Tiered Approach

In line with the commitment to safeguard capacity and support personnel already in the Organization, a majority of UNDP UNCDF/UNV vacancies are advertised using a tiered application process whereby:

• Tier 0 UNDP/UNCDF/UNV IP staff holding permanent (PA) and fixed-term (FTA) appointments, whose posts will be abolished, or contracts will be terminated or not renewed during 2026.
• Tier 1 Other UNDP/UNCDF/UNV staff holding permanent (PA) and fixed-term (FTA) appointments
• Tier 2 UNDP/UNCDF/UNV staff holding temporary appointments (TA), personnel on regular PSA contracts, and Expert and Specialist UN Volunteers
• Tier 3 or no tier indicated All other contract types from UNDP/UNCDF/UNV and other agencies, and other external candidates

Please make note of the Tier(s) indicated in the vacancy title, if any, and ensure that you satisfy the eligibility to apply.

Background

The Bureau for Management Services’ Office of Financial Resources Management (BMS/OFRM) supports the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in the implementation of the 2030 agenda and UNDP’s Strategic Plan. It achieves this by developing and making fully operational a dynamic and harmonized integrated resource management framework based on comprehensive analysis that enhances UNDP’s financial and administrative performance, as well as facilitating UN reform and coherence. The primary role of BMS/OFRM is to maintain the financial integrity of UNDP through providing functional leadership, supporting the efficient and effective management of its financial resources, promoting financial sustainability and responsible resource allocation. This is accomplished by the development and implementation of sound financial policies and practices, oversight of corporate financial management performance, and flexible scalable support to resource allocation. BMS/OFRM serves as a business partner to Bureau and Country Offices, providing sound financial management, advisory and analytical services, with a view to continuously improving the financial management performance of business units and supporting Bureau in the exercising of their oversight functions.

Under the supervision of the Chief, the Audit Coordination Specialist serves as the day-to-day focal point for UNDP’s relationship with the United Nations Board of Auditors (UNBOA, UNDP’s external auditors) and OFRM’s relationship with the independent Office of Audit and Investigations (OAI), including coordinating communications; supporting external and internal audit planning; providing audit related advice to COs and HQ units; facilitating UNDP and/or OFRM management responses to audit reports and management letters, including root-cause analysis and actions; identifying and recommending solutions for systemic audit issues that contribute to financial risk; analysing performance, ageing analysis and reporting on the status of implementation of audit recommendations.

The Audit Coordination Specialist provides strategic advice in relation to audit planning, monitoring and reporting, and related improvement initiatives, partnering with all relevant stakeholders in UNDP and in line with best practices.

Position Purpose

Under the supervision of the Chief, the Audit Coordination Specialist leads the formulation strategic advice of audit planning, monitoring and reporting and is responsible for the Audit and supports external and internal audit planning, coordination, analysis, monitoring and reporting strategies, actions and related improvement initiatives in partnering with all relevant stakeholders in UNDP and in line with best practices, through providing audit management support, advice, and coordination.

UNDP adopts a portfolio approach to accommodate changing business needs and leverage linkages across interventions to achieve its strategic goals. Therefore, UNDP personnel are expected to work across units, functions, teams, and projects in multidisciplinary teams in order to enhance and enable horizontal collaboration.

Duties and Responsibilities

1.) Undertakes risk-based financial monitoring across UNDP

• Working closely with the Office of Financial Resources Management as well as other stakeholders contributes to the development and continuous improvement of a holistic risk-based financial monitoring framework.
• Root cause analysis and resolution: Based on the results of OFRM’s financial monitoring activities, as well as the results of internal and external audits, including root-cause analysis, recommends cost effective solutions to address systemic or recurring issues that could impact financial performance, including changes to policies, processes, procedures and/or systems.
  

