Save the Children International has an exciting opportunity for a Roving Internal Controls & Compliance Advisor - French to join our global team.
Team and Job Purpose
The Global Programme Operations team is a natural catalyst and connector, facilitator of various functions, that drives the implementation of our strategy with impact, quality, on time, on budget and with compliance. It is a highly collaborative team that works daily with stakeholders throughout Save the Children across the world, to facilitate a culture of strong operational and programmatic delivery. Global Programme Operations enables implementing offices meet relevant Quality Standards and external regulatory requirements through simple & accessible policies and procedures, systems support, tools, capacity strengthening and data analysis, while continuously improving, adapting and simplifying the framework based on country learning and regulatory changes. The team delivers compliant project and award management, supports regulated and complex programmes (including sponsorship and regional programmes) through ‘field-first’ thinking and partnering support towards contextualisation of the above. The team provides direct support when implementing offices escalate issues, acting as a cross-functional convenor when necessary.
To provide internal controls and compliance support to small Country Offices, ensuring globally-aligned, high-quality systems are in place and mitigating risks associated with internal and external factors. Assess, monitor and help mitigate both internal and external risks across Country Programmes, and providing effective challenge to the quality of management oversight on key functions within the Country Programme. Ensure that high quality, effective systems are in place to monitor and respond to internal risks, associated with but not limited to: partnerships and local NGO relationships, compliance with SCI policy and regulation, safeguarding, fraud and corruption.
Job Title: Roving Internal Controls & Compliance Advisor
Reports To: Head of Programme Risk & Compliance
Work Pattern: Hybrid/Remote with flexible working options available
Contract Length: Permanent
Grade: P3
Location: Any approved Save the Children International office location. For a full list of locations that Save the Children International can hire in, please visit: Hiring Locations
Time Zone (that the role holder must be available to work in): Any
Right to Work: The successful candidate must possess the unrestricted right to work in their current or preferred location for the duration of employment.
International Travel Requirements: Yes, up to 80%
Budget Responsibility: None
People Management Responsibility: None
Principle Accountabilities
• Conduct thorough assessments of Country Offices’ internal controls and compliance frameworks, identifying key risk areas and recommending corrective actions to align with Save the Children International (SCI) global standards.
• Collaborate with Country Office leaders to develop and implement robust risk mitigation plans that address both internal and external threats, ensuring timely and effective responses.
• Establish and maintain monitoring systems to ensure compliance with local regulations, donor requirements, SCI policies, safeguarding protocols, and standards related to fraud and corruption prevention.
• Act as an independent evaluator, providing transparent and objective assessments of management oversight in key functions within Country Offices, and presenting findings to senior leadership.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with the Regional Director, Programme Risk & Compliance team, Global Assurance, and other global functions to harmonise efforts and maximise impact.
• Capture and disseminate lessons learned from internal control and compliance processes, promoting continuous improvement and strategic enhancements across the organisation.
Experience and Skills
Essential
1. Considerable experience in roles related to internal controls, compliance, or risk management within an international organisation or NGO setting.
2. Proficient experience in working within diverse and multicultural environments, with an understanding of the specific challenges and regulatory requirements faced by international NGOs.
3. Extensive experience in using audit and risk management software/tools, with skills in developing and maintaining robust monitoring and evaluation systems.
4. Experience in acting as an independent assessor to evaluate management oversight effectiveness in different functions. Meticulous approach in reviewing and evaluating internal control systems, ensuring alignment with SCI’s safeguarding protocols and anti-fraud regulations.
5. Strong background in collaborating with country offices and global teams to foster an inclusive culture of teamwork and continuous improvement..
6. Analytical Thinking: Strong ability to analyse complex data and derive meaningful insights and proficiency in conducting comprehensive risk assessments and audits.
7. Problem-Solving: Demonstrated ability to identify key risk areas and recommend effective corrective actions, including the capacity to develop and implement effective risk mitigation plans.
8. Communication: Excellent written and verbal communication skills to prepare detailed reports and present findings to senior leadership.
9. Ethics and Integrity: Uphold the highest standards of integrity and ethics in all activities and interactions. Promote a culture of honesty, transparency, and responsibility.
Desirable
N/A
Education and Qualifications
Essential
• A Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, or a related field.
Desirable
• A Master’s Degree in a similar field is desirable but not essential.
• Qualifications: Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA), Chartered Accountant (CA), or Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA).
Working at Save the Children International
Save the Children is the world's leading organisation for children, employing ~25,000 staff. We save children's lives. We fight for their rights. We help them fulfil their potential. Through our work in 116 countries, we put the most deprived and marginalised children first.
We know that great people make a great organisation, and that our employees play a crucial role in helping us achieve our ambitions for children. We value our people and offer a meaningful and rewarding career, along with a collaborative and inclusive environment where ambition, creativity, and integrity are highly valued.
The work here is challenging but is also immensely rewarding. At Save the Children, you will be in good company, working with talented, like-minded individuals who are determined to ensure that all children survive, learn, and are protected. Your contribution will help ensure children's voices are heard at the highest levels, and that we achieve our global strategy, Ambition for Children 2030, and reach every last child.
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and Equal Opportunities
DEI is core to our vision, values and global strategy. Save the Children is committed to creating a truly diverse, equitable and inclusive organisation, and one which will support us in our vision to ensure every child attains the right to survival, protection, development, and participation.
We are committed to equal employment opportunities, regardless of gender, sexual orientation, race, colour, ethnic origin, nationality, disability, marital or civil partnership status, gender reassignment, pregnancy and maternity, caring or parental responsibilities, age, or beliefs and religion. We are committed to diversifying our staff to better represent the communities we serve and actively welcome underrepresented groups to apply.
Reasonable adjustments will be made should any candidate invited to interview require this.
Application Information
Please attach a copy of your CV and cover letter with your application. A full copy of the role profile can be found here via the job listing. It is recommended that you save a copy of the role profile as it will no longer be available after the advert closes.
Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis and the job advert may be closed earlier than advertised subject to the volume of suitable applicants. Please submit your application at your earliest convenience to avoid disappointment.
Our recruitment process:
- Application review by our recruiting team based on your CV and cover letter
- Two-stage competency-based interviews with the hiring team
- Some recruitment may include an additional assessment or case study stage, or a third stage interview
- If successful, you will receive a conditional offer of employment, followed by your contract subject to passing background checks
We need to keep children and adults safe so our selection process includes rigorous background checks and reflects our commitment to the protection of children and adults from abuse. All employees are expected to carry out their duties in accordance with our Code of Conduct and all policies and procedures relating to Anti-harassment, Health and Safety, Safeguarding, and DEI and Equal Opportunities.
Save the Children does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process.