Compliance Coordinator at International Rescue Committee (IRC)

Background/IRC Summary

• The International Rescue Committee, one of the world’s largest humanitarian agencies, provides relief, rehabilitation and post-conflict reconstruction support to victims of natural disaster, oppression and violent conflict in over 40 countries. The IRC is committed to bold leadership, innovation and creative partnerships. Active in public health, education, livelihoods, women's empowerment, youth development, and protection and promotion of rights, IRC assists people from harm to home.
• IRC entered Nigeria in October 2012 in response to a widespread flood disaster. Since then, the IRC has expanded its scope and size of the programs as new areas became accessible after prolonged conflict and insecurity, in Adamawa, Borno and Yobe States. The IRC’s response to the humanitarian situation includes integrated health and nutrition services, reproductive health care and women protection services, Environmental Health, Child Protection, Economic Recovery and Development, Education and General Protection. The country program has a five year strategy action plan, 2015 to 2020, that is reviewed on an annual basis. IRC’s programming in Northeast Nigeria is supported by a team of more than 650 staff

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).

Major Responsibilities

• 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.

Internal Controls and Compliance:

• Review and implement 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 and track the risk register (created pursuant to IRC’s risk framework) for the country program across operations and programs.
• Coordinate and draft policies and SOPs and internal controls
• 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

Capacity Building:

• 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 conduct training and workshops to IRC staff in collaboration with AMU, ECU and HR on ethics and compliance, in particular IRC Way, IRC Code of Conduct, Anti-fraud Awareness Training and Risk management.

Misconduct Allegations and Investigations:

• Serve as additional resources on misconduct reporting in addition to the global reporting policy and liaise with the hotline handlers in order to provide them guidance and detect any misconduct reported by beneficiaries
• 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;

Others:

• 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.
• Ensure IRC staff is aware of the policies and SOPs in place and serve as a focal point of the IRC Nigeria Intranet Review and advise the Country Director in collaboration with AMU on large contracts and MoUs, service agreements and other contractual agreements prior to signing.
• Serve as a focal point for internal audit and coordinate the corrective action plan
• 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

Other Internal and/or External Contacts:

• 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

Job Requirements

• A qualified accountant or Advanced Degree in a relevant discipline.
• Ability to respond to changing priorities.
• Ability to work independently on own initiative
• At least 5 years combined legal/ finance/audit/compliance experience
• Evidence of successful experience in compiling and conducting training workshops is an advantage
• Excellent analytical, presentation, and reporting skills.
• Excellent communication skills, verbally and in writing, in English and local regional language.
• Excellent IT skills in Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel.
• Familiarity with forensic accounting, and both digital and paper file audits.
• Good understanding of Risk Management and Accounting and Internal Control standards (COSO). An understanding of SORP accounting principles is beneficial.
• 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.
• Strong commitment to IRC’s mission, purpose and values
• Working Environment: This position is unaccompanied and accommodation will be in shared housing

Benefits

• Monthly salary, 13Month Salary Inclusive, Health Insurance Coverage for Family, Pension, Creche Facilities available for Women with babies under 24 Months.