2.) Coordinates and provides substantive advice on executive level documents and briefs:

• Drafts and coordinates the development of Executive Board documents prepared by OFRM on oversight issues, ensuring a coordinated and consistent approach to preparation and presentation of information on financial management matters.
• In close consultation with UNDP-internal managers, prepares analyses, briefings and substantive advice for the Chief Financial Officer and senior management on a broad range of oversight and financial management topics, appropriately factoring in risks and opportunities, including Executive Group and Operations Performance Group documents and reports.

3.) Serves as the day-to-day focal point for UNDP in its relationship with the UN Board of Auditors, including:

• Coordinating communications.
• Facilitating responses to requests for information from the UN Board of Auditors and UNDP offices.
• Facilitating coordination of external audit visits to HQ, Regional and Country Offices;
• Where requested, providing audit related advice to COs and HQ units undergoing audits;
• Identifying and monitoring UNDP’s audit priorities, and preparing periodic progress reports for the CFO and other UNDP senior management;
• Reviewing external audit management letters and reports and advising OFRM Senior Management on any factual or technical inaccuracies;
• Coordinating UNDP’s management responses to external audit observations and recommendations, including preparing periodic aged status updates for the CFO on implementation of recommendations;
• Reviewing external audit management letters and reports to identify recurring financial management issues and how they impact financial risk; and recommend systemic solutions and risk mitigation actions;
• Critically analyzing and providing substantive advice on addressing systemic issues underlying recurring audit findings reported by the UNBOA, including Internal
• Control Framework and policy and procedures changes that may be required; and
• Prepare quarterly analysis and reports on recurring external audit issues pertaining to financial management for review and discussion with OFRM management and the relevant OFRM business process owner, with a view to implementing corrective actions.
  

4.) Serves as the day-to-day focal point on audit matters for UNDP in its interactions with other oversight bodies

• Such as interaction with the Audit Evaluation Advisory Committee (AEAC), CEB Secretariat, ACABQ, the Fifth Committee, etc. including coordinating communications and any required UNDP management responses.

  5.) Lead knowledge management

• Synthesize lessons learned and best practices in Audit Coordination
• Provide sound contributions to knowledge networks and communities of practices
  

The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization.

Supervisory/Managerial Responsibilities: None

Competencies

• Core Competencies:

Achieve Results: LEVEL 3: Set and align challenging, achievable objectives for multiple projects, have lasting impact

Think Innovatively: LEVEL 3: Proactively mitigate potential risks, develop new ideas to solve complex problems

Learn Continuously: LEVEL 3: Create and act on opportunities to expand horizons, diversify experiences

Adapt with Agility: LEVEL 3: Proactively initiate and champion change, manage multiple competing demands

Act with Determination: LEVEL 3: Think beyond immediate task/barriers and take action to achieve greater results

Engage and Partner: LEVEL 3: Political savvy, navigate complex landscape, champion inter-agency collaboration

Enable Diversity and Inclusion: LEVEL 3: Appreciate benefits of diverse workforce and champion inclusivity

• Cross-Functional & Technical competencies:

Business Direction and Strategy-System Thinking: Ability to use objective problem analysis and judgement to understand how interrelated elements coexist within an overall process or system, and to consider how altering one element can impact on other parts of the system.

Business Management-Portfolio Management: Ability to select, prioritize and control the organization’s programmes and projects, in line with its strategic objectives and capacity; ability to balance the implementation of change initiatives and the maintenance of business-as-usual, while optimizing return on investment

Business Management & Risk Management: Identify and organize action around reducing, mitigating and proactively managing risks.

Business Management & Communication:

• Ability to communicate in a clear, concise and unambiguous manner both through written and verbal communication; to tailor messages and choose communication methods depending on the audience
• Ability to manage communications internally and externally, through media, social media and other appropriate channels

Audit & Investigation & Financial & Managerial Accounting and Finance key concepts: Key concepts and principles of financial accounting, interpret financial analysis, managerial accounting, etc.

