
• Planning, organising and multitasking
• Job knowledge/Technical expertise

Compensation and Benefits:

This position offers an attractive remuneration package including a competitive net salary plus health insurance and other benefits as applicable.

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. Reasonable accommodation may be provided to applicants with disabilities upon request, to support their participation in the recruitment process. 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.