Risk & Compliance Officer at the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF)

United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF) works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. To save their lives. To defend their rights. To help them fulfill their potential. Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Risk & Compliance Officer

Job no: 577815
Locations: Maiduguri, Borno and Kano 
Contract type: Temporary Appointment

Purpose of the Assignment

• Under the supervision of the Risks and compliance Manager, the Risk and Compliance Officer will be supporting in strengthening risk assurance and compliance efforts in UNICEF Nigeria.
• He/She will be asked to support in providing complementary expertise, and monitoring related to the management of risks, including but not limited to the development, implementation, and continuous improvement of risk management practices at a process, systems, and entity level.
• He/she will ensure the achievement of risk management objectives follows organizational rules and regulations, and acceptable ethical behavior; internal control; information and technology security; sustainability; and quality assurance. Moreover, he/she will provide support in the analysis and reporting on the adequacy and effectiveness of risk management and internal controls.

Major Responsibilities
Risk Management:

• Work closely with the office(s) to conduct thorough risk assessment processes, support the monitoring of planned actions, ensure the reliability of reports, and verify compliance with applicable rules and regulations.
• Lead quarterly discussions and updates on the field office’s Risk Management Plan, with regularly follow-ups to ensure the proper implementation of risk mitigation actions plan, including periodic reviews.
• Provide support during the peer review process and assist the office(s) management team in embedding the risk management approach into projects/proposals, governance committee reviews of submissions, and any major management decisions.

Compliance & Internal Control:

• Conduct a regular review process of the office(s) systems, procedures, and processes for compliance with organizational rules and regulations. Update the compliance effectiveness trackers and develop summary of key findings.
• Assist the policies’ owners (Chief of Sections/Manager) in enforcing and strengthening internal controls to ensure that systems are in place to prevent, detect and report noncompliance.
• Support the Risk & Compliance Manager in the preparation of the annual Statement of Internal Control (SIC) by the office.
• Support in the review the conformity of statutory and non-statutory committees, assess committee members have been trained/oriented on their roles and responsibility.
• Conduct a thorough review of Notes for Record and Waiver requests in accordance with UNICEF policies and procedures, providing feedback as necessary. Update the tracker and provide a monthly summary to the Risk & Compliance Manager.
• Assist in developing and or design workflows, guidance, or Standard Operations Procedures (SOPs).
• Review internal work processes in Programme and Operations to ensure that accountabilities are clear and placed at the adequate levels as per global policies and/or best practices.
• Assist the office to ensure smooth preparedness of internal and external audit, conduct a quality assurance and follow-up on the implementation of the recommendations and provides feedback to the management.
• Conduct regular follow-ups to ensure the full implementation of internal audit and internal related reviews recommendations.

Fraud Risk Management:

• Under the leadership of the Risk & Compliance Manager, support the office(s) in implementing the country anti-fraud strategy and the offices’ anti-fraud activities plan.
• Based on UNICEF’s policies and procedures and using sound judgement suggest fraud prevention and detection mechanisms, and alert management to any suspected or detected fraudulent issues as well as unethical behaviors.
• Assist in assessing fraud risk across UNICEF Nigeria’s programmes and operations. Follow up on the proposed implementation of preventive and detective actions plan.
• Support the management of the office(s) in collecting evidence to respond to OIAI’s queries when initially assessing allegations of fraud and misconduct or during actual investigations.
• Follow up on Risk & Compliance letters to local authorities, ensure proper feedback is received in any compliant shared with other party, and maintain confidential communication in such matters.
• Preform a regular check to ensure consistency in complying with developed and additional measures.
• Generate report based on analyzed data to identify trends in compliance and fraud and adjust strategies accordingly.

Create awareness / capacity building:

• Support the implementation of a continuous learning and development plan for the Risk and Compliance function.
• Support management in providing staff with access to relevant training and that staff and other personnel understand key UNICEF policies including PSEA, Fraud and Ethics.
• Create and deliver training sessions for staff, consultants, vendors, implementing partners on fraud awareness, prevention and reporting procedures according to UNICEF Anti-Fraud and UNICEF Policy in Combating and Fighting Fraud and Corruption.
• Any other tasks agreed with the Risk & Compliance Manager. 

Minimum Requirements

• The Risk and Compliance Officer is expected to be fully knowledgeable in the field of the work, to work with minimum supervision and therefore exercise judgement, take initiatives, establish work priorities, and ensure follow-up actions.
• The ability to support assessment, mitigation, monitoring, review and reporting on the most significant risks that could potentially harm the organization, is a critical element of UNICEF’s risk and internal control performance management framework. Risk management skills are necessary to safeguard UNICEF’s reputation, resources, continuity of operations and reputation to fulfill our primary mission to save and protect children, globally. 

Education:

• A University Degree in Business Administration, Finance/Accounting, or Audit is required. Fraud Examination, Audit, Investigation or Accounting certifications are considered as assets. 

Experience: 

• At least two years of continuous professional work experience in Risk and Compliance, Internal Audit, Internal Control and Assurance or Anti-Fraud.
• Working proficiency in Microsoft tools (Word, Excel, and PowerPoint).
• Emergency experience an advantage, especially in the North-East Zone of Nigeria, and a willingness to travel to such locations.
• Experience working with the UN systems in similar function is highly desirable. 
• Relevant Experience in similar technical areas in UN or INGO, with strong capability in Enterprise Risk Management.
• Field experience /familiarity with Emergency. (Depending on contexts).

Skills:

• General Operations Knowledge: Excellent understanding of relevant operational policies, procedures and best practices is crucial. This including staying updated with any changes.
• Planning: The ability to allocate appropriate time and resources for successful achievement of goals, and foresee risks and allow for contingencies when planning.
• Attention to details: Precision in reviewing documents, creating reports, and monitoring compliance programs to ensure nothing is overlooked.
• Integrity and Ethical Judgment: High ethical standards and the ability to make unbiased decisions that align with the UNICEF’s values.
• Problem-Solving: Creative and critical thinking to develop effective solutions for compliance issues.
• Interpersonal Skills: Building trust and collaboration across sections and offices to implement compliance strategies effectively.
• Training Skills: Ability to design and delivery trainings on Risk Management, Compliance, Internal Control and Fraud Risk
• Writing and Design: Ability to develop and design policy guidance notes, SOPs, checklist, and workflow.
• Risk Assessment: Ability to identify, analyze and prioritize risks. This involves understanding the potential impact of various risks on UNICEF Nigeria, and country context.
• Data Protection and IT Proficiency: Familiarity with Data Protection laws and regulations, basic Data security information to enable to manage data privacy and cybersecurity measures.
• Investigation: Basic investigation skills including steps to conduct desk reviews for the suspected fraud incidents.
• Communication Skills: Ability to clearly explain complex and sensitive matters to different audiences within the organization. Ability to clearly and concisely express ideas and concepts in written and oral form.
• Strategic Leadership and Adaptability: Ability to resolve difficult, complex and sensitive situations often under pressure. Willingness to continuously learn and adapt to new policies and technologies.

Language Requirements: 

• Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language or a local language is an asset.

How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should:
Click here to apply

Application Deadline 26th December, 2024.