Audit and Verification Specialist

UNRWA, the largest United Nations operation in the Middle East with over 30,000 staff working across five areas of operation, is looking for highly committed personnel wishing to make a change. If you are looking for a rewarding opportunity to make a tangible difference for one of the most vulnerable communities in the world, UNRWA would like to hear from you. The Audit and Verification Specialist reports to the Deputy Director of Finance and Chief, Accounts Division.

Responsibilities

Acts as a focal point for the Agency in coordinating verification missions across the Fields; provides technical leadership at strategic and operational levels in support of the missions, with a particular focus on planning and leading interactions and coordination of UNRWA activities and information with multiple levels; including understanding the terms and reference of the verification, providing guidance to External Relations Department (ERD), Communications Department (CD) and Field leads on verification queries, review of responses, coordination of responses with Field, Department of Legal Affairs (DLA), ERD and CD, and follow up on post verification actions. Assesses approach of internal audits and verifications for consistency with the techniques and standards of the profession and audit best practices, as well as applicable Accounting Standards, Financial Regulations and Instructions of the Agency; ensures the findings are in line with the terms of references agreed with the mission and the audit/verification; identifies issues and trends and makes recommendations to improve the Agency’s timeliness and quality of data provided in response of audit and verification missions; reviews the submission of documents as required for verification missions, to ensure accuracy and completeness of supporting documents; highlights risk areas and takes the lead in coordinating corrective actions; performs proper reconciliations.

In coordination with main UNBOA focal point of the Agency, manages the interim and final audit by UN Board of Auditors (UNBoA), including engagement with department/field directors, preparation of plan, entrance and exit meetings with the management team, communication including; collecting, interpreting and dissemination of audit requests, observation and recommendations; develops and leads the functioning of Agency-wide mechanism for data collection and consolidation to oversee and control the collection, review, consolidation and submission of responses from department /field directors after due verification and quality control in coordination with the department directors; coordinates with concerned parties to ensure timely responses to audit queries and observations, drafts management responses to audit queries; backfills main UNBOA focal point of the Agency as necessary.

Provides support in managing the timely implementation of UNBoA, internal audits, donor verification recommendations by proper tracking and monitoring; ensures audit recommendations implementation rate meets the required benchmark; takes the lead in implementing initiatives with respect to system, tools, policies, guidance to improve audit recommendations tracking and implementation.

Acts as the focal point in Finance Department for Department of Internal Oversight Services (DIOS) audits, Advisory Committee of Internal Oversight (ACIO) visits and coordinating other inspections including planning the timing of audits, coordination and collection of data within Finance department and submission to the relevant bodies.

Acts as the focal point in Finance Department in coordinating responses to donor requests on financial matters; reviews and comments on donor agreements and issues raised by ERD and DLA in relation to donor agreements; ensures terms and conditions of donor agreements will be supported by UNRWA systems, regulatory framework, and relevant accounting standards; provides authoritative interpretation of requirements for handling transactions with respect to donor reports; plans, leads, monitors and evaluates staff performance; provides technical guidance and ensures that the staff are sufficiently trained to perform their functions; supervises or conducts training sessions as required. Acts as Finance Department’s focal point on Inter-Agency coordination, European Union meetings, etc.

on matters relating to Donor Reporting, European Commission, Financial and Administrative Framework Agreement, etc.; attends meetings with donors and addresses their queries.

Analyses any problems and issues; formulates options, strategies and policies, recommends solutions to systematically address any existing and potential issues with respect to compliance, audit, verification and donor reporting; takes the lead in the implementation of such strategies and policies in the areas of responsibility.

Education

• Advanced university degree (Master’s or equivalent) from an accredited educational institution in accounting, finance, business administration or related field.

Job – Specific Qualification

• Membership in a professional body of accountants (e.g. Institute of Chartered Accountants, Institute of Certified Public Accountants is desirable.

Work Experience

• At least seven years of progressively responsible and relevant experience is required, At least three years of work experience at international level, in a large multinational, governmental, or non-profit organization in the areas of budgeting, accounting, financial management or related work, using computer-based financial systems is required.
• Unless already serving as an international staff member in the UN Common System, at least two continuous years of relevant international experience should be outside UNRWA, and outside the country(s) of citizenship is required.
• Experience in budget or finance office of an organization in the UN common system is desirable. Advanced university degree from an accredited educational institution in accounting, finance, business administration or related field is required.

Languages

• Excellent command of spoken and written English is required. Basic knowledge of Arabic is desirable.

Source: https://careers.un.org/jobSearchDescription/233866?language=en