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UNICEF works in over 190 countries and territories to save children’s lives, defend their rights, and help them fulfill their potential, from early childhood through adolescence.

At UNICEF, we are committed, passionate, and proud of what we do for as long as we are needed. Promoting the rights of every child is not just a job – it is a calling.

UNICEF is a place where careers are built: we offer our staff diverse opportunities for professional and personal development that will help them reinforce a sense of purpose while serving children and communities across the world. We welcome everyone who wants to belong and grow in a diverse and passionate culture, coupled with an attractive compensation and benefits package.

Visit our website to learn more about what we do at UNICEF.

For every child, the right to a Champion

How can you make a difference

The Office of Internal Audit and Investigations (OIAI) is a key component of UNICEF’s independent internal oversight system. It has two Sections: The Internal Audit Section and the Investigations Section. The Audit team helps UNICEF fulfill its mission by providing independent and objective assurance and advisory services designed to add value and improve the adequacy, effectiveness and efficiency of UNICEF’s operations. OIAI reports to the Executive Director and independently to the Executive Board on the results of its work.    

We have an exciting opportunity for an Internal Audit Manager at the P4 level to join a dynamic and multicultural team in Budapest. Frequent and extended travel may be required to UNICEF locations, (up to 4 months per year), often in difficult duty stations, outside of the duty station of the post.

Key Accountabilities

Under the direct supervision of the Chief of Audit, the Internal Audit Manager is responsible for leading teams, and occasionally assisting the Chief, in providing assurance and advisory services. The Internal Audit Manager will contribute to the continuous development of the Internal Audit function through effective leadership, strong people management, and innovation of audit practices. The Manager ensures that all work conforms with the International Standards for the Professional Practice of Internal Auditing of the IIA. Internal audits accomplish OIAI’s mission by using a systematic, disciplined approach to assessing the adequacy and effectiveness of Organization’s governance, risk management and control processes.

Scope of Activities

• Lead internal audit and advisory assignments at field and headquarters locations in accordance with the International Standards for Internal Auditing and OIAI policies and procedures.
• Contribute to the development of OIAI’s rolling work plan through risk assessment and business relationship management activities.

Engagement planning

• Lead the planning of audit and advisory assignments, including risk assessment, determination of scope, approach and allocation of tasks to team members.
• Allocate appropriate time and resources for successful achievement of the assignment objectives, allowing for contingencies, and consider the appropriate working modalities.
• Present the engagement planning memorandum for review and approval.
• Lead the establishment of the client relationship from the audit announcement through to presentation of the audit plan, including data gathering, risk assessment and logistics.

Engagement management and execution

• Lead execution of the team’s audit work ensuring high quality working papers that support the recommendations, in line with IIA Standards.
• Perform audit procedures and document work done using best practice audit techniques and digital audit tools, as appropriate.
• Review the working papers prepared by team members and provide timely feedback to ensure satisfactory clearance of review comments and completion of all audit work prior to review by the Chief.
• Ensure effective client engagement by all team members throughout the audit, including periodic updates and validating observations with the client as they arise.

Engagement reporting

• Ensure that observations developed by team members and for own scope areas are supported by adequate root-cause analysis of identified issues and value-added, cost-effective recommendations to strengthen governance, risk management and internal controls.
• Lead the formal presentation and discussion of audit findings and recommendations to the client, supported by team members and the Chief.
• Prepare high-quality, concise audit reports for review by the Chief and management as a basis for gaining formal agreement by the client of all proposed actions.

Monitoring 

• Monitor the implementation of recommendations by assessing the adequacy of corrective actions taken by assurance clients.

Team/people management

• For each engagement, monitor and manage the team’s performance to ensure timely delivery of assurance and advisory services, providing direction, guidance and coaching to achieve effective, efficient team results.
• Assist the Chief with engagement-specific feedback of team members.
• Lead by example and proactively address staff issues during the audit engagement and update the Chief on people management issues.
• Interact openly, honestly, and professionally with individuals and in teams from a wide range of cultures and staffing levels – both within OIAI and more widely.
• Support OIAI management in the recruitment of OIAI staff.
• Promote an environment of management excellence and foster a respectful work culture, staff well-being, diversity and inclusion.

Innovation, knowledge management and capacity development

• Contribute to OIAI’s continuous development, ensuring alignment with professional internal audit standards.
• Keep abreast of professional developments and emerging best practice audit tools and techniques, including digital, and be open to innovate and support OIAI change initiatives.
• Identify areas for personal professional development and participate in individual or team-based professional training and development activities.

