Vacancy Announcement
About us
For over 90 years, Save the Children has been making a difference in children's lives in more than 120 countries. We are the world's largest independent child rights organisation, underpinned by a vision in a world in which every child attains the right to survival, protection, development and participation. Our mission to inspire breakthroughs in the way the world treats children, and to achieve immediate and lasting change in their lives.
Save the Children is an organization for talented people with different backgrounds and perspectives. We are proud that our people are representative of the children we work with and we thrive on our diversity. We are an equal opportunity organisation dedicated to our core values of Accountability, Ambition, Collaboration. Creativity and Integrity. Our culture is embedded in these values, along with a strong commitment to our Child Safeguarding Protocol, ensuring that all representatives of Save the Children demonstrate the highest standards of behaviour towards children both in their private and professional lives.
The East African Regional Office is responsible for 7 countries in East Africa, including Kenya, Somalia, Uganda, Rwanda, Sudan, South Sudan and Ethiopia, with a current staff complement of approximately 3500 staff, and current expenditure of approximately $200 million each year.
Save the Children East Africa Regional Office (EARO) is looking to recruit for a position of Global Assurance Manager
ROLE PURPOSE:
The Global Assurance function supports the Board of Trustees and management of the organisation by evaluating adequacy and effectiveness of the governance, risk management, control and oversight systems.
The role holder will take a lead role in developing and building relationships with the senior leadership team members in the Africa Region (East Africa, Southern Africa, and West and Central Africa) and the associated Country leadership team. They will also manage the delivery of a programme of work which will include taking the lead role in carrying out and managing audits, reviews and investigations to deliver opinions on the effectiveness of the controls, oversight and risk framework operating across Save the Children International (SCI) to the various stakeholders.
SCOPE OF ROLE:
Reports to:Director of Global Assurance
Staff reporting to this post:Line management of up to three global auditors and task management of others assigned to work on audits
Budget Responsibilities:Instrumental in ensuring that work undertaken in the year is delivered to budget
Role Dimensions:
All team members 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 part in no less than three team learning events in London during the year.
- KEY AREAS OF ACCOUNTABILITY :
· working with each auditor, develop individual work plans showing the key deliverables expected and personal development plans to address skills gaps and build on team’s talents to position them for progression within Save the Children International
· provide regular appraisals to each auditor in your team
· quality assure work delivered by the team
· conduct assignments from the audit plan on time, to a high standard and within budget, to the defined methodology
- maintain an up-to-date knowledge of changes and events and actively seek engagement with issues that have a significant impact on the risk profile of the team’s actual as well as potential assignments
· lead specific organisational projects; these may be for the Board, directors or other senior managers
· build robust relationships with all ‘clients’, through effective collaboration, communications, and delivery of outcomes-focused, high quality work
· demonstrate a focus on ‘horizontal learning’ – ensuring that learning is identified and promoted and that good practice is shared across the regionally and globally
· be cognizant to the risk of fraud and where appropriate work with the fraud team to conduct investigations into cases of alleged fraud and/or serious negligence as required. Ensure that sound advice is provided to management on corrective action, liaising with the police as appropriate and in line with the Fraud Policy
· contribute to systems/process development work within Save the Children International, providing independent advice regarding appropriate levels of internal control. This may include undertaking specific advisory work as well as the development of training materials to raise awareness of risk, fraud and controls
- deliver high quality, solutions-focussed, value-adding reports in the Global Assurance format that are clear, concise, timely and solutions-driven
- play an influencing role in building the control environment and broadening the understanding of risk, controls, oversight and accountability in the organisation
· provide intelligent input to the preparation of annual operational plan and support delivery of the strategic audit plan. Support the preparation of progress reports to the Audit & Finance Committee
- respond to queries raised by management or members, providing prompt and professional advice as appropriate.
- BEHAVIOURS (Values in Practice)
Accountability:
· holds self accountable for making decisions, managing resources efficiently, achieving and role modelling Save the Children values
· 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
· using internal audit as an effective tool for fostering a strong culture of accountability throughout the organisation
Ambition:
· sets ambitious and challenging goals for themselves and their team, takes responsibility for their own personal development and encourages their team to do the same
· widely shares their personal vision for Save the Children, engages and motivates others
· future orientated, thinks strategically and on a global scale.
Collaboration:
· builds and maintains effective relationships within the hub for which they have responsibility; this includes their team, colleagues, Members and external partners and supporters
· values diversity, sees it as a source of competitive strength
· approachable, an active listener and a true collaborator.
Creativity:
· develops and encourages new and innovative solutions
· willing to take disciplined risks.
Integrity:
· honest, encourages openness and transparency; demonstrates highest levels of integrity
QUALIFICATIONS
- qualified as internal auditor (IIA/CIA) or accountant
- EXPERIENCE AND SKILLS
Essential
- demonstrable experience of supervising and leading multi-disciplinary teams for short assignments
- proven ability and experience to communicate, negotiate and challenge risk and control practices at all levels of organisational hierarchy
- have an ‘outcomes’ focus with direct experience of understanding complex risks and processes, working understanding and experience of applying risk-based internal auditing and a good understanding of the three lines of defence concept
- proven ability to focus on key issues and the ‘big picture’. As opposed to a compliance-only approach; and the ability to communicate these in writing
- have experience of leading, working on and delivering multiple projects, with conflicting priorities, on a timely basis
- established track record of producing high quality, effective oral and written communication in English for a wide range of audiences
- strong interpersonal skills including influencing, negotiation, coaching and relationship building in wide range of cultural environments. Strong ability to deliver difficult messages with tact and confidence
- experience of working with little or no supervision under difficult conditions
- a desire to work in countries where Save the Children International operates
- brings leadership qualities and provides a role model in the region for Global Assurance
- track record of continuously improving the way internal audit services are being delivered
It would be advantageous if you
- have had exposure to large international commercial or INGO internal audit experience, with a focus on programmatic delivery and financial analysis, where possible for large institutional donors such as DfID, USAID, ECHO, and EC
- have an understanding of the grant requirements of major donors, specifically USAID, EU, DfID, Global Fund
- have some knowledge of Agresso financial software
- is proficient 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.
HOW TO APPLY:
Please send a copy of your CV with a cover letter to EA.recruitment@savethechildren.org
Application closes 19th June 2015 at 5:00pm.
We work with children, communities and governments all over the world and we believe in the right person for the job regardless of where you come from and how you identify yourself. We need to keep children safe so our selection process reflects our commitment to ensuring that only those who are suitable to work with children are considered for these posts. All successful applicants will therefore be required to complete a Police Check and must sign onto our Child Safeguarding Policy and organizational Code of Conduct.
