Specialist, Internal Auditor

About Millennium Challenge Account-Malawi II

The Government of Malawi signed a five-year agreement (‘Compact) with the Millennium Chaffenge Corporation (“MCC”) to fund specific programs targeted at reducing poverty and stimulating economic growth. MCC is a U.S. government agency focused on assisting countries dedicated to good governance, economic freedom, and investing in people. An Accountable Entity called the Millennium Challenge Account-Malawi II (“MCA-Malawi II”) has been created and designated by the Government of Malawi to implement the Compact.

Malawi Compact

The Compact consists of three projects, namely:

1. The Accelerated Growth Corridors Project (AGC) will focus on reducing transport costs in targeted rural areas. Under the AGC Project, the Road Corridor Improvement (RCI) Activity will target investment in physical upgrades and improvements across different classes of roads within four selected Accelerated Growth Corridors (AGCs) to improve rural access by addressing road conditions and reducing transport costs. The Policy and Institutional Reform and Capacity Building (PIR) Activity will focus on assisting the Government to address policy, legislative, institutional, and funding issues to ensure that road transport in AGC areas is well-maintained and managed.
2. The Increased Land Productivity Project will focus on improving land services, strengthening conditions for increased investment in land and better-functioning land markets through two main activities: the Land Administration Resourcing and Institutions Activity – which will support development, adoption, and implementation of reforms to expand national land-based revenues and address institutional change – and the City Council Land-Based Revenue Modernization Activity, which will expand coverage and collection of land-based revenues, to increase resources for key services and increase investment in land and finally.
   The American Catalyst Facility for Development Project will focus on facilitating U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) investment in Malawi to catalyse increased private investment consistent with Compact objectives and increase the scale and impact of the Compact.

Specialist, Internal Auditor

Position Objective

The Specialist, Internal Auditor, under the supervision of the Manager, Internal Auditor, is responsible for assisting the Internal Auditor in establishing a plan for auditing the operation and program activities of MCA-Malawi Il that focuses on the identification and control of risk, improvements in the efficiency and effectiveness of operations and programs, and compliance with external laws and regulations and internal policies and procedures. This pivotal position calls for a highly analytical individual with a deep understanding of financial management and auditing principles as well as exceptional problem-solving skills, to identify, analyze, and mitigate potential risks, safeguard MCA-Malawi Il’s assets, and contribute to the successful implementation of the multimillion-dollar compact addressing development challenges in the country. The Specialist, Internal Auditor is expected to work collaboratively with various stakeholders within MCA-Malawi II, the government, and project partners, fostering a culture of accountability, transparency, and continuous improvement, ultimately enhancing the overall performance and impact of MCA-Malawi II ‘s initiatives.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Assist the Internal Audit Manager in the Development and implementation of a comprehensive internal audit plan, including risk-based audit strategies, to evaluate the effectiveness of ‘s financial, operational, and compliance functions.
• Administratively assist the Director of Administration & Finance in preparing audit plans for annual funds accountability statement audit.
• Conduct regular audits of financial, operational, and compliance functions, ensuring adherence to policies, procedures, and relevant laws and regulations.
• Prepare and present clear, concise, and comprehensive audit reports to the MCA-Malawi Il senior management, and external stakeholders as required, highlighting key findings and recommendations.
• Assist the Internal Auditor in evaluating internal control systems, especially those relating to financial management, and make recommendations for improvements needed to safeguard assets and ensure the integrity of financial transactions and financial reporting.
• Ensure the recommendations of the external auditor are implemented, as appropriate.
• Oversee and monitor the implementation of a Program Compliance Policy for the use of funds at MCA-Malawi II.
• Disseminate written policies and procedures related to compliance activities.
• Collaborate with management to develop and implement Corrective Action Plans (CAPs) that address identified audit findings and risks.
• Monitor the implementation of CAPs, track progress, and verify the effectiveness of corrective actions.
• Identity compliance issues that require follow-up or investigation.

Education

• Bachelor’s degree in accounting, Finance, Business Administration, or a related field; a professional certification such as CIA, CPA, or ACCA is preferred.

Experience

• Minimum of 5 years of progressive experience in internal auditing, preferably in public sector organizations, international development projects, or donor-funded programs.
• Familiarity with operations, accounting, finance, internal audit, quality assurance, and human resource procedures and regulations is a must.
• Demonstrated knowledge of and experience in applying the principles, techniques, practices and procedures of an internal audit or quality assurance function; developing sound internal controls for financial and operational programs; developing remediation programs where controls have been found deficient; developing risk assessment instruments and communicating to program managers how to assess risk in their respective areas.

• Ability to evaluate automated financial management systems and to develop methods for testing system controls.
• Computer literacy, including proficiency in Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and familiarity with various accounting software and tools.
• Proficiency in English and, if applicable, local languages is required.

How to apply

Applications for these positions should be sent to: recruitment@mca-malawi2.gov.mw

Applications should be accompanied by the following documents:

1. Curriculum vitae containing detailed work experience.
2. Cover letter confirming interest and availability.
3. Soft copies of education and professional certificates (if available).

The closing date for receiving applications is 28th June 2024. Please note that only applications received through recruitment@mca-malawi2.gov.mw will be considered. Any applications received through other channels will not be considered. Only shortlisted applicants will be contacted for interviews. Interested applicants should indicate the position title in the subject line of the email.