JOB DESCRIPTION

About Catholic Relief Services

Catholic Relief Services is the official international humanitarian agency of the Catholic community in the United States. CRS works to save, protect, and transform lives in need in more than 100 countries, without regard to race, religion or nationality. CRS’ relief and development work is accomplished through programs of emergency response, HIV, health, agriculture, education, microfinance and peacebuilding. CRS began working in Malawi in 1997 at the invitation of the Episcopal Conference of Malawi. Today, CRS Malawi implements food security, emergency response, nutrition, WASH and capacity building activities funded by both public and private donors throughout the eight Dioceses of Malawi.

CRS Malawi serves as the Lead Implementation Organization (LIO) for Restore Africa in Malawi in partnership with World Vison International Malawi, CARE International Malawi, Self Help Africa, Total Land Care, Organization for Sustainable Socio-Economic Development Initiative (OSSEDI), Catholic Development Commission in Malawi (CADECOM), and The International Centre for Research in Agroforestry (ICRAF).

Job Summary:

You will conduct risk and compliance related activities for the Restore Africa Program in the Malawi country program (CP) including sub-recipient compliance adhering to CRS policies, local laws, and donor regulations to help ensure effective delivery of high-quality programming to the poor and vulnerable. The Restore Africa program focuses on carbon sequestration, transformative land restoration, improved food security and diversified livelihoods, and aims to increase resilience to climate change in three countries in eastern and southern Africa. Your knowledge and skills will help reduce risk to staff, to the effectiveness of our programming and to the people we serve through the application of the principles of stewardship, integrity, transparency, and accountability.

• Collaborate with the Senior Risk and Compliance Officer and Restore Africa leadership on strengthening internal control systems and processes for the Restore Africa program.
• Conduct systems verification and identify risk issues, weaknesses/ inefficiencies, anomalies, challenges, and propose solutions to address them and improve system integrity.
• In collaboration with the Ethics Unit Manager, conduct regular internal control reviews to assess the effectiveness of controls in operations and program management systems and processes for the Restore Africa program in accordance with CRS Policies and Procedures.
• Help implement and advise on the sub-recipient financial management policy (SRFMP)
• Support the planning and performance of internal audits, control reviews and compliance assessments, conduct audit activities as applicable. Help analyse results and provide recommendations.
• Support the design and facilitation of ESG-I, risk and compliance trainings and institutional capacity strengthening plans for Restore Africa staff and partners in consideration of donors’ requirements and partners’ systems and procedures.
• Coordinate external and internal audits and manage the implementation of action plans to close out audit findings and recommendations related to the Restore Africa program and the overall CP.
• Support and facilitate the monitoring of progress, and the evaluation of effectiveness of all agreed actions arising from the findings and recommendations of country program reports and documenting progress on periodic action plan.
• Conduct internal investigation of reported potential and alleged incidents of collusion and fraud.
• Support monthly ESG-I reporting and other quarterly and annual project compliance reporting as per the donor requirements.
• Co-ordinate with the technical and compliance teams and review/update the project’s risk management plans to aid effective risk management at both PMU and partner levels.
• Follow up and close out incidents that occur in the Restore Africa program in line with the CAM incident reporting procedure.
• Support FCRM case management ensuring timely response to cases that need further follow up and action.
• Perform other related duties as assigned by the supervisor or his/her delegate.

Basic Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting, Business Administration or other relevant Bachelor’s strongly preferred. Accounting and other relevant certification(s) a plus.
• A certification in CPA, CIA and ACCA will be an added advantage.
• Minimum of 4 years work experience, ideally with an international organization, with progressive responsibility in operations and/or programming. At least 3 of these years entailing audit, compliance, or risk management experience.
• Knowledge of audit standards and compliance regulations and familiarity with international standards for internal control and risk and compliance management (e.g., COSO, ISO)

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Good relationship management skills. Ability to relate to people at all levels internally and externally.
• Good analytical, planning, organizational, and systems thinking skills.
• Ability to make sound judgment.
• Able to prioritize work, multi-task and meet deadlines.
• Good technical writing skills.
• Ability to work effectively under pressure and flexibility.
• Able to professionally maintain confidential information.
• Ethical conduct in accordance with recognized professional and organizational codes of ethics
• Proactive, resourceful, and results-oriented
• Strong customer service orientation with excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Proficient in MS Office package (Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Visio) and information management systems.

Agency Competencies (for all CRS Staff):

• Personal Accountability – Consistently takes responsibility for one’s own actions.
• Acts with Integrity – Consistently models values aligned with CRS Guiding Principles and mission. Is considered honest.
• Builds and Maintains Trust – Shows consistency between words and actions.
• Collaborates with Others – Works effectively in intercultural and diverse teams.
• Open to Learn – Seeks out experiences that may change perspective or provide an opportunity to learn new things.