Internal Auditor at Plan International

Plan International Nigeria is part is the global federation of Plan International and was registered as a National Organization in 2014 in Nigeria. Plan International works in 52 developing Countries across Africa, Asia and the Americas. Plan’s Global Strategic Goals (2017-2022) is to advance Children’s Rights and Equality for Girls ad our Ambition is, “together, we take action so that 100 million girls learn, lead, decide and thrive”. We reach as many children as possible, particularly those who are excluded or marginalised through the delivery of high-quality programmes that deliver long-lasting benefits to children and their communities.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Internal Auditor

Location: Borno
Grade: D1
Department: Programme Team
Reports to: Country Director

Purpose

• Under the direct supervision of the Country Director, the Internal Auditor function is responsible for developing, directing, and coordinating a comprehensive internal audit program, which supports improvement of the risk management of Plan International Nigeria
• Whilst risk management responsibility is that of the Country management, she/he is the main instrument for its implementation and improvement.

Dimensions of Role

• Area of Responsibility - Countrywide.
• Located at Country level and reports to Country Director.
• Programs and Finance systems, processes for compliance and management information.
• Risk Management and support for the proper functioning of all Plan systems.

Typical Responsibilities - Key End Results of Position

• Coordinate and monitor the Internal Audit function and programs.
• Participate in the design, implementation and monitoring of all the processes required in the audit work (annual plan, standard working papers, reporting format and protocols) etc.
• Strengthen the Risk Management processes in line with Plan International requirements through facilitation of the country risk management plan of actions, update and monitoring of the country risk register.
• Review the current Internal Control Systems for its effectiveness and appropriateness to achieve the Organization’s objectives and report on areas of improvement.
• Monitor actions taken by management in response to audit reviews, ensuring that all agreed audit actions and recommendations are accurate and timely implemented.
• Work closely with external or visiting auditors and support their audit process.
• Analyze all success factors and risks facing the organization, report them to management and provide recommendations for improvement of the risk management and overall Internal Control system.
• Ensure that audits are performed with due professional care and there are credible audit observations, conclusions and recommendations.
• Perform Partner audits to ensure compliance with donor and Plan’s rules and regulations.
• Performs other duties, including undertaking complex or sensitive reviews and investigations as assigned.
• Adhere to Plan International’s child protection policy to safeguard and protect the child at all times without any report or incident of child abuse.
• Support in ensuring Plan’s gender equality policy is adhered to.
• Ensure IAP, six months appraisal and annual appraisal are timely completed and documented.
• Keep Supervisor informed of any initiative or difficulties relating to the job’s responsibilities.
• Perform any other duties that may be assigned by the Country Director.

Providing Assurance:

• Planning, monitoring and quality review of assurance engagements on key systems, processes, policies and controls carried out at the Country level.
• Develop a financial year (FY) work plan for the country/specific area of work, as agreed with the Country Director that provides assurance on key systems, processes, policies and controls in Plan International Nigeria.
• Prepare and monitor budget to implement the annual work plan.
• Review on-going assurance assignments on the work plan in line with International standards on internal auditing.
• Prepare reports to relevant stakeholders on audit engagement assignments undertaken.
• Monitor the process of management’s actions in response to audit/assurance reviews.

Change Management, Management Support and Learning:

• Influence change within and across the Organization to strengthen risk management, accountability, effectiveness, and support management in improving operations and to provide a platform for learning across Plan.
• Provide practical recommendation on how to improve systems, processes, policies and controls.
• Facilitates the sharing of learning, based on best practices or from different units within the Organization as well from best standards and practices from the industry.
• Provide technical support in network meetings and other Organizational trainings focusing on risk management and effectiveness of the control framework.
• Provides advice to Country Management Team (CMT) on systems, processes and policy reviews, in agreement with the Country Director.
• Actively participates in Regional and other leadership meetings to provide strategic input on risk management.
• Contributes to the induction of new CMT members upon request on risk management, effectiveness of the control framework and the role of internal audit.

