Head of Audit

Job Posting Organization:
The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) is the world’s largest humanitarian network, consisting of 191 member National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. Established to provide humanitarian assistance and support during crises, the IFRC operates globally with a mission to respond to disasters and crises, ensuring timely, coordinated, and locally led humanitarian action. The organization emphasizes building community resilience in various areas, including climate and environment, health and wellbeing, and migration and displacement. The IFRC is headquartered in Geneva and has five regional offices located in Nairobi (Africa), Panama (Americas), Kuala Lumpur (Asia Pacific), Budapest (Europe), and Beirut (MENA). The organization is committed to upholding fundamental principles such as humanity, impartiality, neutrality, independence, voluntary service, unity, and universality, while also maintaining a zero-tolerance policy towards misconduct and adhering to strict child safeguarding principles.

Job Overview:
The Head of Audit position at IFRC is a leadership role responsible for providing direction and oversight to the Office of Internal Audit and Investigations (OIAI) audit team. The individual in this role will develop and implement the OIAI audit strategy, ensuring compliance with Global Internal Audit Standards (GIAS) while supporting IFRC's mission. The Head of Audit will lead a global team of approximately 14 staff members, overseeing the provision of internal and external audit services. This position requires a proactive approach to enhancing audit methodologies and ensuring the effectiveness of audit operations. The role may involve frequent travel, including to fragile and conflict-affected areas, necessitating extended periods away from the assigned duty station.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The duties and responsibilities of the Head of Audit include providing leadership and direction to the OIAI audit team, acting as the professional and policy lead on audit and assurance, and ensuring compliance with GIAS. The individual will be responsible for the design and development of risk-based internal and external audit plans, overseeing the delivery of these plans, and maintaining effective relationships with audit co-source partners. Additionally, the Head of Audit will lead the development of a risk follow-up methodology and oversee the end-to-end risk follow-up process. The role also involves managing and developing the global audit team, providing training and workshops on assurance and integrity topics, and acting as a trusted adviser to IFRC leadership on key risk areas.

Required Qualifications:
The position requires a strong background in internal audit, with a mandatory qualification such as CIA, PIIA, or CMIA, or equivalent qualifications like ACCA or IRM. A Master’s degree is preferred, along with additional qualifications such as ACFE or CHS IQTS. Candidates should possess sound knowledge of risk-based audit methodologies, corporate governance, risk management, and internal control. The ability to establish effective working relationships, communicate clearly with diverse audiences, and manage multiple projects is essential.

Educational Background:
Candidates must have a relevant qualification in internal audit (CIA, PIIA, CMIA) or equivalent qualifications (ACCA, IRM). A Master’s degree is preferred, and additional qualifications such as ACFE or CHS IQTS are advantageous.

Experience:
The ideal candidate should have at least five years of experience in an audit leadership role and a total of eight to ten years of professional experience in internal audit. Experience with risk-based audit methodologies and leading diverse audit teams is essential. Preferred candidates will have experience working in humanitarian, charitable, or not-for-profit organizations, as well as international experience.

Languages:
Fluency in spoken and written English is required for this position. A good command of another IFRC language, such as Arabic, French, or Spanish, is preferred but not mandatory.

Additional Notes:
This position may require frequent travel, including to fragile and conflict-affected locations, which could involve extended periods away from the assigned duty station. The role is expected to be full-time and may involve working with international teams and stakeholders.