Audit and Compliance Officer

AFIDEP seeks to recruit an experienced

Audit

and Compliance Officer

to join its team on a fixed-term contract. The successful candidate will be responsible for ensuring the Institute’s financial and operational integrity by establishing and operating a risk-based internal audit and compliance function that provides independent assurance to AFIDEP’s leadership and Board.

The role carries an institute-wide mandate, covering all departments, projects, and country offices, to ensure adherence to international accounting standards, donor-specific financial regulations, statutory obligations, and internal AFIDEP policies.

Key

Responsibilities

• Audit Planning & Management
• Annual Risk-Based Audit Plan:
• Develop and obtain Board Audit Committee approval for an annual internal audit plan based on a systematic risk assessment of the Institute’s activities, projects, and processes.
• Audit Execution:
• Lead and conduct audits in accordance with IIA standards, producing formal audit reports with clear findings, root causes, management responses, and agreed corrective actions and timelines.
• Follow-up:
• Track implementation of audit recommendations and escalate unresolved or high-risk findings to the Board Audit Committee.
• Financial & Accounting Compliance
• Financial Records Audit:
• Conduct rigorous audits of all financial records to ensure compliance with International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS), AFIDEP’s financial policies, and applicable statutory

Requirements

• in Kenya and Malawi.
• Donor Compliance:
• Demonstrated, hands-on familiarity of complex multi-donor environment, with knowledge of the
• of bilateral, multilateral and private foundation donors
• Internal Controls:
• Evaluate, monitor, and recommend improvements to financial and operational internal controls to safeguard institutional assets and prevent fraud, waste, and abuse.
• Risk Management
• Enterprise Risk Assessment:
• Maintain and periodically update AFIDEP’s institutional risk register using recognised frameworks (e.g. COSO, ISO 31000), and work with management to ensure appropriate risk mitigation measures are in place.
• Fraud Prevention & Response:
• Establish and communicate fraud risk policies and whistleblower mechanisms; lead or support investigations into suspected financial irregularities.
• Risk & Compliance Databases:
• Identify and curate relevant financial data and evidence to maintain internal risk and compliance tracking systems.
• Systems & Operational Review
• ERP & Financial Systems:
• Evaluate the design and operating effectiveness of AFIDEP’s financial management and ERP systems, including IT general controls and access management, to ensure data integrity and security.
• Policy & SOP Development:
• Design and operationalise tools, standard operating procedures (SOPs), and processes to ensure institutional policies are consistently applied across all departments and country offices.
• Operational Efficiency:
• Identify inefficiencies and recommend process improvements that strengthen value for money across institutional operations.
• Governance & Reporting
• Regulatory Compliance:
• Monitor and ensure compliance with applicable statutory and regulatory
• in all countries where the Institute is registered (currently Kenya and Malawi, USA), including NGO regulations, tax obligations, and labour law provisions relevant to AFIDEP’s operations.
• Capacity Building
• Staff Training & Mentorship:
• Design and deliver targeted, practical training for staff across all departments to build sustainable in-house understanding of financial compliance, internal controls, and accountability requirements.
• Compliance Culture:
• Promote a culture of proactive compliance and ethical conduct across the Institute, acting as a visible champion for accountability standards.
• Qualifications and
• of bilateral, multilateral and private foundation donors.
• Regulatory Knowledge:
• Working knowledge of statutory and regulatory environments in Kenya and/or Malawi, including NGO governance, tax compliance, and relevant financial reporting obligations.
• Financial Systems:
• Demonstrated

Experience

• in internal audit, financial management, or compliance, with at least 5 years in an international NGO, research organisation, or development institution operating within a multi-donor environment.
• Donor Compliance Knowledge:
• Demonstrated, hands-on familiarity of complex multi-donor environment, with knowledge of the
• designing and managing financial control systems or audit software within complex, multi-project environments; proficiency with ERP systems and advanced use of Microsoft Excel.
• Risk Frameworks:
• Familiarity with recognised risk management frameworks such as COSO or ISO 31000, and
• maintaining institutional risk registers.
• Audit Standards:
• Demonstrated working knowledge of IIA International Professional Practices Framework (IPPF) or equivalent internal audit standards.
• Desirable
• IT/Systems Audit:
• in IT general controls review, ERP access management audits, or cybersecurity compliance assessments.
• Grants Management Systems:
• with grants management platforms.
• Multi-country
• Prior
• working across multiple country offices or managing compliance in a geographically dispersed organisation.
• Competencies
• The following competencies are integral to success in this role:
• Professional Integrity & Independence:
• The highest standards of personal and professional ethics; ability to maintain objectivity and independence under pressure.
• Analytical Rigour:
• Strong capacity to interpret complex financial data, identify patterns, and reach well-reasoned audit conclusions.
• Communication & Influence:
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to present technical audit findings clearly and persuasively to non-financial stakeholders — including senior management and Board members
• Relationship Management:
• Ability to build trust and constructive working relationships with colleagues across the Institute while maintaining the professional scepticism required of an independent audit function.
• Attention to Detail:
• Meticulous approach to documentation, evidence, and reporting, with a commitment to accuracy.
• Initiative & Self-Management:
• Ability to plan and prioritise a complex workload independently, adapt to shifting priorities, and deliver to deadlines without close supervision.
• Data Literacy:
• Ability to organise, interpret, and present complex financial information clearly, including proficiency in data visualisation tools for communicating audit findings.

Education

• A Master’s degree in Finance, Accounting, Business Administration, or a closely related field.
• Professional Certification:
• A current, full professional certification is mandatory — CPA, ACCA, CIA, or equivalent. CIA certification (Certified Internal Auditor) is particularly desirable given the nature of this role.
• A minimum of 8 years’ progressive professional