Role Purpose: The Global Assurance function supports the Board of Save the Children International and its management by evaluating the adequacy and effectiveness of the governance, risk management, control and oversight systems in place.
The role holder will be expected to confidently and capably lead on, or be part of a global team delivering high quality, outcomes-focussed internal audit assignments, reviews, investigations and other work assigned to them to meet agreed professional standards and stakeholder expectations, on time and within budget.
Building credibility through effective collaboration and a solutions-driven approach to internal audit are key to this role.
They will be expected to produce high quality, value-adding audit reports in English that are clear, concise, timely and solutions-driven.
Leading by example, they will also be expected to maintain strong professional relationships across the organisation, working in real partnership with their team and across the business, ensuring that they keep up-to-date with changes and events that have a significant impact on the risk profile of actual as well as potential assignments.
The role holder will also be expected to contribute to the development and implementation of any Global Assurance improvement plans.
Country Dimension:
Dimensions: Save the Children has been operational in Kenya since the 1950s, providing support to children through developmental and humanitarian relief programmes delivered both directly and through local partners.
Current programming focuses on child protection, child rights governance, education, health, HIV/AIDS, livelihoods, nutrition and WASH.
In 2012, as part of a global reorganization process, Save the Children combined the programmes of SC UK, SC Canada and SC Finland to create a single operation in Kenya.
In Feb 2014, we completed a second transition, which saw us join forces with the British INGO, Merlin, and merge their health and nutrition programmes with our own.
Save the Children now has an operational presence in Bungoma, Dadaab Refugee Camp, Garissa, Mandera, Turkana and Wajir and we work through partners in many other parts of the country.
In 2016, Save the Children established a new project office in Madagascar whose operations are managed by the Kenya CO.
In total, we employ around 250 staff in both countries and had an operating annual budget in 2016 of approximately US$17.5million
Reports to: Global Assurance Manager
Staff reporting to this post: Responsible for overseeing the work of and developing the Global Auditors and will also manage in-country and guest auditors, contractors and others as required on overseas assignments.
Budget Responsibilities: None directly though will be instrumental audits are delivered on budget
Role Dimensions:
All teams are expected to:
Travel and deliver audits across the whole programming portfolio, including fragile states, unless travel is restricted by the organisation. The annual timetable of audits is generally one of 2-3 weeks working in other countries followed by 2-3 weeks in their home office
Work to the annual timetable for audits, rather than the timetable of their home base office. By this we mean that you may be required to work on a particular festival or bank holiday and a day offered in lieu.
Take on a key role in no less than three team learning events during the year.
Key Areas of Accountability:
Work closely with the Global Assurance Manager(s) in planning, conducting, reporting and follow up assignments from the audit plan on time, to a high standard and within budget; all audits will be conducted in teams and some of these assignments will require the role holder to assume the lead role
Actively contribute to and work towards delivering Global Assurance improvement plans
Lead specific organisational projects as assigned; these may be for the Board or other senior managers
Lead by example, ensuring that relationships with all ‘clients’ remain strong through demonstrating professional acumen, interpersonal skills, and the delivery of first-class results
Deliver workshops and presentations as required by the organisation
Contribute to systems development work within Save the Children International, providing independent advice regarding appropriate levels of internal control & oversight.
Promote ‘horizontal learning’ opportunities, ensuring that learning is identified and that good practice is shared actively operations/ countries visited as well as with colleagues regionally and globally
Provide input to the preparation of operational and strategic audit plans, and into the future shape and direction of the Global Assurance department
Respond to queries raised by management, providing prompt and professional advice as appropriate
Behaviours (Values in Practice)
Accountability:
Holds themselves accountable for making decisions, managing resources efficiently, and being a real ambassador for Global Assurance
Holds the team and partners accountable to deliver on their responsibilities – giving them the freedom to deliver in the best way they see fit, providing the necessary development to improve performance and applying appropriate consequences when results are not achieved
Foster a culture of accountability across the organisation through their internal audit work
Ambition:
Sets ambitious and challenging goals for both themselves and their team, bringing out the best in the team, and playing an active role in development – their own as well as the team’s
Motivates others in furthering the vision for Save the Children and Global Assurance
Future orientated, thinks strategically and on a global scale
Collaboration:
Builds and maintains effective relationships with their team, colleagues, Members and external partners and supporters.
Is a true collaborator and can demonstrate how working in partnership with auditees can bolster SCI’s control environment
Values diversity, sees it as a source of competitive strength
An active listener, approachable
Works closely with all parties, working clearly towards finding practical and effective solutions to complex problems
Creativity:
Develops and encourages new and innovative solutions, takes the lead in delivering change
Willing to take disciplined risks
Integrity:
Honest, encourages openness and transparency; demonstrates highest levels of integrity
Qualifications
Be a qualified internal auditor (IIA) or accountant;
AND
Have a minimum of 3 years post qualification experience in internal audit, business process re-engineering or relevant program and project management experience
Experience and Skills
Essential
Strong experience of conducting risk-based reviews of systems and processes (with a good understanding of the three lines of defence model), identifying weaknesses and areas of improvements with minimum supervision and support
A demonstrable ability to focus on key issues, enabling auditees to focus on crucial matters of control and oversight
Be highly accurate, detail-orientated, and able to complete multiple projects, with conflicting priorities, on a timely basis
Have strong experience in producing high quality effective written communication e.g. reports, in English
Have exceptional communication skills and is able to articulate effectively at all levels (in English).
Have strong interpersonal communication and coaching skills including a demonstrable ability to deliver difficult messages with tact and confidence
Have a strong orientation for results, with the ability to challenge existing mind sets
Proves to be a reliable team leader, effectively supporting the GA Manager(s)
Be willing to undertake high amount of travel overseas and work with minimum supervision under difficult conditions in some of the most underdeveloped, insecure and remote parts of the world
Have a strong cultural awareness and be able to work well in an international environment with people from diverse backgrounds and cultures
Be able to demonstrate standards of ethics and integrity
Be committed to Save the Children values
Additionally
either:
Have experience of evaluating systems and processes, identifying weaknesses and areas of improvements
or:
Have extensive experience in relevant operational areas (e.g. in programme/project management in an INGO context) and be willing to learn the appropriate audit skills
Desirable
Have INGO experience or have worked in a commercial/public sector international organisation
Have some experience of grant requirements of major donors such as USAID, EC/ECHO, DfID and the UN
Have a financial analysis aptitude
Have some experience of Agresso financial software
Have some experience of IT audit
Proficiency in a second core language of Save the Children (French, Spanish, Portuguese or Arabic)
Additional job responsibilities: The duties and responsibilities as set out above are not exhaustive and the role holder may be required to carry out additional duties within reasonableness of their level of skills and experience.
Equal Opportunities: The role holder is required to carry out the duties in accordance with the SCI Equal Opportunities and Diversity policies and procedures.
Health and Safety: The role holder is required to carry out the duties in accordance with SCI Health and Safety policies and procedures.
