ROLE PURPOSE
Plan International is a rights-based development and humanitarian organization working for better lives for all children. We are independent of government and have no political or religious affiliation. Our purpose is to strive for a just world that advances children’s rights and equality for girls. We have been building powerful partnerships for children for more than 80 years, and are now active in more than 70 countries.
Our global strategy has a specific focus on girls, as they are often the most marginalized and most often left behind. We have committed ourselves to the ambitious target of reaching 100 million girls over 5 years, to ensure they can learn, lead, decide and thrive. This is our contribution to reaching the sustainable development goals, and in particular the goals on gender equality. Our organization is transforming itself to meet this enormous challenge everywhere we work. We need bold, forward-thinking and innovative individuals to lead our country operations, driving change and delivering results that will allow us to reach our target of 100 million girls.
In Ethiopia, Plan has more than 25 years of experience in implementing its programme. Currently PIE mainly operates in seven geographical areas; Amhara, Oromia, SNNPR, Gambella, Benishangul Gumuz, Afar, and Addis Ababa City Administration on different projects funded by different donors including sponsorship.
Plan International Ethiopia's main purpose is to seek Gender Justice for Girls, Adolescent Girls, and Young Women. We aim to help create an enabling environment where girls, adolescent girls, and young women are safe, valued, equally cared for, and have equal opportunities. PIE will contribute to the global strategy by aiming to reach directly 2.1 million Girls, Adolescent Girls and Young Women over the period of the strategy 2020-2024 and to reach an additional 6.3 million beneficiaries through its interventions.
The position holder will be responsible to support Risk, Audit and Compliance Manager for the implementation of the department’s strategic plan by providing assurance of risk management and monitored controls in delivering country operations through developing and ensuring effective and efficient systems, internal controls, policies and procedures are in place and at all times implemented correctly.
REPORTING LINES, KEY RELATIONSHIPS
Reports to: Risk, Audit and Compliance Manager
Direct reports: Internal Audit and Compliance Officer
LEVEL OF CONTACT WITH CHILDREN
Low contact: No contact or very low frequency of interaction
PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT
Office environment
ACCOUNTABILITIES AND MAIN WORK ACTIVITIES
Risk Management System / Risk Registers (5%)
• Monitor the progress of completion of actions on a timely basis and recommends to his supervisor if further action needs to take place
• Support the identification and classification of risks to the country operation, the documentation of these, and the determination of appropriate actions to appropriately manage/mitigate such risks. This includes the timely and periodic completion of the Country Office and Program Area risk registers.
• Follow up continuously the progress made towards agreed risk management/ mitigation actions, such that remedial actions can be taken in a timely way and when necessary.
• Ensure training and support of staff in the development of key control standards and to strengthen risk management and compliance
Audit and Compliance with key controls, and effectiveness and policies and procedures (60%)
• Prepare a master list of all required compliances to internal policies and procedures, external compliances to donors and government, ensure that Plan Ethiopia fully meets all the required compliances, monitor it , regularly and review its adequacy and effectiveness.
• Review compliance with established key controls in all areas of business including program, finance, sponsorship, resource acquisition and grant management, human resources, IT, partnerships, logistics, and in any other area of business as relevant.
• Prepare and submit a monthly report to Risk, Audit and Compliance Manager with regard to progress against agreed plan.
• Based on approved annual plan and the direction given from his/her supervisor, conduct internal audits of all Departments and PAs in Plan Ethiopia every year. Prepare a clear report with action plans and share with his/hersupervisor. Monitor the progress against the action plan to address all internal audit actions.
• Ensure periodic pre-audits on grants are carried out prior to the donor audits so that matters arising are addressed in a timely manner
• Prepare and regularly update the Master list of all audit actions, follow up with all action owners on regular basis, update the progress on audit actions and share it on monthly basis to his/her supervisor.
• Conduct an assessment of grant conditions compliance regularly on a sample basis in close collaboration with project implementation team
• Reviews compliance with the key controls contained in the HR manual of PIE regarding: Completeness of staff personal files, the process of employing of new staff, contract extensions and the like.
• Review if the management of cash is in compliance with the key requirements of the Operations Manual and/or other management controls as appropriate:
• For purchase of goods and services, assesses compliance with the key controls regarding authorization, selection of suppliers, and acknowledgement of receipt of goods purchased
• Control over per diem policies and travel advance payments
• Review deduction, declaration and payment of withholding tax as per the relevant law
• Review compliance with the key controls contained in the Operations Manual regarding fixed assets and inventory
Grant Management (10%)
• Continually review whether the grant management activities are in compliance with the key controls contained in the grant management guidelines of PIE and donor regulations
• Assess compliance with grant conditions on sample basis working closely with project implementation team
• Provide information on donor and Plan regulations on a regular basis to ensure specific guidelines are being followed.
Partners Support and conformance review (10%)
• Support partner organizations in their own risk management systems and processes, and conduct partner risk assessments based on due diligence reports, volume of funds, and other criteria set by his/her supervisor so as to identify possible key risks that might affect PIE’s operations with partners.
• Review selected partner organizations to ensure that they are operating in conformity with the partnership agreement entered into with PIE.
Case Investigation (10%)
• As required by the Country Director, support the design and undertaking of investigations into occurrences and incidents that have materialized and where controls, policies and procedures may be found to have been inadequate. This includes, but is not limited to, allegations of fraud.
Capacity Development and Anti-Fraud Awareness:(5%)
• Assist Risk, Audit and Compliance Manager for the implementation of capacity development plan and create an environment of organization wide experience sharing and promote best practices in relation to audit and compliance.
• Support and facilitate continuous reflection and learning with regard to the risk management system, as a means towards is continuous refinement and enhancement.
• Support and Monitor the implementation of the Anti-Fraud Policy anchored on zero tolerance to fraud.
• Conduct Ad Hoc and investigative assignments where required in line with the stipulated methodology and Counter Fraud Unit timelines.
Safeguarding Children and Young People (Safeguarding) and Gender Equality and Inclusion (GEI)
• Understands and puts into practice the responsibilities under Safeguarding and GEI policies and Plan International’s Code of Conduct (CoC), ensuring that concerns are reported and managed in accordance with the appropriate procedures.
• Ensures that staff under his/her supervision are properly inducted on and understands their role in upholding Plan International’s safeguarding and GEI policies;
• Ensures that Plan International’s global policies for Safeguarding Children and Young People and Gender Equality and Inclusion are fully embedded in day to day work.
• Ensures that Plan Ethiopia contributes to Plan International’s global efforts to ensure safeguarding and GEI, including making sure that relevant reporting and data are submitted.
Qualifications/ experience essential:
• Graduate in relevant degree in Accounting and/or Finance, Audit or Compliance Management or other relevant areas and at least 5 years of work experience out of which 3 years on auditing experience preferably from NGO sector.
• Qualifications/ experience desirable:
• Knowledge of risk management frameworks and processes; and Internal Control System
Skills Specific to the Post
• Ability to communicate effectively on area of expertise.
• Ability to develop effective working relationships within the team and across the CO.
• Strong organisational and coordination skills;
• Report writing skills;
• Computer literacy;
• Ability to work in a multidisciplinary and multicultural environment
• Ability to investigate fraud cases;
Languages required
• Fluency in English language is essential