Embassy Of Ireland Zambia
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VACANCY – Audit and Risk Advisor
Embassy of Ireland, Lusaka
Our mission is to promote and protect abroad the values, interests and economic well-being of Ireland and
its people. We do this under the political direction of our Ministers, through our staff at home and through
our Embassy network abroad.
The Embassy of Ireland to Zambia is seeking to recruit an experienced Audit and Risk Advisor to provide
assurance to the Ambassador and the Department of Foreign Affairs of Ireland. The Audit and Risk Advisor will
support the efficient operation of the systems of accountability, oversight, and risk management.
The role will support effective compliance with the Embassy’s standards of financial oversight and management
within the Embassy and by partners. It will also support those standards demanded by the Office of the
Comptroller General of the Irish Government, the Office of the Auditor General of Zambia and generally
accepted accounting principles. The Audit and Risk Advisor will report both to the Head of Mission at the
Embassy of Ireland and to the Evaluation and Audit Unit of the Department of Foreign Affairs in Ireland.
The Embassy of Ireland to Zambia was established in 1980. The Embassy manages the bilateral political relations
and the development and cooperation partnership between Ireland and the Republic of Zambia. The Embassy
also provides consular services to Irish citizens, processes visas for travel to Ireland and engages in trade and
culture promotion. The Embassy’s work is designed to contribute to the Irish Department of Foreign Affairs’
high-level goals as described in the foreign policy document, Global Island: Ireland’s Foreign Policy for a Changing
World, which are Our People, Our Prosperity, Our Values, Our Place in Europe and Our Influence.
As a development cooperation partner with Zambia, the Embassy implements programmes through
partnerships with multilateral organisations, local non-governmental organisations (NGOs), government and
pooled funding with other cooperating partners. A key concern for the Embassy is to ensure there is compliance,
transparency and accountability within the Embassy and by partners of Ireland’s development cooperation
programmes.
Roles and Responsibilities:
Internal Audit, Monitoring, Risk Management and Reporting
Support Embassy compliance with the standards and requirements of the Irish Department of
Foreign Affairs and Partners;
Manage the annual external audit process for the Embassy and programmes – alert management
of issues arising and steps to be taken;
Assess the risk and internal controls in operation within the Embassy and provide advisory
support to management;
Prepare and implement annual risk-based annual audit plans, and follow up on management
implementation of recommendations;
Provide input into Embassy guidelines on partner reporting.
Provide a critical appraisal of the quality and content of partner reports with programme
managers.
Support Development Cooperation Interventions
Become familiar with the Mission’s development cooperation work in Zambia and the Embassy’s
management systems;
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Support programme staff in the assessment and management of financial and programme risk;
Participate in the planning of multi-donor financial arrangements to assure compliance with Irish
Aid financial procedures and requirements;
Participate in the assessment of partner capacity and advise according to accounting and financial
standards required;
Advise on partner institutional appraisals and any capacity building programmes to address
financial management weaknesses;
Assist in the identification and procurement of audit and financial management related
consultancy services, as required;
Work closely with the Evaluation and Audit Unit, Head of Mission and team on follow-up to any
financial or programme irregularities.
General Management, Budgeting and Staff Development
Provide support for other activities included in the Embassy Business Plans as requested;
Provide both expert financial and general management input into mission activities, and provide capacity building and awareness raising to Embassy staff around partner financial management
and related systems and procedures as necessary.
Contribution to Whole of Embassy Strategic Planning and Implementation
Contribute relevant compliance, audit and risk information and analysis in strategic management
processes, ensuring that the audit and risk management work is accurately represented, and
adequately resourced;
Provide advice on appropriate risk management and mitigation indicators in the performance measurement framework;
Contribute to the Embassy’s knowledge management and learning functions and practices, and
the maintenance of a repository of information, statistics and trends.
Communications and teamwork
Communicate user-friendly compliance, audit and risk requirements to internal and external
stakeholders;
Undertake and report on information sharing activities with external stakeholders as required;
Maintain links with other Missions to identify potential areas for collaboration and best practice;
Participate constructively in performance review processes;
Contribute to team efforts outside the role.
Essential Requirements candidates must be able to demonstrate: (proposals not meeting essential criteria will not be considered).
Candidates must be a qualified accountant with full internationally recognised accounting
qualification such as CPA/ACCA, CA or CIMA and be a member of ZICA;
Candidates must have a minimum of five years’ post qualification experience of which three years
should have been in a development agency or NGO at a senior level. Specific expertise and
qualification in internal and/or external audit;
Candidates must be proficient in the main, internationally recognised, accountancy software
packages and a high level of computer skills in Microsoft Office software, particularly Word, Excel
Spreadsheets, e-mail and internet sufficient for the performance of above duties;
Candidates must demonstrate knowledge of changes in international accounting and auditing
standards
Candidates must have a proven ability to collate and distil large amounts of information,
summarising findings to be used for management decisions and planning;
Candidates must have proven planning and monitoring skills and an advanced understanding of
risk management and internal control assessments;
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Candidates must have excellent interpersonal and communication skills (verbal and written) and
credibility in dealing with senior members of staff over financial and risk issues;
Candidates must be able to show familiarity with the key principles and practice of effective aid
delivery.
Candidates must have excellent verbal and written English language skills;
All applicants must have a permanent legal right to reside and work in Zambia.
Desirable Skills and Experience:
A good understanding of the role of a development cooperation Mission or previous experience in
this or a similar development cooperation role;
Good interpersonal and tactful negotiation skills and the ability to work independently and as part of
a team.
Terms and conditions of employment:
The successful candidates will be hired on a permanent contractual basis with a three month
probation period and will be based at the Embassy of Ireland, Lusaka;
Monday to Friday, 38 hours per week;
Annual Leave entitlement 24 days per annum;
The gross salary for the position is €32,187.69 (inclusive of housing allowance) per annum, paid locally
on a monthly basis. Salaries are paid direct to a bank account; therefore, the successful candidate
must have a bank account.
How to apply
Job Description and Application Form for this position are available on our website
www.dfa.ie/zambia
Completed application forms should be sent via e-mail only to RecruitmentLusaka@dfa.ie, with the
subject line Audit & Risk Advisor Vacancy.
Applications must be received before 16:30 hrs. (Local time) on 18 November 2022
No applications will be accepted after this deadline. Please note that only short listed applicants will be
contacted.
Selection Process:
Depending on the number of applications received, a short-listing of candidates to be called for
interview may be undertaken based on the Essential/Key Requirements above;
It is planned that interviews will be held in person toward the end of November 2022.
A skills test may be included in the recruitment process;
A second interview may be included in the recruitment process; and
A panel may be set up depending on the calibre of candidates for current and future vacancies.
General Data Protection Regulation:
All personal information received will be kept in line with GDPR guidelines.
Security Clearance for Local Staff
Police security clearance will be sought in respect of individuals who come under consideration for appointment.
Enquiries may also be made with the police force of any country in which the applicant under consideration for
appointment resided. If unsuccessful, this information will be destroyed. If the applicant subsequently comes
under consideration for another position, they will be required to supply this information again.
Please note that canvassing will disqualify applicants.
The Embassy of Ireland, Lusaka is committed to a policy of Equal Opportunity