Audit & Investigation & Internal Auditing Standards, practices and techniques:

• Knowledge of key notions and concepts, practices, and methodologies of internal auditing
• IPPF and Other IIA Standards,COSO).
• Undertake audit assignments in accordance with international professional standards in respect of operational audits, financial audits, performance audits, project
  
  audits and provision of advisory services

Audit & Investigation & Evidence handling procedures: Ability to acquire, compile and safeguard information in a forensically sound manner to keep evidence integrity and chain of custody.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

• Advanced University Degree (master’s degree or equivalent) in Business Administration, Finance, Accounting, Public Administration, or a related field is required. OR
• A first-level university degree (bachelor’s degree) in the areas stated above, in combination with two additional years of relevant experience, will be considered in lieu of the master’s degree.
• A professional accounting and/or audit qualification or certification from an internationally recognized institute of accountancy and/or auditing is required.

Experience:

• Minimum of 7 years (with master’s degree) or 9 years (with bachelor’s degree) of progressively responsible and relevant professional experience in auditing (internal or external), oversight coordination, risk management, financial monitoring, or related areas, ideally within a large international organization, a UN system entity, a large multinational organization or a Supreme Audit Institution is required.
• Experience and strong knowledge of ISAs and the IPPF and their application is required.
• Experience and working knowledge of large ERP systems (e.g., Oracle, SAP, or similar systems) is required.
• Demonstrated experience in coordinating audit or oversight processes, including managing audit requests, consolidating input from multiple stakeholders, and facilitating effective communication between auditors and management is required.
• Experience serving as a focal point for external and/or internal audit or oversight bodies, including coordinating responses to audit observations, tracking implementation of recommendations, and preparing status updates is required.
• Strong knowledge of IPSAS or IFRS and their application in audit and financial reporting contexts is required.
• Experience and solid understanding of internal control frameworks, risk management, governance processes, and financial monitoring methodologies, including identifying, analysing, and reporting on recurring audit findings and their underlying causes, and recommending systemic corrective actions is required.
• Experience in audit and/or advisory roles within a large international audit firm is desired.
• Prior experience as an Audit Coordinator within the UN system, particularly in relation to the Board of Auditor, Internal Audit and Investigations, Audit and Oversight Committees, ACABQ, or similar bodies is desired.
• Working in or closely with country offices or decentralized operations, including in support of audit visits or oversight processes is desired.
• Exposure to inter-agency processes, multilateral governance mechanisms, Board reporting, or donor-related reporting frameworks is desired.
• Experience contributing to the development or improvement of risk-based financial monitoring frameworks or internal control systems is desired.

Languages:

• Fluency in English, both oral and written, is required.

Equal opportunity

As an equal opportunity employer, UNDP values diversity as an expression of the multiplicity of nations and cultures where we operate and, as such, we encourage qualified applicants from all backgrounds to apply for roles in the organization. Our employment decisions are based on merit and suitability for the role, without discrimination.

UNDP is also committed to creating an inclusive workplace where all personnel are empowered to contribute to our mission, are valued, can thrive, and benefit from career opportunities that are open to all.

Sexual harassment, exploitation, and abuse of authority

UNDP does not tolerate harassment, sexual harassment, exploitation, discrimination and abuse of authority. All selected candidates, therefore, undergo relevant checks and are expected to adhere to the respective standards and principles.

Probation

For all new UNDP fixed term appointments (FTA), including for staff members being transferred or seconded to UNDP under the Inter-Organization Agreement concerning Transfer, Secondment or Loan of Staff, on an appointment of more than one year, continuation of the appointment beyond the initial 12 months is contingent upon the successful completion of a probationary period.

Right to select multiple candidates

UNDP reserves the right to select one or more candidates from this vacancy announcement. We may also retain applications and consider candidates applying to this post for other similar positions with UNDP at the same grade level and with similar job description, experience and educational requirements.

Use of AI by candidates

Applicants are invited to read UNDP’s guidance for candidates on using AI responsibly in UNDP recruitment and selection

Scam alert

UNDP does not charge a fee at any stage of its recruitment process. For further information, please see www.undp.org/scam-alert.