Audit and Verification Specialist

The Audit and Verification Specialist provides technical leadership and coordination for verification missions and audits across UNRWA fields. The role involves managing audit processes, ensuring compliance with accounting standards, coordinating donor reporting, and leading corrective actions to improve financial and audit outcomes.

Responsibilities

• Acts as a focal point for coordinating verification missions across UNRWA fields and provides technical leadership at strategic and operational levels.
• Assesses internal audits and verifications for consistency with professional standards and applicable accounting standards and regulations.
• Reviews submissions for verification missions to ensure accuracy and completeness of supporting documents and highlights risk areas.
• Manages interim and final audits by the UN Board of Auditors including planning, meetings, communication, and dissemination of audit requests and recommendations.
• Develops and leads agency-wide mechanisms for data collection, review, consolidation and submission of audit responses.
• Coordinates timely responses to audit queries and drafts management responses.
• Supports management of implementation of audit and donor verification recommendations and tracks progress.
• Acts as focal point for Department of Internal Oversight Services audits and other inspections within the Finance Department.
• Coordinates responses to donor requests on financial matters and reviews donor agreements for compliance with UNRWA systems and accounting standards.
• Provides authoritative interpretation of donor reporting requirements and leads staff performance management and training.
• Represents Finance Department in inter-agency coordination and donor meetings including European Union and European Commission engagements.
• Analyzes problems and formulates strategies and policies to address compliance, audit, verification and donor reporting issues.
• Performs other duties as assigned by the supervisor.

Requirements

• Advanced university degree (Master’s or equivalent) from an accredited educational institution in accounting, finance, business administration or related field.
• At least seven years of progressively responsible and relevant experience in accounting, finance, business administration or related field.
• At least three years at the international level in a large multinational, governmental, or non-profit organization in budgeting, accounting, financial management or related work using computer-based financial systems.
• Minimum of two continuous years of relevant international experience outside UNRWA and outside the candidate's country of nationality or citizenship, unless already serving as an international staff member in the UN Common System.
• Experience in budget or finance office of an organization in the UN common system is desirable.
• Membership in a professional body of accountants (e.g. Institute of Chartered Accountants, Institute of Certified Public Accountants) is desirable.
• Basic knowledge of Arabic is desirable.
• English language proficiency at UN Level III in reading, writing, listening and speaking is required.
• Candidates must disclose any outside activities including employment, consultancy, board membership, public speaking, teaching, voluntary work, political activity, fundraising, or business ownership.

Skills

• Financial Auditing
• Verification Missions
• Audit Process Management
• Accounting Compliance
• Donor Reporting
• Finance Management
• Budgeting
• Use of Computer-Based Financial Systems
• International Finance Experience
• Membership in Professional Accountancy Body
• Audit Coordination
• Corrective Actions Management

Languages

English, Arabic