Internal Audit Senior Associate

The Internal Audit and Investigations Group (IAIG) provides independent assurance and oversight to strengthen UNOPS’ governance, risk management, and internal controls, while ensuring accountability through impartial investigations of misconduct. Our internal audit function delivers assurance engagements across field offices and HQ units, advisory reviews of functions, processes, and cross-cutting themes, and targeted project audits - both financial and operational. We also offer ad hoc advisory services to management on strategic matters. Our investigation mandate covers credible allegations involving UNOPS personnel, including fraud, corruption, mismanagement, abuse of authority, sexual or workplace harassment, retaliation against whistleblowers, and violations of UNOPS regulations, rules, or administrative instructions. Through these core functions, IAIG helps safeguard organizational integrity, promote ethical conduct, and enhance operational effectiveness—ensuring that UNOPS delivers its mandate with transparency, fairness, and accountability.

The Internal Audit Senior Associate supports the Internal Audit and Investigations Group (IAIG) by managing and integrating various audit processes, from program development and fieldwork to post-audit administration. The role ensures the integrity, quality, and timeliness of audit engagements, applies professional audit standards, and contributes to the continuous improvement of IAIG's practices, potentially guiding junior colleagues or overseeing specific audit-related tasks.The Internal Audit Senior Associate performs specialized audit activities and manages assigned audit processes in support of the Internal Audit and Investigations Group (IAIG). The role applies established internal audit methodologies, procedures and professional standards to conduct audit fieldwork, testing, analysis, documentation and follow-up activities.

The incumbent is responsible for the accurate, timely and well-documented completion of assigned work and contributes to improving the efficiency and quality of audit processes. The role works independently within established procedures and provides practical input on assigned matters, while significant professional judgements, audit conclusions and overall engagement responsibilities remain with senior audit personnel.

1. Internal Audit Activities

• Support the development of risk-based audit programs for assigned engagements, using established IAIG methodology and professional auditing standards.

• Conduct audit fieldwork as a member of the audit team, including reviewing relevant documentation, performing interviews, testing controls and transactions, and documenting audit evidence.

• Prepare working papers that clearly document procedures performed, evidence obtained, analysis undertaken and conclusions reached, in accordance with applicable IAIG requirements and professional standards.

• Draft sections of audit reports and supporting documentation for review by senior audit personnel, ensuring that information is accurate, clear, concise and adequately supported by evidence.

• Participate in audit missions to UNOPS offices, including locations where working conditions may present additional operational or security considerations.

• Support advisory engagements and other assurance activities, as assigned, applying established methodologies and procedures.

2. Project Audit Support

• Review terms of reference and audit reports received from outsourced auditors against established requirements and applicable standards, and identify issues requiring clarification or further review.

• Support quality assurance of project audit documentation and reports, under the guidance of the responsible senior auditor.

• Provide project offices with procedural guidance and information on applicable audit requirements.

• Escalate significant technical, methodological or compliance issues identified during the review to the responsible senior auditor.

3. General Contributions and Responsibilities

• Manage post-audit administrative activities for assigned audits in the ERP system, ensuring that final report information is accurately recorded and recommendations are appropriately mapped to responsible offices and units.

• Monitor the status of agreed management actions assigned and maintain accurate follow-up records. Review supporting information provided by management and flag items requiring further clarification or review by the responsible senior auditor before closure.

• Use appropriate data analysis and digital tools, including AI-enabled tools where authorized, to support audit testing, analysis, documentation and routine reporting activities.

• Maintain constructive and professional working relationships with auditees and colleagues throughout assigned audit engagements, facilitating timely access to information and effective communication.

• Compile and analyze budget and expenditure information for assigned IAIG budget lines and prepare periodic budget status information for review by the responsible manager and/or Director. 

• Support the preparation of information and documentation for audit committees, management forums and other relevant bodies, under the direction of senior IAIG personnel.

• Contribute to the maintenance and development of audit tools, templates, guidance and knowledge resources within assigned areas of responsibility.

• Participate in internal and external quality assessments and other activities supporting the continuous improvement of the internal audit function.

• Perform other related duties within the scope of the position, including supporting forensic reviews, special audits and other IAIG assignments as required.

• Completion of secondary education (high school diploma) with 7 years of relevant experience is required.

• A university degree (Bachelor’s or Master’s) in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, Audit, or a related field is desirable and may be considered, and will reduce some of the required years of relevant experience.

• A professional accounting or auditing certification is an asset.

• Relevant  experience is defined as experience in audit, assurance, compliance, risk management, or other fields related to audit work is required.

• Experience working with the United Nations system, international organizations, or international NGOs is desirable.

• Familiarity with cloud-based productivity tools, such as Google Workspace, is desirable.

• Experience using Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems, such as Agresso/Unit4, is desirable.

• Knowledge of project management and collaboration tools, such as Atlassian products (e.g., Jira and Confluence), is considered an asset.

• Exposure to data analytics, continuous auditing methodologies, and related audit technologies is desirable.

• UNOPS does not accept unsolicited resumes. 
• UNOPS will at no stage of the recruitment process request candidates to make payments of any kind.
• Applications to vacancies must be received before midnight Copenhagen time (CET) on the closing date of the announcement. Applications received after the closing date will not be considered. 
• Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and invited to proceed to the next stage of the selection process, which may include various assessments. 
• UNOPS embraces diversity and is committed to equal employment opportunity. Our workforce consists of a wide range of nationalities, cultures, languages, races, gender identities, sexual orientations, and abilities. We strive to sustain and strengthen this diversity, fostering an inclusive working environment where all personnel are treated with respect and have equal access to opportunities.
• UNOPS evaluates all applications based on the skills, qualifications and experience outlined in the vacancy announcement. We are committed to a fair and transparent selection process and welcome diverse perspectives, including those of women, indigenous and racialized communities, individuals of diverse gender identities and sexual orientations, and persons with disabilities.
• We are committed to enabling all candidates to perform at their best during the assessment process. If you are shortlisted and require support or reasonable accommodation to complete any assessment, please inform our human resources team upon receiving your invitation.
• UNOPS has zero tolerance for sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA), sexual harassment, and other forms of abusive conduct, including discrimination, abuse of authority, and harassment. To uphold these standards, background checks are conducted for all final candidates to help ensure that individuals with a history of such conduct are not hired. By applying for a position with UNOPS, candidates acknowledge and consent to these verification processes.
  

• For staff positions only, UNOPS reserves the right to appoint a candidate at a lower level than the advertised level of the post. 
• For retainer contracts, you must complete a few mandatory courses (they take around 4 hours to complete) in your own time, before providing services to UNOPS. Refreshers or new mandatory courses may be required during your contract. Please note that you will not receive any compensation for taking courses and refreshers. For more information on a retainer contract here. 
• For more details about the contract types, please click here.
• All UNOPS personnel are responsible for performing their duties in accordance with the UN Charter and UNOPS Policies and Instructions, as well as other relevant accountability frameworks. In addition, all personnel must demonstrate an understanding of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in a manner consistent with UN core values and the UN Common Agenda. 
• It is the policy of UNOPS to conduct background checks on all potential personnel. Recruitment in UNOPS is contingent on the results of such checks.