The Regional Risk, Audit and Compliance Director for the Africa Region at Church World Service (CWS) is a senior leadership role responsible for championing a strong culture of integrity, compliance, and accountability across the region. This position involves designing and implementing regional compliance and risk capacity-building plans, managing comprehensive internal audit programs, leading investigations, and developing an enterprise risk management strategy integrated within the organizational framework. This director is expected to engage with Country and Regional Leadership on financial management and audit follow-up, ensuring predictable and consistent adherence to internal policies, donor requirements (especially US Government funding), and legal frameworks across all operational contexts.
Key Responsibilities
Leadership and Capacity Building (25%)
- Championing a strong culture of integrity, compliance, and accountability across the region.
- Leading the design and implementation of a regional compliance and risk capacity-building plan that equips staff at all levels with the knowledge, tools, and confidence to proactively manage risk and uphold compliance standards.
- Embedding compliance knowledge and risk awareness into everyday business operations through regular engagements, practical tools, job aids, and refreshers that are tailored to the operational context.
- Promoting a learning culture by leveraging audit findings and compliance reviews as coaching opportunities, not just correctional exercises.
- Engaging with Country and Regional Leadership on financial management and audit follow-up.
- Providing leadership across the full spectrum of risk and compliance.
- Conducting strategic situational analyses and benchmarking against best practices.
- Developing and integrating an enterprise risk management strategy within the organizational strategy.
- Establishing and communicating clear expectations to staff to foster a predictable and consistent work environment.
- Collaborating with management to improve internal control mechanisms as needed.
- Serving as a liaison with global audit, legal, and risk and compliance functions as appropriate.
Audits, Investigations and Reviews (30%)
- Conducting compliance assessments, analyzing results, and recommending improvements.
- Developing and managing auditing plans using the risk-based methodology as appropriate.
- Carrying out internal audit plans and special projects, reporting periodically on progress and findings.
- Analyzing financial and operational data, preparing reports, and recommending remedial actions.
- Implementing the internal annual audit plan, as approved, including, as appropriate, any special tasks or projects requested by management, and reporting periodically on the status and results of the audit plan.
- Reviewing internal control systems and recommending improvements to safeguard assets.
- Liaising with external auditors as appropriate, to ensure comprehensive audit coverage.
- Leading and/or supporting fraud and possible misconduct investigations.
- Carrying out value for money audits and assessing resource and process efficiency and making recommendations.
- Analyzing compliance with industry regulations, internal policies, donor requirements and making recommendations.
- Updating compliance records and following up on implementation of internal and external audit recommendations.
- Tracking reported organization violations and the responses and plans regarding these allegations.
- Compiling reports on the results of external and internal audits and presenting these reports to the relevant supervisors and department heads.
- Contributing to policy and procedure reviews ensuring alignment with legal and donor requirements.
- Maintaining a strong compliance reputation through proactive and transparent audit work.
- Briefing management on auditing findings and reports.
- Accepting ownership of new auditing initiatives and enhancing the compliance department’s reputation and effectiveness.
Risk Management and Reporting (30%)
- Working with other members of the CWS Africa Leadership Team to identify strategic gaps that may give rise to future risks.
- Advising CWS Africa leadership and department staff on internal controls and risk mitigation actions, both solicited and unsolicited.
- Analyzing potential risks within the organization and its practices to avoid possible non-compliance issues.
- Providing strategic advice on risk management implementation, measurement, and best practices.
- Leading operational risk assessments and maintaining a current risk register.
- Following up with management on actions taken to address the risks identified.
- Testing control weaknesses identified through audits and helping remediate gaps.
- Supporting Country Offices and departments in strengthening administrative, operational, and financial practices.
- Working with all operations units of the Country Office or RSC to document areas requiring enhancement, beyond solely financial management.
- Tracking legal and regulatory developments across countries (e.g., tax, labor laws, data protection, immigration).
- Ensuring donor compliance and maintaining alignment with CWS Africa’s strategic and legal framework.
- Maintaining an up-to-date issues log and reporting on risk and compliance metrics to senior leadership.
- Maintaining an up-to-date issues log and action or follow up on all outstanding issues until they are closed.
- Preparing and presenting regular risk management reports to the senior Management.
- Staying informed on external threats to the organization and proposing control measures.
Additional Responsibilities (5%)
- Executing special projects and other duties as assigned by CWS/RSC Africa Leadership.
- Escalating issues as needed to colleagues.
Qualifications and Experience
Education and Experience Requirements:
- Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, Auditing, Compliance, Business Administration, or related field is required.
- Master’s degree in business administration, finance, accounting or related field is preferred.
- Professional certification (e.g., CPA, ACCA, CIA, CFE) with a good standing is required.
- A minimum of ten (10) years’ professional work experience in accounting, finance, auditing or related field is required.
- A minimum of five (5) years of direct supervisory or management experience required.
- Proven experience in fraud investigations and forensic audits, especially within international NGOs required.
- US Government (USG) funding and compliance experience required.
- Proven ability to identify and mitigate financial risks and ensure donor and legal compliance.
- Strong organizational and management skills, with particular attention to detail.
- Computer literacy, with a strong emphasis on Microsoft Suite.
