Job Vacancy at International Rescue Committee (IRC)

Job description

Sector: Compliance

Employment Category: Regular

Job Description

Job Overview/Summary:

Reporting to a Sr. Investigator, the Investigator will assist the IRC Ethics and Compliance Unit to conduct investigations of allegations involving fraud, waste, abuse and corruption, and other misconduct. The position will support IRC programs to ensure continued vigilance with regard to the risks associated with violations of IRC's Code of Professional Conduct and Policies the law/regulations and the further development of complaints mechanisms and investigation capacity. The position will work with other IRC functional areas and programs to support our partners, sub-grantees and other agencies in fostering a work environment that minimizes the potential for fraud, waste, abuse, corruption and other forms of misconduct.

Two commitments lie at the foundation of the IRC's work: 1) our unceasing quest to serve the needs of our beneficiaries; and 2) our determination to meet the requirements of our donors as trusted stewards of their resources. In connection with this latter function, the ECU is vested with the responsibility to detect, deter and investigate allegations of misuse of grant resources. This position will play a key role in meeting these challenges by furthering a critical mission of the Ethics and Compliance Unit - to safeguard our resources against fraud and other forms of abuse in challenging and high-risk operating environments. This position will serve these functions through investigating allegations of fraud, collusion and corruption in the use of the grant funds. As the investigations will involve transactions, individuals and entities in the field, the position requires extensive travel, coordination with investigation teams, forensic specialists and external contractors as required.

Major Responsibilities:

• Undertake investigations of alleged fraud, waste, financial corruption, misconduct, ensuring objectivity, impartiality and fairness throughout investigative processes in accordance with generally recognized international investigative standards and IRC guidelines and ECU policies and procedures;
• Formulate investigation plans, review and analyze all information to determine its relevance and reliability, conduct interviews of staff and other involved parties, record interviews, obtain and analyze potential documentary and electronic evidence, conduct investigative research, prepare draft investigation reports, and present investigative results in a clear written form;
• Prepare reports and ad hoc briefs pertaining to investigations in coordination with the Sr. Director, Investigations
• Support the preparation of work plans and the prioritization of investigative work in consultation with Compliance Unit management. Work with, monitor and assist the work of contracted specialists as appropriate
• Fluency in French is required

Working Relationships:

• Position Reports to: Sr. Investigator, Investigations
• Position directly supervises: None
• Other Internal and/or external contacts
• Internal: Headquarters departments, international and U.S. program operations as needed
• External: Vendors, service providers and external auditors and contractors as needed

Job Requirements

• Education: Bachelor's degree required in business, accounting, criminal justice or related field.
• Certificates, licenses or advanced degrees in law, accounting or computer forensics an advantage: (CFE/CFF/CPA/CA/CCEP)

Work Experience:

• 5+ years of international financial fraud investigations (procurement, vendor/supply chain) experience (including substantive experience in developing countries and insecure environments)
• Excellent judgment and discretion
• Experience conducting fraud, collusion, bribery and corruption investigations in challenging environments, and in the locations where the IRC operates;
• Experience leading investigations of complex fraud, collusion and procurement fraud in government programs, NGO programs or the equivalent;
• Experience working with investigation teams in distant locations and insecure environments;
• Experience examining forensic evidence; electronic evidence and working with computer forensic and accounting forensic specialists;
• Experience conducting interviews of witnesses and subjects;
• Experience in the nonprofit, NGO sectors or grant-supported organizations, or the inspector general function within a large government organization.
• Travel to insecure environments required

Demonstrated Skills and Competencies:

• Fraud Investigation Principles and Techniques, including Procurement Fraud, Bribery, Collusion and Corruption
• Fluency in French required
• Extensive Interviewing skills and the ability to interview both witnesses and subjects
• Experience with computer and accounting forensic specialists (having such expertise a plus)
• Communications - Written and Oral English
• Demonstrated ability to build relationships and work successfully with internal functional units and operations
• Ability to work well within a team environment and adhere to reporting structures
• Excellent writing and report drafting skills
• Data Analysis
• MS Office Word, Excel, PowerPoint and VISIO
• Demonstrated experience and a successful track record working with minimal supervision

Working Environment

• Position is based in Nairobi, Kenya with a standard office work environment
• Travel could be 50% or more to developing countries including insecure environments