Integrated Partnership Internal Audit Executive

Reports to: Functionally to the Integrated Partnership Board (IPB) via the IPBAFRC. Administratively to the Executive Managing Director (EMD) as the Chief Executive Officer of the SO as the employing entity.

Location: This position will be based in a CGIAR Center in the Global South (LMIC) in a duty station to be determined or Montpellier France. Montpellier shown above is a default system setting and not the confirmed duty station.

Grade: SO8 / CG13

Date Published: 31 March 2025

Closing Date for Applications: 22 April 2025 at 16:00 CET.

About CGIAR

CGIAR is a global research partnership for a foodsecure future. CGIAR science is dedicated to reducing poverty enhancing food and nutrition security and improving natural resources and ecosystem services. Its research is conducted closely with hundreds of partners including national and regional research institutes civil society organizations academia development organizations and the private sector.

About the position

Driven by its Research and Innovation Strategy 2030 CGIAR has an ambitious agenda to deliver science and innovation and advance the transformation of food land and water systems to deliver diverse healthy safe sufficient and affordable diets and ensure improved livelihoods and greater social equality. CGIAR operates as an integrated partnership of thirteen research Centers and the System Organization with some ten thousand staff operating across the globe. Each Center has its own governance and leadership structure operating alongside the integrated governance and leadership arrangements of CGIAR as a whole.

The Integrated Partnership Internal Audit Function provides independent objective assurance services and advisory services designed to add value and improve CGIARs operations through a riskbased approach. Bringing a systematic disciplined approach the Function ensures that audit planning standards quality control and assurance reporting are aligned for the whole Integrated Partnership to evaluate and improve the effectiveness of governance risk management and control processes.

Reporting functionally to the Integrated Partnership Board (IPB) through the integrated Partnership Board Audit Finance and Risk Committee (IPBAFRC) and administratively to the Executive Management Director the Integrated Partnership Internal Audit Executive is responsible for structuring and advancing the Integrated Partnership Internal Audit Function driving consistency quality and continuous improvement across the Function advancing the development and implementation of a common internal audit strategy driving collaboration between Centers and the System Organization on SO working closely with internal and external partners and stakeholders and developing and overseeing internal audit plans.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Establish and lead the Integrated Partnership Internal Audit Function driving consistency quality and continuous improvement addressing gaps and escalating issues as needed and conducting additional assurance services to ensure effective internal audit implementation across the Integrated Partnership.
• Lead the development and implementation of a common internal audit strategy methodology approach tools and templates creating a structured approach to Internal Audits across the Integrated Partnership
• Conclude on the effectiveness of governance risk management and/or control processes at the level of the Integrated Partnership based on the expectation set by the IPBAFRC.
• Lead the reporting on amongst others the results from the quality assurance and improvement program for the Function CGIAR internal audit arrangements and on any changes affecting the mandate or charter and any potential impairments to independence to the IPBAFRC and when necessary the Centers AFRC.
• Drive monitoring and evaluation of the implementation of recommendations arising from Integrated Partnership engagements ensuring the responsiveness of the Function in delivering impact.
• Drive the active collaboration between Centers and SOs Heads of Internal Audit to strengthen the Internal Audit Function ensuring consistency and knowledge sharing across the Integrated Partnership.
• Deliver Partnership level assurance and advisory services to the Global Leadership Team and Centers including crosscutting thematic audits that address the overarching risks identified in the partnership risk assessment.
• Collaborate with other assurance functions to ensure alignment and synergies and with external auditors and leverage existing capabilities in Centers to ensure consistency quality and continuous improvement in the Integrated Partnership Internal Audit Function.
• Coordinate with the Risk Management Function to support the identification and analyses of trends and systemic risks for the development of risk based internal audit plans.
• Inspire support the development of and empower the staff of the Internal Audit Function.
• Promote a culture of collaboration inclusiveness and respect through modelling behaviors aligned with CGIAR Ethical Values.
• Develop and advance the Integrated Partnership audit universe and Partnership internal audit plans and budgets in coordination and collaboration with the Function along with other internal and external assurance providers.
• Endorse Center and SO annual audit plans for approval by the respective Center AFRCs and review internal audit reports from both the Function and individual Center Regional SO audit teams to ensure quality consistency and adherence to planning methodology approach and tools.
• Ensure adherence to the Global Internal Audit Standards (GIAS) across the Function.
• Serve in an advisory capacity during relevant Global Leadership Team (GLT) deliberations presenting summarized findings to the GLT relating to integrated and coordinated business processes and services as well as science programs/accelerators internal audits.

Education and Experience

• Advanced university degree (Masters or equivalent) in Accounting Finance Business Administration or a related field and professional Internal Audit Certification such as CIA/IIA or equivalent and/or accounting qualification (ICA ACCA or equivalent).
• Extensive professional experience at senior level gained in a comparable international organization in the field of corporate internal audit functions.
• Experiencing in establishing or redesigning Internal Audit Functions for an organization or group with multiple legal entities and / or business units.
• Proven ability to provide strategic direction and manage internal audit personnel and processes in a complex group or network organization.
• Demonstrated track record of developing and overseeing the of riskbased demanddriven internal audit plans in complex matrix organizations and delivering highquality audit reports.
• Demonstrated experience in engaging effective across organizational levels and geographies to build capacity and raise awareness.
• Experience working with multiple stakeholders globally is a distinct advantage.

Key Competences

• Demonstrated ability to establish credibility and authority.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills to effectively communicate complex internal audit issues to senior leaders and stakeholders
• Strategic thinker with strong analytical skills and attention to details.
• Ability to establish and manage strategic relationships working collaboratively across a broad range of internal and external stakeholders in diverse cultural contexts and sensitive or complex operational environments.
• Ability to engage effectively at the Board and senior executive levels contributing across a wide range of business issues and in an internationally extended enterprise.
• Outstanding interpersonal skills to build trust influence and work collaboratively with a range of global stakeholders to deliver results within approved timelines and budgets.
• Uphold the highest ethical standards inspiring trust and treating all people with respect and personal integrity shaping an inclusive diverse and open organizational culture.

Languages

• Excellent command of the English language both written and spoken.
• A working knowledge of an additional language such as Spanish French or Arabic is an advantage.

The selected staff member will be offered terms and conditions commensurate with the grade of the position qualifications and experience.

Submitting Your Application

If you face challenges in submitting your application please email with the position title in the subject line.

Please note that shortlisted candidates will be contacted by our partner SRI Executive.