Audit Specialist, Office of Internal Audit (OIA) - (Contractual)

imf; Washington (District of Columbia); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

The IMF Office of Internal Audit (OIA) seeks an Audit Specialist to support planning and execution of risk-based audits and advisory engagements, covering Business Process and IT domains. The role includes delivering high-impact reports, assisting in project planning, and contributing to OIA-wide initiatives during the appointment period.

Qualified candidates typically hold an advanced degree or CPA/CIA with several years of audit experience, excellent analytical skills, and strong communication

Qualifications

• Advanced university degree or professional certification (CPA/CIA) with 4+ years of relevant work experience; or 2+ years at Grade A10 or equivalent.
• Professional skepticism, analytical thinking, and independent judgment are required.
• Strong stakeholder engagement and objectivity in evaluating complex issues.

Responsibilities

• Support risk-based audits and advisory engagements across business processes or IT.
• Lead assignments as auditor-in-charge when assigned and ensure quality and timeliness.
• Apply analytical methods to test designs, controls, and data; propose improvements.
• Communicate findings clearly to clients and management with actionable recommendations.

Skills

Auditing

Risk assessment

Data analysis

AI tools awareness

Project management

Education

Advanced degree or CPA/CIA

Tools

Copilot AI

Data analytics tools

Job description

Work for the IMF. Work for the World.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) is an organization of 191 countries, working to foster global monetary cooperation, secure financial stability, facilitate international trade, promote high employment and sustainable economic growth, and reduce poverty around the world. The Office of Internal Audit (OIA) is an independent assurance and advisory function designed to protect and strengthen the Fund.

The mission of OIA is to:

Bring a systematic and disciplined approach to assess and improve the effectiveness of the Fund's governance, risk management processes, and internal controls; and
Act as a consultant and catalyst for the improvement of the Fund's business processes by advising on best practice and the development of cost-effective control solutions.

This is a contractual appointment established to provide additional specialist capacity for a defined period in support of OIA's time-bound audit and advisory work program. The assignment will focus on delivering designated engagements and related analytical initiatives within the term of the appointment.

The Audit Specialist will actively support the planning and execution of risk-based audits and advisory engagements covering Business Process and Information Technology (IT) subject areas. The incumbent will help produce high-impact, strategically relevant audit and advisory reports and brief OIA Management and client counterparts clearly and succinctly on the results.

The incumbent will also contribute specialist expertise to selected OIA-wide initiatives and time-bound projects assigned during the appointment period.

Major Duties and Responsibilities

• Supports the delivery of audits and advisory projects covering Business Process domains or IT, and may lead such assignments when assigned as auditor-in-charge.
• Brings a deep understanding of risk-based audit techniques to enhance the quality and impact of audit results, including performing detailed testing and in-depth analysis of processes, controls, and underlying data.
• Applies strong analytical skills to review and interpret documentation, assess the design and operating effectiveness of controls, and identify risks in a comprehensive and integrated manner.
• Probes beyond surface-level observations by asking insightful, targeted questions of stakeholders to develop a fuller understanding of processes and identify holistic risks and interdependencies.
• Leverages emerging technologies, including Artificial Intelligence (AI)-enabled tools such as Copilot and intelligent agents, to enhance audit effectiveness, support data analysis, improve testing depth, and derive insights from large and complex datasets, while applying appropriate professional judgment and governance considerations.
• Demonstrates sound project management skills in work assignments and proposes solutions to increase team productivity.
• Completes engagements and assigned areas within allocated time and cost budgets while delivering high-quality, value-added results.
• Effectively evaluates audit and advisory results, weighing the relevance, accuracy, and perspective of conclusions against the accumulated audit evidence.
• Draws conclusions and formulates recommendations that are well supported by detailed testing and analysis, aligned with documented findings, and communicated clearly, concisely, and constructively.
• Communicates audit results effectively to clients by positioning issues in the appropriate context.
• Maintains strong working relationships with client counterparts and stays abreast of key developments in client departments, including tracking and reporting on action plans addressing prior audit observations.
• Collaborates effectively with the auditor-in-charge and other team members and leverages external consultants and co-source providers to derive optimal value.
• Documents and shares knowledge, methodologies, and lessons arising from assigned engagements to support effective handover and broader learning within OIA.

Minimum Qualifications and Skills

• Educational development, typically acquired by the completion of an advanced university degree, or equivalent, in business, accounting, economics, finance, information technology, law, communications, organizational development, or a related field, or a professional certification either as an Accountant (CPA or international equivalent) or as an Auditor (CIA or CISA), supplemented by a minimum of four (4) years of relevant work experience, is required. Alternatively, a minimum of two (2) years of experience in a related position at Grade A10, or equivalent, is required.
• Professional skepticism and curiosity to review business processes and identify underlying risks.
• Analytical thinking and sound judgment in evaluating complex issues and forming balanced conclusions.
• Integrity and independence in conducting work with objectivity and adherence to professional standards.
• Effective stakeholder engagement, including the ability to challenge co