JOB SUMMARY:

Audit provides reasonable assurance on the efficiency of operations, safeguarding of assets, compliance with internal policies and procedures, and compliance with donor regulations. The role of the Compliance and Audit Manager is to help the country office achieve its objectives, by promoting accountability to donors and beneficiaries, and contributing to a better decision-making process.

The Compliance and Audit Manager also acts as a strategic partner to the management team. He/she works in collaboration with the other units to identify risks to the achievement of objectives, assesses the capacity of the internal control system to manage the risks identified, and makes recommendations for improving this system in order to reduce the associated risks. The Compliance and Audit Manager is also responsible for investigating fraud and other serious breaches of policy. He/she assesses the impact of fraud and defines corrective measures, as well as measures to prevent such fraud, in compliance with CARE and Donor procedures.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

Conduct audits and special reviews within the country office 

• Plan its assignments through an annual internal audit plan, updated as required;
• Carry out audits of beneficiaries of the mission's grants, in accordance with signed memoranda of understanding; 
• Ensure compliance with procedures (compliance audit), rules, laws, regulations and internal decisions;
• Follow and participate in external audits requested by CARE or its donors;
• Coordinate the interventions of external auditors, and facilitate the collection of the necessary information from the operational departments concerned;
• Plan meetings to keep the audited structure and management informed of progress and audit results;
• Make precise observations on the areas reviewed, and issue relevant recommendations including corrective, detective and preventive actions to mitigate risk;
• Using an appropriate tool, ensure regular monitoring of the implementation of recommendations issued following internal and external audits;
• Take initiatives to recommend specific audits;
• Carry out ad-hoc audits as requested by management

Risk management and compliance support 

• Monitor and regularly update the mission's register of risks and problems (ROAR, Registre des Risques Actifs);
• Identify, analyze and assess areas of risk to which the Mission is exposed, and make recommendations to Management for their prevention and mitigation;
• In collaboration with the Deputy Country Managers (Program and Support), organize brainstorming workshops to identify potential risks, and define preventive measures;
• Regularly share internal audit and compliance issues with decision-making bodies;
• Keep abreast of important activities that the mission is carrying out or planning to carry out, in order to warn of potential risks; 6. Formulate and monitor the implementation of recommendations required to prevent such risks;
• Identify dysfunctions that could generate risks, and propose mechanisms for their mitigation;
• Ensure that accounting, financial and administrative procedure manuals comply with the Organization's procedures;
• Examine and evaluate internal control systems, and make recommendations to improve the overall functioning of the Organization; guarantee the protection of assets and the reliability and integrity of financial and accounting information;
• Assist the Mission's various entities in controlling their operations, by providing them with practical advice and useful recommendations.

Fraud and serious misconduct management 

• Identify fraud-related risks in the mission risk analysis ;
• Advise management on the implementation of preventive measures to reduce or even eradicate fraud;
• Ensure that cases of fraud and serious misconduct are documented;
• Investigate reported or suspected cases of fraud;
• Carry out investigations into fraudulent invoices submitted to CARE by partners.

Training and Continuous Learning 

• Train and inform mission personnel, especially project and administrative managers, about the risks, procedures, laws and regulations that apply to the Organization;
• Train CARE's recipient NGOs on the concepts of risk, fraud, internal control and donor procedures, and in general on any aspect of management likely to generate a significant risk for CARE;
• Conduct internal and external research to better understand the areas to be audited and identify risks, industry trends, and benchmarks with other organizations;
• Actively participate in the West Africa Regional Auditors' Network (WARMU);
• Manage staff assigned to the Audit and Compliance unit.

Control the management of resources.

• Check that Cash Disbursement operations are documented in accordance with generally accepted procedures;
• Verify value for money;
• Check that Fixed Assets are managed in accordance with current procedures;
• Check that petty cash is properly managed in accordance with current procedures;
• Check that bank reconciliations are carried out regularly.
• Check that projects are drawn up and monitored in accordance with budget policy guidelines;  
• Verify the rational and efficient use of equipment, materials and products acquired within the framework of the projects placed at their disposal;
• Verify the quality/price ratio of projects carried out with CARE's financial support.
• Control the management of funds made available to partners.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Higher education diploma in Audit, Finance, Information Systems, Administration or equivalent.
• At least three (03) years' professional experience in Audit, Finance, Administration.
• Audit, internal control and risk management skills ;
• Excellent oral and written communication skills in French and English;
• Good analytical and listening skills;
• Good knowledge of word processing and accounting software.
• Professional conscientiousness and commitment to CARE's core values
• Respect, integrity and impartiality in accordance with the IIA (Institute of Internal Auditors) Code of Ethics;
• Ability to maintain good professional relations with colleagues.

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