UN Women: Chief, Internal Audit Service

Background:

UN Women, grounded in the vision of equality enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations, works for the elimination of discrimination against women and girls; the empowerment of women; and the achievement of equality between women and men as partners and beneficiaries of development, human rights, humanitarian action and peace and security.

The Internal Audit Service is positioned within the Independent Evaluation and Audit Services of UN Women. As an independent function, the Independent Evaluation Service and the Internal Investigation Function also sit within the Independent Evaluation and Audit Service. The Independent Evaluation and Audit Service reports directly to the Executive Director and presents annually to the UN Women Executive Board. 

The Internal Audit Service is responsible for the provision of internal audits and advisory services to UN Women. It provides independent, objective assurance on the effectiveness and efficiency of governance, risk management and internal controls. The Internal Audit Service is a key component of the independent internal oversight system of UN Women which together with the Independent Evaluation Service is under the overall supervision of the Director of Independent Evaluation and Audit Services of UN Women.

Under the guidance and direct supervision of Director, Independent Evaluation and Audit Service, the Chief of Internal Audit Service is responsible for the leadership and performance of risk-based internal audit and advisory services covering UN Women’s country, regional and headquarters offices, as well as of thematic risk areas and business processes. The Chief of the Internal Audit Service together with the Director of the Independent Evaluation and Audit Service interacts with the UN Women Executive Board, Advisory Committee on Oversight and others on internal audit matters, maintains a close working relationship with the United Nations Board of Auditors (external auditors of UN Women).

The Chief of Internal Audit Services supervises and leads four professional internal auditors. The team is supplemented by expert consultants as needed. The Chief of Internal Audit Service is expected to travel to lead and conduct audit and advisory activities.

The Chief of Internal Audit Service delivers around 10 to 15 audit and advisory assignments each year, collaborating with Country Representatives, Regional Directors, Operations Managers, Directors. Chiefs of Business Processes, technical specialists, and personnel at all levels. The Chief of Internal Audit Services regularly engages with outside stakeholders, such as donors, Heads of UN agencies at country and regional level, women engaged in UN Women programming, and representatives of government and civil society. The Chief of Internal Audit Service also participates as an independent (observer) adviser capacity in corporate governance bodies.

Key Functions and Accountabilities:

Lead and manage the formulation, communication and delivery of the Internal Audit Service vision, mission and strategy aligned with the risk appetite and risk profile of UN Women.

• Develop and implement an internal audit risk assessment model and prepare a risk-based multi-year and annual internal audit plan for the Internal Audit Service. 
• Oversee and manage the delivery of the risk-based plan of internal audits of UN Women country and regional offices, headquarters business units, corporate thematic functions and business processes. 
• Plan, manage, and conduct risk-based internal audits, advisory services, value-for-money audits, and performance audits, ensuring their quality, insight, proper execution, and timely and high-quality reporting.
• Provide technical and quality assurance on audits and advisory services conducted by staff in the Internal Audit Service.
• Collaborate with the Independent Evaluation Service and the internal investigation function on joint activities (e.g. country portfolio evaluations, integrity reviews, awareness raising).
• Establish and maintain an effective quality assurance and improvement programme over all activities and outputs of the Internal Audit Service, to ensure that they conform with professional standards as well as Internal Audit policy, procedure and guidance. 
• Prepare the annual report of the Internal Audit Service, including the annual opinion of the Internal Audit Service for presentation to the Executive Board. 
• Prepare quarterly reports on Internal Audit Service results, including key issues and recommendations status for the Advisory Committee on Oversight (ACO), the Technical Management Group (TMG), and the Business Review Committee (BRC).
• Prepare summaries of internal audit and advisory results, best practices and lessons for presentation or dissemination to field offices, Headquarters a