Internal Auditor at Saferworld

Roles and responsibilities:

Plan and carry out internal audits

• Draw up a yearly Internal Audit Plan based on key risks and an assessment of audit needs and agree it with the CEO in consultation with the Director of Finance and Operations and Director of Policy and Programmes.
• Carry out internal audit assignments across departments, projects, and programmes to assess compliance with financial policies, donor agreements, and statutory regulations, including negotiating terms of reference with relevant system/area owners, preparing reports, presenting the findings to the Senior Leadership, and following up on recommendations.
• Review financial transactions and accounting records, including data from SUN, to ensure accuracy and integrity.
• Support necessary pre-audit preparation work related to external audits (both statutory and project audit) and assist the teams in ensuring smooth audit.
• Maintain the organisation’s register of grant and project audits, ensuring that audit findings recommendations are clearly documented and shared.
• Monitor the implementation of these recommendations and follow up on corrective actions to ensure timely and effective solution.
• Carry out special investigations, as required by the Saferworld CEO or Senior Operational Team (SOT).

Strengthening organisational systems and risk controls

• Produce an annual review of the overall effectiveness of Saferworld’s systems of internal control and make recommendations and arrangements for identification and management of risks and produce an annual plan to address these areas.
• Report quarterly to the Senior Operational Team (SOT) on the annual review and plan.
• Attend the governance/Board of Trustees Finance and Audit Committee four times a year and produce a report for the meetings, including feeding back on learnings from internal audits carried out.
• The post-holder must maintain independence and objectivity in carrying out audits and investigations. They have direct access to the Board/Audit Committee when necessary.
• Produce quarterly report for the Board meetings.
• Promote a culture of accountability, transparency and continuous improvement across the organisation.

Key working relationships

• Director of Finance and Operations
• Director of Programmes & Policy
• Head of People
• Regional Directors
• Head of Governance and Operations
• Finance Business Partners
• Country Directors/Managers
• Country Finance Managers

Scope and accountability

Decision making and limits of authority

• Methods of investigation within assigned internal audits, reviews, findings and recommendations to CEO & Director of Finance and Operations
• Key that the Internal Auditor is seen to be able to provide independent advice, guidance and analysis.

Financial resources

• Financial responsibilities primarily about auditing financial management practices and processes

Other resources

• Audit investigations data and reports, internal audit plan, guidance and tools for supporting effective risk assessment and risk management – works globally
• Contribute to the implementation and effective use of financial systems (works globally)

People management

• Capacity building country finance managers in relation to financial systems and processes.
• Capacity building staff and partners in relation to risk assessment and management

Legal, regulatory and compliance responsibility

• Key internal role in ensuring compliance with financial policies and procedures (internal) and financial regulations (external), and in identification on risks/noncompliance issues for addressing

Person specification

Knowledge

• Excellent understanding of internal audit principles and methods and risk identification and management
• Auditing or accounting professional qualification (e.g. ACCA, CPA, CA, CIMA or Certified Internal Auditor with active membership status) and sound knowledge of accounting procedures, principles and systems
• Good understanding of and experience using SUN system will be an advantage

Experience

• Extensive experience in the internal audit function in a large/medium-sized NGO or similar complex organisation
• Experience of undertaking a variety of audit related, research/ evaluation and project management work
• Familiarity with donor-funded project audits (FCDO, EU) and related compliance requirements
• Experience in working with programme teams (particularly in different country settings), sharing learning from audits, and supporting implementation of recommendations
• Experience in training or mentoring staff on compliance, internal controls, and financial procedures.

Skills

• Strong analytical and quantitative skills
• Skills to build effective, trusting relationships at all levels of the organisation, and ability to influence senior managers and other stakeholders regarding the importance of effective controls
• Excellent project management skills with experience in planning, organising and delivering audit assignments Excellent facilitation, negotiation, verbal and written communication skills with the ability to write reports and present complex/sensitive information in an understandable way to a range of audiences
• Solution-oriented, pro-active, flexible, a team-player, and responsive
• Strong interpersonal and team-working skills
• Good IT skills, including in MS word and excel

Other

• A willingness to promote the work of Saferworld and work collaboratively with others
• Ability to work in a non-partisan manner, sensitive to differences of ethnicity, religion and gender
• A commitment to learn and be open to new ideas and approaches
• Demonstrated commitment to principles of transparency, accountability, and honesty
• Commitment to and compliance with Saferworld’s safeguarding principles
• Knowledge of applicable laws, donor regulations and statutory reporting requirements in countries where Saferworld operates