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…

Minimum requirements:

• Education: Master or equivalent (Advanced University Degree) in business administration, finance, economics, accounting, risk management, information technology, or another related field is required.
• A Bachelor or equivalent (First Level University Degree) in a relevant area combined with 2 additional years of relevant work experience may be accepted in lieu of an advanced university degree.
• Certification as a Certified Internal Auditor (CIA) is required. Certification as a Certified Public Accountant (CPA), Chartered Accountant (CA), Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA), or equivalent may be accepted in lieu of CIA.
• Work Experience: 8 years of relevant work experience in internal and/or external auditing in either government, non-profit organizations, and/or the private sector is required.
• Skills: Demonstrated experience of supervising staff is required.
• Language Requirements: Fluency in English is required.

Desirables:

• Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) or a local language
• Experience of working in developing countries and international development is highly desirable.
• Relevant experience at country level, particularly in development, fragile settings and humanitarian contexts.

For every Child, you demonstrate...

UNICEF's Core Values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust and Accountability and Sustainability (CRITAS) underpin everything we do and how we do it. Get acquainted with Our Values Charter: UNICEF Values

The UNICEF competencies required for this post are…

(1) Builds and maintains partnerships
(2) Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness
(3) Drive to achieve results for impact
(4) Innovates and embraces change
(5) Manages ambiguity and complexity
(6) Thinks and acts strategically
(7) Works collaboratively with others

Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels.

UNICEF promotes and advocates for the protection of the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything it does and is mandated to support the realization of the rights of every child, including those most disadvantaged, and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, minority, or any other status.

UNICEF encourages applications from all qualified candidates, regardless of gender, nationality, religious or ethnic backgrounds, and from people with disabilities, including neurodivergence. We offer a wide range of benefits to our staff, including paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF provides reasonable accommodation throughout the recruitment process. If you require any accommodation, please submit your request through the accessibility email button on the UNICEF Careers webpage Accessibility | UNICEF. Should you be shortlisted, please get in touch with the recruiter directly to share further details, enabling us to make the necessary arrangements in advance.

UNICEF does not hire candidates who are married to children (persons under 18). UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination based on gender, nationality, age, race, sexual orientation, religious or ethnic background or disabilities. UNICEF is committed to promote the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check, and selected candidates with disabilities may be requested to submit supporting documentation in relation to their disability confidentially.

UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance.  Issuance of a visa by the host country of the duty station is required for IP positions and will be facilitated by UNICEF. Appointments may also be subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid). Should you be selected for a position with UNICEF, you either must be inoculated as required or receive a medical exemption from the relevant department of the UN. Otherwise, the selection will be canceled.

Remarks:

As per Article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity.

UNICEF is committed to fostering an inclusive, representative, and welcoming workforce. For this position, eligible and suitable candidates are encouraged to apply.

Nationals of the country of the duty station are eligible to be considered to apply for this outposted position in GSSC. To be considered in this context, applicants must possess at least two (2) years of cumulative international work experience gained through service in international assignments outside their country of nationalities.  

Government employees who are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally required to resign from their government positions before taking up an assignment with UNICEF. UNICEF reserves the right to withdraw an offer of appointment, without compensation, if a visa or medical clearance is not obtained, or necessary inoculation requirements are not met, within a reasonable period for any reason.

UNICEF does not charge a processing fee at any stage of its recruitment, selection, and hiring processes (i.e., application stage, interview stage, validation stage, or appointment and training). UNICEF will not ask for applicants' bank account information.

In this role, you will collaborate with colleagues across multiple locations. For effective collaboration, we encourage flexible working hours that accommodate different time zones while prioritizing staff wellbeing.

Humanitarian action is a cross-cutting priority within UNICEF's Strategic Plan. UNICEF is committed to stay and deliver in humanitarian contexts. Therefore, all staff, at all levels across all functional areas, can be called upon to be deployed to support humanitarian response, contributing to both strengthening resilience of communities and capacity of national authorities.

All UNICEF positions are advertised, and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process. An internal candidate performing at the level of the post in the relevant functional area, or an internal/external candidate in the corresponding Talent Group, may be selected, if suitable for the post, without assessment of other candidates.

Additional information about working for UNICEF can be found here.