The Save the Children in Ethiopia Country Office (CO), in support of the Government of Ethiopia (GoE), has continued to contribute to the well-being of Ethiopian children in development and humanitarian contexts. We work to provide immediate humanitarian relief and long-term sustainable development.

Job Title: Donor Audit Coordinator

Reports to: Donor Audit Manager

Staff reporting to this post: Donor Audit Assistant

Team/Programme: Risk and Compliance

Grade: TBC

ROLE PURPOSE:

The Donor Audit Coordinator will be reporting to Donor Audit Manager. The role holder is mainly responsible to provide coordination and support to donor audits, compliance spot-checks and capacity assessment/evaluations required by donors. In coordination with the Donor Audit Manager, he/she will serve as a liaison person for any communication between external auditors and departments under the audit review.

He/she is responsible to organize sample transactions, conducts pre-audit assessments, clear audit queries, prepare action plan and follow up the implementation of audit recommendations.

He/she is also responsible to assist on planned audits and fraud management activities.

KEY AREAS OF ACCOUNTABILITY

Facilitate/coordinate donor audits, compliance spot-checks and capacity assessment/ evaluations (90%):

• Strong understanding of Donor, SCI and Government rules and regulation/requirements.
• In coordination with the Donor Audit Manager, prepare and share a tentative annual audit schedule to the relevant team/function based on available information for planning and preparation.
• Understand the program and conduct compliance spot-checks on high risk donors/projects including field visits.
• Receive and share donor-specific audit requirements and TOR for auditor visit to the relevant team, including known donor-specific risks.
• Coordinates and interacts with audit firms performing donor audits.
• Organize key compliance and contractual terms from all active programmes for all donors.
• Conduct pre-audit assessments of the sample documents before the audits.
• Organize and participate in the entrance meeting with external auditors to understand the scope of the specific audit they perform.
• Liaise with the relevant department to ensure the information and documents needed by the auditors are organized and readily available to the auditor.
• Supply to the auditors all the data and documents gathered from departments and programmes.
• Facilitate the logistic needs of the external auditors with respective personnel.
• Receive audit queries from external auditors and distribute to the relevant personnel to respond them. Facilitate any meeting with the relevant personnel as demanded by the auditors.
• Organize answers to the queries and provide to the auditors and support them to clear all their questions on time.
• Organize and participate in the exit meeting to discuss the findings of the auditors and present the management responses. Communicate the relevant team to attend the meeting.
• Assist the Audit Manager to prepare management response to donor audit recommendations based on the feedback collected from the relevant team.
• Maintain a data base and follow up the implementation of audit recommendations and update the status of each audit recommendation for periodic reporting to the management.
• In coordination with the Audit Manager, communicate/arrange a briefing season of the summary of audit findings/recommendations with the relevant staff as a lessons learned to avoid similar issue in the future.
• Performs miscellaneous job-related duties as assigned.

Conduct internal audits of SCI CO and FOs (5%):

• Participate in development of the CO Risk and Compliance department annual audit plan.
• Perform audits and report the results of the audit engagement that he/she is assigned. Perform each stage of audit procedures in a professional manner.
• Provide proper custody and care for financial and other documents received from archives for review.
• Discuss observations and recommendations with management to assure agreement.
• Write clear, concise, and factually accurate audit reports, cross reference and annotate appendices.
• Maintain and file all electronic working papers in an organized manner.
• Propose recommendations that incorporate corrective, detective and preventive measures to address risks and control weaknesses.
• Provides clear guidance and advise to make necessary amendments whenever the techniques and procedures are found inefficient and ineffective.
• Follow up the implementation of audit findings/recommendations

Fraud awareness training and investigations (5%):

• Conduct investigations and submit clear and concise investigation report supported by evidences.
• Create investigation tracking/log worksheet with corresponding summary reports. Guidance to be provided by Head of Risk and Compliance.
• Have a contribution on the monthly fraud awareness messages
• Provide fraud awareness training, as per the need.
• Undertake any other tasks as requested by immediate supervisor.

REQUIREMENTS

SKILLS AND BEHAVIOURS (our 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 others to do the same
• Widely shares their personal vision for Save the Children, engages and motivates others
• Future orientated, thinks strategically

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

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

• BA Degree in Accounting or related field with a minimum of five years of related work experience in administration, finance/audit, donor compliance.
• NGO experience is an added advantage.
• Good communication skills in English both verbally and in writing.
• Proven cross-cultural sensitivity and flexibility required.
• Excellent knowledge of computer systems; proficient in MS Excel, Ms Word, Outlook; familiar with accounting software; strong ability to present, analyse and process numerical information and financial and statistical data.
• Ability to create and maintain a high level of effective output; capacity to work hard and remain focused within expected standards of performance with minimal supervision.
• The ability to understand and break down complex technical problems, both translating them into layperson’s terms as well as finding solutions which work.
• Strong organisational and self-management skills with an ability to lead and work in teams and motivate others.
• Experience of managing teams, as well as indirect relationships.
• Highly developed cultural awareness and ability to work well in an international environment with people from diverse backgrounds and cultures.
• Willingness to travel to field sites on a regular basis and work in challenging environments.