Relationship Management:

• Builds relationships with internal and external stakeholders to facilitate audit engagements and exchange of knowledge on audit best practices.
• Build relationship with key internal stakeholders mainly program unit and country management to facilitate the conduct of quality audit engagements and identify appropriate areas for management support.
• Interact with audit functions from local and other INGOs, the donor community to exchange knowledge and learn on assurance best practices and developments in risk management.

Dealing with Problems:

• Ensures adherence to the Country’s financial and accounting requirements as per requirements of the Operations Manual (OM) and other organizational policies and procedures to support sound financial management within the organisation.
• Offers support through coaching and training of staff to ensure improvement in performance and financial practices.
• Be creative in building and working effectively within a diverse working environment.
• Finding effective assurance solutions to varying and rapidly changing risk levels.
• Advising management on effective risk management and accountability.
• Making effective recommendations to management on how to improve the control framework and manage risks in various contexts and across different functions.
• Influencing management to implement recommendations made from assurance review
• Ability to manage competing priorities and expectations from internal and external stakeholders and remain calm and resilient in the face of pressure.
• Use Plan procedures to settle conflicts among colleagues.
• Refer, whenever necessary, any case to Country Director.

Communications and Working Relationships:

• Country Management Team (including Program/Project Managers)
• Plan International Nigeria Technical Specialist.
• Maintains high contact with staff regarding Plan policies and procedures
• Maintains medium contact with the Regional office and other Global Assurance team.

Knowledge, Skills, Behaviours, and Experience Required to Achieve Role's Objectives

Qualification, Experience and Knowledge:

• Chartered Accountant (ACA, ACCA etc.)
• At least 5 years experience in a similar role;
• Fair knowledge in grants and project management.
• Knowledge and use of accounting software (Preferably SAP

Skills:

• Ability to train and mentor staff, partners and communities.
• Good analytical and synthesis skills.
• Ability to study and quickly understand new operating environment and organizational systems.
• Good communication skills (written and oral).
• Good listening and interviewing skills.
• Independence and objectivity, you should be able to work with minimum supervision
• Organized, methodical and meticulous.

Attitudes:

• Influencing staff to improve performance.
• Promoting high performance.
• Open to feedback and willing to try new approaches and processes.
• Having excellent team spirit.
• Promotes innovation, learning and transparency.
• Communicates effectively and enthusiastically as appropriate to audience.
• Behaves consistently in their approach to work and decision-making.

Demonstrated behaviours needed by the post holder to successfully perform the role:

• Communicates clearly and effectively.
• Ability to facilitate participative processes for all stakeholders for implementing grant projects.
• Strong team building skills,Organized and methodical.
• Independence, objectivity and integrity.

Skills Specific to the post needed to put knowledge into practice:

• Good supervisory& coordination skills and ability to deliver to tight deadlines.
• Fair knowledge of project planning, management, supervision, monitoring and evaluation tools.
• Excellent and demonstrable experience in grant and financial management.
• Knowledge and understanding of Nigeria’s policy environment
• Highly developed interpersonal and communication skills including good listening skills, influencing, negotiation and coaching.
• Capacity to build and maintain relationships and to work effectively in a multi-cultural and multi-ethnic environment respecting diversity.
• Experience with Microsoft Word, Excel, Power Point and Outlook.

Physical Environment and Demands:

• This position entails about 50% travelling within the field offices implementing area and visits to Partner Organizations.

Level of Contact with Children:

• Low contact: No contact or very low frequency of interaction.
• The job responsibility of this position does not require the post holder to have any one-to-one contact with children on a daily basis
• There would be occasional contact with children and it is expected that children shall be protected at all times.

Application Closing Date
8th February, 2018.

How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should send their CV's to: [email protected] Using the Position applied for as the subject of the mail.