Senior Internal Auditor

• Suva-based position (Fiji)
• Attractive expatriate package
• Join the principal development organization in the Pacific region

Description

The Pacific Community (SPC) is the principal scientific and technical organisation in the Pacific region, supporting development since 1947. We are an international development organisation owned and governed by our 27 country and territory members. In pursuit of sustainable development to benefit Pacific people, our organisation works across more than 25 sectors. We are known for our knowledge and innovation in such areas as fisheries science, public health, geoscience, and conservation of plant genetic resources for food and agriculture.

The Executive is made up of the Office of the Director General (DG) based in Noumea and the Offices of the two Deputy-Director Generals (DDGs). The DDG, Science and Capability based in Suva has oversight of the six technical divisions (Fisheries, Aquaculture and Marine Ecosystems – FAME, Geoscience, Energy and Maritime – GEM, Human Rights and Social Development – HRSD, Land Resources Division – LRD, Public Health Division – PHD, and Statistics for Development – SDD) and two programmes (Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability – CCES and Education Quality and Assessment Programme – EQAP). The DDG, Operation and Integration has oversight of the Operations and Management Directorate (finance, human resources, IT, publications, property & facilities management, translation and interpretation, legal services, travel, library and administration) and for all regional offices based outside of the Noumea headquarters and the Suva campus.

The Senior Internal Auditor will provide technical expertise, risk-based audit activities, support risk management initiatives, quality assurance and ARC support, including communications and relationship building.

The key responsibilities of the role include:

Technical expertise

• Demonstrate thorough knowledge and understanding of the technical aspects of the internal audit profession and function.
• Execute internal audit activities to a high technical standard.
• Keep abreast of changes in the profession and industry best practice.
• Support the ongoing development and improvements in the activities and procedures of the SPC Internal Audit & Risk function.
• Assess and take into account the latest global macroeconomic and microeconomic factors and impacts upon the organization and provide advice to the Head of Internal Audit & Risk on the assessment.
• Maintain a current understanding of the organizational framework within which SPC operates the divisional teams and their business requirements. This includes the multicultural business environment in the Pacific.

Risk-based audit activities

• Contribute effectively to the development of the internal audit plans and work program, including providing advice to the Head of Internal Audit & Risk on areas at risk.
• Plan individual audit activities for the execution of audits and carry out those audits in an effective and efficient manner.
• Ensure all work carried out is adequately documented, so that other parties can understand clearly how audit findings and conclusions were determined.
• Write reports on the completion of audits with practical and reasonable recommendations to address internal control deficiencies.
• Work closely with the organizational departments responsible for effecting audit recommendations, to ensure they understand and implement them.
• Follow-up on the status of audit recommendations and associated auditee action plans, to provide updates for reporting to management and the Audit & Risk Committee.
• Work closely with the Head of Internal Audit & Risk to ensure the audit trackers and status of recommendations & action plans are kept up to date (currently carried out within audit software).
• Undertake special assignments or investigations as may be directed by the Head of Internal Audit & Risk.

Support Risk Management initiatives

• Promote a culture of risk awareness, through the risk-based audit activities that are carried out.
• Work collaboratively with the Head of Internal Audit & Risk and the Internal Audit & Risk team to act as a focal point for Risk Management activities for the Suva office.

Quality assurance and ARC support

• Contribute to the development of a quality assessment and improvement program and participate actively in such a program as the Head of Internal Audit & Risk requires.
• Provide secretariat services and support to the Audit & Risk Committee (ARC) as may be requested.

Communications and Relationship Building

• Communicate audit issues, areas of risk and plans to address those issues and risk to various parts of the organization in an effective manner.
• Develop effective working relationships with key partners in the organization, including both corporate and divisional finance staff.
• Ensure all audit relationships and work is undertaken in an ethical manner and with integrity.

For a more detailed account of the key responsibilities, please refer to the online job description.

Key selection criteria

Qualifications

• Postgraduate qualification in a relevant field such as accounting, finance, business management or equivalent body of knowledge and experience.
• Professional qualification in internal auditing (CIA or equivalent).
• Professional qualification in fraud investigations (CFE or equivalent) would be an advantage.

Technical expertise

• At least 7 years of relevant experience in audit and/or internal audit, with a preference for internal audit.
• Strong client focus with high level of responsiveness and demonstrated performance in delivering outputs, on time.
• Experience in internal audit in at least one (preferably several) development organisations would be an advantage.
• Experience in fraud investigations would be an advantage.
• Experience in the Pacific region would be an advantage.

Language skills

• Excellent English communication skills (oral and written) with a working knowledge of French being an advantage.

Interpersonal skills and cultural awareness

• Ability to work in a multicultural, inclusive and equitable environment.

Salary, terms and conditions

Contract Duration – 3 years – subject to renewal depending on funding and performance.

Remuneration – The Senior Internal Auditor is a band 10 position in SPC’s 2025 salary scale, with a starting salary range of 2,575‒3,218 SDR (special drawing rights) per month, which currently converts to approximately FJD 7,750–9,687 (USD 3,424–4,280; EUR 3,154–3,942). An offer of appointment for an initial contract will normally be made in the lower half of this range, with due consideration given to experience and qualifications. Progression within the salary scale will be based on annual performance reviews. Remuneration of expatriate SPC staff members is not subject to income tax in Fiji; Fiji nationals employed by SPC in Fiji will be subject to income tax.

Benefits for international employees based in Fiji – SPC provides a housing allowance of FJD 1,500–5,200 per month. Establishment and repatriation grant, removal expenses, airfares, home leave travel, health and life and disability insurances and education allowances are available for eligible employees and their eligible dependents. Employees are entitled to 25 working days of annual leave per annum and other types of leave, and access to SPC’s Provident Fund (contributing 8% of salary, to which SPC adds a 10% contribution).

Languages – SPC’s working languages are English and French.

Recruitment principles – SPC’s recruitment is based on merit and fairness, and candidates are competing in a selection process that is fair, transparent and non-discriminatory. SPC is an equal-opportunity employer, and is committed to cultural and gender diversity, including bilingualism, and will seek to attract and appoint candidates who respect these values. Due attention is given to gender equity and the maintenance of strong representation from Pacific Island professionals. If two interviewed candidates are ranked equal by the selection panel, preference will be given to the Pacific Islander. Applicants will be assured of complete confidentiality in line with SPC’s Privacy Policy.

Application procedure

Closing Date: 16 March 2025 at 11:59pm (Fiji time)

Job Reference: JM000843

Applicants must apply online at http://careers.spc.int/

Hard copies of applications will not be accepted.

For your application to be considered, you must provide us with:

• an updated resume with contact details for three professional referees
• a cover letter detailing your skills, experience and interest in this position
• responses to all screening questions

Your application will be considered incomplete and will not be reviewed at shortlisting stage if all the above documents are not provided. Applicants should not attach copies of qualifications or letters of reference. Please ensure your documents are in Microsoft Word or Adobe PDF format.

For international staff in Fiji, only one foreign national per family can be employed with an entity operating in Fiji at any one given time. SPC may assist on a case-by-case basis with submissions to Fiji Ministry of Foreign Affairs for their consideration and final approval. SPC cannot and does not make any guarantee whatsoever of approval for such applications to Fiji Ministry of Foreign Affairs and where an application is approved, the spouse or partner will subject to such terms and conditions as may be set from time to time by the Ministry.

SPC does not charge a fee to consider your application and will never ask for your banking or financial information during the recruitment process.

Screening Questions (maximum of 2,000 characters per question):

1. If an area was about to be audited for the first time, by you, how would you determine the scope of the audit and the audit tests to be carried out? How would you present this? Please provide an example.
2. How would you communicate audit issues and areas of risk to various parts of the organization, and plans to address those issues and risks in an effective manner?  Please provide an example.
3. How would you design and develop a quality assurance and improvement program for an Internal Audit & Risk function? What would be included in this and why? Please provide examples.