UNICEF works in over 190 countries and territories to save children’s lives, defend their rights, and help them fulfill their potential, from early childhood through adolescence.

At UNICEF, we are committed, passionate, and proud of what we do for as long as we are needed. Promoting the rights of every child is not just a job – it is a calling.

UNICEF is a place where careers are built: we offer our staff diverse opportunities for professional and personal development that will help them reinforce a sense of purpose while serving children and communities across the world. We welcome everyone who wants to belong and grow in a diverse and passionate culture, coupled with an attractive compensation and benefits package.

Visit our website to learn more about what we do at UNICEF.

For every child, the right to a Calling

How can you make a difference?

The Office of Internal Audit and Investigations (OIAI) is a key component of UNICEF’s independent internal oversight system, providing assurance and advisory services to strengthen governance, risk management, and control processes. OIAI reports functionally to the Executive Board and administratively to the Executive Director. Within OIAI, the Internal Audit Section delivers risk-based assurance and advisory services across UNICEF’s global operations. In this context, the Professional Practices function plays a critical leadership role in ensuring that the Internal Audit function is strategically aligned, high-performing, risk-informed, and continuously evolving in response to organizational priorities, emerging risks, stakeholder expectations, and the Global Internal Audit Standards. The Chief (Professional Practices) leads this function and serves as the central authority for audit quality, methodology, professional standards, risk-based planning, and performance insights across the Internal Audit Section, driving continuous improvement, innovation, and the long-term effectiveness and credibility of internal audit activities.

Under the supervision of the Deputy Director, Internal Audit, Chief (Professional Practices) is responsible for leading and governing the quality, strategic alignment, performance, and continuous transformation of the Internal Audit function. The position provides leadership over the Quality Assurance and Improvement Programme (QAIP), audit methodology and standards, risk-based planning frameworks, audit universe management, assurance mapping, audit performance measurement, and the modernization of audit practices through data, technology, and innovation.

Key functions, accountabilities and related duties/tasks:

Lead the Quality Assurance and Improvement Programme (QAIP) (25%)- Provide strategic leadership and full ownership of the Internal Audit Section’s Quality Assurance and Improvement Programme (QAIP), ensuring it covers all aspects of the audit activity and aligns with the Global Internal Audit Standards. Establish and enforce quality frameworks, methodologies, and performance criteria across all audit engagements.
Lead audit strategy, risk-based planning, and assurance mapping (25%)- Lead the development and continuous enhancement of the audit universe, risk-based planning frameworks, and strategic audit priorities, ensuring alignment with UNICEF’s evolving risk profile, organizational transformation initiatives, and stakeholder expectations.
Lead audit performance, analytics, and strategic insights (20%)- Establish and manage a comprehensive audit performance and analytics framework, including key performance indicators, dashboards, and data-driven monitoring of audit activities. Analyze cross cutting findings, systemic risks, trends, and emerging issues arising from audit and advisory work to generate strategic and forward-looking insights.
Lead audit methodology, standards, innovation, and transformation (15%)- Establish, maintain, and continuously enhance audit methodologies, policies, guidance, and professional practices to ensure consistency, rigor, and alignment with professional standards and leading practices. Provide authoritative interpretation of standards and ensure their consistent application across audit units.
Lead digital audit, tools, and knowledge management (10%)- Provide strategic direction and oversight for the governance, optimization, and use of audit management systems, data analytics, and digital tools to strengthen audit quality, efficiency, and insight generation.
Lead capability development and continuous improvement (5%)- Oversee the development and implementation of the Internal Audit Section’s capability development and training strategy, aligned with competency frameworks, evolving audit needs, and organizational priorities.

If you would like to know more about this position, please review the complete Job Description here: JD_Chief (Professional Practices)_P5

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…

Minimum requirements:

Education: An advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in Business Administration, Finance, Accounting, Economics, Information Systems, or a related field is required.
Work Experience: A minimum of 10 years of progressively responsible professional experience in internal audit, risk management, or oversight functions is required, including experience in international and/or multilateral organizations.
Skills:

Demonstrated experience in leading or managing professional practices functions, including the design and implementation of Quality Assurance and Improvement Programmes (QAIP), audit methodologies, and standards compliance is required.
Extensive experience in risk-based audit planning, including development and maintenance of the audit universe, dynamic risk assessment, and assurance mapping is required.
Demonstrated experience in driving audit quality and performance frameworks, including development of KPIs, audit performance monitoring, and reporting to senior management and oversight bodies is required.
Strong experience in audit management systems and data analytics, including administration and optimization of platforms such as TeamMate and the use of tools such as Power BI or similar is required.
Demonstrated ability to leverage technology and data analytics to enhance audit effectiveness, efficiency, and insight generation is required.
Excellent analytical, conceptual, and communication skills, including the ability to synthesize complex information and produce clear, concise reports for senior stakeholders are required.

