CHIEF OF SECTION, AUDIT

Org. Setting and Reporting

This position is located in the in the African Audit Section, Internal Audit Division (IAD) in the Office of Internal Oversight Services (OIOS) in Nairobi. The Chief of Section reports to the Chief of Service, New York Audit Service. The Internal Audit Division provides assurance and advisory services to all entities of the United Nations under the Secretary-General's authority. Clients comprise departments and offices within the United Nations Secretariat, regional commissions, peace operations, select funds and programmes and other United Nations entities.

Responsibilities

• Oversees annual risk assessment of a portfolio of clients and ensures risk registers are kept current.
• Develops and implements the Section’s medium and long-term goals and objectives, and related annual audit work plans.
• Plans, organizes, directs and coordinates the activities of teams conducting multiple concurrent engagements.
• Manages the human and financial resources of the Section.
• Defines the broad objectives and scope for each audit/advisory engagement.
• Provides direction and leadership with respect to all phases of each audit/advisory engagement with a view to ensuring that OIOS standards and global internal audit are complied with and that audit/review objectives are achieved within budget.
• Reviews working papers and engagement communications (e.g., audit and advisory reports).
• Empowers/challenges staff to assume more responsibility.
• Provides guidance to audit staff on technical and administrative matters.
• Leads audits/ advisory engagements of a sensitive and complex nature.
• Analyses guidelines and standards for internal audit activities and ensures consistency of approach and adequacy of practice of subordinate auditors.
• Leads team members efforts to collect and analyze data and provides insight to identify trends or patterns for data-driven planning, decision-making, presentation and reporting.
• Ensures that everyone can discover, access, integrate and share the data they need.
• Comments on and recommends improvements in, or reviews proposed changes to, administrative issuances including the financial rules of the Organization.
• Monitors the status of implementation of audit recommendations.
• Liaises with internal audit functions of other United Nations organizations.
• Establishes and maintains a positive relationship with auditees and other oversight bodies.
• Carries out other tasks as may be assigned by the Service Chief or Director of IAD.

Work implies frequent interaction with the following: Staff at all levels throughout the Organization Government officials Senior management of other Organizations Chief Technical Advisers, experts and consultants Counterparts in sister organizations Professional organizations Results Expected: Independently responsible for overall planning, development, management and supervision of assurance and advisory engagements to a portfolio of clients and management of assigned staff with complex audit operations and issues.

Competencies

• PROFESSIONALISM: Knowledge of auditing standards and practices, knowledge of applicable financial rules and procedures. Ability to identify issues, formulate opinions and present conclusions and recommendations. Able to analyze and interpret data in support of decision-making and convey resulting information to management. Shows pride in work and in achievements; demonstrates professional competence and mastery of subject matter; is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results; is motivated by professional rather than personal concerns; shows persistence when faced with difficult problems or challenges; remains calm in stressful situations.