Investigations Specialist (Forensic Accountant for Fraud Task Force), P-3, Fixed-Term, Office of Internal Audit & Investigations (OIAI), New York

Contract

This is a P-3 contract. This kind of contract is known as Professional and Director staff. It is normally internationally recruited only. It's a staff contract. It usually requires 5 years of experience, depending on education.

Salary

The salary for this job should be between 140,639 USD and 184,155 USD.

Please keep in mind that the salary displayed here is an estimation by UN Talent based on the location and the type of contract. It may vary depending on the organization. The recruiter should be able to inform you about the exact salary range. In case the job description contains another salary information, please refer to this one.

UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. To save their lives. To defend their rights. To help them fulfill their potential.

Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone.

And we never give up.

For every child, a Future

The Office of Internal Audit and Investigations (OIAI) is an independent office reporting to UNICEF’s Executive Director and the Executive Board. The Investigations Section manages and conducts assessments and investigations of allegations of misconduct involving UNICEF staff and other personnel, including fraud, theft, corruption, sexual harassment, sexual exploitation and abuse, abuse of authority, workplace harassment, whistleblower retaliation, and other failures to observe prescribed regulations, rules, relevant administrative issuances, and standards of conduct.

The Strategy, Intake and Analysis Unit (SIA) is responsible for the overall management of the hotline for reporting allegations and for conducting initial assessments of reports of misconduct and wrongdoing. As part of the assessment, SIA analyzes the information received and collects additional information to determine whether to initiate a full investigation, close the matter, or refer it to another office or entity. SIA is also responsible for certain policy and strategic initiatives; quality assurance of investigation and other reports; and internal and external reporting of certain investigations-related data.

The Investigations Section receives numerous allegations of fraud and corruption, including some complex fraud schemes. The Section is creating a team dedicated to handling fraud and corruption cases. The team is comprised of three investigators with demonstrated prior experience conducting administrative investigations into allegations of fraud and a forensic accountant. All of these positions (including this one) are limited-term positions valid until December 2025 only.

How can you make a difference?

Within the limits of delegated authority and under the overall guidance of the Deputy Director of Investigations and the Chief SIA and the direct supervision of the P5 Fraud Team Lead, the Forensic Accountant will be a key member of the dedicated fraud team responsible for (i) investigating complex fraud cases, including cases implicating both UNICEF personnel and external entities; (ii) liaising with relevant UNICEF offices and Divisions, including Regional and Country Offices to handle cases of suspected fraud by third parties and/or proactively initiate fraud investigations, where appropriate, (iii) contributing to fraud-related policy, training and reporting initiatives; and (iv) contributing to strengthening the Investigations Section’s at large capacity to investigate fraud schemes.

Key Accountabilities:

1. Assessments and investigations into allegations of fraud

• Review allegations of fraud, conduct administrative, and confidential, financial investigations and/or assist in the compilation and forensic analysis of financial data for administrative fraud investigations.
• Contribute to formulating investigation plans and determining the scope of fraud cases predicated for investigation.
• Provide input to terms of reference for potential assurance activities conducted by Country and Regional Office in cases of suspected fraud by third parties.
• Identify, obtain, record and preserve supporting documents and/or supporting records relevant to transactions under investigation, and ensure that all necessary evidence chains are established and maintained.
• Conduct research using internal and external sources, databases and tools.
• Contribute to interview plans and lead financial-related portions in witness and subject interviews. Prepare written statements, where appropriate.
• Conduct office and field investigations into allegations of fraud. Draft clear, complete and concise reports, distilling financial evidence collected throughout the investigation and explaining their evidentiary value and quantifying losses (where applicable).

2. Policy development and review

• Contribute to the development and revision of internal policies, procedures and templates and guidance materials related to handling and investigation of allegations of fraud.
• Analyze findings of fraud assessments and investigations, extract and document how fraudulent activity was concealed and how internal controls were circumvented and recommend actionable steps to prevent future fraud incidents.
• Upon request, contribute to the development of recommendations for mitigation and remediation of fraud risks.

3. Data analytics & reporting

• Contribute to OIAI’s data analytics work in the field of data mining for fraud detection, including the utilization and development of data analytics tools, techniques and methodologies.
• Support the collection and analysis of data and information concerning fraud allegations and investigations for reporting purposes.

4. Other tasks

• Prepare and deliver presentations to staff in the Investigations Section to strengthen their ability to interpret and understand financial information and processes.
• Coordinate and promote collaboration with other relevant departments and offices within UNICEF and the UN System in relation to reports received.

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…

Education & Experience

• Advanced Degree in accounting, finance or a related field. A first-level degree (Bachelor’s) in the specified fields with two additional years of relevant work experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
• Designation as a Certified Fraud Examiner, Certified in Financial Forensics and/or Certified Forensic Accountant is an advantage.
• A minimum of five years of progressively responsible experience working on criminal, administrative/internal fraud investigations is required.
• Experience with an international or multilateral public institution is an advantage.
• Experience working with large data sets is an asset.
• Familiarity with e-discovery processes and best practices is an asset.

Skills

• Ability to work collaboratively in a team environment to achieve common goals and to work independently without the need for supervision.
• Excellent investigative, analytical, and problem-solving skills.
• Strong attention to detail and high concern for data accuracy.
• Shows persistence, self-motivation and initiative.
• Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another UN language (French, Spanish or Arabic) is considered as an asset.

For every Child, you demonstrate...

UNICEF’s Core Values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust and Accountability and Sustainability (CRITAS) underpin everything we do and how we do it.

The UNICEF competencies required for this post are…

• Builds and maintains partnerships (1)
• Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness (1)
• Drive to achieve results for impact (1)
• Innovates and embraces change (1)
• Manages ambiguity and complexity (1)
• Thinks and acts strategically (1)
• Works collaboratively with others (1)

During the recruitment process, we test candidates following the competency framework. Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels. Click here to learn more about UNICEF’s values and competencies.

UNICEF is here to serve the world’s most disadvantaged children and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, or any other personal characteristic. We offer a wide range of benefits to our staff, including paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF strongly encourages the use of flexible working arrangements.

UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination. UNICEF is committed to promote the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check.

Remarks:

UNICEF’s active commitment towards diversity and inclusion is critical to deliver the best results for children.

Mobility is a condition of international professional employment with UNICEF and an underlying premise of the international civil service.

UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance. Issuance of a visa by the host country of the duty station, which will be facilitated by UNICEF, is required for IP positions. Appointments are also subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid). Government employees that are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally required to resign from their government before taking up an assignment with UNICEF. UNICEF reserves the right to withdraw an offer of appointment, without compensation, if a visa or medical clearance is not obtained, or necessary inoculation requirements are not met, within a reasonable period for any reason.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.