Head of Audit

About the IFRC

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) is the world’s largest humanitarian network, with 191 member National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. IFRC uses the Triple R – response, resilience and respect – to deliver on Strategy 2030. IFRC responds to disasters and crises, ensuring timely, coordinated and locally led humanitarian action. IFRC supports its members in building community resilience in the areas of climate and environment, health and wellbeing, and migration and displacement. IFRC promotes respect for our fundamental principles of humanity, impartiality, neutrality, independence, voluntary service, unity, and universality, including in our work on values, power and inclusion. The IFRC focuses throughout on our core mandate – our raison d’être – of strategic and operational coordination, humanitarian diplomacy, National Society development, and accountability.

IFRC is led by its Secretary General and has its Headquarters in Geneva and five regional offices in Africa (Nairobi); the Americas (Panama); Asia Pacific (Kuala Lumpur); Europe (Budapest); and MENA (Beirut) as well as representation offices, service centres and delegations across the globe.

The IFRC has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment and other forms of harassment, abuse of authority, discrimination, and lack of integrity (including but not limited to financial misconduct). IFRC also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles.

About the Office of the Internal Audit and Investigations

IFRC’s Office of Internal Audit and Investigations (OIAI) comprises two teams: audit (internal audit and external audit coordination) and investigations. OIAI provides independent assurance and investigation services to IFRC.

The OIAI team is based across three locations (Geneva, Budapest, and Delhi). To ensure independence, the Director of OIAI has a dual reporting line to the Secretary General and the Audit and Risk Commission.

OIAI’s audit team delivers an annual risk-based audit plan; oversees and coordinates IFRC’s annual external audit plan; and provides training and capacity building on audit, assurance, and integrity topics, to IFRC and its members.

• Provide leadership and direction for the OIAI audit team and develop the OIAI audit strategy.
• Act as IFRC’s professional and technical lead on internal audit and assurance and external audit.
• Ensure OIAI’s audit strategy, methodology, and approach comply with Global Internal Audit Standards (GIAS) and support IFRC to achieve its mission.
• Lead and develop IFRC’s global audit team (approx. 14 staff members).
• Oversee the provision of IFRC’s global audit services (internal audit and external audit coordination),
• Support the development of assurance and integrity systems across the membership.

This role may require frequent travel, including occasional travel to fragile and conflict-affected locations. This could require extended time working away from the staff member’s assigned duty station. Travel to required locations is a mandatory requirement of this role.

OIAI and audit leadership:

• Provide Leadership and direction to OIAI as part of its management team, deputizing for the Director of OIAI.
• Ensure the delivery of strategic OIAI products (e.g. the annual report, annual appeal and report, donor briefings, and annual conference, etc.).
• Provide leadership and direction for the OIAI audit team, acting as IFRC’s professional and policy lead on audit and assurance, ensuring compliance with GIAS.
• Ensure the ongoing enhancement of OIAI’s audit approach through continuous improvement plans and the completion of required internal and external quality assessment (IQA, EQA).
• Maintain relevant professional qualifications and complete the required continued professional development (CPD).
• Role model IFRC’s values and principles in day-to-day operations. Proactively work to create a safe and inclusive environment.

Delivery of IFRC’s global audit services:

• Lead the design and development of a risk-based internal audit and external audit plans, ensuring coverage of IFRC’s critical risks.
• Oversee the delivery of IFRC’s internal and external audit plans – allocating resources, planning, and monitoring delivery in line with KPIs.
• Maintain effective working relationships with OIAI audit co-source partners and develop and maintain appropriate framework and contractual agreements.
• Provide expert technical advice and direction on audit assignments.
• Develop IFRC’s risk follow-up methodology and oversee the end-to-end risk follow-up process, including management and Audit and Risk Commission reporting on overdue risks.

Lead and develop an effective global team audit team:

• Provide effective leadership and oversight of a global audit team (approx. 14 staff members), including direct line management of up to five staff members.
• Ensure the effective management and development of all global audit team members.
• In partnership with the Head of Investigations, ensure effective cross team working between audit and investigations, and across all OIAI locations.

Build effective relationships across IFRC and provide value-adding advisory services:

• Act as a critical friend and trusted adviser to IFRC leadership and provide ongoing advice, guidance, and advisory services on key risk areas to IFRC clients.
• Lead briefings and presentations on audit delivery, audit findings and trends, and critical risk areas, for IFRC’s leadership and Audit and Risk Commission.
• Provide training and workshops to IFRC teams on assurance and integrity topics.
• Maintain effective working relationships with other assurance providers (including IFRC’s external auditors).

Deliver OIAI’s annual appeal activities and provide technical support to the membership:

• In partnership with the Head of Investigations, develop and oversee an annual plan for developing assurance and integrity capacity across the membership.
• Maintain the network-wide roster of audit professionals and build effective working relationships with assurance professionals across the network.
• Provide training and workshops to National Society teams on assurance and integrity topics.

Required

• Internal audit (CIA, PIIA, CMIA) or equivalent qualification (ACCA, IRM etc).

Preferred

• Master’s degree
• ACFE qualification/CHS IQTS qualification (or CHS tier three qualification)

Required

• At least five years of experience in an audit leadership role
• At least eight to ten years of professional experience in internal audit
• Experience of risk-based audit methodologies and approaches
• Experience leading and developing diverse audit teams

Preferred

• Experience in working for a humanitarian, charitable or not-for-profit organization.
• International experience

Knowledge and Skills

Required

• Sound knowledge of risk-based audit methodologies and practices
• Sound knowledge of corporate governance, risk management, and internal control
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships, collaborate, and influence
• Ability to communicate clearly and effectively with diverse audiences
• Ability to gather, analyse, and evaluate facts and use judgement and experience to draw conclusions and reach appropriate decisions on complex problems
• Ability to manage multiple projects and prioritise simultaneously and prioritise effectively

Languages

Required

• Fluent spoken and written English

Preferred

• Good command of another IFRC language (Arabic, French, or Spanish)

Values: Respect for diversity; Integrity; Professionalism; Accountability.
Core competencies: Communication; Collaboration and teamwork; Judgement and decision making; National society and customer relations; Creativity and innovation; Building trust.
Functional competencies: Strategic orientation; Building alliances; Leadership; Empowering others.
Managerial competencies: Managing staff performance, Managing staff development.