Language Requirements: Fluency in English is required.

Desirables:

Language: Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) or a local language.
Professional certifications such as Certified Internal Auditor (CIA), Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA), Chartered Accountant (CA), Certified Public Accountant (CPA), or equivalent are highly desirable.
Demonstrated experience in planning, leading, and supervising internal audit and/or advisory engagements in complex organizational environments, including decentralized and field-based operations is highly desirable.
Strong knowledge and practical experience of the United Nations system or comparable international organizations, including governance structures, operational models, and risk environments is highly desirable.
Proven experience in preparing for and/or leading external quality assessments (EQA) or equivalent independent reviews, including driving implementation of recommendations and continuous improvement initiatives is highly desirable.
Demonstrated leadership and influence at senior level, including advising executive management, engaging with oversight bodies (e.g., Audit Advisory Committees/Boards), and working across global and multidisciplinary teams is highly desirable.
Relevant experience at country level, particularly in development, fragile settings and humanitarian contexts.

For every Child, you demonstrate...

UNICEF's Core Values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust and Accountability and Sustainability (CRITAS) underpin everything we do and how we do it. Get acquainted with Our Values Charter: UNICEF Values

UNICEF competencies required for this post are…

(1) Builds and maintains partnerships
(2) Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness
(3) Drive to achieve results for impact
(4) Innovates and embraces change
(5) Manages ambiguity and complexity
(6) Thinks and acts strategically
(7) Works collaboratively with others
(8) Nurtures, leads and manages people

Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels.

UNICEF promotes and advocates for the protection of the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything it does and is mandated to support the realization of the rights of every child, including those most disadvantaged, and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, minority, or any other status.

UNICEF encourages applications from all qualified candidates, regardless of gender, nationality, religious or ethnic backgrounds, and from people with disabilities, including neurodivergence. We offer a wide range of benefits to our staff, including paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF provides reasonable accommodation throughout the recruitment process. If you require any accommodation, please submit your request through the accessibility email button on the UNICEF Careers webpage Accessibility | UNICEF. Should you be shortlisted, please get in touch with the recruiter directly to share further details, enabling us to make the necessary arrangements in advance.

UNICEF does not hire candidates who are married to children (persons under 18). UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination based on gender, nationality, age, race, sexual orientation, religious or ethnic background or disabilities. UNICEF is committed to promote the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check, and selected candidates with disabilities may be requested to submit supporting documentation in relation to their disability confidentially.

UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance.  Issuance of a visa by the host country of the duty station is required for IP positions and will be facilitated by UNICEF. Appointments may also be subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid). Should you be selected for a position with UNICEF, you either must be inoculated as required or receive a medical exemption from the relevant department of the UN. Otherwise, the selection will be canceled.

Remarks:

As per Article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity.

UNICEF is committed to fostering an inclusive, representative, and welcoming workforce. For this position, eligible and suitable candidates are encouraged to apply.

Government employees who are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally required to resign from their government positions before taking up an assignment with UNICEF. UNICEF reserves the right to withdraw an offer of appointment, without compensation, if a visa or medical clearance is not obtained, or necessary inoculation requirements are not met, within a reasonable period for any reason.

UNICEF does not charge a processing fee at any stage of its recruitment, selection, and hiring processes (i.e., application stage, interview stage, validation stage, or appointment and training). UNICEF will not ask for applicants' bank account information.

Humanitarian action is a cross-cutting priority within UNICEF's Strategic Plan. UNICEF is committed to stay and deliver in humanitarian contexts. Therefore, all staff, at all levels across all functional areas, can be called upon to be deployed to support humanitarian response, contributing to both strengthening resilience of communities and capacity of national authorities.

All UNICEF positions are advertised, and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process. An internal candidate performing at the level of the post in the relevant functional area, or an internal/external candidate in the corresponding Talent Group, may be selected, if suitable for the post, without assessment of other candidates.

Additional information about working for UNICEF can be found here.

Chief (Professional Practices), P-5, Fixed Term, #00114284, Office of Internal Audit & Investigation, NYHQ