Batch Recruitment: Risk & Compliance Officer, NOB, TA, Nigeria (364 days). Kano #131479 and Maiduguri #131435

UNICEF Nigeria Country Office invites applications from highly motivated and committed persons to work as a Risk & Compliance Officer. If you are that person, we encourage you to apply and become part of a highly motivated and committed team.

UNICEF works in over 190 countries and territories to save children’s lives, defend their rights, and help them fulfill their potential, from early childhood through adolescence.

At UNICEF, we are committed, passionate, and proud of what we do. Promoting the rights of every child is not just a job – it is a calling.

UNICEF is a place where careers are built: we offer our staff diverse opportunities for personal and professional development that will help them develop a fulfilling career while delivering on a rewarding mission. We pride ourselves on a culture that helps staff thrive, coupled with an attractive compensation and benefits package.

Visit our website to learn more about what we do at UNICEF.

For every child, Commitment!

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.

How can you make a difference? 

MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES:

1. 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.

2. 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.
• 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.
• 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).

3. 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.

4. 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.

5. Any other tasks agreed with the Risk & Compliance Manager. 

If you would like to know more about this position, please review the complete Job Description here:  JD TA NOB Risk & Compliance Officers (2).docx

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…

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.
• 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).
• 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. 
• Skills: General Operations Knowledge: Excellent understanding of relevant operational policies, procedures and best practices is crucial. This including staying updated with any changes.
• 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.
• 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 programmes to ensure nothing is overlooked.
• Writing and Design: Ability to develop and design policy guidance notes, SOPs, checklist, and workflow.
• 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.
• 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
• Language Requirements: Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language or a local language is an asset.

Desirables:

• Developing country work experience and/or familiarity with emergency. 

For every Child, you demonstrate...

UNICEF’s Core Values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust and Accountability and Sustainability (CRITAS) underpin everything we do and how we do it. Get acquainted with Our Values Charter: UNICEF Values

The UNICEF competencies required for this post are…

(1) Builds and maintains partnerships

(2) Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness

(3) Drive to achieve results for impact

(4) Innovates and embraces change

(5) Manages ambiguity and complexity

(6) Thinks and acts strategically

(7) Works collaboratively with others 

Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels.

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious or ethnic background, and persons with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization. To create a more inclusive workplace, UNICEF offers paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks, and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF strongly encourages the use of flexible working arrangements. Click here to learn more about flexible work arrangements, well-being, and benefits.

According to the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD), persons with disabilities include those who have long-term physical, mental, intellectual, or sensory impairments which, in interaction with various barriers, may hinder their full and effective participation in society on an equal basis with others. In its Disability Inclusion Policy and Strategy 2022-2030, UNICEF has committed to increase the number of employees with disabilities by 2030. At UNICEF, we provide reasonable accommodation for work-related support requirements of candidates and employees with disabilities. Also, UNICEF has launched a Global Accessibility Helpdesk to strengthen physical and digital accessibility. If you are an applicant with a disability who needs digital accessibility support in completing the online application, please submit your request through the accessibility email button on the UNICEF Careers webpage Accessibility | UNICEF.

UNICEF does not hire candidates who are married to children (persons under 18). UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination based on gender, nationality, age, race, sexual orientation, religious or ethnic background or disabilities. UNICEF is committed to promote the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check, and selected candidates with disabilities may be requested to submit supporting documentation in relation to their disability confidentially.

UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance.  Issuance of a visa by the host country of the duty station is required for IP positions and will be facilitated by UNICEF. Appointments may also be subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid). Should you be selected for a position with UNICEF, you either must be inoculated as required or receive a medical exemption from the relevant department of the UN. Otherwise, the selection will be canceled.

Remarks:

As per Article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity.

UNICEF’s active commitment to diversity and inclusion is critical to deliver the best results for children. For this position, eligible and suitable female candidates are encouraged to apply.

Government employees who are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally required to resign from their government positions before taking up an assignment with UNICEF. UNICEF reserves the right to withdraw an offer of appointment, without compensation, if a visa or medical clearance is not obtained, or necessary inoculation requirements are not met, within a reasonable period for any reason. 

UNICEF does not charge a processing fee at any stage of its recruitment, selection, and hiring processes (i.e., application stage, interview stage, validation stage, or appointment and training). UNICEF will not ask for applicants’ bank account information.

All UNICEF positions are advertised, and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process. An internal candidate performing at the level of the post in the relevant functional area, or an internal/external candidate in the corresponding Talent Group, may be selected, if suitable for the post, without assessment of other candidates.

Additional information about working for UNICEF can be found here.