Internal Control and Compliance Officer

TITLE: Internal Control & Compliance Officer

TEAM/PROGRAMME: Internal Control and Compliance Team/Sierra Leone

LOCATION: Freetown Coordination

GRADE: 4

CONTRACT LENGTH: One (1) year renewable

CHILD SAFEGUARDING:

Level 3: the post holder will have contact with children and access to personal data of children /or young people either frequently (e.g. once a week or more) or intensively (e.g. four days in one month or more or overnight) because s/he will work the field Office programs; or is visiting country programs; or because s/he is responsible for implementing the police checking/vetting process/staff.

ROLE PURPOSE:

The Internal Control and Compliance Officer will support the Internal Controls and Compliance Manager to ensure compliance with all Save the Children policies & procedures, donor rules & regulations and local laws. This will be done by supporting in the evaluation of the effectiveness of the governance, risk management and control processes in place in SCI Sierra Leone. S/he will support to review, document, and assess the effectiveness of financial and operational controls over the SCI Sierra Leone programme, administrative and project activities in the country and field offices. The Internal Control & Compliance Officer will be extensively involved in investigating frauds, corrupt practices, or misconduct allegations, undertake regular checks- process and management practice reviews, analyse- records, reports, financial statements, and program implementation to ascertain the adequacy and effectiveness of the internal controls in place to mitigate the risk of non-compliance with SCI policies and procedures, donor requirements and local laws. S/he shall perform a variety of administrative duties to be developed and assigned by the Internal Controls and Compliance Manager.

In the event of a major humanitarian emergency, the role holder will be expected to work outside the normal role profile and be able to vary working hours accordingly.

SCOPE OF ROLE:

Reports to: Internal Controls and Compliance Manager.

Matrix Report: N/A

Staff reporting to this post: None.

Role Dimensions: The role holder will need to work closely with the IC&C Manager, Finance and many different staff across the organisation and will need to build a network of key contacts relevant to his/her role and engage with a wide range of stakeholders.

KEY AREAS OF ACCOUNTABILITY:

• On a sample basis, support in carrying out regular reviews of financial, Supply Chain, HR, Administrative and program operation transactions, and implementation, ensuring documentation supporting the transactions follow Save the Children policies and procedures, grant agreements and donor regulations both at Borno Area office and the country office.
• Assist in investigating all approved frauds/corrupt practices or misconduct cases that may be assigned by management, diligently document all relevant evidence and report consistent with SCI standards.
• Support in conducting spot tests on donor requirement compliance in finance, Human resources, administrative, award, procurement, logistics, operations, and programme (activities, documentation and reporting) in line with internal control and compliance risk base annual work plan.
• Perform administrative and operational duties as assigned by the IC&C Manager
• Work closely with programme development unit to further improve risk awareness and responsive culture in designing and developing potential high-risk awards and improving compliance culture on the existing awards.
• Support the IC&C Manager in the preparation of audit reports to be submitted to the Head Internal Control and Compliance unit.
• Support the IC&C Manager to plan, conduct audits and follow up with action owners on all internal and external audit action plans and provide periodic updates on actions taken.
• Assist in performing internal control compliance reviews on the field office activities including cash and advance management, Supply-chain- procurement & logistics, Asset management, Programme management- documentation and reporting, Data Quality Assurance ( MEAL-Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability & Learning) of source documents, stock ( incl. food commodities), beneficiaries and food vendors management, partnership management- on sample basis etc. (in line with the annual ICC work plan) . Coordinate with the relevant reviewed departments to come up with actionable recommendations to improve any identified weaknesses.
• Work with the IC&C Manager to flag significant internal control weaknesses to the country management, with actionable recommendations to reinforce those weak controls and support the monitoring of compliance with approved reinforcing controls.
• Support the ICC Manager to conduct field office reviews as assigned from time to time.
• Assist to track and age all the findings consistent with agreed implementation timelines and follow-up to confirm implemented actions.
• Maintain cordial working relationships with all SCI stakeholders- staff, vendors, auditors, implementing partners etc. through effective communication and exercising professional conduct and objectivity in all dealings.
• Deliver training as may be assigned to reinforce internal controls, risk mitigation, Fraud, Bribery, Corruption Anti-terrorism financing, Aid diversion policies’ awareness and prevention.
• Carry out any other responsibility delegated within the role of internal control and compliance duties (both from the Field and CO level).

BEHAVIOURS (Values in Practice)

Accountability:

• holds self-accountable for making decisions, managing resources efficiently, achieving and role modelling Save the Children values.
• holds the team and partners accountable to deliver on their responsibilities - giving them the freedom to deliver in the best way they see fit, providing the necessary development to improve performance and applying appropriate consequences when results are not achieved.

Ambition:

• sets ambitious and challenging goals for themselves and their team, takes responsibility for their own personal development and encourages their team to do the same.
• widely shares their personal vision for Save the Children, engages and motivates others.
• future orientated, thinks strategically and on a global scale.

Collaboration:

• builds and maintains effective relationships, with their team, colleagues, Members and external partners and supporters.
• values diversity, sees it as a source of competitive strength.
• approachable, good listener, easy to talk to.

Creativity:

• develops and encourages new and innovative solutions.
• willing to take disciplined risks.

Integrity:

• honest, encourages openness and transparency; demonstrates highest levels of integrity.

QUALIFICATIONS, EXPERIENCE AND SKILLS

Essential

• A graduate of accounting, finance or a related business field is required.
• 5 years+ related work experience with a not-for-profit organization.
• Good background in compliance, accounting, and internal controls; experience in auditing (internal or external experience).
• Experience in relevant operational areas (e.g. in programme/project management in an INGO context) and experience of risk-based auditing.
• Be highly accurate, detail-orientated, and able to complete multiple projects, with conflicting priorities, on a timely basis.
• Good report writing skills in English.
• Proven interpersonal and communication skills including influencing, negotiation and relationship building.
• Strong cultural awareness and be able to work well in an international environment with people from diverse backgrounds and cultures.
• Demonstrate standards of ethics and integrity
• Commitment to Save the Children values.

Desirable

• INGO experience or have worked in a commercial/public sector international organisation in audit and investigative capacity.
• Experience working in emergency responses, and good understanding of humanitarian response activities and emergency management.
• Familiarity with grant requirements of major donors such as USAID, EC/ECHO, FFP, OFDA, FCDO and the UN
• Good financial analysis aptitude
• Experience of Agresso financial software
• Experience of audit
• Counter fraud and investigation experience
• Ability to look at the bigger picture when assessing organisational performance and risk

Equal Opportunities

The post holder is required to carry out the duties in accordance with the SCI Equal Opportunities and Diversity policies and procedures.

Health and Safety

The post holder is required to carry out the duties in accordance with SCI Health and Safety policies and procedures.

Additional job responsibilities

The job duties and responsibilities as set out above are not exhaustive and the post holder may be required to carry out additional duties within reasonableness of their level of skills and experience.