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Chief, Quality Assurance & Policy Unit

New York City

  • Organization: UNDP - United Nations Development Programme
  • Location: New York City
  • Grade: Senior level - P-5, International Professional - Internationally recruited position
  • Occupational Groups:
    • Political Affairs
    • Operations and Administrations
    • Legal - Broad
    • Information Technology and Computer Science
    • Internal audit, Investigation and Inspection
    • Monitoring and Evaluation
    • Supply Chain
    • Ombudsman and Ethics
    • Managerial positions
    • AUDIT
  • Closing Date: Closed

Background

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.

UNDP does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.

Female candidates and People with disabilities are encouraged to apply.

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. OAI's audit and investigation activities are governed by the UNDP Financial Regulations and Rules and by the Charter of OAI, which stipulate, inter alia, OAI's mission, the scope of its work, responsibilities and authorities as well as the operational independence OAI enjoys in conducting its duties.

OAI has a decentralized organizational structure.  Located at Headquarters in New York are the Directorate, Quality Assurance and Policy Unit (QAPU), Operations Unit, Investigations Section, Headquarters Audit Section, Special Advisory Services Section.  In addition, OAI established five Regional Audit Centres l covering UNDP programmes and offices in the following locations: (Kuala Lumpur/Malaysia, Pretoria/South Africa, Dakar/Senegal, Panama City/Panama and Istanbul/Turkey). 

Under the guidance and supervision of the Director-OAI, the Chief of the Quality Assurance and Policy Unit manages the quality assurance function for all of OAI’s audit activities in accordance with the International Standards for the Professional Practice of Internal Auditing. He/she develops working relationships with management and stakeholders in order to improve risk management and internal controls and promote effectiveness and efficiency of operations. 

 

Duties and Responsibilities

  1. 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 Unit, 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 Unit, as documented in OAI Annual Work Plan.
  • Establishing and maintaining effective quality control over the activities and outputs of the Unit, 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 Unit.

 

2) Client Services:

Quality Assurance and Improvement Programme:

  • Administers and/or monitors quality assurance and process improvement activities;
  • Conducts formal internal quality assessments on a periodic basis;
  • Conducts ongoing reviews of the performance of the internal audit activity;
  • Reviews and edits draft reports prior to the approval of the Director, OAI to ensure compliance with IIA Standards.
  • Develops and maintains an audit report tracking system;
  • Contributes to the continuous improvement of the audit management system;
  • Promotes the use of best practices of the internal audit profession.

Internal Audit Policies and Procedures:

  • Develops and maintains Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) to ensure consistency in audit approach;
  • Develops and maintains the Country Offices Audit Guidelines (COAG) and other audit related guidelines;
  • Develops templates and other tools;
  • Represents OAI on inter-agency working groups on issues of audit methodologies and audit tools.

Audit Universe and Risk-Based Audit Plans:

  • Maintains and updates the comprehensive audit universe;
  • Supports the identification of cross-cutting themes for OAI audits and coordinates reporting of results, on a corporate level;
  • Coordinates and updates audit risk assessment models;
  • Coordinates annual audit risk assessment exercise;
  • Coordinates the preparation of the annual work plan and the medium-term strategy;
  • Coordinates follow up and reporting in implementation of audit recommendations.

Audit Follow-up Process:

  • Maintains the system to monitor disposition of audit results reported to management;
  • Identifies long-outstanding recommendations requiring corporate action.

Corporate Reports on Internal Audit Activities:

  • Prepares the annual report on audit and investigations for submission to the Executive Board;
  • Prepares quarterly progress reports for submission to the Audit and Evaluation Advisory Committee;
  • Prepares presentation materials on the internal audit function for donors and other stakeholders.

 

Secretary to the Audit and Evaluation Advisory Committee:

  • In consultation with the Chairperson, prepares agenda of quarterly meeting and ad hoc meetings;
  • Makes logistical arrangements for AEAC meetings;
  • Coordinates participation of senior managers and others in AEAC meetings;
  • Prepares minutes for approval by the Chairperson;
  • Follows up on AEAC action items;
  • Assists the Chairperson in preparing the AAC annual report.

 

Other activities:

  • Coordinates with the Chiefs of the Regional Audit Centres and other OAI sections in identifying audit issues and recommendations with implications on corporate policies, systems, and procedures;
  • Maintains close working relationships with counterparts in the United Nations system audit services;
  • Establishes and maintains close working relationships with UNDP managers at Headquarters, including at the senior level;
  • Provides inputs to workshops and training courses on risk management, internal controls and audit;
  • Promotes the use of performance audit techniques within OAI.
  • Contributes to the development of advisory services within OAI.
  • Disseminates and shares lessons learned from OAI audits with other UNDP units;
  • Implements his/her personal learning and career development plan;
  • Performs other tasks as assigned by the Director.

 

Competencies

Innovation

Ability to make new and useful ideas work

Leadership

Ability to persuade others to follow

People Management

Ability to improve performance and satisfaction

Communication

Ability to listen, adapt, persuade and transform

Delivery

Ability to get things done

 

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.

Relationship Building:

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

Task Management Skills:

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

Learning

  • 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:

  • Comprehensive audits of Headquarters business units.
  • Comprehensive audits of corporate functions
  • Performance (value-for-money) audits.
  • Information and Communications Technology audits
  • Limited scope audits
  • Project audits
  • Advisory services

 

Technical competencies:

Demonstrated ability to use the following tools:

  • Microsoft Office suite
  • Presentation software applications
  • 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 is required;
  • Additional professional certifications (CISA, CFE) are advantage

Experience

  • A minimum of ten years of progressively responsible professional experience, including at the management level, within  audit several of which in internal audit;
  • Working experience in an International Organization is desirable;
  • Experience with performance auditing is required;
  • Extensive experience in audit quality assurance is required;
  • Field experience is an advantage.

Language

  • Fluency in English;
  • Proficiency in French or Spanish is desirable;
  • Knowledge of other United Nations official language is an advantage

Disclaimer

Important information for US Permanent Residents ('Green Card' holders)

Under US immigration law, acceptance of a staff position with UNDP, an international organization, may have significant implications for US Permanent Residents. UNDP advises applicants for all professional level posts that they must relinquish their US Permanent Resident status and accept a G-4 visa, or have submitted a valid application for US citizenship prior to commencement of employment. 

UNDP is not in a position to provide advice or assistance on applying for US citizenship and therefore applicants are advised to seek the advice of competent immigration lawyers regarding any applications.

Applicant information about UNDP rosters

Note: UNDP reserves the right to select one or more candidates from this vacancy announcement.  We may also retain applications and consider candidates applying to this post for other similar positions with UNDP at the same grade level and with similar job description, experience and educational requirements.

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This vacancy is now closed.
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