Compliance Coordinator at International Rescue Committee (IRC)

Location: Maiduguri, Borno
Sector: Compliance
Employment Category: Regular

Background

• The IRC has been present in Nigeria since 2012 when the organization responded to flooding in Kogi state. In February 2014 the IRC moved into Adamawa State in NE Nigeria to provide humanitarian interventions through a multi-sectoral, integrated approach for conflict affected populations. IRC Nigeria now operates a country office in Abuja and field offices in Mubi and Yola of Adamawa State, Maiduguri and Monguno of Borno state and Damatru of Yobe State. Currently, IRC Nigeria implements programs primary health care, nutrition, environmental health, women’s protection and empowerment, protection, child protection, education, food security & livelihoods.  

Job Overview/Summary

• The Compliance Coordinator will support the Country Director to oversee internal controls and compliance functions across the country program, including support to the grants team to ensure that sub-grantees/partners are compliant with IRC’s and its donors’ rules and regulations.
• The Compliance Coordinator will report to the Country Director (CD), and, in the cases of investigations, to the Ethics and Compliance Unit’s Chief Ethics and Compliance Officer (CECO) or Senior Director of Investigations (SDI).
• The Compliance Coordinator’s primary responsibility will be to work across functions to ensure that an appropriate control environment is in place and that standard operating procedures and IRC policies are followed.
• In circumstances where country staff is charged with implementing control policies and processes that are under the authority of the central owners of these controls (for example, GSC, AMU, HR, Finance, IT), the role of this position is to coordinate the implementation of these controls within the country in a risk-based, comprehensive and coordinated manner, not to exercise superseding authority over the interpretation and enforcement of these policies and procedures.
• Where weaknesses in controls or application of controls are identified, the Compliance Coordinator will recommend action to remedy the situation to the CD and will also ensure appropriate reporting to central risk owners to ensure central support for country level remediation and also to support enterprise risk management.
• In collaboration with country leadership and the Ethics and Compliance Unit (ECU) as needed, the Compliance Coordinator will work with colleagues and field offices to create a culture reflecting the high ethical standards of IRC.
• The Compliance Coordinator will ensure that EthicsPoint is an effective complaint mechanism, accessible and known to all staff and partners.
• If an allegation of fraud or unethical behavior is made to the Compliance Coordinator, he/she will inform and report accordingly to the ECU immediately – and act as the main liaison for the country program with the ECU, keeping the CD fully informed.
• In the case of an investigation, ECU will partner with the Compliance Coordinator to provide clarity of roles in the investigation on a case by case basis.
• This could include providing documentation, access, or if so directed, conducting the investigation under ECU’s guidance and according to ECU’s standards and protocols.
• The Compliance Coordinator will be directed by the ECU but will keep country management fully informed unless country management is implicated and confidentiality concerns call for non-disclosure of information pertaining to the investigation to the country leadership. In such a case, the Regional Director will be kept fully informed.

Major Responsibilities
Internal controls and compliance:

• Develop a country level adoption of IRC’s risk framework to internal controls monitoring and strengthening aligned with tools and processes in country as well as with Operations, AMU, Finance, Internal Audit and ECU.
• Coordinate the use of a risk register (created pursuant to IRC’s risk framework) for the country program across operations and programs.
• Coordinate and conduct compliance, operational and financial reviews of IRC, partner and sub-partner activities (operation & programs) to assess adequacy and effectiveness of internal controls, risk management and compliance to selected policies, procedures and regulations.
• Produce consolidated internal reports (compliance, operational and financial) with findings and issues identified during these reviews, give appropriate recommendations on improvements to the country program and related partners’ processes, systems and procedures where appropriate.
• Conduct any ad-hoc internal audit assignments as requested by the Country Director or in response to donor specific queries.

Under the direction of ECU, assist in investigations of misconduct, fraud, corruption, as defined below:
Training:

• In coordination with and under the guidance and direction of ECU, act as focal point for IRC- ECU and donor fraud and anti-corruption policies and lead effective communication and training of these policies to staff.
• Coordinate and support training and workshops to IRC staff in collaboration with AMU, ECU and HR on ethics and compliance, in particular IRC Way and IRC Code of Conduct.

Misconduct Allegations and Investigations
Contribute to investigations on a case by case basis under the guidance of the CECO or the SDI. This may include the below:

• Undertake investigations of alleged fraud, waste, financial corruption, misconduct, ensuring objectivity, impartiality and fairness throughout investigative processes in accordance with generally recognized international investigative standards and IRC guidelines;
• Prepare reports and ad hoc briefs pertaining to investigations in coordination with the CECO
• Undertake investigation assignments in the local area at the direction, and in coordination, with ECU, keeping country and regional management fully informed consistent with any investigation confidentiality constraints;

Other:

• Stay informed of and ensure adherence to IRC and donor procedures and policies in relation to Supply Chain, Finance, HR and Programs as set out in relevant IRC manuals and guidelines.
• Review and advise the Country Director in collaboration with AMU on large contracts and MoUs, service agreements and other contractual agreements prior to signing.
• Perform other tasks as requested by the CD from time to time.

Key Working Relationships:

• Position Reports to: Country Director; in case of investigations to the CECO or Senior Director of Investigations on investigations, keeping the CD informed.
• Position directly supervises: None
• Indirect Reporting: Regional Director
• Internal: Regional Director, Regional Supply Chain, Finance and HR Directors, Awards Management Unit - Training and Compliance units, Grants Coordinator, HR Lead, Finance Controller, Deputy Directors of Programs and Operations
• External: Legal counsel

Professional Standards:

• The IRC and IRC workers must adhere to the values and principles outlined in IRC Way - Standards for Professional Conduct. These are Integrity, Service, and Accountability.  In accordance with these values, the IRC operates and enforces policies on Beneficiary Protection from Exploitation and Abuse, Child Safeguarding, Anti Workplace Harassment, Fiscal Integrity, and Anti-Retaliation.

Working Environment:

• The position will be based in Maiduguri with frequent travel to other field office locations and Abuja. Lodging in Maiduguri is a private bedroom in a shared IRC guesthouse with similar accommodation available in the other field offices.
• Maiduguri is security phase 4 (Red) so the Compliance Coordinator will be expected to respect the various security protocols in place in country. Phase 4 requires clear contingency planning in place with staff prepared should hibernation or evacuation be called. A government curfew exists and remains 10pm to 6am, meaning expatriate staff have to be at the hotel/guesthouse in Maiduguri no later than 8:00pm.

Job Requirements

• A qualified accountant or advanced degree in a relevant discipline.
• At least 5 years combined finance/audit/compliance experience
• Good understanding of Accounting and Internal Control standards (COSO). An understanding of SORP accounting principles is beneficial.
• Familiarity with forensic accounting, and both digital and paper file audits.
• International experience within other NGOs or in the development / humanitarian sector, with knowledge of donor rules and regulation, is desirable.
• Strong planning, organizational and interpersonal skills.
• Excellent analytical, presentation, and reporting skills.
• Ability to respond to changing priorities.
• Ability to work independently on own initiative
• Excellent communication skills, verbally and in writing, in English and local regional language.
• Evidence of successful experience in compiling and conducting training workshops is an advantage.
• Excellent IT skills in Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel.
• Strong commitment to IRC’s mission, purpose and values.