Audit and Risk Management Analyst - USAID

 

ESSENTIAL REQUIREMENTS

Must possess and maintain a Secret clearance which requires U.S. Citizenship.  

 

KEY DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Essential duties and responsibilities include the following.  Other duties may be assigned.

 

Performs duties and responsibilities with limited guidance from and limited supervision of the Bureau Controller or their designee for the assigned area of responsibility. Additionally, assumes an increased level of responsibility for management and coordination of OIG/GAO audit coordination activities, planning, and representation in area of responsibility.

 

Serves as the single point of contact (POC) for all queries presented by the OIG/GAO.

 

Coordinates USAID/E&E’s engagement in the full lifecycle of OIG/GAO audits, from initial audit scoping through recommendation closure, and other OIG/GAO engagements. Coordinates with USAID/E&E Washington and Overseas colleagues to collect and provide requested documentation, prepare for meetings, coordinate OIG/GAO field visits, and ensure tracking and storage of responses to the OIG/GAO.

 

Coordinates representatives for meetings related to OIG/GAO engagements, such as audit entrance and exit conferences.

 

Liaise with various internal agency stakeholders to ensure harmonized responses to agency-wide audits or issues.

 

Maintains comprehensive files related to OIG/GAO audits and engagements. Analyze audit findings for patterns, trends, and connected issues; generate reports for USAID/E&E leadership as requested.

 

Degree of responsibility for decision-making assigned to the position:

Expected to work with a high degree of independence and must be able to establish priorities, adhere to and meet established deadlines, and perform responsibilities and duties with minimal guidance and little or no follow up. Knows when to consult with higher level experts or decision makers. Will have to demonstrate considerable leadership, individual initiative, and creativity, and serve as a high-level decision maker and negotiator to support Mission needs.

 

Knowledge level required:

Thorough knowledge of professional auditing principles, theories, practices and terminology as well as the principles and accepted practices of governmental and business financial accounting, budgeting and reporting is required. Thorough knowledge of laws, regulations and procedures associated with USAID financial audit management is also required. Thorough knowledge of how USAID projects are designed, developed, implemented and evaluated is not only required but essential.  

 

Supervisory Controls:

Reports to the Regional Controller for USAID/Ukraine and Belarus. Responsible for independently planning and developing methods to evaluate audit documents and findings and to formulate conclusions and recommendations independently. Supervision is restricted to initial guidance on any aspects of the assignment considered particularly important and any special financial techniques to be employed in conducting the analysis.  

 

Guidelines:

USAID ADS, Foreign Affairs Manual, Standardized Regulations, GAO Accounting and Auditing Standards for Governmental Entities, OMB Circulars, Guidelines for Financial Audits Contracted by Foreign Recipients, and grants/cooperative agreements.  These guidelines are used and interpreted for the preparation of reports and in the presentation of conclusions and recommendations.

 

Complexity of the work environment or its potential effect on the position’s responsibilities:

Responsible for ensuring USAID/E&E’s accountability to the Office of Inspector General (OIG), the General Accounting Office (GAO), and USAID/E&E’s adherence to the Agency’s policies and procedures governing OIG and GAO audits. Given the continued on-going conflict in Ukraine and the challenging political environment, it can disrupt work at any time causing extreme stress to focus on and complete work priorities.

 

Level and purpose of contacts:

Routinely works with high level partners (at the general director, program manager and controller levels), audit/management consulting firms, OIG/GAO and GAO staff and partners on complicated and large projects and audit issues.  High level contacts are essential to evaluate the audit compliance and resolution and to obtain access to sensitive and closely held information critical to most analysis and evaluations.

 

Plans daily activities within the guidelines of company policy, job description and supervisor’s instruction in such a way as to maximize personal output.  

  

Responsible for aiding in own self-development by being available and receptive to all training made available by the company. 

  

OTHER DUTIES

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job.  Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

 

EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE

Bachelor's degree in accounting, finance or business administration or other related financial field and a minimum five to seven years (5-7) of progressively responsible experience in professional auditing or financially oriented business management.  At least three (3) years of this experience should be with an international organization or the U.S. Government.

 

JOB SPECIFIC KNOWLEDGE/SKILLS/ABILITIES

Mastery-level proficiency in writing, speaking, and reading English is required.

Possesses an exceptional ability to identify the financial strengths and weaknesses of projects.

Capable of making independent judgments on institutional capabilities and the adequacy of audit management and controls.

Ability to develop and maintain contacts with high-level officials of host country institutions responsible for project implementation.

Skilled in collecting and presenting facts and recommendations clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing.

Ability to conduct analytical, evaluative, and complex financial reviews and evaluations of audit reports to resolve audit issues and findings, as well as financial and management operations, including market surveys and procurement practices.

Requires superior analytical, planning, and writing skills.

Must be able to work in a team environment within the USAID Mission and collaborate effectively with partner institutions.

Strong communication skills are essential, along with the ability to transfer knowledge to other staff, including external and internal audit entities.

Familiarity with development approaches and best practices in a wide range of audit and financial management areas is necessary.

A firm understanding of the USG program cycle, including project design, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation.

Computer literacy and proficiency in basic software packages such as Microsoft Office suite and Google Platform are required.

 

LANGUAGE SKILLS

Ability to read, analyze and interpret common scientific and technical journals, financial reports and legal documents. Ability to respond to common inquiries or complaints from customers, regulatory agencies or members of the business community. Ability to write speeches and articles for publication that conform to prescribed style and format. Ability to effectively present information to top management, public groups and/or boards of directors.

 

MATHEMATICAL SKILLS

Ability to work with mathematical concepts such as probability and statistical inference, and fundamentals of plane and solid geometry and trigonometry. Ability to apply concepts such as fractions, percentages, ratios and proportions to practical situations.

 

REASONING ABILITY

Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts and draw valid conclusions. Ability to interpret an extensive variety of technical instructions in mathematical or diagram form and deal with several abstract and concrete variables.

 

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this job.

Work is primarily performed in an office environment. Regularly required to sit. Regularly required use hands to finger, handle, or feel, reach with hands and arms to handle objects and operate tools, computer, and/or controls. Required to speak and hear. Occasionally required to stand, walk and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. Must frequently lift and/or move up to 10 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.  Exposed to general office noise with computers printers and light traffic. 

 

CNI CORE COMPETENCIES

Responsible for the integration of CNI Core Competencies into daily functions, including commitment to integrity, knowledge/quality of work, supporting financial goals of the company, initiative/motivation, cooperation/relationships, problem analysis/discretion, accomplishing goals through organization, positive oral/written communication skills, leadership abilities, commitment to Affirmative Action, reliability/dependability, flexibility and ownership/accountability of actions taken.

 

COMPLIANCE

Promotes and encourages a culture of compliance with all applicable rules (federal, state, local, Federal Acquisition Regulations, Code of Federal Regulations, Prime Contract requirements, etc.) for themselves and the company as a whole. Fosters an environment in which they will report any violations or reasonably suspected violation of CNI policy, FAR, and/or CFR and are comfortable discussing the myriad compliance, conflict, FAR, CFR, etc. issues that arise during the performance of a government contract.