Chief of Audit

Giga; København; On-site; DKK 590,000 - 984,000; Full time

Job summary

UNOPS seeks a Chief of Audit in Copenhagen to lead the Internal Audit and Investigations Group, shaping strategy and strengthening governance and controls across the organisation.

The role requires strategic leadership, risk assessment, and mentoring staff, coordinating audits, advisory engagements, and investigations to uphold integrity and accountability within UNOPS operations worldwide.

Qualifications

• Advanced university degree in accounting, auditing, or finance is required.
• Minimum ten years in auditing with at least five years leading an audit team.
• Experience leading, planning, and executing audits; familiarity with UN or IFIs is desirable.
• Professional certifications such as CA/CPA/CFE/CIA are highly desirable.

Responsibilities

• Develop the risk-based annual Internal Audit Plan and monitor it throughout the year.
• Lead and coordinate internal audits, advisory engagements, and project audits.
• Ensure high-quality audit reports and use of standard work papers and data analytics.
• Provide guidance on potential exposures to fraud and other misconduct.

Skills

Data Analysis

Leadership

Quality Assurance

Risk Management

Strategic Thinking

Audit and compliance

Effective communication

Education

Advanced University degree in Accounting, Auditing or Finance

Bachelor's degree with additional two years of relevant experience may be accepted in lieu of advanced degree

Professional certification in related field (CA, CPA, CFE or CIA) desirable

Tools

Teammate Audit Software

CAATs

MS Project

Job description

General Information

• Position Title: Chief of Audit
• Job Category: Compliance
• Duty Station(s): Copenhagen
• Seniority Level: Senior Level
• ICS Level: ICS 12
• Contract Type: Staff - IP - FTA
• Contract Level: IP P-5
• Posting Start Date: 24-Sep-2026
• Posting End Date: 07-Oct-2026
• Duration: Initial appointment for one year with a possibility of extension

Job Highlight

This position offers a unique opportunity to significantly contribute to UNOPS' governance, risk management, and internal controls by leading a critical audit function. It involves shaping strategic initiatives, driving organizational integrity, and enhancing operational effectiveness, ultimately strengthening stakeholder confidence and supporting UNOPS' mandate delivery.

About the Group

The Internal Audit and Investigations Group (IAIG) provides independent assurance and oversight to strengthen UNOPS’ governance, risk management, and internal controls, while ensuring accountability through impartial investigations of misconduct. Our internal audit function delivers assurance engagements across field offices and HQ units, advisory reviews of functions, processes, and cross-cutting themes, and targeted project audits - both financial and operational. We also offer ad hoc advisory services to management on strategic matters. Our investigation mandate covers credible allegations involving UNOPS personnel, including fraud, corruption, mismanagement, abuse of authority, sexual or workplace harassment, retaliation against whistleblowers, and violations of UNOPS regulations, rules, or administrative instructions. Through these core functions, IAIG helps safeguard organizational integrity, promote ethical conduct, and enhance operational effectiveness—ensuring that UNOPS delivers its mandate with transparency, fairness, and accountability.

Role Purpose

The Chief of Audit, at an IC 12 level, integrates multiple specializations to provide a comprehensive internal audit service, managing a large and complex program. This role involves conceiving and designing implementation strategies for major audit projects, providing authoritative expertise that combines technical advice with operational and political perspectives, and acting as a credible voice for the audit function within UNOPS and to external partners. The Chief of Audit will also establish frameworks for interaction and grow key strategic relationships, while mentoring and developing other professionals to build organizational capacity.

Functions / Key Results Expected

Strategic development:

• Develop the risk-based annual Internal Audit Plan, monitor it, and update IAIG’s plan during the year based on a continuous risk assessment.

• Submit the risk assessment and annual work plan to the Director of IAIG

• Ensure the execution of the annual Internal Audit Plan. This includes the coordination of up to 15 internal audits, up to 15 advisory engagements, and the management of up to 60 project audits per year.

• Lead and/or coordinate the planning and execution of audit field missions for different types of engagements at selected locations, as well as UNOPS HQ.

• Ensure proper monitoring of the implementation status via the internal Audit and Oversight Recommendations (AUDITOR) tool.

• Coordinate the resources allocation and track engagements completion according to the internal KPIs.

• Lead or participate with the IAIG Director Director meetings with internal and external stakeholders.

• Review and clear clauses related to project audits with project teams.

Quality assurance:

• Quality assure audit reports and oversee the audit team in order to ensure they meet the highest possible standard required under public reporting.

• Ensure the use of standard audit work papers, audit programs, and innovative tools such as data analytics.

• Ensure completeness of the working papers prior to the issuance of the audit reports.

• Cooperate with the Investigation Section to identify control gaps that allowed misconduct to occur and propose relevant remedial action.

• Provide advice to other departments in relation to potential exposures to fraud, corruption, and other inappropriate practices.

