Principal Internal Auditor at the African Development Bank Group (AfDB)

JOB TITLE: Principal Internal Auditor

JOB LOCATION: Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire

JOB DETAILS:

• The President, plans, supervises and manages the business of the Bank Group. Under the direction of the Boards of Directors, the President conducts the business of the Bank and the African Development Fund and manages operations and activities in accordance with the Agreements establishing the ADB and the ADF.
• The President supervises several Departments and Units including Office of the President (PRST0); Independent Development Evaluation Department (BDEV); Integrity and Anti-Corruption Department (PIAC); Compliance Review and Mediation Unit (BCRM); Secretariat to the Sanctions Appeals Board (BSAB); Administrative Tribunal (BATR); Office of the Auditor General (PAGL); Group Risk Management Directorate (PGRM);  General Counsel and Legal Services Department (PGCL); Communication and External Relations Department (PCER); Staff Integrity and Ethics Office (PETH) and Office of the Secretary General & General Secretariat (PSEG).

The Hiring Department

• The Office of the Auditor General (PAGL) provides independent, objective assurance and consulting services designed to add value and improve the Bank’s operations. It also assists the Bank to accomplish its strategic objectives by bringing a systematic and disciplined approach to evaluate and improve the effectiveness of risk management, control, and governance processes.
• PAGL is responsible for planning, organizing, directing, and controlling a broad, comprehensive program of auditing and consulting/advisory services both internally and externally including, without limitation, all projects, and programs of the Bank group.
• In addition, the Office of the Auditor General maintains a Quality Assurance and Improvement Program (QAIP) to assess its compliance with the standards issued by the Global Institute of Internal Audit, to evaluate the efficiency and effectiveness of its activities, and to identify opportunities for improvement.

The Positions

• The overall objective of this position is to provide independent and objective assurance and consulting services in accordance with established professional standards for internal auditing.
• As the Auditor in Charge or as a member of a team, the Principal Internal Auditor will perform the following functions:
  • Provide strategic internal audit and advisory/consulting services covering the activities and operations of the Bank Group.
  • Contribute to QAIP services to provide reasonable assurance that PAGL has achieved and continues to maintain the highest level of internal audit performance against PAGL’s Own Standards and the Standards and Code of Ethics of the Global Institute of Internal Auditors.

Key Functions
Under the supervision and guidance of the Auditor General, the Principal Internal Auditor will:

• Participate in the preparation of PAGL’s statutory reports such as the Annual Work Program, Quarterly Activity Report, Annual Activity Report, and other ad hoc reports as required;
• Monitor the implementation of audit recommendations to ensure that identified weaknesses are corrected and do not recur;
• Contribute to the Quality Assurance and Improvement Program (QAIP) by conducting scheduled and ad hoc reviews of PAGL’s work program to ensure that the highest standards are met;
• Be a champion of the PAGL’s QAIP and share best practices and lessons learned with colleagues;
• Contribute to the improvement of PAGL audit policies and guidelines, including the QAIP methodology and tools;
• Contribute, as required, to the facilitation of mandatory periodic Internal and External Quality Assessments; These are typically conducted by independent parties or the Global IIA;

Audit, Advisory and Consulting Responsibilities:

• Lead Audit Teams, plan and conduct audits of a wide variety of Bank-wide activities or operations related to the financial, administrative and operational functions of the Bank. This includes travel to Member Countries for Audit Missions (Ministries/Government Agencies, Project Implementation Units, and Project Site Inspections). Advice on compliance with Bank Rules, Regulations, Policies and Procedures to improve project implementation;
• Plan audits and determine the audit objectives, scope, criteria, methodology to be used as well as staff and budget resources required to ensure that the audit adequately covers the selected area of the Bank’s operations, activities, systems, and controls;
• Prepare the planning documents, including the Audit Program (or modify existing ones as necessary), the Risk and Control Matrix, and the Audit Planning Memorandum for approval by the Manager and the Auditor General to ensure a systematic approach to the audit and to ensure that the scope of the audit is adequately covered;
• Conduct the fieldwork by collecting data, documents, and information, testing, and analyzing such information, identifying weaknesses, causes and effects of variances, errors, non-compliance with rules, regulations, policies, procedures, etc., with a strong focus on using data analytics and analytical tools;
• Supervise and review the work performed by other Auditors and Consultants to ensure that objectives are achieved; working papers adequately support the findings, conclusions, and recommendations, and the report is accurate, objective, clear, concise, constructive, and timely while ensuring efficiency and effective use of the auditing software;
• Select, present, and discuss audit findings with significant impact or recommendations for substantial changes in procedures, workflow, or organization, with concerned Managers and Directors to obtain their agreement;
• Prepare the Preliminary Audit Report containing observations, conclusions, and recommendations to tighten controls, safeguard the assets or image of the Bank, improve working procedures, and ensure that resources are efficiently utilized, under the supervision of the Manager for transmission to the Auditor General;
• Prepare the Final Internal Audit Report after incorporating the comments of the auditee Departments under the supervision of the Manager for transmission to the Auditor General;
• Monitor the implementation of audit recommendations to ensure that the weaknesses observed are corrected and do not recur;
• Give advice to other departments and Committees on matters relating to internal control, audit of Bank projects, procedures, financial management, operational issues to facilitate their decision-making process;
• Train, direct and counsel less experienced Internal Auditors in the performance of audit assignments to ensure compliance with audit procedures, proficiency, and time schedules;
• Participate / conduct knowledge management activities within and outside the department like facilitating at training events, retreats, staff orientation programs and other client liaison activities;
• Provide technical updates to the audit team on new developments in the profession;
• Undertake any assignment as may be allocated by the Manager or Auditor General;

Requirements

• A minimum of a Master’s Degree in Audit, Finance, Accounting, Business Administration, preferably combined with an internationally recognized Professional Accountancy or Auditing qualification (“Expert Comptable” Chartered/Certified Public Accountant designation). Additional professional certifications could be advantageous;
• A minimum of six (6) years of auditing experience in an internationally recognized professional accounting firm or an international financial institution. Practical data analytics experience would be a plus;
• Demonstrated experience with Internal Audit Quality Assurance and Improvement Programs;
• Sound knowledge and auditing experience of private and public sector operations, financial instruments, and information systems such as SAP Hana system, Enterprise Risk Management (ERM), Integrated Audit Approach;
• Good interpersonal, supervisory, project management, communication, and analytical skills. Demonstrated   capacity to influence and inspire team members;
• Ability to deal with sensitive issues in a multi-cultural environment and to build effective working relations with colleagues;
• Demonstrated ability to meet deadlines while ensuring quality and exceeding client expectations;
• Ability to apply international audit standards to deliver quality audit reports in line with the Bank’s strategy needs/situation;
• Ability to communicate effectively (written and oral) in English or French, preferably with a working knowledge of the other language;
• Proven data analytics skills. Demonstrated experience with computerized audit tools (ACL, etc.) and audit management software systems (Pentana, TeamMate, Audit Board, etc.);

HOW TO APPLY
To apply for the ongoing African Development Bank Group (AfDB) job opening, visit the  APPLICATION PORTAL to submit your application!