CHIEF, REGIONAL AUDIT CENTER FOR LATIN AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN, Panama

CHIEF, REGIONAL AUDIT CENTER FOR LATIN AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN

Location :

Panama, PANAMA

Application Deadline :

24-Aug-13

Type of Contract :

FTA International

Post Level :

P-5

Languages Required :

English   Spanish  

Starting Date :
(date when the selected candidate is expected to start)

01-Nov-2013

Background

The Office of Audit and Investigations (OAI) reports to the Administrator and is responsible for internal audit and investigations services to UNDP and its affiliated entities. OAI provides independent, objective assurance on the effectiveness of risk management and the effectiveness and adequacy of internal controls. As part of its assurance work, OAI also supports the annual audit exercise of non-governmental/nationally executed projects (NGO/NEX projects) in some 150 countries where UNDP operates and reviews and analyses the resulting audit reports submitted by audit firms and government audit institutions. 

OAI has a decentralized organizational structure with the Directorate, the Investigations Section, the Headquarters Audit Section and other units located at Headquarters and Regional Audit Centres (RAC) located in the five regions covered by UNDP.

Under the guidance and supervision of the Deputy Director (Audit), OAI, the Chief, Regional Audit Centre manages the internal audit function for UNDP’s Latin America and the Caribbean region, comprising of some 25 country offices. He/she develops working relationships with management and stakeholders in order to improve risk management and controls and promote effectiveness and efficiency of operations.

Duties and Responsibilities

Specific client service responsibilities include:

• Comprehensive audits of country offices;
• Limited scope audits;
• Project audits;
• Special audits;
• Review of NGO/NEX audit reports;
• Advisory services;
• Support to investigations.

General Management:
 
As member of the OAI management team, contributes to new strategic initiatives, and to the continuous improvement of processes and methodologies.
 
As Chief of the Regional Audit Centre, effectively manages human resources assigned, including; providing support to staff in the achievement of their career goals, ensuring appropriate learning, training and development, and actively participating in planning and assessing staff performance.

General accountabilities include

• Achieving the results and outputs for the Centre, as documented in OAI Annual Work Plan;
• Establishing and maintaining effective quality control over the activities and outputs of the Centre, to ensure that they conform to professional standards and UNDP and OAI policies;
• Managing within delegated authority, the human, financial and other resources of the Centre.

Client Services:

• Manages internal audit services for the region, ensuring proper planning, high quality and timely reporting;
• Oversees and guides audit teams in conducting audits of UNDP country offices and projects, occasionally directly participating in the audits;
• Manages the review of incoming NGO/NEX audit reports from the region, indentifies recurring and systemic issues in such reports and submits draft NGO/NEX audit review letters to the Deputy Director;
• Builds and maintains effective client relationships in order to facilitate the impact and acceptance of OAI audits;
• Communicates audit results, best practices, and lessons learned to country offices, and other key stakeholders; 
• Provides advisory services on issues related to audit, risk management and internal controls;
• Provides guidance and advice to country offices in the region on the NGO/NEX audit exercise; 
• Ensures data uploaded into the Comprehensive Audit and Recommendation Database System (CARDS) is accurate, monitors the implementation of audit recommendations and validates follow up information provided by management;
• Undertakes frequent, and at times extended, missions to UNDP offices in the region, including to areas with hazardous working conditions. 

Other activities:

• Contributes to the ongoing development of professional practices within OAI;
• Participates in the implementation of his/her personal learning and training development plan;
• Leads and/or participates in special projects, supports and cooperates with other OAI and UNDP units, in order to facilitate matrix management, build organizational synergy, and productivity;
• Liaises with the external auditors;
• Provides timely and accurate input for OAI corporate reporting to the Audit Advisory Committee, Oversight Group and Executive Board;
• Performs any other tasks requested by the Director or Deputy Director.

Competencies

Core Values & Ethics:

• Demonstrates integrity, fairness and honesty;
• Displays cultural sensitivity;
• Shows strong corporate commitment;
• Complies with UNDP regulations and rules, and the United Nations Standards of Conduct.

Leadership:

• Focuses on client impact and results;
• Takes initiative and calculated risks;
• Leads team effectively;
• Displays positive attitude/enthusiasm;
• Takes decisions.

Managing Relations:

• Builds strong client relationships;
• Builds strong external relationships;
• Communicates clearly and convincingly;
• Manages conflict and stress.

Managing Complexity:

• Leads development of clear strategies;
• Manages projects effectively;
• Develops innovative solutions;
• Handles multiple tasks;
• Establishes priorities.

Building & Sharing Knowledge:

• Actively builds deep knowledge in one or more areas;
• Makes valuable practice contributions;
• Applies existing knowledge to work;
• Provides advice & support to others.

Learning and People Development:

• Provide constructive coaching and feedback;
• Acts as long-term mentor for others;
• Promotes a learning environment;
• Acts on personal learning plan.

Professional:

• Demonstrated ability to manage and/or perform the following services, in accordance with relevant professional standards, as applicable;
• Comprehensive audits of country offices;
• Limited scope audits;
• Project audits;
• Special audits;
• Advisory services.

Technical:

• Demonstrated ability to use the following tools:
• Microsoft Office suite;
• Electronic working paper software;
• Computer assisted audit techniques (ACL or IDEA);
• Enterprise Resource Planning systems.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

• Advanced university degree in Business Administration, Public Administration, Finance, Statistics, Law, or related field;
• A first level degree in combination with a certification as Chartered Accountant or Certified Public Accountant may be accepted in lieu of an advanced degree
• Certified Internal Auditor (CIA) designation desirable;
• Additional professional certifications (CISA, CFE) are an advantage.

Experience:

• A minimum of ten years of progressively responsible professional experience, including at the management level, in audit or another directly relevant area, several of which in internal audit;
• Working experience in an International Organization is desirable;
• Field experience is an advantage.

Language Requirements:

• Fluency in English is required;
• Good working knowledge of Spanish is required;
• Knowledge of additional United Nations official languages is an advantage.

Important:

How to apply

The application must contain duly completed and signed Personal History Form (P11), which can be downloaded from www.sas.undp.org/Documents/P11_Personal-history_form.doc. The form should be uploaded to your online application in lieu of CV. If you experienced technical issues with uploading your P11 form during the online application, please send it to oai-bids@undp.org indicating: your name and “Chief_RAC_LAC_P5” in the e-mail subject field.

Please note that:

• Applications without P11 form will not be considered;
• Application should be submitted in English language.

Click here for important information for US Permanent Residents ('Green Card' holders).

UNDP is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence.