Our partner, sector specialists in International Grant Audit are seeking auditors for a critical role; navigating a diverse group of NGOs & donors, such as the UN & The World Bank operating globally (Malawi, Peru, Vietnam, Belgium, Oxford, Sierra Leone, Brazil, Fiji, Cameroon). You'll be London-based travelling post pandemic 25-40% per annum on assignments 1 to 2 weeks in length in small teams.

These unique and extremely rewarding opportunities would suit experienced audit professionals that love diverse travel and supporting inspiring people and worthwhile causes.

Overseas assignments post pandemic could mean travel to one of over 100 countries/ territories. It presents a fantastic opportunity to see the parts of the world you’d never otherwise get to see, work with lovely people and pick up extremely relevant institutional donor and fieldwork experience; vital for anyone seeking a career in the international development NGO sector.

Role overview

Yoiu will complete expenditure audits of a extremely diverse range of projects funded by international donor institutions ranging from emergency aid, to long term development in areas such as agriculture, health or infrastructure, to more commercial projects such as SME development or technical research. Additionally, depending on your seniority you will provide on the job training and guidance to more junior team members throughout the assignment process.

The role will use all your communication, problem-solving and analytical skills and will give you experience in working with major institutions all over the world. An example assignment might see you leading an audit opening meeting with a UN country office on the Monday morning, before heading off to spend a few days with a local NGO or government partners to audit the way they have spent UN funds. You will look at a sample of supporting documents to make sure the expenditure is genuine and for the purposes intended by UN, and review the internal controls of the NGO, making recommendations as to how these might be improved to strengthen the management of the UN resources. At the end of the fieldwork, you will draft at aide-memoire document and discuss your findings with both the UN and its local partner. At the airport, you could even start drafting the formal report as you wait for your flight back to London.

Requirements

Qualified ACA / ACCA or equivalent (Finalists considered)

Experience, insight &/or exposure to grant funding, reporting or audit. 

Diplomacy and cultural sensitivity while working with a hugely diverse range of clients and beneficiaries

A real interest in international development and associated funding structures

'Ideally' fluency in a second language is preferable, especially in French, Spanish, Russian, German, Portuguese, Italian or Mandarin and Arabic.

Excellent communication, report writing and presentation skills

Team worker

Resilience and adaptability

Internationally recognised audit qualification preferable.

​Personal attributes:

At least two-three years of audit experience

Ability to work under pressure; Strong planning, organisational and time management skills

Sound technical and analytical skills, report writing and presentation skills

Passionate about international travel and development and willing to work in international locations for 30% plus of the time (post pandemic)

Candidates for permanent London based roles must have the right to work in the UK.

Built over 30 years, their talented, diverse and multi-lingual team, from graduates to experienced specialists, have established us as global leaders in our field, across a range of disciplines. This team applies their skills, knowledge and ambition to a variety of challenges and has a genuine passion for what they do.

The manager is at the forefront of the work of the department. Travelling internationally, meeting clients, colleagues and auditees. Leading meetings, leading audit teams, supporting junior colleagues, writing and reviewing audit reports, managing key relationships. Representing the team in person in front of multiple stakeholders. Contributing to the success of our clients and to the development of auditees, as well as your colleagues. The role of manager is both challenging and rewarding, and as well as office-based management work, offers travel experiences that very few other roles can match. In the role, depending on whether you are managing or leading fieldwork, you will:

• Prepare/review a tailored plan for all assignments based on a good understanding of the terms of reference and the applicable contractual conditions
• Lead/support opening meetings with clients and auditees and present the audit findings clearly and credibly at closing meetings
• Lead/support assignment fieldwork teams, including locally based staff, on overseas assignments, or work alone
• Demonstrate the ability to identify issues and areas of non-compliance on an assignment and write them up as findings in a detailed, precise and clear way in the assignment report
• Ensure the high quality of our written outputs by carrying our thorough and informed report reviews
• Lead/support larger country wide teams, acting as the client focal point and taking on management tasks
• Be proactive in supporting junior colleagues with their learning and development
• Be a trusted focal point for clients and service providers, offering solutions and support to them as required
• Be able to work to tight deadlines and manage time effectively
• Be prepared to be out of the office on international assignments for up to 30% of the time*

We’re looking for someone with:

• A genuine interest in international development
• A love of international travel, preferably with experience of working or volunteering internationally
• A second language, especially French, Spanish, German, Russian, Arabic, Portuguese or Mandarin
• A professional accountancy qualification (ACA / ACCA / CIMA or equivalent)
• An ability to communicate in a professional, constructive and respectful manner
• A proven aptitude for both team management and client support
• At least 5 years’ proven track record in audit and assurance work

* Due to the pandemic, the international travel element of the role has been significantly reduced and replaced largely by remote work. An increase in international travel opportunities is expected when the pandemic eases.

Complete international grant expenditure &/or VFM audits for an extremely diverse range of projects (grant recipients) funded by international donor institutions ranging from emergency aid, to long term development in areas such as agriculture, health or infrastructure, to more commercial projects such as SME development or technical research. Assignments are 1-3 weeks in length and based across the European mainland and the developing world. These are offered on an assignment by assignment basis, one to two months in advance. Please note there is no guaranteed period of work within the contract. Contractors can be based outside the UK on the European mainland but must be able to work in the EU. 

Requirements

• Qualified ACA / ACCA or equivalent

• Grant management and audit and reporting experience with international institutions

• Diplomacy and cultural sensitivity while working with a hugely diverse range of clients and beneficiaries

• A real interest in international development and associated funding structures

• Fluency in a second language (not essential)

• Excellent communication, report writing and presentation skills

• Resilience and adaptability

• Internationally recognised audit qualification preferable.

​ Personal attributes:

• At least 5-10 years of audit experience

• Ability to work under pressure; Strong planning, organisational and time management skills

• Sound technical and analytical skills, report writing and presentation skills

• Passionate about international travel and development and willing to work in international locations

About the Role

The International Assurance Services team are a small but committed team delivering to international governments, donors, public sector bodies, charities and INGOs. They also work closely with our public sector internal audit teams delivering work for the UK Government.

They are looking for qualified internal & external auditors to join their team. Ideally Institute of Internal Auditors qualified, the role involves working with our public-sector clients both in the UK and overseas.

Our work is diverse, so you need to be adaptable, proactive and a self-starter, you could be seconded to a UK government department auditing major change programmes or assigned to audit beneficiary data on a cash transfer programme for the ultra-poor in Zambia; supporting an emerging nations National Audit Office undertake their first forensic assignment or working with the United Nations. Rarely are two weeks the same.

We are looking for adaptable people with a ‘can do’ problem solving attitude. You should be prepared to work away from home occasionally in conflict/post conflict environments or in countries where 5-star comfort comes second to life experiences. Full training will be provided. Ideally, we would like a second language, French, Portuguese, Spanish or Arabic. You will be required to undertake security clearance.

To match our continued growth across Africa we are particularly interested in candidates with experience of / interested in long term overseas posting and those with experience delivering training or mentoring. We are also interested in those who joined internal audit later in their careers where their prior experiences would add real benefits to our clients.

Essential

• IIA/ACA qualification

Desirable

• Masters degree
• 5 years post qualified
• Experience of central government public sector
• Fluent in a second language
• Experience of delivering training or mentoring
• Experience working in developing economies
• Experience in the health sector

Our clients include a number of well-known organisations in the sector undertaking a wide range of activities from working to protect endangered species to undertaking scientific research to providing grants & support to social entrepreneurs.

The division is led by partners who have extensive first-hand experience in the not for profit sector. This enables us to understand the challenging environment these organisations face, which is heightened by an increasing demand for services with greatly constrained resources. Our people have a passion for the sector. Many of the team have worked directly in the not for profit sector before returning to practice, and everyone shares a passion for delivering strong social outcomes as well as financial sustainability – we describe ourselves as sector people who happen to be in practice.

You will be responsible for the planning, on-site running and completion of a portfolio of audit assignments to a range of clients in the not for profit sector. This will include providing on-the-job training to more junior members of the team. The team is also one of the largest providers of international grant verification audit work, through which we work with some of the largest internationally-recognised charities and humanitarian organisations. The role will provide the opportunity for involvement in these which can include global travel opportunities.

Specific responsibilities 

• Attend the pre-assignment discussions with the audit team. • Complete the planning sections of the audit file and draft the Audit Planning Report. • Input into our audit risk assessment, test design and budgeting procedures. • Take ownership for the completion of the audit testing across the file to a high quality. • Allocate work appropriately to junior members of the audit team. • Provide coaching to junior members of the team, review their work and provide feedback. • Ensure that the work undertaken on site is in accordance with the approved plan and time budget. • Communicate effectively, pro-actively advising the manager of any issues or developments that may impact on the timeline or result in adjustments being raised. • Develop an effective working relationship with key client contacts, which could be at FC / FD level. • Respond to all client queries and concerns in an efficient and professional manner, often dealing directly with senior management. • Suggest practical solutions to any issues or problems arising. • Maintain a complete log of outstanding issues and queries. • Clear any manager and partner review points raised, and follow up any outstanding queries. • Provide sound advice to clients and demonstrate knowledge of business issues. After the completion of the on-site audit visit, the senior will be expected to: • Assist with the drafting of the Audit Findings Report issued to the client, in particular regards to control issues and recommendations identified during the audit visit. • Assist with the completion and close-down of the audit file.

Person Specification Skills and Qualifications • A passion for the Not for Profit sector and in developing wider knowledge of the issues affecting our clients. • Accountancy training - audit based. • ACCA or ACA, or equivalent, qualified. • Proven skills in external audit. • Proven skills in audit planning, fieldwork and file completion. • Proven skills in supervising and managing staff. • Enthusiasm to assist with departmental responsibilities beyond the audits, for example business development activities or training of juniors.

Travel opportunities

Geographical location of clients typically London with some work for the European based Donor institutions - so there is scope to travel internationally, the extent to which is largely dependent on the individual.