• Monitor the Quality Assurance and Improvement Plan and ensure timely and regular update

• Organize and coordinate periodic quality self-assessment

• Organize and coordinate the mandatory periodic External Quality Assurance exercise.

Knowledge management and innovation:

• Conduct special assignments such as management reviews, and consulting projects, provide support to the Investigations section, and coordinate training workshops.

• Be a catalyst for strategic initiatives. This includes capacity building within UNOPS to better mitigate fraud and corruption.

• Liaise with sister UN agencies, Clients, Donors, Partners, and Board of Auditors. Joint Inspection Unit and International Financial Institutions. Exchange information where permitted.

• Be willing to continuously innovate IAIG’s work plan with better practices and initiatives.

• Liaise and work closely with the IAIG Stakeholders r reporting specialist.

Team Leadership:

• Establish the annual work plan for the Internal Audit Team in collaboration with the Director Internal Audit & Investigations and stakeholders. Set objectives, performance measurements, standards and results expected.

• Allocate the annual work plan to internal auditors with fairness and objectivity.

• Monitor implementation of the team’s annual work plan, oversee progress and ensure delivery of results as planned and according to expectation.

• Promote teamwork and collaboration by providing the team with clear direction, objectives and guidance to enable them to perform their duties responsibly, effectively and efficiently.

• Plan, recruit and develop a flexible workforce with the skills and competencies needed to ensure optimum performance and ensure gender and geographical diversity.

• Foster a positive work environment, respectful of all, and ensure that the highest standards of conduct are observed.

• Provide guidance and mentoring for personnel within the Internal Audit team to promote their professional growth, motivation, and satisfaction of personnel while ensuring appropriate personal development and succession planning.

• Identify training needs and ensure gaps identified are addressed through a proper coaching and training plan

Impact of Results:

IAIG contributes to UNOPS’ results by continuously assessing the efficiency and effectiveness of its business lines and the level of acceptable risk associated with business opportunities. It also contributes to the improvement of governance, risk management, and control processes. Furthermore, IAIG leads the Executive Director's investigations into alleged misconduct: remediating funds where possible, helping to prevent and detect future waste and abuse, and strengthening internal and external stakeholder confidence in UNOPS.

Skills

Data Analysis, Leadership, Quality Assurance, Risk Management, Strategic Thinking, Audit and compliance, Effective communication

Competencies

Develops and implements sustainable business strategies, thinks long term and externally in order to positively shape the organisation. Anticipates and perceives the impact and implications of future decisions and activities on other parts of the organisation.

Treats all individuals with respect; responds sensitively to differences and encourages others to do the same. Upholds organisational and ethical norms. Maintains high standards of trustworthiness. Role model for diversity and inclusion.

Acts as a positive role model contributing to the team spirit. Collaborates and supports the development of others. For people managers only: Acts as positive leadership role model, motivates, directs and inspires others to succeed, utilizing appropriate leadership styles.

Demonstrates understanding of the impact of own role on all partners and always puts the end beneficiary first. Builds and maintains strong external relationships and is a competent partner for others (if relevant to the role).

Efficiently establishes an appropriate course of action for self and/or others to accomplish a goal. Actions lead to total task accomplishment through concern for quality in all areas. Sees opportunities and takes the initiative to act on them. Understands that responsible use of resources maximizes our impact on our beneficiaries.

Open to change and flexible in a fast paced environment. Effectively adapts own approach to suit changing circumstances or requirements. Reflects on experiences and modifies own behavior. Performance is consistent, even under pressure. Always pursues continuous improvements.

Evaluates data and courses of action to reach logical, pragmatic decisions. Takes an unbiased, rational approach with calculated risks. Applies innovation and creativity to problem-solving.

Expresses ideas or facts in a clear, concise and open manner. Communication indicates a consideration for the feelings and needs of others. Actively listens and proactively shares knowledge. Handles conflict effectively, by overcoming differences of opinion and finding common ground.

Education Requirements

• Advanced University degree (Masters' or equivalent) in Accounting, Auditing or Finance is required.

• First level degree (Bachelors or equivalent) in combination with additional two years of relevant professional experience may be accepted in lieu of advanced university degree.

• Professional certification in a related field such as Chartered Accountant (CA), Certified Public Accountant (CPA), Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE) or Certified Internal Auditor (CIA) is highly desired.

Experience Requirements

Required:

• Ten years of professional experience in Auditing, within these 10 years, a minimum of five years managing an audit team

• Experience leading, planning, and executing audits

Desirable:

• Previous experience within a UN organization, International Financial Institution, or Big 4 audit firms is desirable.

• Knowledge of Project management tools, MS ProjectTM or similar team management tools, TeammateTM Audit Software, and related CAAT’s are considered an asset.

• Familiarity with ERP is considered a plus.

• Experience in leading or supervising data analytics teams is an asset.

• Experience in artificial intelligence is considered as a plus.

• Experience in IT and cyber security audit is considered as a plus.

• Experience in forensic audit is considered as a plus