*The Pacific Community (SPC) invites applications for the position of Internal Auditor within its Director General Officer. This position will be located at* its regional office in Noumea, New Caledonia.
Description
The Pacific Community (SPC) is the principal scientific and technical organisation in the Pacific region, supporting development since 1947. We are an international development organisation owned and governed by our 26 country and territory members. In pursuit of sustainable development to benefit Pacific people, our unique organisation works across more than 25 sectors. We are known for our knowledge and innovation in such areas as fisheries science, public health surveillance, geoscience, and conservation of plant genetic resources for food and agriculture.
The role – the Internal Auditor will be responsible for conducting enterprise risk management, risk based internal audits as well as quality assessment and improvement program.
The key responsibilities of the role include the following:
Enterprise risk management
The Internal Auditor should have the necessary experience and knowledge in Enterprise Risk Management, to be able to work together with SPC management and guide them in the following activities, while maintaining the independence by not assuming any management responsibility:
• Design and conduct periodic assessment of risk management processes.
• Management of those risks classified as ‘key’, including the effectiveness of the controls and other responses to them.
• Reliable and appropriate assessment of risks and reporting of risk and control status.
The Internal Auditor should also be able to provide a consulting role on the following activities:
• Making available to management tools and techniques used by internal auditing to analyze risks and controls.
• Being a champion for introducing ERM into the organization, leveraging its expertise in risk management and control and its overall knowledge of the organization.
• Providing advice, facilitating workshops, coaching the organization on risk and control and promoting the development of a common language, framework and understanding.
• Acting as the central point for coordinating, monitoring and reporting on risks; and supporting managers as they work to identify the best way to mitigate a risk.
Risk based audit activities
• Contribute effectively to the development of the internal audit work program, including providing advice to the Head of Internal Audit on areas of risk.
• Prepare a risk-based audit program for each audit assigned, and execute those audits in an effective and efficient manner.
• Write reports on the completion of audits with practical and reasonable recommendations to address internal control deficiencies.
• Clearly communicate the audit recommendations to the auditees, to ensure they understand and implement them.
• Work closely with the Head of Internal Audit to ensure the audit register is kept up to date, with continued follow ups on the status of implementation of audit recommendations.
• Undertake special assignments or investigations as may be directed by the Head of Internal Audit.
Quality Assessment & Improvement Program• With the guidance of the Head of Internal Audit and Risk, contribute to the development of a quality assessment and improvement program, and participate actively in such a program as the Head of Internal Audit requires.
Communications and relationship building
• Communicate audit issues, areas of risk and plans to address those issues and risk to various parts of the organization.
• Develop effective working relationships with key partners in the organization.
• Ensure all audit relationships and work is undertaken in an ethical manner and with integrity.
• Provide secretariat services to the ARC.
For a more detailed account of the key responsibilities, please refer to the online job description.
Key selection criteria
1. Qualifications
• Bachelor degree in accounting, financial or business or financial management.
• Professional qualification in risk management (CRMA).
2. Technical expertise
• At least 3-4 years of relevant experience in audit and ERM.
• Experience working with Risk Management frameworks and engaging with internal clients to improve risk management processes.
• Strong client focus with high level of responsiveness and demonstrated performance in delivering outputs
3. Language skills
• Excellent English language both spoken and written
4. Interpersonal skills and cultural awareness
• Good interpersonal skills and ability to work in a multi-cultural environment
• Knowledge of Pacific Island countries and territories is an advantage
Salary, terms and conditions
Contract Duration – This vacant position is budgeted until 31 December 2023 and is subject to renewal depending on funding and performance.
Due to the current travel restrictions caused by the global COVID-19 pandemic, and the priority SPC places on its staff safety, health and well-being, please note that there may be delays in taking up the appointment. These matters will be discussed thoroughly with successful candidates. In most cases, any appointment and on-boarding would only commence when relocation to the duty station is permitted.
Remuneration – the Internal Auditor is a band 8 position in SPC’s 2020 salary scale, with a starting salary range of SDR (special drawing rights) 2,850-3,467 per month, which converts to approximately XPF 419,768-510,535 (USD 3,933-4,784; EUR 3,518-4,278). An offer of appointment for an initial contract will normally be made in the lower half of this range, with due consideration being given to experience and qualifications. Progression within the salary scale is based on annual performance reviews. SPC salaries are not presently subject to income tax in New Caledonia.
Benefits for international staff employees based in New Caledonia – SPC provides subsidised housing in Noumea. Establishment and repatriation grant, removal expenses, airfares, home leave travel, health and life and disability insurances and education allowances are available for eligible employees and their eligible dependents. Employees are entitled to 25 working days of annual leave per annum and other types of leave, and access to SPC’s Provident Fund (contributing 8 % of salary, to which SPC adds a matching contribution).
Languages – SPC’s working languages are English and French.**Recruitment principles** – SPC’s recruitment is based on merit and fairness, and candidates are competing in a selection process that is fair, transparent and non-discriminatory. SPC is an equal-opportunity employer, and is committed to cultural and gender diversity, including bilinguism, and will seek to attract and appoint candidates who respect these values. Due attention is given to gender equity and the maintenance of strong representation from Pacific Island professionals. If two interviewed candidates are ranked equal by the selection panel, preference will begiven to the Pacific Islander. Applicants will be assured of complete confidentiality in line with SPC’s private policy.
How to apply:
Application procedure
Closing date: 10 January 2021 – 11:00 pm (Noumea time).
Job Reference: SH000032
Applicants must apply online at http://careers.spc.int/
Hard copies of applications will not be accepted.
For your application to be considered, you must provide us with:
· an updated resume with contact details for three professional referees
· a cover letter detailing your skills, experience and interest in this position
· responses to all screening questions
Please ensure your documents are in Microsoft Word or Adobe PDF format.
All positions at SPC have specific screening questions. If you do not respond to all of the screening questions, your application will be considered incomplete and will not be reviewed at shortlisting stage.
Screening questions (maximum of 2.000 characters per question):
You are the Internal Auditor and are required to work with the management of the organization to implement an effective risk management framework, that can add value and make all staff more risk aware. List the steps that you would take to accomplish this objective while maintaining the independence required by an Internal Auditor.
The semi-annual follow up on implementation of internal audit recommendations, shows a very low implementation rate. Management is busy on their day to day work and has little time to look at the implementation plans previously agreed with internal audit. What would you do to: 1- Have management work effectively on the implementation plans of audit reports already issued, and 2- increase management engagement on implementation of future audit reports?
The Internal Audit department is getting ready to have an external quality assessment, the Head of Internal Audit requests you the Internal Auditor to do an internal review, to confirm whether all areas that will be covered by the external assessors are ready and working well. List the areas that you would review with a brief description of how you would review them?