Internal Control Associate (Quetta)

## Details ### Mission and objectives Pakistan was the sixth country in the world to sign and ratify the Convention on the Rights of the Child, less than one year after it was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in 1989. However, children and adolescents living in Pakistan still face acute challenges. UNICEF supports the Government of Pakistan to accelerate progress for children, work to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and help children realize their rights under the Convention on the Rights of Children. This will be made through, among others things, strong partnerships with provincial authorities, teachers and health professionals, frontline workers and social mobilisers, communities and families, and of course the children and adolescents themselves. In particular, UNICEF will work so that: Every child survives and thrives -- being in good health, immunised, protected from polio and accessing nutritious food. Every child learns. Every child is protected from violence and exploitation, and registered at birth. Every child lives in a safe and clean environment, with access to safe drinking water and adequate sanitation. ### Context UNICEF's Field Office supports the implementation and monitoring of Programmes for children through partnerships with government and civil society organizations. To strengthen accountability and risk management, the office conducts assurance activities such as spot checks, programme monitoring visits, partner assessments, and follow-up of audit and monitoring recommendations. The UNV Internal Control Associate will support the coordination and implementation of these assurance activities, contribute to compliance monitoring, maintain assurance records and databases, assist in reporting and follow-up actions, and help strengthen the overall assurance and oversight framework at the field office level. The functions of UNV at Quetta align well with Internal Control Associate already engaged in other field offices for similar support. Considering the risk level of Baluchistan in term of partnership and assistance required to ensure the compliance of internal controls, a dedicated position of Internal Control Associate is needed who will support Operations for strengthening the oversight functions and would help FO programs for implementation of HACT policies and procedures for service delivery. ### Task description The UNV will be responsible for the following: 1. Provide support with Operations and programme sections in strengthening vendor-related internal controls and ensuring compliance with UNICEF policies and procedures. 2. Identify programmatic, operational and financial risks through field visits, document reviews and data analysis, and suggest practical risk mitigation measures. 3. Conduct on-site and remote verifications of programme activities to ensure implementation is aligned with partnership agreements, approved workplans and UNICEF quality standards. 4. Review supporting documentation submitted by implementing partners (IPs) including FACE and ICE forms to ensure completeness, accuracy and compliance with financial and operational requirements. 5. Support the development and improvement of tools, templates and standard operating procedures (SOPs) aimed at strengthening verification, documentation and reporting practices across the office. 6. Maintain regular coordination with the FO Operations, PCO Risk & Compliance section and FO programme teams to ensure effective information sharing and consistent oversight practices. 7. Conduct periodic reviews of key operational processes at field level to assess the effectiveness of internal controls and ensure alignment with UNICEF policies, procedures and SOPs. 8. Undertake field visits including spot checks to UNICEF-supported projects and implementing partners to identify operational gaps, compliance risks and potential areas for improvement. 9. Facilitate or support training and awareness sessions for UNICEF staff, implementing partners and vendors on internal control practices and anti-fraud policies. 10. Work with programme officers and focal points at partners’ level to follow up on recommendations (open action points) arising from verification activities and risk reviews and maintain a tracking mechanism to monitor progress. 11. Support special verification exercises related to programme expenditures and prepare summary reports outlining key findings, risks identified and recommended corrective actions. 12. Provide additional support to the FO Operations on other assignments as and when required. Before applying, please make sure that you have read the requirements for the position and that you qualify. Applications from non-qualifying applicants will most likely be discarded by the recruiting manager.