Staff whose work requires or potentially could require any in-person interaction with Save the Children colleagues, partners, or beneficiaries must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 unless otherwise required by law. Save the Children complies with federal, state, and local laws with regard to accommodations related to this policy.

Summary

Save the Children Federation (SCUS) is seeking a Senior Audit Specialist, Global Assurance (GA), Save the Children’s ‘third line of defense’ internal audit function. You will report to the Managing Director, Global Assurance. GA supports the Boards and leadership teams of several Save the Children entities [including, but not limited to, Save the Children International (SCI), Save the Children Fund (SCUK), Save the Children Federation Inc. (SCUS) and Save the Children Head Start by evaluating the adequacy and effectiveness of the governance, risk management, control and oversight systems in place. You will focus on the delivery of GA’s internal audit plan for SCUS, but will support GA’s overall strategic aims – at SCI and at SC Member organizations.

You will act as an audit lead, planning and delivering high quality, outcomes-focused internal audit assignments, reviews, and other work assigned to you to agreed professional standards and stakeholder expectations, on time and within budget. Where required, you will be expected to work closely with other assurance providers within Save the Children and any external providers, such as consultants or professional services firms.

What You Will Be Doing (Essential Duties)

Delivery of Audit and Advisory Plan & Strategy (70%)

• Work closely with the Managing Director, GA, and the Chief Assurance Officer (CAO) as applicable, in planning, conducting, reporting and follow up assignments from the audit plan on time, within budget, and in accordance with professional standards and GA methodology.
• Take on key responsibilities in the annual audit planning exercise at SCUS and for Save the Children Head Start to provide reasonable assurance over the adequacy, efficiency, and effectiveness of governance, financial and operating systems, internal controls, risk management, domestic (US Programs, Head Start) and international operations.
• Lead specific organizational projects as assigned – on time and within the allocated budget; sometimes participating in cross-entity GA teams to deliver high quality assurance/advisory outcomes.
• Contribute to systems development work within Save the Children – especially at SCUS and Save the Children Head Start – by providing independent advice regarding appropriate levels of internal control & oversight.
• Actively contribute to and work towards delivering GA’s transformation plans – particularly in relation to a coordinated approach and methodology for delivering audit and advisory work across Save the Children.
• Provide input to the preparation of operational and strategic audit plans, and into the future shape and direction of GA.
• Support the Managing Director and CAO to prepare papers on audit findings to the Audit and Risk Committee and Senior Leadership Team, and to track management actions taken to address issues raised by internal audit, as well as critical issues raised by second line of defense functions.
• Work with colleagues in GA’s international ‘hubs’ in London, Nairobi, and Manila on the delivery of assurance and advisory projects seeking to address global and cross-entity risks.

Stakeholder Engagement (15%)

• Lead by example, ensuring that relationships with stakeholders remain strong through demonstration of professional acumen, interpersonal skills, and the delivery of first-class results.
• Respond to queries raised by management, providing prompt and professional advice as appropriate.
• Provide advice on internal control and oversight matters, and as required, attend key governance committees and fora in an advisory (or observer) capacity.

Professional Development (15%)

• Engage in ‘horizontal learning’ opportunities, ensuring that learning is identified and that good practice is shared actively.
• Take the lead in own self-development by actively participating in the performance management processes. This also includes providing developmental feedback and opportunities for coaching for others within the team.
• Remain up-to-date on organizational changes, and actively seek engagement with issues that have a significant impact on GA’s current and potential assignments.

Required Qualifications

• Minimum of a Bachelor Degree or equivalent experience, plus at least 5 years of relevant experience
• Related professional certification – CIA, CPA, CISA, CRMA, or CFE, or equivalent – and membership in an internationally recognized audit, risk, or accountancy body.
• Relevant experience in operational areas of risk (e.g. grant management, partnerships, safeguarding, legal/compliance, governance & oversight, IT, program delivery and quality, etc.) to which Save the Children – primarily SCUS and Save the Children Head Start - is exposed
• Proven knowledge of relevant government standards, federal and state legislation and regulations related to tax exempt charitable organizations
• Demonstrated understanding of a donor-driven fund compliance organization, not-for-profit organization, UN, or public sector organization
• Demonstrated experience conducting risk-based reviews of systems and processes (with an understanding of the three lines model and COSO), identifying weaknesses and areas of improvements with minimum supervision and support
• Proven ability to communicate the key issues and crucial matters of control and oversight affecting the organization’s ability to manage risk and meet objectives
• Demonstrated accuracy, detail-orientation, and ability to complete multiple projects, with conflicting priorities, on a timely basis
• Professional proficiency in spoken and written English, with proven experience in producing high quality effective written communication, e.g. reports
• Willingness and ability to travel domestically and internationally up to 30% of time
• Professional proficiency in MS Office suite
• Demonstrated ability to communicate and collaborate effectively with individuals and teams at all levels, both internally and externally
• Demonstrated commitment to fostering and maintaining and environment of diversity, inclusion, and belonging.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience conducting reviews of domestic early childhood education, health, and nutrition programming, such as Head Start and Early Head Start, or similar federal and state-level child-care and/or assistance programming
• Proficiency in another of Save the Children’s operating language, preferably Spanish, French or Arabic
• International NGO experience or have worked in a commercial/public sector international organization
• Financial analysis, experience in Agresso financial software

