Financial Investigator

Financial Investigator

Deadline for Applications: 23:59 CET 28 January 2022

Contract Duration: 4 months with possibility for extension

Number of Posts: 2 immediately. In addition we accept applications for our roster and for possible future hiring needs. Please indicate in your cover letter whether your availability is for immediate start or for future hiring.

Location: Remote with possibility of travel as required

Organizational Context:

The Independent Special Commission (ISC) was appointed by the SOS Children's Villages International Senate on 1 October 2021. The ISC investigates and analyses the most serious allegations of abuse, failures and other wrongdoing arising from the work of SOS Children’s Villages worldwide (including child abuse, gender-based violence, including sexual exploitation and abuse, physical harm, safeguarding failures, retaliation and serious financial wrongdoing), including the conduct of SOS Children's Villages safeguarding investigation and oversight functions.

Visit our website https://independentsc.org/home

In that context, the Financial Investigator will assist the ISC in fulfilling its mandate to:

1. Assess, map and prioritize allegations and concerns raised, and initiate further investigations as deemed necessary;

2. Based on the findings of the investigations, confirm whether or not misconduct has occurred, or whether or not the concerns are justified;

3. Assess in a broader sense the allegations and concerns regarding the areas of child safeguarding, safeguarding in general, usage of funds, compliance, management and governance and other areas it deems important, and recommend the appropriate measures to the International Senate.

Duties & Responsibilities

Under the direct supervision of the Chief of Investigations, the incumbent shall perform the following:

1) Plan, organize and conduct, either individually or jointly, the reactive and proactive investigation of serious fraud, corruption and misappropriation of funds, as well as other serious misconduct, safeguarding failures, failures to protect whistle-blowers against retaliation, and related issues;

2) Design or contribute to designing investigation planning;

3) Engage, build trust, and maintain networks and relationships with internal and external partners, communities, intermediaries, survivors, victims, witnesses, and subjects;

4) Contribute to, and apply, age and gender-sensitive risk-assessment, security and protection protocols and measures;

5) Search for, identify, collect, record and preserve all potential or relevant information and evidence, ensuring that chain of custody is established and maintained;

6) Conduct investigative interviews, and secure testimonial, documentary, financial, electronic, telecommunications, and other forms of evidence, from survivors, victims, witnesses and subjects;

7) Analyse evidence, and prepare complete and concise case reports incorporating the evidence obtained, findings and conclusions, analysis of trends and patterns, identification and analysis of root causes and contributing factors, impacts and consequences, and recommendations for accountability and prevention;

8) Implement and maintain procedures to ensure professional competency and completeness throughout the investigation process. This includes financial investigation specific best practices, and;

9) Conduct other related investigation tasks as assigned by the Chief of Investigations and Coordinator of the ISC, following consultation of the Commissioners.

Qualifications

Experience:

A minimum of five (5) years of progressively responsible professional experience conducting financial investigations with non-governmental organisations, charitable organisations, law enforcement, and/or the private sector, is required.

Three (3) years of such experience at the international level is highly desirable.

Additional experience with investigations of child abuse and/or SGBV or SEA, is desirable.

Experience of working in the global south is desirable.

A strong applied knowledge of financial investigation best practices is required. A strong applied knowledge of forensic accounting best practices is desirable.

Education:

A university degree in law, investigations, accounting, governance, risk management or any other related field, is required.

Training and/or accreditation in the field of financial investigations, such as certification as a Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE), is required. Professional training and/or accreditation in concepts, approaches and practices relevant to investigations is required. Professional training and/or accreditation in forensic accounting is desirable.

Languages:

Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of Spanish, Arabic, French, Swahili, Hindi or any other language is desirable.

Core Competencies

Professionalism:

1) Ability to independently and as a team plan, organize and conduct relevant examinations or investigations;

2) Timely and quality application of professional and technical expertise;

3) Strong applied knowledge of relevant concepts, approaches, practices and professional standards;

4) Produces workable solutions to a range of problems;

5) Acts with impartiality and integrity, and maintains confidentiality;

6) Incorporates sensitivity to age, gender and intersecting inequalities into work;

7) Adapts work in accordance with the mission and principles of the organisation, the best interests of children, and responsive to the needs of survivors, victims, complaints or clients, as relevant;

8) Accepts and tackles demanding goals with enthusiasm;

9) Takes responsibility for, and monitors and maintains, personal productivity and performance;

10) Presents a positive image of the organisation during external discussions.

 Teamwork:

11) Listens, consults and communicates proactively;

12) Handles disagreements with tact and diplomacy;

13) Keeps to agreements with others;

14) Recognises and rewards the contribution of others;

15) Adapts communication to the context and audience.

 Handling Unexpected Situations:

16) Plans activities and projects in advance and takes account of possible changing circumstances;

17) Acts proactively to manage risk;

18) Adapts to changing circumstances;

19) Deals with ambiguity, making positive use of the opportunities it presents;

20) Manages time effectively.

The ISC will only contact shortlisted candidates for interviews. Selected candidates will be subject to further reference and background checks. This includes but is not limited to verification of the information provided in your application. The ISC may retain applications as part of a roster of suitable candidates for future positions as a result of this recruitment process.

Interested candidates should send their CV and cover letter. Please indicate in your cover letter whether your availability is for immediate start or for future hiring. Applications should be sent for the attention of the Secretariat of the Independent Special Commission, care of Ms Million Berhe to: Million.Berhe@sos-kd.org