Compliance Coordinator

The International Rescue Committee responds to the world’s worst humanitarian crises and helps people to survive and rebuild their lives. Founded in 1933 at the request of Albert Einstein, IRC offers life-saving care and life-changing assistance to refugees forced to flee from war or disaster. At work today in more than 30 countries and in 22 U.S. cities, IRC restores safety, dignity and hope to millions who are uprooted by conflict or disaster. IRC leads the way from harm to home.

CONTEXTUAL BACKGROUND

The Syria crisis is often described as the worst humanitarian catastrophe since the end of the Cold War. Inside Syria, 6.1 million people are internally displaced and 13.1 million are in need of humanitarian assistance, with 2.1 million in hard-to-reach areas. There are 5.6 million Syrian refugees in neighboring countries. This is no short-term humanitarian episode. The devastating human consequences to huge numbers of people will endure for decades. The destruction of relationships, communities, livelihoods, homes and infrastructure will take years to repair.

Job Overview/Summary:

The Compliance Coordinator will support the Country Director to oversee and maintain effective internal controls and compliance functions across the country program, including ensuring that sub-grantees are fully compliant with IRC’s and its donors’ rules and regulations. The Compliance Coordinator will work across functions to ensure that a control environment is in place and that standard operating procedures and IRC policies are being consistently followed. Where weaknesses in controls or application of controls are identified, the Compliance Coordinator will recommend action to remedy the situation to the Country Director (CD) and the Senior Management Team (SMT).

In collaboration with the SMT, the Compliance Coordinator will work with colleagues and field offices to create a culture reflecting the high ethical standards of IRC. The Compliance Coordinator will use IRC’s Feedback and Response Mechanism (FARM) and other relevant tools to ensure effective complaint mechanisms are accessible and known to all staff and partners. When an allegation of fraud or unethical behavior is made, the Compliance Coordinator will inform the Regional Compliance Coordinator (RCC) and the Ethics and Compliance Unit (ECU) immediately – if the matter has not already been reported – and act as the main liaison for the country program with the ECU. In the case of an investigation, the Compliance Coordinator will participate under the guidance of the ECU and provide documentation, access or, if so directed, conduct the investigation under ECU’s direction and according to ECU’s standards and protocols.

Major Responsibilities:

Internal controls and compliance

• Develop a country level adoption of IRC’s risk framework to internal controls monitoring and strengthening.
• Complete, maintain and monitor a risk register for the country program across operations and programs.
• Conduct compliance, operational and financial reviews of IRC, partners and sub-partner activities (operations & programs) to assess adequacy and effectiveness of internal controls, risk management and compliance to selected policies, procedures and regulations.
• Produce internal reports (compliance, operational and financial) with findings and issues identified during reviews, give appropriate recommendations on improvements to the country program’s and partners’ processes, systems and procedures where appropriate.
• Coordinate and act as the focal person for investigations by the ECU.

Training

• Act as focal point for IRC and donor fraud and anti-corruption policies and lead effective communication and training of these policies to staff.
• Develop training materials, and organise and provide training to IRC staff in collaboration with Awards Management Unit training team.
• Coordinate with and support the ECU on ethics and compliance training and with HR and country management on IRC Way training and workshops.
• Allegations and Investigations
• Serve as focal point with ECU for all identified allegations and investigations.
• Report directly to the ECU for ongoing investigations.
• Assist in conducting investigations with guidance from the ECU.
• Maintain a record of investigations and supporting documents.

Other

• Stay informed of and ensure adherence to IRC and donor procedures and policies in relation to Supply Chain, Finance, HR and Programs as set out in relevant IRC manuals and guidelines.
• Review and advise the Country Director, in collaboration with AMU and compliance officers, on contracts and MoUs, service agreements and other contractual agreements prior to signing.
• Perform other tasks as requested by the CD from time to time.

Key Working Relationships:

Position Reports to: Country Director; to ECU on investigations**
Position directly supervises: **None

Indirect Reporting: Regional Compliance Coordinator**
Other Internal and/or external contacts: **

Internal: SMT members; ECU staff; program and grants coordinators; regional staff; any country program staff as it relates to compliance and investigations.

External: Legal counsel

Professional Standards

The IRC and IRC workers must adhere to the values and principles outlined in IRC Way – Standards for Professional Conduct. These are Integrity, Service, and Accountability. In accordance with these values, the IRC operates and enforces policies on Beneficiary Protection from Exploitation and Abuse, Child Safeguarding, Anti Workplace Harassment, Fiscal Integrity, and Anti-Retaliation.

Job Requirements:

• A qualified accountant or advanced degree in a relevant discipline.
• At least 5 years combined finance/audit/compliance experience
• Good understanding of Accounting and Internal Control standards (COSO). An understanding of SORP accounting principles is beneficial.
• Familiarity with forensic accounting, and both digital and paper file audits.
• International experience within other NGOs or in the development / humanitarian sector, with knowledge of donor rules and regulation, is desirable.
• Strong planning, organizational and interpersonal skills.
• Excellent analytical, presentation, and reporting skills.
• Ability to respond to changing priorities.
• Ability to work independently on own initiative
• Excellent communication skills, verbally and in writing, in English; Arabic highly preferable.
• Evidence of successful experience in compiling and conducting training workshops is an advantage.
• Excellent IT skills in Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel.
• Strong commitment to IRC’s mission, purpose and values.

Work Environment

The position will be based in Amman, Jordan, and covers all operating areas in Syria. The overall security situation in Jordan is relatively calm, especially in Amman. The Jordanian government is stable, and civil unrest is largely peaceful. However, Jordan’s generosity in hosting refugees from Palestine, Iraq and now Syria have created huge strains on the country’s economy and infrastructure. Travel is limited, less than 10%.

Returning National Candidates: We strongly encourage national or returning national candidates to apply for this position. If you are a national of the Country in which this position is based and are currently located outside of your home country and possess over two years of international work experience, the Middle East Region has introduced an attractive remuneration package. The package includes competitive compensation, return flight to post, shipping allowance, temporary housing and a relocation allowance. Certain restrictions may apply. IRC strives to attract, motivate and retain qualified national staff in our programs.

IRC is an Equal Opportunity Employer. IRC considers all applicants on the basis of merit without regard to race, sex, color, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status or disability.