Compensation

Save the Children is offering the following salary ranges for this position, dependent on candidate location:

• Geo 1- NY Metro, DC, and other locations with labor costs significantly above national average: Target Salary for this position is $84,150 – $94,050 base salary
• Geo 2-Locations around the US National Labor Cost Average: Target Salary for this position is $76,500 – $85,500 base salary
• Geo 3-Locations significantly below the US National Labor Cost Average: Target Salary for this position is $68,850 – $76,950 base salary

Actual base salary may vary based upon, but not limited to, relevant experience, base salary of internal peers, business sector, and geographic location. Employee may be eligible for an incentive program. Save the Children also offers paid vacation, accrued at least 12 days a year, depending on paygrade and length of service, paid safety and wellness leave of at least 1 day per month worked for a full time employee which is pro rata reduced for employees working less than a full time schedule, and at least 10 paid holidays a year. Employees may be eligible for additional bonus compensation. Save the Children US also offers outstanding benefits that include health, dental, vision and life insurances, short-term and long-term disability coverage, an Employee Assistance Program, a retirement savings plan with employer contribution, family leave, paid parental/adoption leave of 60 days, commuter benefits, paid caregiver leave days, 1 paid volunteer day a year, paid critical child illness leave days, dress for your day, and much more.

Why you should join the Save the Children Team…

Save the Children US offers outstanding benefits that include health, dental, vision and life insurances, short-term and long-term disability coverage, an Employee Assistance Program, 403(b), generous vacation, personal sick leave, family leave, parental/adoption leave, commuter benefits, dress for your day, and much more.

Click here to learn more about how Save the Children US will invest in YOU!

About Save the Children

No matter your role when you join Save the Children, each and every day you will challenge yourself to devote your skills, talent and expertise to changing the world for kids. It’s an ambitious goal, and a meaningful one no matter how you see yourself professionally: an accountant, a writer, a data analyst, a teacher, a driver, a designer, or any one of the hundreds of dozens of roles we’re looking to fill every day.

You see, Save the Children believes every child deserves a future. In the United States and around the world, we give children a healthy start in life, the opportunity to learn and protection from harm. We do whatever it takes for children – every day and in times of crisis – transforming their lives and the future we share.

Our work for children and their families requires that we commit—at every opportunity—to work together to identify and dismantle persistent systemic and structural racism, inequality, and any other forms of discrimination in this country and beyond. As an anti-racist organization, Save the Children will not tolerate discrimination in any form—in our employment practices, amongst our staff, in our leadership or toward the people we serve. We stand in solidarity with all people to fight for equal rights, justice, inclusion, and belonging.

We provide equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, ancestry, sexual orientation, national origin, age, handicap, disability, marital status, or status as a veteran. Save the Children complies with all applicable laws.

Save the Children is committed to conducting its programs and operations in a manner that is safe for the children it serves and helping protect the children with whom we are in contact. All Save the Children representatives are explicitly prohibited from engaging in any activity that may result in any kind of child abuse. In addition, it is Save the Children’s policy to create and proactively maintain an environment that aims to prevent and deter any actions and omissions, whether deliberate or inadvertent, that place children at the risk of any kind of child abuse. All our representatives are expected to conduct themselves in a manner consistent with this commitment and obligation.

Save the Children is committed to minimizing safety and security risks for our valued employees, ensuring all are given training, support and information to reduce their risk exposure while maximizing the impact of our programs for children and families. Our shared duty, both agency and individual, is to seek and maintain safe working conditions for all.