Senior Risk and Compliance Officer at Catholic Relief Services (CRS)

Job Summary: 

This key role will assist the country program (CP) monitor the effectiveness of internal controls, compliance with CRS policies, reduce risk and fraud and increase awareness to ensure greater stewardship of donor resources. You will conduct risk related activities for the CP. This includes fraud allegation investigations; review of CRS and partner-level transactions and processes, as well as training CRS and partner staff on fraud prevention, detection and mitigation. You will leverage your accounting knowledge and skills, your attention to detail and your commitment to stewardship while working in close collaboration with CRS colleagues and partners.

Roles and Key Responsibilities: 

• Conduct, audits, process reviews, internal control reviews and compliance assessments. Analyze results and draft reports as directed by the Risk and Compliance Manager in collaboration with the CP’s leadership.
• Conduct Fraud Allegation investigations as directed by the Risk and Compliance Manager and in line with CRS Fraud Allegation Management policy and procedure, draft investigation reports ensuring proactive communication with the Risk and Compliance Manager.
• Support the country program’s management in completing annual self-assessment Internal Control Questionnaire as required.
• Identify risks, internal control weaknesses, gaps in processes, anomalies, and challenges and propose solutions to address findings to improve internal controls and system integrity.
• Provide compliance assessments for complex transactions.
• Design and deliver trainings on fraud risk assessment, detection and mitigation to CRS and partner staff.
• Assist in closure of activities for both internal and external audits; support, monitor and verify audit closure.
• Follow-up and review implementation of recommendations of internal audits/reviews.
• Any other relevant duties and tasks assigned by the supervisor.

Required Languages - Exceptional verbal and written communications in English. Hausa is a plus.

Travel - Must be willing and able to travel up to 50% of the time.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities  

• Knowledge of the relevant public donors’ regulations preferred.
• Proficient in MS Office packages (Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Visio), Web Conferencing Applications. Knowledge of SunSystems financial accounting package or similar financial reporting software preferred.

Preferred Qualifications 

• Strong analytical skills with ability to detect and report inconsistencies.
• Accuracy and completeness with great attention to detail.
• Good relationship management skills
• Ability to make sound judgment
• Ethical conduct in accordance with recognized professional and organizational codes of ethics
• Proactive, resourceful, and results oriented
• Proficient in MS Office packages (Excel, Word, Outlook, PowerPoint)

Supervisory Responsibilities: None

Internal

Senior Risk and Compliance Manager; Finance Manager and staff; SC Manager; Procurement Manager; PDP Managers; Chiefs of Party and Program Managers; Head of Operations; Country Representative; CARO Risk and Compliance Technical Advisor; Ethics Unit staff.

External: Partner management and staff; project participants; vendors.

• Key Partner Staff
• Other Key CRS Stakeholders

Qualifications

Basic Qualifications:

•  BA / MA / M.Sc. Degree in Accounting, Finance, Risk & Compliance, or related field of study with 4 years relevant experience for MA/MSC or 6 years relevant experience for BA/BSC degree out of which 3 years must be in internal/external auditing.
• Professional accounting qualification – Chartered Certified Accountant (ACCA)/Certified Public Accountant – (CPA) preferred.
• Additional certifications in the field will be an advantage, e.g. CIA, CFE.
• Knowledge of auditing standards, Internal control frameworks, ISPPIA, ISAs, IPSAS, COBIT
• Skilled in collecting and analyzing data and leading process/performance improvement initiatives.
• Audit, financial, business process review experience.
• Internal audit, risk and Compliance or fraud investigation experience for an international non-government organization.