Head of Internal Audit - 26211-FT_LT

World Intellectual Property Organization – WIPO; Genf; Vor Ort; CHF 120.000 - 180.000; Vollzeit

Zusammenfassung

World Intellectual Property Organization – WIPO in Geneva seeks an experienced professional to lead the Internal Audit Section within the Internal Oversight Division. The role focuses on risk-based audit planning, complex audits, quality assurance, and senior management engagement.

Candidate must have an advanced degree, professional audit certifications, 10+ years of experience in internal audit, and fluency in English (and a UN language).

Qualifikationen

• Advanced university degree (master’s) or equivalent; a first-level degree with additional experience may be accepted.
• Professional certifications such as CPA/CA/CIA/CFE/CISA or equivalent are required.
• At least ten years of progressive internal audit experience in international or private sectors.

Aufgaben

• Leads the development and implementation of risk-based internal audit plans.
• Oversees complex, high-risk audits and pre-approves outputs.
• Engages with senior management to assess governance and risk frameworks.
• Directs monitoring of audit recommendations and action plans.
• Supervises staff, sets objectives, and ensures quality outputs.
• Prepares high-level audit reports and presents to IAOC and stakeholders.
• Represents the section in internal committees and inter-agency networks.
• Contributes to strategic planning, budgeting, and continuous improvement.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Kenntnisse

Audit management

Risk-based auditing

Leadership

Stakeholder management

Digital fluency

Executive communication

Ausbildung

Advanced university degree

Bachelor's degree + experience alternative

Tools

Audit management systems

Data analytics tools

AI in auditing

Jobbeschreibung

Internal Oversight Division, Sector of the Director General

Contract Duration - 2 years (maximum cumulative length of 5 years) *

Duty Station: CH-Geneva

Application Deadline: 13-Aug-2026, 11:59:00 PM CET

This post is a limited-term fixed-term post.

1. Organizational Context

The post is located in the Internal Audit Section of the Internal Oversight Division (IOD) in the Sector of the Director General. IOD serves as an independent and objective reviewer of WIPO operations and activities based on risk and relevance to WIPO management and constituencies, with a view to promoting the economy, efficiency, effectiveness, and impact of the Secretariat's work. The Audit Section evaluates the adequacy and effectiveness of governance arrangements, internal controls, and risk management frameworks, and provides assurance, analysis, and recommendations to strengthen accountability, sound management practices, and organizational performance.

IOD reports functionally to the Independent Advisory and Oversight Committee (IAOC) and administratively to the Director General. The office is independent of the organization's operational, management, and decision-making functions and is impartial, objective, and free from undue influence.

a. Organizational Setting

b. Purpose Statement

c. Reporting Lines

2. Duties and Responsibilities

The incumbent will perform the following principal duties:

a. Leads the development, prioritization, and implementation of the Section’s risk-based internal audit plans under the overall direction of the Director, IOD, ensuring that audit resources are aligned with areas of highest organizational risk, relevance, and strategic importance.

b. Provides senior-level oversight of highly complex, sensitive, and high-risk internal audits; approves engagement scopes and methodologies; ensures rigorous quality assurance of audit planning, fieldwork, evidence, analysis, and deliverables; and pre-approves all outputs before final review and approval by the Director, IOD.

c. Engages with senior management and key stakeholders on the adequacy and effectiveness of governance, risk management frameworks, and internal controls; identifies systemic and emerging risks; and recommends actionable preventive or corrective measures to strengthen organizational performance and accountability.

d. Directs the monitoring and follow-up framework for internal audit recommendations, ensuring effective tracking of implementation status, assessment of management action plans, and reporting on unresolved high-risk issues.

e. Manages and supervises the work of professional and support staff within the Section, including assignment of responsibilities, establishment of performance objectives, coaching and professional development, quality control of outputs, and performance management in accordance with organizational standards and policies.

f. Leads the preparation and delivery of high-level audit reporting, presentations, and updates for the Senior Management Team, the IAOC, and Member State Representatives; provides expert analysis and recommendations on oversight matters requiring executive attention; and promotes constructive engagement with stakeholders while safeguarding the independence and objectivity of the audit function.

g. Represents the Section at internal committees and at inter-agency oversight networks (such as UN-RIAS) to harmonize UN audit methodologies.

h. Contributes to the strategic direction, planning, budgeting, performance reporting, and continuous improvement of IOD; supports the Director, IOD, in special assignments; and serves as Officer-in-Charge for the Division as required.

i. Perform such other related duties as assigned.

3. Requirements

Advanced university degree (master’s degree or equivalent) in business administration, public administration, audit, finance, accounting, or a related discipline. A first-level university degree (Bachelor's) plus two years of relevant professional experience in addition to the experience requested below, may be accepted in lieu of an advanced university degree.

Certification as a Certified Public Accountant (CPA), Chartered Accountant (CA), Certified Internal Auditor (CIA), Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE), Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA) or equivalent.

Experience (Essential)

At least ten (10) years of relevant, progressive professional experience in conducting internal audits and managing audit teams in an international environment or in the private sector.

Proven experience in risk-based auditing methodologies and managing complex audit portfolios.

Experience in supervising multidisciplinary teams.

Excellent written and spoken knowledge of English.

Good working knowledge of French or another official United Nations language.

Job Related Competencies (Essential)

Demonstrated ability to lead, set, and assure the quality of modern internal audit methodologies, risk-based planning approaches, and professional practices in conformance with applicable internal audit standards.

Strong leadership skills, with demonstrated ability to direct multidisciplinary audit teams, set priorities, manage performance, develop staff capability, and foster an enabling, accountable, and results-oriented work environment.

Excellent executive communication, presentation, negotiation, and stakeholder-management skills, including the ability to engage constructively with senior management, oversight bodies, Member State representatives, and diverse stakeholders while maintaining independence, objectivity, tact, and respect for diversity.

High level of digital fluency, including the ability to lead the effective use of advanced digital tools, data analytics, audit management systems, automation, and emerging technologies, including Artificial Intelligence to strengthen risk assessment, audit planning, testing efficiency, evidence analysis, reporting, and oversight workflows.

Demonstrated ability to integrate technology-related risks, digital insights, data-driven analysis, and IT control considerations into the audit universe, risk assessment, engagement planning, execution, reporting, and follow-up.

Strong IT audit expertise, including the ability to oversee assurance over IT governance, cybersecurity, information systems controls, data protection, digital transformation risks, and technology-enabled audit approaches, and challenge management constructively on significant technology-related risks and controls.

Demonstrated ability to translate complex audit evidence and findings into clear, concise, evidence-based, and strategically relevant reports, briefings, and recommendations that support executive decision-making and governance oversight.

Ability to exercise sound strategic judgment, professional skepticism, independence, initiative, and discretion when addressing complex, sensitive, high-risk, or confidential matters.

Demonstrated ability to lead a portfolio of concurrent and high-priority assignments, make defensible risk-based decisions under pressure, and balance timeliness, quality, stakeholder expectations, and institutional sensitivity.

Job Related Competencies (Desirable)

Familiarity with international public sector governance and intellectual property administration.

1. Communicating effectively.

2. Showing team spirit.

3. Demonstrating integrity.

5. Producing results.

6. Showing service orientation.

7. Seeing the big picture.

8. Seeking change and innovation.

9. Developing yourself and others.

For more information, including on the salaries and benefits, please check the WIPO Careers website.